Church of God News

On 2/23/08, the Pasadena Star News posted the following:

PASADENA – With a crucial part of the Ambassador West development in receivership after its owners defaulted on a $44 million loan, completion of one of the city’s largest, most prestigious housing projects has been thrown into doubt…

Councilman Steve Madison, whose district includes Ambassador West, said residents would have to be “a little bit patient” while a new builder is being sought at “a really bad time for real estate development.”

Neighbors have expressed concern to him, he said, but he has advised them to apply a “reality check” on the progress on the west campus.

“When I was elected nine years ago Ambassador Auditorium was on the chopping block,” he said. “And (Legacy Partners) were asking for 2,000 units” on the combined 46-acre east and west campus.

Worldwide Church of God, which put the 49-acre campus on the market in 1999, later sold it in three pieces: Maranatha School and Harvest Rock Church – owner of Ambassador Auditorium – moved on to the west campus in 2004; that same year Sares Regis bought the 12-acre east campus for a mixed retail and residential development, now underway.

Fred Zepeda, president of the West Pasadena Residents Association – which fiercely opposed both earlier plans for the property – said the neighborhood had been stunned by Ambassador West’s recent problems.

“We’re anxious to find out what’s going on,” Zepeda said. “I don’t think anyone knows what’s going to happen – everyone’s still staring at each other.”  

It is somewhat ironic that the developer is in receivership as the State improperly placed the old Worldwide Church of God into receivership in the late 1970s.  Another group (Legacy, not to be confused with Legacy Institute) trying to develop the properties also had other problems

TRANSFORMED FROM TRUTH

COGwriter 

Christianity.ca which describes itself as “A ministry of The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada” posted an article from the Canadian branch of the Worldwide Church of God by Gary Moore titled What is a Real Christian? (Gary Moore is the national director of the Worldwide Church of God Canada.). 

The answer from Gary Moore was:

A Christian is any person who trusts in Jesus Christ (see Romans 10:9-13)…Placing our trust in Jesus Christ is what defines a Christian.

It is as simple – and as profound – as that!

The above article, however, was highly incomplete as the Bible teaches:

Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His (Romans 8:9).

He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked (1 John 2:6).

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (Revelation 14:12).

Simply professing trust in Jesus is not what makes one a Christian.  It is deeper than that.  But that article by Gary Moore is also similar to something that J. Tkach recently wrote (see WCG’s J. Tkach and “Just As You Are”)–both are a bit hollow. 

These people once claimed to understand, but now seem to have been transformed from the truths Jesus and others taught in the Bible.

An article of possibly related interest may include Hope of Salvation: How the Living Church of God differ from most Protestants.

Mayfair “Mansion” 

The following item may be of interest to some:

“Mayfair Mansion was built in 1902 by the prominent Pasadena architect Frederick L. Roehrig and is on the market for the first time in 50 years as a single-family residence. This is a rare opportunity to own a Tudor Revival mansion located within the interior gardens of the former Ambassador College campus. Appears to be 6 gutted bathrooms. Living quarters: approximately 11,600 sq. ft.; Basement approximately 4,300 sq. ft.”

Listing at:  http://homesby.idxre.com/idx/detail.cfm?cid=873&bid=18&pid=22103019 

The asking price is $2,950,000. 

Mayfair served as a women’s dormitory for  years at the old Ambassador College.

COGwriter

The Washington Post ran the following story:

WASHINGTON — Bobby Fischer, an eccentric genius many considered the greatest chess player in the history of the game and who remains the only American of the modern era to win a world championship, died Thursday at a hospital in Reykjavik, Iceland. He was 64.

A friend, Gardar Sverrisson, said he died of kidney failure…

Fischer received a record purse of $250,000 at Reykjavik, thanks in part to his threatened walkouts and outspoken demands. He also transformed a genteel game, and soon membership in the U.S. Chess Federation nearly tripled.

Reykjavik was the pinnacle of Fischer’s career. From then on, his eccentricities overwhelmed his brilliance. In 1975, he lost his title by default, refusing to defend it against Anatoly Karpov after a dispute over match rules.

After he moved to South Pasadena, Calif., shortly after the Spassky match, Fischer sightings became rare and often under bizarre circumstances. In 1981, he was arrested in Pasadena by mistake on suspicion of bank robbery, which prompted him to publish the pamphlet “I Was Tortured in the Pasadena Jailhouse.”

He gave $90,000 of his world-championship winnings to the Pasadena-based Worldwide Church of God, a fundamentalist denomination whose founder, Herbert W. Armstrong…

Wikipedia had a slightly different version of the amount:

In late 1963, Fischer began tithing to the church. According to Fischer, he lived a bifurcated life, with a rational chess component and an enthusiastic religious component. Fischer gave the Worldwide Church of God $61,200 of his world championship prize money.

It was never clear to me if Bobby Fischer was truly a member of the Church of God or not (a long time member told me that she was fairly sure that he never was, though she was not 100% positive)–his interest seemed to ebb and flow.  In 1975/6 he went completely off on his own and disassociated himself from the Worldwide Church of God and did not come back.

Does the Bible Teach Repentance and Following the Ten Commandments or Just to “Come as You Are? 

The Jan-Feb 2008 edition of Together: Worldwide Church of God News lists that it has:

Billy Graham has often used a phrase to encourage people to accept the redemption we have in Jesus. He says, “Come, just as you are!”…

“Come just as you are” means that God is not waiting for you to get better before you come to him. He loves you already, despite what you have done.
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Comments by COGwriter 

Yes, God loves everyone.  Yet, while the Bible says that God will call people “of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues” (Revelation  7:9), it never teaches “come as you are”.

Actually, the Apostle Peter in his first recorded sermon after he converted specifically taught:

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38-39). 

Peter continued that theme in his next recorded sermon:

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19).

The Apostle Paul also said that he taught repentance to the Gentiles:

I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance (Acts 26:19-20).

And in the last book of the Bible, Jesus taught repentance:

Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight (Revelation 2:16).

Repent of what?  While sin of course.  And what is the Bible’s definition of sin?

Notice what the Apostle John wrote:

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin (1 John 3:4-5 KJV).

So, while Jesus will take away sins, sinners are to repent.  And they are not to transgress the law of God.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

Hope of Salvation: How the Living Church of God differ from most Protestants How the Living Church of God differs from mainstream Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a COG background.
What Did Jesus Teach About the Ten Commandments? This article quotes what Jesus actually said about them (His words are in red).
Were the Ten Commandments Nailed to the Cross? Some have said so. This article provides some biblical quotes to answer this important question.
What Did Paul Actually Teach About the Ten Commandments? Many say Paul taught against the ten commandments. Is this true? This article quotes Paul with his words in green.
Are the Ten Commandment Still in Effect? This article quotes the ten commandments and combines some of the previous articles into one article about the ten commandments. The commandments are shown at Mount Sinai, before Mount Sinai, in the teachings of Jesus, after the crucifixion, and in the teachings of Paul. It addresses the most common “traditions of men” regarding them as well.
Were the Pharisees Condemned for Keeping the Law or Reasoning Around it? Many believe that the Pharisees were condemned for keeping the law, but what does your Bible say? If they were not condemned for that, what were they condemned for?
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?
Was the Commandment to Love the Only Command? Some have stated that John’s writings teach this, but is that what the Bible really says?
The Ten Commandments and the Early Church Did Jesus and the Early Church keep the ten commandments? What order were they in? Here are quotes from the Bible and early writings.

  TRANSFORMED FROM TRUTH

WCG sent out an email stating:

Speaking of Life, with Dr. Joseph Tkach: “The Meaning of Christmas” — The Christian celebration on December 25th is about Jesus, not about whether he was actually born on that day.
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Comments by COGwriter

Of course, since pretty much everyone who has investigated the matter knows that it is close to impossible for Jesus to have been born on December 25th, J. Tkach has decided to try to suggest that Jesus is the subject of Christmas.

And those who have looked into the history and adoption of Christmas celbrations realize that that is also not true.  As reported earlier on this news page, this time period was adopted because pagans claiming to be Christian could not resist participating in parties for pagan gods that were held then (please see news item WCG and Christmas: “Jesus is the Reason for the Season”?).

Christmas shifts emphasis from the true God to pagan substitutes.  For example, notice something that the Apostle Paul was inspired to write:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Yet, Christmas teaches children that throughout the year that they need to sit before the judgment of Santa Claus–a pagan substitute for Christ. 

Wreaths were used as pagan symbols during the Saturnalia and still are somehow supposed to now indicate honoring the God of the Bible.

Notice a little bit from The Catholic Encyclopedia:

The Gospels. Concerning the date of Christ’s birth the Gospels give no help; upon their data contradictory arguments are based. The census would have been impossible in winter: a whole population could not then be put in motion…

Natalis Invicti. The well-known solar feast, however, of Natalis Invicti, celebrated on 25 December, has a strong claim on the responsibility for our December date. For the history of the solar cult, its position in the Roman Empire, and syncretism with Mithraism, see Cumont’s epoch-making “Textes et Monuments” etc., I, ii, 4, 6, p. 355…The earliest rapprochement of the births of Christ and the sun is in Cypr., “De pasch. Comp.”, xix, “O quam præclare providentia ut illo die quo natus est Sol . . . nasceretur Christus.” – “O, how wonderfully acted Providence that on that day on which that Sun was born . . . Christ should be born.”…

Cards and presents. Pagan customs centering round the January calends gravitated to Christmas…

The yule log. The calend fires were a scandal even to Rome, and St. Boniface obtained from Pope Zachary their abolition (Martindale C. Christmas, 1908).

Of course Christmas trees and many other symbols associated with modern Christmas celebrations are also of pagan (pre-Christian) origins. Here is some of what Wikipedia mentions:

With likely origins in European pre-Christian cultures, the Christmas tree has gained an extensive history and become a common sight during the winter season in various countries. Patron trees (for example, the Irminsul, Thor’s Oak and the figurative Yggdrasil) held special significance for the ancient Germanic tribes, appearing throughout historic accounts as sacred symbols and objects. According to Adam of Bremen, in Scandinavia the Germanic pagan kings sacrificed nine males (the number nine is a significant number in Norse mythology) of each species at the sacred groves every ninth year…

Other notable traditions in relation to Christmas have also been derived from Germanic pagan practices, including the Yule log, Christmas ham, Yule Goat, stuffing stockings[4], elements of Santa Claus and his nocturnal ride through the sky, and surviving elements of Pre-Christian Alpine traditions (Christmas Trees. Wikipedia. viewed 12/21/07).

Essentially, pagans who professed Christ wanted to keep their pagan symbols and celebrations and that is what happened to make Christmas.

Christmas celebrations do not emphasize Christ.  They emphasize pagan substitutes and is that really something the the God of the Bible would want?

An article of related interest would be What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Christmas and the Holy Days?

 TRANSFORMED FROM TRUTH

In his latest monthly letter, WCG’s Joseph Tkach wrote:

December 2007

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

What is it that makes Christmas a sacred season instead of just a holiday?…

Someone once said, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” That’s certainly true, and in fact, Jesus is the reason for every season… 

May your Christmas be blessed and meaningful!

Comments by COGwriter 

No, Jesus is NOT the actual reason for what is now called the Christmas season. 

Partying is the reason.

Jesus’ name was simply added to this party to discourage direct worship of pagan deities which was happening among those that were becoming affiliated with the emerging Greco-Roman confederation of churches.

By the beginning of the third century a lot of complaints that Greco-Roman professors of Christ could not resist the pagan celebrations held for Saturn and New Year’s were recorded.

Notice what Tertullian wrote around 200 A.D.:

The Minervalia are as much Minerva’s, as the Saturnalia Saturn’s; Saturn’s, which must necessarily be celebrated even by little slaves at the time of the Saturnalia. New-year’s gifts likewise must be caught at, and the Septimontium kept; and all the presents of Midwinter and the feast of Dear Kinsmanship must be exacted; the schools must be wreathed with flowers; the flamens’ wives and the aediles sacrifice; the school is honoured on the appointed holy-days. The same thing takes place on an idol’s birthday; every pomp of the devil is frequented. Who will think that these things are befitting to a Christian master, unless it be he who shall think them suitable likewise to one who is not a master? (Tertullian. On Idolatry, Chapter X).

But, however, the majority (of so-called Christians) have by this time induced the belief in their mind that it is pardonable if at any time they do what the heathen do, for fear “the Name be blasphemed”…To live with heathens is lawful, to die with them is not. Let us live with all; let us be glad with them, out of community of nature, not of superstition. We are peers in soul, not in discipline; fellow-possessors of the world, not of error. But if we have no right of communion in matters of this kind with strangers, how far more wicked to celebrate them among brethren! Who can maintain or defend this?…By us,…the Saturnalia and New-year’s and Midwinter’s festivals and Matronalia are frequented–presents come and go–New-year’s gifts–games join their noise–banquets join their din! Oh better fidelity of the nations to their own sect, which claims no solemnity of the Christians for itself! (Chapter XIV).

But “let your works shine,” saith He; but now all our shops and gates shine! You will now-a-days find more doors of heathens without lamps and laurel-wreaths than of Christians. What does the case seem to be with regard to that species (of ceremony) also? If it is an idol’s honour, without doubt an idol’s honour is idolatry. If it is for a man’s sake, let us again consider that all idolatry is for man’s sake; let us again consider that all idolatry is a worship done to men, since it is generally agreed even among their worshippers that aforetime the gods themselves of the nations were men; and so it makes no difference whether that superstitious homage be rendered to men of a former age or of this. Idolatry is condemned, not on account of the persons which are set up for worship, but on account of those its observances, which pertain to demons (Chapter XV).

What Tertullian seems to be saying is that observing mid-winter celebrations make Christians appear to be followers of pagan gods, and since the pagans would not intentionally celebrate days considered by many to be Christian, Christians should not celebrate days that are honored by the heathen. Specifically, he felt that those who profess Christ should not celebrate Saturnalia, New Year’s, or other pagan days, as even the observance is a form of idolatry (click here for an article titled Is January 1st a Date for Christians Celebrate?).

Since the modern Christmas celebration is at the same time as the old Gentile Saturnalia holiday (and with many of the same elements, like wreaths and gift-giving), it is clear that Tertullian is condemning these practices by stating that those that keep it are of the pagan god Saturn. He also wrote against winter giving:

…gifts like those you have in the Saturnalia! (Tertullian. De Fuga in Persecutione, Chapter 13).

The truth is that the partying could not be controlled because these so-called Christians were never truly followers of Christ. 

In the fourth century both Rome (354 A.D.) and Constantinople (395) decided to formally recognize December 25th (the date of the sun-god Mithra’s birthday) as the day to celebrate Christ’s birth. 

And the Saturnalia festivities were simply continued with wreaths, gift giving, and sadly, now the name of Christ. 

And that is really why people celebrate the Christmas season.

The above and more is documented in the article What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Christmas and the Holy Days?

Perhaps another article that may be of interest would be Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays?

This morning I received a forwarded email from one I have known for a long time as follows:

Isabell Hoeh (1924-2007)

In remembrance of our Mother…

Isabell Flora (Kunkel) Hoeh
5-15-1924 to 11-21-2007

Mother is remembered for a skip in her step and a songbirg’s “hello” for each of us. Our days began with the sound of Mom in the pre-dawn kitchen promising a sunlit day. This prepared us for each day and Mother then had time to enjoy her garden.

Her pioneer spirit of mid-west origin had opportunity to mingle with metropolitan and even global society. In this she was friendly and had a kind or at least a considered and tempered word for all she encountered.

Like a tree in a favorite sitting place, memory of her gives moment to contemplate the gravity of life’s journey.

The family wishes to thank you for your thoughtful and heartwarming cards and letters which supported us and our Mother over the last few years. There will be a private service for family only. Donations in her memory can be made to your local food bank.

Sincerely,
Karline Ellis

    1441 West Lagoon Avenue
    Gulf Shores, AL 36542

Comments by COGwriter

Her late husband, Herman Hoeh, died in 2004.  He was one of the five originally ordained evangelists by Herbert W. Armstrong on December 20, 1952, but strangely did not leave WCG when it changed.  Only one of the five original evangelists is still alive (RC Meredith, who is with the Living Church of God).

On other matters WCG, the AW site shows a brochure featuring Joseph P. McNulty which states that he was “the exclusive financial advisor to the property owner, the Worldwide Church of God” and states that the old Ambassador Campus was sold in three parcels for an amount exceeding $125,000,000 (this money was basically used to fund the retirements for those who accepted the changes at WCG).

The Worldwide Church of  God’s old Pasadena campus properties are once again in the news: 

Developer has 30 days to respond to default warning

San Gabriel Valley Tribune, CA – Nov 15, 2007

ALTADENA – Problems are mounting for Dorn Platz & Co., the developer of a major redevelopment project on the city’s west side.

Los Angeles County officials have warned Dorn Platz that because of several outstanding financial disputes at its Lincoln Crossing project, the firm was in default of its development agreement with the county.

Dorn Platz is also facing problems with its complex Ambassador West project in Pasadena, one of the largest in the city’s history, on 19.72 prime acres of the former Ambassador College campus.

The developer – the third in eight years to propose a project for 19.72 acres of the former Ambassador College campus – is embroiled in a lawsuit with Harvest Rock Church over the six-story, 440,000-square-foot Sunrise Senior Living complex.

The church claims the building, which adjoins the church-owned Ambassador Auditorium, encroaches on its property.

Last week, Standard Pacific Homes pulled out of the project, leaving Dorn Platz looking for another builder for 70 condominiums on the site.

Ambassador West will include 46 apartments in existing buildings – including affordable units – in a project that would preserve 72 percent of the landscaped site as open space.

http://www.sgvtribune.com/ci_7455871?source=most_emailed

There have been problems and difficulties in selling and “developing” what used to be the site of the headquarters of God’s church–though now there is almost nothing Christian about it any more.

TRANSFORMED FROM TRUTH 

In the latest issue of WCG’s Together (News of the Worldwide Church of God) had the following as part of two articles:

• GenMin seminars have equipped hundreds of children’s and teen ministry leaders and workers. Many new congregational ministries have been birthed.

• GenMin Servants Passage is training and coaching over 500 congregational leaders and workers as they participate in an extended journey of growth in ministry by means of church-based “mentoring communities.” ……….

GenMin Connection seminar

Ted Johnston, Generations Ministries director, held a Connection seminar in Harrisburg, PA, on August 18. Twenty-five pastors, youth ministry workers, parents and grandparents spent the day exploring the ministry environments and strategies that celebrate and develop the connection that young people have with the triune God in Jesus.   

Connection discusses WCG Trinitarian theology and its application to ministries with and through children, teens and young adults.  

Comments by COGwriter:

My questions is, when WCG teaches the trinity, does it explain where it came from and that it was not taught by faithful Christians in Antioch, and Asia Minor?   Does it teach that essentially it appeared to be specifically taught against by even by the less faithful like Irenaeus in Lyon? Does it explain that before and even after the Council of Nicea in AD 325 that the majority in Asia Minor were binitarian? Does it explain that neither Jesus, nor anywhere in the Bible, is there a discussion of any “triune God”?

No, I do not think so.

The plain truth is that WCG only teaches and accepts the trinity because they want to fit in with the world’s churches.  The Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox adopted the trinity as now understood towards the end of the fourth century and the Protestants simply accepted that doctrine.

 But instead of protesting this unscriptural and historically not accepted doctrine (historically, because there is no evidence of it being accepted by any other than two heretics–people who the Roman Catholics consider to be heretics–prior to the third century–though not a majority doctrine even among the Roman and Greek Catholics until the end of the fourth century)–the so-called Protestants (which is supposed to mean protesters) accepted this false doctrine.

This is another instance where I believe that WCG has allowed itself to be transformed from the truth.  The trinity is a tradition of men that Christians in the apostolic and post-apostolic periods did not hold.

Several updated articles on the Godhead include:

Binitarian View: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning Is binitarianism the correct position? What about unitarianism or trinitarianism?
Is The Father God? What is the view of the Bible? What was the view of the early church?
Jesus is God, But Was Made Man Was Jesus fully human and fully God or what?
Virgin Birth: Does the Bible Teach It? What does the Bible teach? What is claimed in The Da Vinci Code?
Did Early Christians Think the Holy Spirit Was A Separate Person in a Trinity? Or did they have a different view?
Did the True Church Ever Teach a Trinity? Most act like this is so, but is it?
Was Unitarianism the Teaching of the Bible or Early Church? Many, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, claim it was, but was it?
Binitarianism: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning This is a shorter article than the Binitarian View article, but has a little more information on binitarianism.