Church of God News

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.

In the November issue of PCG’s Philadelphia Trumpet is another excerpt from S. Flurry’s book Raising the Ruins:

Herbert W. Armstrong prepared his last will and testament on Jan. 12, 1986—four days before he died. Knowing he was near death, his first directive was that Herman Hoeh officiate the funeral “without pomp and undue ceremony.”

In his second directive, he bequeathed all his property of “every kind and nature” to the Worldwide Church of God. Think about that. He had been pastor general of that church for more than 50 years. And though it started pitifully small, at the time of his death, the church’s annual income was $164 million. As founder and pastor general of the Worldwide Church of God, Herbert W. Armstrong could have amassed a personal fortune by the time he died. As it was, the house he died in belonged to the church. The plane he traveled in belonged to the church. The cars he commuted in belonged to the church. And what he actually did own at the time of his death—even though he had three living children—he left to the church.

Had he been in it for the extravagant opulence that Tkach Jr. accused him of, can you imagine what kind of retirement package he could have set up for himself after 30 or 40 years as pastor general? Yet, he served God and tirelessly worked right up until the day he died. And at his death, every material possession he owned went right back to the church.

In his will, he explained that he chose not to leave his descendants anything—not because of any ill will toward them—but because he believed they had “adequate means of their own” and because leaving what he had to the church would ensure that it “be put to more permanent and beneficial use for many people.”

That about sums up Herbert W. Armstrong’s legacy.

Even on his deathbed, his final wish was for everything he owned to go toward the work so that “many people” might benefit.

Mr. Armstrong put God’s Family and God’s work first. And as difficult as that might be to grasp, looking at it humanly, isn’t that what we should expect from a man of God? Jesus Christ, after all, said, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.” That’s what Jesus taught—and lived.

Wouldn’t you expect Jesus Christ to put God’s Family and God’s work first? “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work,” Christ said. It wasn’t an option for Him—He had to work. He never considered retirement. He kept right on working until the day mankind murdered Him for putting God first.

Putting God and His work first is the basic theme of the Bible.

Herbert W. Armstrong put this principle—this law—into action. He gave and gave and gave and gave. Then he died—exhausted from the heavy load God had laid on his shoulders. But God brought him back to life—and though he would have rather died or at least retired, he kept right on giving for another 81/2 years! His lifelong work of service and sacrifice for the good of others proved, as our Savior promised it would, that it truly is more blessed to give than to receive.

S. Flurry’s book is more popular than I first thought as I saw two copies of it for sale at the local Barnes & Nobles bookstore.

Two articles of related interest to HWA would include:

Who Was Herbert W. Armstrong? How is He Viewed Today? Includes quotes from the 1973 edition of The Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong and explains how he is and should be viewed today.
15 Accusations and Truthful Responses About Herbert W. Armstrong He, even after his death, keeps being improperly maligned–here is the truth on these matters.

On its home page, WCG mentioned and promoted its current article, with the related picture, on Halloween which states:

Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

May Christians and their children participate in Halloween activities? To answer this question, we should first distinguish the secular observance of Halloween from such important Christian festival days as Christmas and Easter. Christmas celebrates the birth of our Savior and Easter commemorates his resurrection. Both these Christian holidays memorialize profound aspects of the life of Jesus.

The celebration of Halloween has no such Christian spiritual features. True, this holiday falls on October 31st, which is the eve of All Saints Day, which is a festival day celebrated by some Christian churches. However, the modern celebration of Halloween is not generally thought of as a Christian time of worship.

The day does have religious significance for some people, particularly wiccans and druids. For some people and in some regions, Halloween or some of its elements may have a non-Christian religious meaning. Some Halloween activities could be considered anti-Christian, and would, therefore, be avoided. Christians would want to avoid demonic associations, for example. With these things in mind, it would be appropriate for Christians to consider carefully their activities on this holiday.

…It’s true that such things as jack-o’-lanterns, bonfires and black cats, which are part of the Halloween tradition, may have roots in pre-Christian activities…

Most Christians believe they can celebrate Halloween (in some respects) as a purely secular day of fun…

Should Christians and their children participate in Halloween activities if they are unsure whether it is the right thing to do or are convinced it is wrong? The Bible teaches us that we should be fully persuaded in our own minds about these things—either pro or con. But we should not judge or condemn others who are of a different persuasion. The apostle Paul’s advice in Romans 14 can be applied to the question of Halloween activities.

…The day has religious significance only to those who give it religious significance. (Of course, as mentioned earlier, we would do well to avoid those activities that still do have an unChristian flavor.) It is the responsibility of each Christian to decide, based on biblical and Christian principles, whether to participate in Halloween activities, and to avoid judging other Christians who have different circumstances and make different decisions.

COGwriter comment:

The clear and biblically correct answer to the question of the WCG article, Should Christians Celebrate Halloween? is no.  But the WCG article refrains from clearly stating that.

Of course, WCG is promoting Easter (a holiday named after a pagan goddess that contains many pagan elements) and Christmas (a time chosen to coincide with a pagan celebration that still contains many pagan elements).  And now it is even stating that “Christians” celebrate Halloween (something that true Christians should not do), but that since it is so pagan, perhaps people should not, but at the same WCG still teaches that celebraters still should be thought of as Christians. 

The plain truth is that WCG knows that many of the holidays it advocates are essentially pagan.  However, the current WCG wants to fit in to the traditions of the world so much, it simply will not clearly condemn pagan practices like Halloween.

However, the old WCG used to clearly condemn Halloween.  Here is some of what the old Plain Truth magazine once said about it:

What about you and your children? What comes to your mind when thinking about Hallowe’en? The truth of the Bible? Not at all! Instead, weird and FRIGHTENING MASKS — persons PORTRAYED AS WITCHES AND DEMONS. Pumpkins and turnips hollowed out in the shape of EERIE-LOOKING faces! Lighted candles are placed inside to help bring out the more frightful side of these carvings. Dough is baked into small figurines RESEMBLING WITCHES AND SPIDER’S WEB CAKES are baked by the dozen for this occasion. Children, dressed up in the most revolting garments, are let loose on the neighbors, trying to scare the daylights out of them. Let’s be honest. I have before me the Good Housekeeping’s Book of Entertainment, which my wife picked up from the local library. On page 168 of this much-read book, there is a section on what to do on Hallowe’en. Notice the astonishing advice given! “Halloween decorations are quite as important as the food. When planning them, remember that if the room is to be dimly lit (preferably by candle and FIRELIGHT) the decorations must be bold to be effective. Orange, black and red, THE DEVIL’S COLOURS, are the colours associated with Halloween and THIS SCHEME SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT as far as possible . . . . Have paper streamers and lanterns hanging from the ceiling, or, if you would like to have something less usual, you could make a giant SPIDER’S web with black and orange strings, or in narrow strips of crepe paper coming from the four corners of the room, complete with a LARGE SPIDER — one of the DEVIL’S FAVOURITE FOLLOWERS.” Notice where the stress lies! Read further of the black magic associated with this festival. “To decorate the walls, make large silhouettes of CATS, BATS, OWLS AND WITCHES ON BROOMSTICKS . . . . For the supper table small WITCHES WITH BROOMSTICKS can be made by using lollipops on 4-inch sticks.” Weird lanterns, witch-balls, and witches’ cauldrons are some other objects, the book suggests, which must fit into the evening somehow. How pagan can you get?

NOWHERE does the Bible command us to observe Hallowe’en. Hallowe’en and other common festivals which people observe in the Christian-professing world have NO BIBLICAL BASIS. They originated in paganism. The testimony of history stamps Hallowe’en as a HEATHEN festival. It’s built on a PAGAN FOUNDATION. Your Bible warns: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (I Cor. 3:11). Which is the BASIS of YOUR practice and belief? Turn to Deuteronomy 12:29-31 and read God’s condemnation of Hallowe’en! (Marx, Gerhard O. The Origin of Halloween. Plain Truth Magazine, October 1967).

Comments by COGwriter:

The condemnation of such pagan practices remain in the Bible irrespective of WCG’s pagan tolerance or other opinions of men. Remember the Bible teaches:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines (Hebrews 13:8-9).

Certainly Halloween contains strange doctrines.  Therefore, irrespective of the opinions and traditions of men, true Christians still do not celebrate pagan holidays like Halloween.

More information on Halloween, including more from the old Plain Truth article, is included in the article Is Halloween Holy Time for Christians?

WHAT IS THE WCG?

Every now and then I get an email or letter from a viewer of Speaking of Life who tells me how much they enjoy the program and then asks, “Who are you? What church do you represent?” So let me take a few moments to explain.

The name of our church fellowship is The Worldwide Church of God. We are a medium-sized Christian denomination with about 64,000 members in 860 congregations. Our international headquarters and administrative center is in Glendora, California. I am speaking to you from our studio there.

We emphasize a faithful and committed personal walk with Jesus Christ, and we believe that such a walk is possible only in a grace-filled life. In fact, our history is a wonderful testimony of God’s grace in action. God delivered our denomination from a central focus on Old Testament law-keeping to a central focus on Jesus Christ. Our denominational goal and collective mission is to live and share the good news of God’s grace, which has been displayed to the world through Jesus Christ.

In addition, on its homepage, WCG’s website also stated:

When Judgment Day comes, and the Judge asks us why he should let us into his kingdom, how are we going to answer? Are we going to say that we have kept particular laws? I hope not, because the Judge could easily point out laws that we haven’t kept, sins that we never knew we committed and never repented of. We can’t say that we were good enough to keep the laws. No — all we can do is plead for mercy. We have faith that Christ died to redeem us from all sins. He died to rescue us from the penalty of the law. That’s our only basis for salvation. See the Bible study: Justification by faith

Comments by COGwriter:

The fact is that WCG is not focused on biblical truth as it badly wants to fit in with the world’s Protestants and attempts to demonstrate this as often as it can.  As I have mentioned before, I believe that WCG has been transformed away from the truth of the Bible. 

While it is true that all have sinned, the Bible makes it clear that we are not justified by faith only.  Furthermore, the Apostle Paul said that we are not to continue in sin:

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?  Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? (Romans 6:1-2).

The Bible states that we are saved by grace through faith, but that justification involves works. 

The Bible also makes it clear that we are not saved by “faith alone”–a common false belief that Martin Luther installed within the Protestant movement when he intentionally mistranslated Romans 3:28.  That is probably why he called the Book of James an “epistle of straw” as it states the following in contradiction to Martin Luther’s and WCG’s false claims:

You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only (James 2:24).

It is true, as WCG indicated, that we will not stand before God and simply be able to plead that we should be saved because we kept the Sabbath, the Holy Days, Ten Commandments, etc.  Salvation and faith are gifts of God.

However, it is not true that God will save those who have intentionally sinned and rejected allowing Jesus Christ to live His life within us–and the Jesus of the Bible did keep the Sabbath, Holy Days, Ten Commandments, etc. 

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,  but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.  Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses (Hebrews 10:26-28).

Several articles of related interest may include:

Hope of Salvation: How the COGs differ from most Protestants How the COGs differ from mainstream Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a COG background.
Sola Scriptura or Prima Luther? What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible? Though he is known for his public sola Scriptura teaching, Martin Luther’s writings about the Bible suggest he felt that prima Luther was his ultimate authority.
The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. Armstrong This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the COG is NOT Protestant.
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
What Did Jesus Teach About the Ten Commandments? This article quotes what Jesus actually said about them (His words are in red).
WCG Announces 35 Beliefs Book A news article that explains some of WCG’s current doctrinal positions.  Most of which appear to have been proclaimed to show why WCG is not a Church of God.

TRANSFORMED FROM TRUTH 

Last night, WCG forwarded the following from its J. Tkach titled “Courageous – or Coward in Christ?“:

When Jesus was arrested, those who had so vigorously promised to support him to the end denied him or ran away and watched from a safe distance. But let’s not be too critical. Would we have been any different?  We like to hope we would have, but in moments of weakness, there are times when we really don’t “stand up and be counted.”It might not be a life or death matter. It could be as simple as telling the truth. Or standing by a principle, or resisting a temptation. It might be refusing to go along with the crowd when the crowd is doing something we know is wrong, or it could be failing to tell others of Jesus’ goodness when an opportunity presents itself. 
 
No one likes to be thought of as different. But being a follower of Jesus means identifying with Jesus and letting him shape how we think and live. That might mean there are times when we have to be willing to stand up for what we believe, no matter what the consequences. Comments by COGwriter:While the above are interesting sentiments, it would have been nice if WCG would have stuck to the Jesus of the Bible, as opposed to the Christmas/Easter Jesus that the world’s churches worship. 

The theme and intent of the COGwriter website is to “contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).  WCG simply does not have the courage to do that–even though that is what they are telling everyone to do.

Even though the COG message (Gospel of the Kingdom) is one of love and hope, the mainstream churches normally oppose us and also oppose obeying God, keeping His Holy Days, and especially God’s plan of salvation which will result in nearly all who ever lived being saved.

Do you understand and practice the doctrines of the Bible?  Do you realize that much of what early Christians believed (and this can be documented from many second and third century writings) is no longer taught or accepted by most who profess Christ? Do you have the courage to believe what the Bible says and to support it?

Do you want to be transformed by the truth of Christ or be transformed from the truth by the world’s traditions?

Please read and study your Bible as well as the articles at the History of Early Christianity page.  Do you have the courage to live your life in obedience to the Word of Godor do you uncourageously live according to the traditions of men?

TRANSFORMED FROM TRUTH 

My son Michael thought that the above picture could capture in humor what I believe has happened to the WCG. My wife Joyce coined the expression “Transformed from Truth” many years ago when she first heard of the book improperly titled “Transformed by Truth” by Joseph Tkach (Jr.).

In his September 2007 newsletter, J. Tkach (Jr.) of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) reported: 

Over the last two decades, our fellowship, the Worldwide Church of God, has experienced remarkable transformations. God has changed us at many levels—in doctrine and theology, in our relationship with God, and in our relationships with one another and with non-member family, friends and neighbors. We are forever grateful for this work of God’s grace. To God goes the glory; but I also thank all of you for your faithfulness and sacrifices to be part of this journey of transformation and reformation—from where we were, to where we are (WCG Now), and continuing forward together to where God is taking us (WCG Next).

WCG Now: There are currently about 60,000 of us worldwide; gathered in about 800 congregations and study groups; under the care of about 600 pastors WCG Now is a wonderful testimony to God’s transforming grace and love…So let’s continue forward—yoked together with the Lord directing. Let’s move on together from WCG Now to WCG Next. Please pray about this vision—look for ways to participate in your congregation. Our small, but truly worldwide church is in a unique position to show what God can do through willing and obedient servants.

Comments by COGwriter: 

J. Tkach failed to mention that WCG shrank from about 150,000 before the transformation (which was from biblical truth to human fairy tales).  He specifically failed to mention that WCG was transformed from a hermeneutic of relying on the Bible to one of relying on traditions of mainly Protestant “scholars” for doctrine.

There is no possible way that WCG could have adopted many of the doctrines and practices it now holds from the Bible alone, especially Easter and Christmas.

I continue to pray that those still in WCG will open their eyes and believe the Bible for doctrine and not be part of an organization that places more doctrinal emphasis on the traditions of men.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

WCG Announces 35 Beliefs Book  This explains many of their changes.
Comments on the Teachings of Ron Wallen, Philip Neal, Kenneth W., GRUMPS, Jesse Arellano, and others who Profess(ed) that WCG has God’s Authority Can one still believe what Herbert W. Armstrong used to teach and still be in WCG? This article addresses this important issue.
Tradition and Scripture: From the Bible and Church Writings Are traditions on equal par with scripture? Many believe that is what Peter, John, and Paul taught. But did they?
Sola Scriptura or Prima Luther? What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible? Though he is known for his public sola Scriptura teaching, Martin Luther’s writings about the Bible suggest he felt that prima Luther was his ultimate authority.
The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. Armstrong This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the COG is NOT Protestant. 

WCG’s J. Tkach (Jr.) reported:

TRANSFORMED FROM TRUTH

My son Michael thought that the above picture could capture in humor what I believe has happened to the WCG. My wife Joyce coined the expression “Transformed from Truth” many years ago when she first heard of the book improperly titled “Transformed by Truth” by Joseph Tkach (Jr.).

Late yesterday in an email, the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) reported (my comments will remain in italics) the following:

2007 Conference of Elders – Comments From Participants – Interviews with men and women attending the international gathering of elders in Indian Wells, CA…

At the conference, elders received a book titled 35 Beliefs of the Worldwide Church of God. There is nothing new in the book—it is a compilation of articles on our website. If you would like this book as a book, you may download the files:

• Word version, which can be reformatted for different margins or paper sizes: http://www.wcg.org/lit/aboutus/beliefs/35beliefs.doc
• Adobe reader version, for the exact pagination of the conference edition: http://www.wcg.org/lit/aboutus/beliefs/35beliefs.pdf

The documents title page states:

Thirty-Five Beliefs of the Worldwide Church of God

Edited by J. Michael Feazell, Michael Morrison, and Joseph Tkach

Copyright © 2007 Worldwide Church of God.

And the first few beliefs are:

1. The Triune God…
2. God the Father…
3. God the Son…
4. God the Holy Spirit…

Regarding Jesus, WCG made such statements as:

Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, fully God and fully human…

Our salvation depends on Jesus being both human and divine. But how can this be? How can someone infinite become finite? How can the holy Son of God become a human, in the likeness of sinful flesh?Our question comes mainly because the only humanity that we can see now is woefully corrupt…

No, the question does not come because the only humanity we see is woefully corrupt.  The question comes because the statement that Jesus was fully human and fully God at the same time is a logical impossibility. The fact is that although most mainstream groups that profess Christ cling to such false concepts of God, in order to do so, groups like WCG have to ignore scripture.The Bible teaches that Jesus EMPTIED HIMSELF of His divinity to be born of Mary.  And that AFTER the resurrection He was again fully God.

Several articles of related interest may include:

Binitarian View: One God, Two Beings Before the BeginningIs 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?
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.

Furthermore, here was another WCG belief:

19. The Christian Sabbath…

The Christian Sabbath is life in Jesus Christ, in whom every believer finds true rest. The weekly seventh-day Sabbath, which was enjoined upon Israel in the Ten Commandments, was a shadow that prefigured the true Reality to whom it pointed—our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…

The Sabbath commandment, along with all of the Mosaic law, ended with Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. To embrace it, or to try to reapply it in the form of a Sunday Sabbath, is to diminish God’s revelation of Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of his promises.

To believe that God commands Sabbath-keeping for Christians is to deprive ourselves of the full joy God wants us to have in Christ…

Sabbatarian theology works against the grace of God in Jesus Christ and the plain teaching of the Bible. The law of Moses, including the Sabbath commandment, was given to Israel and not to the church. Although Christians should feel free to gather for worship on any day of the week, we must not make the mistake of thinking there is any biblical reason for choosing Saturday above any other day.

Yes, WCG actually posted the above.  Essentially, they are teaching that somehow the Jews who kept the Sabbath were being pointed to the reality of life in Jesus when they kept it, so no one else ever needs to.  They also teach, improperly, that the Sabbath deprives us of the joy God wants us to have (ignoring that the Bible teaches that the Sabbath is a blessing for those to whom salvation comes, see Isaiah 56:1-2).

Furthermore, this misunderstanding of Colossians 2:16-17 and Hebrews 4 has been dealt with by various COGs (UCG did a decent job of it in ones of its most recent booklets).  I have also attempted to deal with it in an article that discusses some of WCG’s improper logic in the articles:

Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles such as one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision.
The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad Was the seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath observed by the apostolic and post-apostolic Church?

Another belief was:

24. Baptism…

It is not our practice to baptize infants or children too young to express faith for themselves, since we understand baptism to be an expression of faith, and no one can be saved by their parents’ faith. We do not, however, condemn as unchristian those who do practice infant baptism.

Also WCG admits that baptism is an expression of faith that infants are to young to express, yet baptizing them any way is not unchristian.  This is another obvious instance where attempting to fit in with the world’s churches has once again overridden truth and logic.  An article of possibly related interest may be Baptism and the Early Church.

The above, though, is consistent with several “beliefs” in the booklet–WCG on many matters takes two sides (or more specifically refuses to take one side or the other) .

Notice from beliefs 32,33,34, and 35:

32…The Bible teaches that unrepentant sinners will suffer the second death in the lake of fire, but it does not make absolutely clear whether this means annihilation or conscious spiritual alienation from God…

33…In a vision, John saw God’s presence eventually coming to earth—not the present earth, but a “new earth” (Revelation 21:3). Whether we “go” to heaven, or it “comes” to us, is of no consequence…

34…Some passages suggest a conscious intermediate state, and others an unconscious state. The Worldwide Church of God believes both views should be respected…

35…Two views of the millenium

F

or many Christians, the millennium is a very important doctrine, a wonderful mes­sage of good news. But we do not stress the millennium. Why? Because we base our teachings on the Bible, and the Bible is not as clear on this topic as some people think it is.

Those interested in more clarity on that last topic may wish to read the article Did The Early Church Millenarianism?

In a major departure from Church of God (COG) teachings,  the WCG book essentially admits that Roman Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox represented the true Christian Church.

How?

It calls three documents that they came up with “Historical Documents of the Christian Church”.  Here are some of their comments on three of them:

At the request of Emperor Constantine, Christian bishops from across the Roman Empire met at the town of Nicea in 325 to discuss the matter. They wrote their consensus in the form of a creed, called the Creed of Nicea. In 381 another major council was held at Constantinople at which the Creed of Nicea was slightly revised to include a few more doctrines. The resulting Creed is called the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, or more commonly, the Nicene Creed.

In the next century, church leaders met in the city of Chalcedon to discuss, among other things, questions about the divine and human natures of Jesus Christ. The result was a Definition of Faith they believed to be true to the gospel, true to apostolic teaching, and true to the Scriptures. This statement is called the Definition of Chalcedon or the Faith of Chalcedon…

Church fathers Tertullian, Augustine, and other leaders had slightly different versions of the Apostles’ Creed, but the text of Pirminius in A.D. 750 was eventually accepted as the standard form.

WCG then, in essence, is admitting what the Roman Catholics teach, which is that the Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox were the true Christian Church in the fourth through eighth centuries (and by implication, beyond that).  Since WCG admits that, it really has little excuse for not being part of them.

Those interested in the truth about early Christianity, where the Church was, and a lot of what it believed, should read, pray about, and study the following articles:

History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church?
The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3 Do they matter? Most say they must, but act like they do not. This article contains some history about the Church of God (sometimes referred to as the continuation of Primitive Christianity) over the past 2000 years.
What Do Roman Catholic Scholars Actually Teach About Early Church History? Although most believe that the Roman Catholic Church history teaches an unbroken line of succession of bishops beginning with Peter, with stories about most of them, Roman Catholic scholars know the truth of this matter. This eye-opening article is a must-read for any who really wants to know what Roman Catholic history actually admits about the early church.
Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome What actually happened to the primitive Church? And did the Bible tell about this in advance?
Apostolic Succession What really happened? Did structure and beliefs change? Are many of the widely-held current understandings of this even possible?
The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert Armstrong This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the COG is NOT Protestant.
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? This documented article answers those questions.
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Orthodox Church and the Churches of God Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?

Not every belief in WCG’s new book was wrong.  Some that they mention are held by both mainstream and COG groups.

However, another belief (#31) was:

31…It is the belief of the Worldwide Church of God that in Christ the Lord makes gracious and just provision for all, even for those who at death appear not to have believed the gospel.

Finally, WCG has held on to at least one belief that most Roman Catholics and Protestants do not share–it is actually a belief that is condemned by most Catholics and Protestants.

Yet, this is a belief that is essentially a COG belief, as well to a lessor degree, a belief of the Eastern Orthodox.  And it is an extremely important belief.

It is the belief that, in my opinion, best explains how God is a God of love and how come His plan is one of love.

Two articles of related interest may include:

Universal Salvation? There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this?
Hope of Salvation: How the COGs differ from most Protestants How the COGs differ from mainstream Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a COG background.

Anyway, WCG’s new book simply is a relatively easy way to see that it is not a COG, that it often prefers mainstream as opposed to biblical doctrines, and that it essentially believes that the Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox did, in fact, represent the Christian Church from the time of Constantine until at least the early 8th century (and by inference, beyond that timeframe).

Perhaps I should point out that the new WCG book does not explain some of the first changes that WCG made.  An article of related interest may be Did You Know What the First Changes the Tkach Administration Made in WCG?

A listing of beliefs that the early true Church of God held that are not generally not held (with a couple of exceptions) by mainstream groups that profess Christ is available at the History of Early Christianity page.