Church of God News

 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.

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: