Was
God Behind the
Worldwide Church of God Changes?
(Questions to ask)
Worldwide Church of God seems to be revising their history so fast that it would behoove all of us to remember the way the new changes took place.
Why did it take so many years for members of the WCG to understand their new evangelical doctrines? Could all the finagling with doctrines merely have been a smokescreen to cover up the real reasons behind the changes? WCG reforms were paved by first getting their members to dispose of the earlier booklets. By listening to sermon tapes from the 1990's, it's easy to see that members were being eased into the new changes by a layer of propaganda and deceit. (See Rumors [Tkach Jr. denying changes in 1993] and this footnote regarding Ron Kelly and Herman Hoeh in the 1990's.) Then, as the changes were slowly being brought in, they moved out many local ministers and brought in new ones--most who knew nothing about the past, especially about the decade of the `70's when certain so called "rebellious" ministers recognized the same errors in Herbert W. Armstrong's doctrines, but were pushed aside, slandered and disfellowshipped. The new ministers of today have unthinkingly believed the propaganda that headquarters has fed them, that all material written by "dissidents" is a lie and rumors, or else "in the past" and something not to talk about. Why didn't members know the true history about the WCG? Why didn't they know about the courageous WCG evangelists who took their concerns to headquarters over 30 years ago? These evangelists knew of the financial abuses, corruption and double standards going on at headquarters. They knew about the doctrines that were causing untold misery and suffering. Why did many ministers choose, instead, to stay, keep quiet about these things, and continue receiving three tithes from the members? After all, the tithing doctrine was one of the problems brought up by several WCG evangelists in the 1970's who sought to bring change from within the organization. What was the result of bringing these issues up to the leadership? They were ignored, accused, slandered, kicked out and labeled "rebels" and "influenced by Satan." That was the real reason for the mass exodus of ministers and members during this time, not an "attack from Satan" when HWA told remaining members that he had to "get the church back on track." How then, in 1995, could Joseph W. Tkach. "suddenly" just so happen to get his "new revelation" from God? The long-time ministers still in WCG (many of whom grew up in WCG) would have been aware of exactly what transpired in the past. Could this be the main reason WCG replaced many of these older ministers at this time (whom they said were "too slow" in getting the changes implemented) with newer, naïve ministers who easily accepted the "revised" version of WCG's history that headquarters has furnished? [Read: Transformed by Christ (A Critical Review of Worldwide Church of God's Book] Was it true (as members were taught) that God really didn't reveal the truth about the New Covenant to members until He revealed it to Joseph W. Tkach? If that was true, what was Greg Albrecht, Bernie Schnippert and Mike Feazell, among the church's current inner-circle attending, Azusa Pacific University (known as a theologically liberal institution, Charismatic/Pentecostal, and a member of Willow Creek Association) in 1977? [See Outsider's Inside Update Newsletter #6 and article in the New Times Los Angeles, December 4, 1997 which shows it was not just Albrecht who began "quietly attending" Azusa, but Bernie Schnippert, Michael Feazell and other ministers in the "inner circle."] Joseph W. Tkach Jr. (pastor general of Worldwide Church of God) said the reason was because Ambassador College was pursuing accreditation--yet AC didn't pursue accreditation until 1988! (This is mentioned in Myths in Transformed by Truth.) To make things more confusing, Ambassador Report #34, January 1986, stated that a letter was sent to HWA on March 21, 1985 from the International Accrediting Association giving Ambassador College full accreditation; however, AC students were "not informed at the time." An informant who phoned Azusa in 2005 related the following to ESN:
Russell Duke was later moved from Azusa Pacific University to full-time work at Ambassador College of Christian Ministry.1 Read the section in our OIU Newsletter, Volume 3: "Was there a Choice?" and how it is important for exiters to do a thorough research on the 1970's era of the Worldwide Church of God in order to see clearly on these "new" changes in order to break free of the false dogma and see clearly on these "new" changes. Concerning this 1970's era and beyond, the following may be read or listened to on tapes: Robert Gerringer 1975 Letter to Charles Hunting Jack Kessler 1981 Letter to WCG Board Members Richard Plache Tapes (talks about the terrible exploitation of members; resignation letter read) Worldwide Church of God History (transcription) (Transcript which exposes the double standards of HWA and leaders and the suffering of the members that finally lead to the exit of many WCG ministers and members; available from ESN. The tape is available.) Did God really reveal to Herbert Armstrong (prior to his death) all the things he was going to change in the Worldwide Church of God (especially in Mystery of the Ages)? Read the following which discusses this: Read: Deception Surrounding Worldwide Church of God Changes. How many knew that, as far back as the early 1990's, WCG minister Earl Williams acknowledged his wrong teachings and began preaching New Covenant grace to members? Was it announced by headquarters that his tapes were available? If not, why did members have to pass those tapes undercover across the country to help other members to see clearly that New Testament Christians were not under the Mosaic Law? This was years before Joseph Tkach Sr. (and Joe Tkach Jr., Greg Albrecht and Michael Feazell) supposedly received their "truth from God" about the New Covenant. Did other members hear about how Joseph W. Tkach told Earl Williams that if he left the WCG he would "lose his salvation" and that if he just stayed, he (Tkach Sr.) would "make the changes"?2 Does this sound like New Covenant language? Was it simply convenient for the leadership to use Mr. Williams to "pave the way" for the doctrinal reforms and then discard him later? Was Atlanta a "test area"? [Read emails saying it was.] Why didn't members know about
Michael Snyder's radio interview on WMUZ in December 1990? Snyder was David Hulme's assistant and strategist for
the new
doctrine propaganda. This program was taped and offers proof that
David Hulme did not
reveal all the truth in his
resignation letter and was a principal architect with WCG
"transformation" behind members' backs. Michael Snyder later left
the WCG, calling it a "cult."3 It has been documented that
Letters from ESN to Watchman Fellowship and Joseph W. Tkach about changes. When some Christian ministries had concerns with WCG changes, why were they not given satisfactory answers, but experienced an accusative tone and lack of clarity instead? Why were members told to stay where God had placed them, while WCG was making their changes with one foot in the old covenant and one foot in the New Covenant? Does God make changes through deception to outside ministries and with double talk, confusion and blame on the members for believing what they did? Shouldn't a true minister of God tell the truth at all times? Isn't God a God of truth? Isn't the Holy Spirit the Spirit of truth? If the changes were a work of the Holy Spirit, why would He seemingly do a "half a job" and take years getting Christ's true message of grace revealed, losing most to offshoots with the same Armstrong doctrines in the process? Why, indeed, would changes made "by God" cause most of the members to exit to these spin-off groups (Global Church of God was the first and United Church of God was one of the major breakoffs)? Why would others remain confused about what they believed, and still others to become agnostic? Is this how the Holy Spirit works when people are enlightened with the truth of Christ? Or is it more the way people would act if they had never been "deprogrammed" from the mind control that was unknowingly being used on them? WCG's reason (given in the beginning to certain authors and ministries about why members were taking so long in grasping the truth about grace) was: "Well, it took us time to understand these doctrines in order that we could teach them to the members," and "We were new with all these things and made mistakes." Does this hold water? Many of research articles on WCG changes testify otherwise. Also see this note about why this doesn't add up. David Covington (minister in WCG at the time) tried to help the leaders at headquarters understand that the WCG was still functioning as an abusive system, but to no avail. After having his words and motives maligned and twisted by headquarters, he finally ended up leaving. (Read his final letter to Greg Albrecht.) Why would massive numbers need to be disfellowshipped? Yes, we've all heard the reasonings about how these "disobedient" ministers had to be put out because they held to believing that HWA had the truth and it was "too hard for them to give up what they had taught all those years." Why didn't the Holy Spirit transform them, too? Wasn't God merciful enough to do that--if He indeed had stepped in to change the entire WCG? Do we really believe the twisted logic WCG has given to explain all this away? How can it make sense in light of how other members had their blindness completely removed, not having to go through a gradual unfolding of the New Covenant? Why did they see they needed to walk away from WCG organization entirely? Why would the WCG leadership go on to proclaim that HWA was really a "sincere Christian" all those years and just got a little off in his understanding of the Bible and so God decided to pick the WCG to show them how they needed to change? If this was true about HWA, then why did WCG never have a Bible Story Book published that covered the New Testament? Why did the volumes of the Bible Story Book (that members were to read to their children) only cover the Old Testament? Many members will remember that they were told that Basic Wolverton (author of the Bible Story) just hadn't gotten around to doing the N.T. yet and a few articles would be placed in the Plain Truth until then. We should realize that it is far easier to control members when the belief system of a group is based on the O.T., especially the old covenant, because the end result is that the grace of the New Covenant, which is found through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, will never be brought to light, resulting in liberty. So how could Herbert Armstrong have been "dedicated to Christ"5 as the leadership also proclaimed? If HWA was following the true Jesus Christ in the Word of God, wouldn't the Holy Spirit have revealed these things to him? Wouldn't true changes cause leaders to admit the full truth about their history, the background of their founder,6 and admit that Herbert Armstrong was a liar and that it was habitual?7 Wouldn't they let their members know that HWA lied about the early church "keeping the Sabbath," and that he also lied about restoring the Church back to the "original truths"? Would they minimize and/or cover up these things because they had determined it was "best" that their members didn't know all the truth? Would they go on to revise their own history8 in order to foster an idea of the group's "special relationship" with God? If God changed the WCG, why hasn't He done a similar work with other cults like Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons and other Bible-based cults? Isn't that what Hank Hanegraaff declared would happen? Did WCG make its members think they were in some type of "special" category? WCG was supposed to "lead the way" for God to change other cults. Mormons, Moonies, Seventh-day Adventists and other cults/cultic groups are starting to follow the WCG's footsteps and are also trying to mainstream.9 Read: Mainstreaming Mormonism. [offsite link] How could God have changed a "church" from the "fringe of Christianity" to the "fold" as Ruth Tucker stated in Christianity Today, if WCG was alleged to have used "church" as a front in order to deceive and exploit others? Not only was Herbert Armstrong's WCG listed as a Bible-based cult in all the apologetic literature, but some who have researched carefully have questioned if it was nothing more than a mass multi-marketing business organization filled with corruption and immorality at the top? Others have even alleged that WCG could have been set up as a secret "mind control operation" (since the 1950's) and used for sinister activities. Could this be true? Religious cults10 are known to use "church" as a front11 while their members are kept completely unaware of what is really going on at the top. These groups are known to "transform" after the founder dies, and they also change approximately every ten years. Doesn't the WCG find it much easier to get into other countries today than when it previously was listed as a "cult"? Why did WCG quash all criticism and dissent? Why were many of those who disagreed with WCG headquarters' mandated changes treated in a patronizing manner and made to feel they "didn't have all their facts straight"? In several cases sincere and loyal elders were removed, simply because these men didn't endorse harsh measures to get the new changes across. Why were attempts at healing rushed through and not very effective?12 Why wasn't it made clear to members that the abuser (or abusers) can have no part in the recovery of their victims, and that the abuser must receive help from other qualified professionals, and be well on the road to recovery themselves, before they even attempt to minister to the wounded? During the new changes, why weren't the members told about (and helped to understand) the methods of thought reform that HWA and top leaders had used, and which enabled them to recruited innocent others into a destructive religious group? Could members recognize it today if these methods were still being used? Do they recognize the mind control methods (i. e., confusion, guilt, blame and double messages) that were used in order to instigate the changes?13 Do legitimate Christian churches use mind manipulating methods; e.g., Neuro-Linguistic Programming,14 on their members without their awareness? Why is WCG membership down to so few members in many congregations if the doctrinal changes were "of God?" Why are some of the congregations moving to a new location and the majority changing their name? Are they beginning to want the spotlight taken off of them?15 Why did WCG (in March 2003) decide to allow Philadelphia Church of God (a splinter group of the WCG) to republish HWA's material by selling PCG the copyrights for $3 million dollars? Would a "Christian church" allow Herbert W. Armstrong's literature (considered heresies) to be given to another group labeled a "destructive religious cult,"10 to republish and to distribute? Is this what "true changed evangelicals" do? Is this ethical? One must ask if such behavior can have a part in the life of those who claim to have changed from cult to preaching the gospel of Christ? Why are there still ministers in WCG holding on to some of Herbert Armstrong's teachings,16 and others who remain confused, or ambivalent, about what they really should believe or teach? Why has Worldwide Church of God joined the ecumenical movement and is mingling with neo-evangelicals?17 Why are they now endorsing New Age teachings and philosophies and becoming part of the Church growth movement? Why didn't they disband headquarters, sell their massive real estate holdings, and return the monies to those they had exploited and needlessly abused financially, emotionally, physically and even in some cases, sexually? Does a lame "apology"18 and a "we have changed" stance make up for the deaths, exploitation, and devastation of thousands of adults and helpless children?19 Is it possible to put new wine in old wine skins? Does a rotten tree ever bring forth good fruit? Or should it, instead, be chopped completely down to the ground and the captives set free? May Christians be discerning in these days of deception and apostasy. By D. W. Note: Joseph W. Tkach died September 22, 1995 of cancer at the age of 68. Footnotes: 1 May-June Together (Worldwide Church of God News) 2 Testimony of WCG member (now exited) who was in contact with Joseph W. Tkach during the time Earl Williams' tapes were being passed around to different congregations. 3 The Watchman Expositor, "Former Minister's Parting Comment" by Robert Collins, p. 8., Vol. 10, No. 7, 1993 4 "But during an October 22, 1990 'Truths that Transform" radio program (produced by D. James Kennedy's Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida), portions of a private WCG working paper on the Trinity were discussed, along with speculation that the longstanding WCG view of the God-head might be revised." ("Unprecedented Changes Affect Worldwide Church of God," Christian Research Journal, News Watch, Spring 1991); "For over a year the leadership of the Worldwide Church of God has been in contact with Watchman Fellowship and other counter-cult ministries concerning doctrinal changes..." ("Doctrinal Changes at the Worldwide Church of God," Watchman Expositor, Vol. 8, No. 5, 1991); "...we represented the publishers in a January 13, 1992 meeting with WCG leaders to discuss doctrinal changes they claim have been taking place with the church. Representing the WCG were [Michael] Snyder, David Hulme.. and J. Michael Feazell.. Armstrong taught, in effect, that the WCG is the only true church--a claim the present leadership no longer makes. ... When asked specifically whether baptism is a prerequisite to salvation, they said no." ("Special Report: Worldwide Church of God in Transition," Christian Research Journal, News Watch, January 1992, by Kurt Van Gorden and Alan W. Gomes); "Worldwide Church of God Accepts Trinity Doctrine," The Watchman Expositor, Vol. 10, No. 7, 1993; "The Worldwide Church of God Acknowledging the 'Plain Truth' about the Trinity?" Christian Research Journal, Spring/Summer 1994; Michael Snyder and Ruth Tucker Dec. 1990 WMUZ radio interview; et al. 5 On 4-30-96 and 5-1-96 Joseph W. Tkach Jr. was interviewed on D. James Kennedy's Christian radio program Truths that Transform. In that interview, Tkach Jr. stated that Herbert W. Armstrong was a "very sincere Christian who was dedicated to Christ." (Tapes with ESN) [Note: D. James Kennedy died 9-5-07 at the age of 76.] In the Worldwide News, March 7, 1995, p. 3, Joseph W. Tkach stated that they believe Herbert Armstrong "was a minister of Jesus Christ." For more quotes see: Has WCG whitewashed Herbert W. Armstrong? from the Q&A's. Herbert W. Armstrong stated, "Christ is not the gospel. Believing on Christ is not believing the gospel." (Voice clip of HWA giving a Bible Study and marking Buck Taylor; heard on tape 2, pt. 2 of "My Story" by C. Wayne Cole, 5-19-79) 6 See articles under Questioning HWA's background. 7 See articles by Kelly Marshall under Questioning if HWA told the truth. 8 Transformed by Christ (A Review of Worldwide Church of God's Book) (shows WCG's history revision and whitewashing of their founder) and Worldwide Church of God History Revision. 9 "From Cult to Church: The Quest for Acceptance," by Dr. Ron Enroth, 1994. (If interested in the tape, email ESN, and ask for it by name. Please include your address on your email.) 10 The word "cult" is used in the context of a deceitful, abusive, mind-manipulating organization. While WCG may not be labeled a "religious cult" by the media today, we have given reasons in our OIU newsletters and in our other articles why we do not endorse them, but rather expose them. 11 It is alleged that many groups known as "cults" are fronts for a hidden agenda and work together to create a passive people. Is it any wonder they have similar methods of deception, manipulation, abuse, and related goals? Author Alex Constantine has stated: "That cults are dangerous has been proven time and again. That they are often fronts for intelligence activity is indisputable (as anyone who has dug into researching CIA mind control experimentation knows full well)." Read more about this and WCG / HWA activities from OIU Newsletter #6. 12 One of the "healing sessions" that WCG brought in (during the changes) to try and deal with members' healing concerns was called "Pathways for Peace and Healing." This was in the form of seminars for local congregations. A search on this group shows that it is based on Shamanism, which is tied in with Reiki healing, a New Age practice. (Read: Reiki a universal energy technique to heal.) The founder of Reiki was Dr. Mikao Usui a Japanese theologian who claims that Reiki came to him in a vision. Read: The Truth Must be Told (mentions healing sessions; by former WCG member) and letter sent to author, Janis Hutchinson, which mentions these early healing attempts. 13 Video Sermon by Joseph W. Tkach to Worldwide Church of God Members, January 1995. 14 Neuro-Linguistic Programming involves subliminal messages; i.e., the act of tapping into the unconscious mind apart from the person's conscious knowledge. Also read: Clues to Application of Mind Control in WCG (detailed letter to ESN). 15 In November 2004 the Worldwide Church of God moved its headquarters from Pasadena to Glendora, California. (Pasadena Star-News, October 25, 2004) By May 2006 all their offices were moved to Glendora. (Together May-June 2006). Read letter to ESN concerning this. In 2006 they were considering a name change. Read: Worldwide Church of God is Changing Their Name. 16 Read: Is Worldwide Church of God Still Holding on to Some of Herbert W. Armstrong's Doctrines? and Are Some Worldwide Church of God Ministers Still Holding on to Herbert W. Armstrong's Doctrines? 17 Worldwide Church of God: New Changes, Ecumenical & New Age Connections 18
Joseph Tkach, Jr.
"apologized" to the evangelical Christian world in a
Plain Truth, yet no apology was given at this time to the membership
or children for abuses inflicted. (This appears to be normal for WCG
headquarters. Ken Westby testified that
no apology was ever
given by Herbert Armstrong to the brethren admitting that he had led
them astray.) A November 1995 Worldwide News "apology"
to the membership was partially
quoted by Kelly Marshall in her letter to Janis
Hutchinson concerning WCG changes and shows how the apology deviated.
In 2002 former member John Miller testified that there never was an
apology except
a
"generic" one from the pulpit. While some ministers have apologized
for "wrong doctrines" and an "apology" was put forth in the
19 See: Did Herbert W. Armstrong Abuse His Flock?
Outsider's Inside Update Newsletters (Important reading which looks behind the scenes at the real activities and associations pertaining to the "transformation" of the WCG; shows how doctrine was used as a massive propaganda tool; OIU 4, Pt. 1 has a section on Propaganda and Dialectical Materialism) Transformed by Christ (A Critical Review of Worldwide Church of God's Book) (shows WCG's history revision and whitewashing of their founder) Letter Exposing Outright Lies, Abuses and Sociopathic Behavior (Tells the truth about what was really going on at the time of the WCG changes) Lamb With Wolf-Like Jaws! (An amazing letter exposing the deceit, abuse and hypocrisy of the Worldwide Church of God. Written during their new doctrinal changes and mailed to ESN, David Covington, counter-cult apologetic ministries and local members) Letter to author Janis Hutchinson from ESN (Vitally important information with much exposé on WCG's history; includes the manipulation and deception in making the changes; helpful in undoing the propaganda and misinformation) The "HISTORIC" TKACHIAN THOUGHT REFORM PROGRAM (and info following that) From OIU Newsletter #4 The Hidden Agenda (From OIU Newsletter #2, pt. 1) The Process of Dialectical Materialism [offsite link] Letter to Worldwide Church of God, Philippines (On Apostasy--A Radical Proposal) (Reveals the disturbing direction WCG is headed doctrinally; includes New Age authors WCG has endorsed. This Oct. 2006 letter was later forwarded to over 300 WCG ministers, including those at Headquarters. Includes link to a rebuttal to Mike Morrison's letter.) Apostasy in the Church (links) Back to Articles on WCG Changes and History Revision
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