Living Church of God (LCG) is an offshoot of Worldwide Church of God (WCG), which was founded in 1934 by Herbert W. Armstrong (HWA). WCG was known for decades as a destructive, authoritarian Bible-based cult, which claimed to be the "one and only true Church of God" with HWA considered "God's apostle." (Read historical and background information on WCG and HWA.)  LCG's doctrines and belief system is rooted in the teachings of Herbert Armstrong, known as a false teacher and false prophet who gave over 200 false prophecies. (Read: Did Herbert W. Armstrong Set Dates?)

Roderick C. Meredith (age 80 in 2009), founder of LCG, is a former member and minister in WCG. He graduated from Ambassador College (AC) in 1952. AC was founded by HWA in 1947 to train ministers and to carry out his publishing activities operation with his Plain Truth (PT) magazine. Meredith was also associate editor for the PT and wrote a number of articles for WCG, especially on prophecy. These can be found online in Plain Truth archives online. (See especially the 1950's and 1960's to read many of his false prophecies.) Meredith was exposed as a false prophet in Robert Gerringer Letter (search for the word "Meredith").

In 1992, Meredith founded Global Church of God (GCG) in San Diego, California. (One insider revealed that Meredith was paying himself $120,000 per year during the time he was with Global COG.) (For more info on Global's beginnings, read: Speaking of Global...(Re-inventing the wheel) and Letter to author Janis Hutchinson.) Meredith gave a sermon on May 17, 1997 entitled "Where is the True Church Today?"1 In it he stated that the "true church" was none other than Global Church of God.  Members, however, are taught there are "branches" to the true church (referring to other WCG offshoots that teach HWA doctrines).

In November 1998, Meredith was fired from Global Church of God after an "authority conflict." Meredith had felt he should be the "unquestionable leader."2 In December of that year, he founded Living Church of God (LCG) in San Diego, California. In 2003, he left San Diego and moved his LCG headquarters to its present location in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Rod Meredith believes God chose him to "re-establish the true church" and that his members are the "spiritual heirs of the original Jerusalem Church of New Testament time" or "remnant" of the Philadelphia era.3 LCG believes they are the continuation of this Philadelphia era, which Herbert Armstrong began in 1934.4  

Meredith says LCG is carrying on the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong "more than any other group on earth."5 Similar authoritarian groups say the same thing. Read: ALL OR NOTHING STATEMENTS (from those that have "the truth").

LCG believes that the unpardonable sin is "falling away from the truth" (i.e., LCG's truth). This is the same as HWA taught. Read our Q&A on this: "Can I commit the unpardonable sin?"

Living Church of God members have been known to refer to Rod Meredith as "God's anointed."6

LCG produces a weekly half-hour TV program called Tomorrow's World. They also put out a magazine by the same name. Both avenues are used in recruiting potential members for LCG.

In 2007 Meredith founded Living University (LCG's college), which is designed to train ministers and lay members into the belief system of Herbert W. Armstrong (known as Armstrongism).

Living Youth Camp is LCG's camp for their youth and is patterned after HWA's Summer Educational Program camps (S. E. P.).

LCG teaches that there is only one true gospel which is "about the Kingdom of God," but this gospel is in actuality centered on "God's government," and keeping the works of the Mosaic Law in order to gain eternal life, instead of focusing on the Person of Christ and His all sufficient grace. Meredith says the true church is to first: preach this "gospel of the Kingdom" and second: to preach the "true name of Jesus Christ."7 Yet the "Jesus" he preaches is a false Jesus. He endorses HWA's "inspired" teachings and believes that in order to obey God members must keep O.T. laws. Meredith affirmed this teaching early on in his 1956 booklet, "Is Obedience to God Required for Salvation?" ("Obedience" meaning that the old covenant laws given to the nation Israel are which he believes are still in effect on N.T. Christians.)

Meredith's "faith plus works of the law" belief system is clearly a false gospel and "another gospel." These teachings are in direct conflict with the gospel of grace as presented in the N.T., especially in the Epistles of Paul. In Acts 20:24 the Apostle Paul said he received of the Lord Jesus the gospel of the grace of God, and in Romans 1:9 he called it the gospel of God's son. The New Testament shows that the early Christians preached the Lord Jesus. (Acts 11:20) Paul affirmed that the gospel he preached was a "revelation of Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1:11-12) For more Scriptures, see our answer to: The gospel of the Kingdom is a gospel about government!"

Mystery of the Ages (a critical review) goes into detail about Herbert Armstrong's false teachings and how he merely copied and plagiarized his "theology" from the Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, 7th-Day Adventism, and Church of God 7th Day, added his own spin to it, and then pawned it off as "new truth" or "God's restored truth." Read: Herbert W. Armstrong's Religious Roots (the origin of Herbert's unique doctrines).

Members are commanded to keep the 7th day Sabbath (Saturday) "holy." This means they are not to engage in any labor (including a job), nor do their own pleasure (only occasionally is it permissible for them to eat out in a restaurant on that day), and attendance at LCG services is mandatory. According to the Mosaic Law, one was required to rest in their dwelling on the Sabbath, but members do not stay at home. Therefore, they violate the Law they claim to keep.

Saturday services, where members are expected to wear their best clothes (for men this means a suit and tie), are approximately two hours in length (a long sermon, plus a sermonette), and they fellowship with members before and after services. Classic or traditional Christian hymnbooks are not used. (See: WCG Took Jesus Away From Members and accompanying links for more on the subject of hymns used by HWA and offshoots).

Members are expected to pay a first tithe (considered a "financial law"8) to LCG headquarters. They also must save a second tithe, which is only to be spent on the O.T. feast days--predominantly the Feast of Tabernacles. Additionally, members (but not ministers) pay a third tithe every three years out of seven to HQ. They are taught, "God places great importance on this tithe because He sets it apart for sacred use."9 Herbert Armstrong said this third tithe was commanded by God in order to "help the widows and less fortunate" members, but instead, the majority of this tithe was being siphoned off to subsidize the luxurious lifestyle of the leaders.10 To not pay tithes is considered "robbing God"--in spite of how the Mosaic Law states that one is to tithe on the increase of their livestock and produce, not wages. Read: Tithing and Wolves in Sheep's Clothing (Who really is changing times and laws?

HWA said the "master key" that was revealed to him was knowing we are "God's people, Israel." (Read: British-Israelism: True or False?) LCG believes they are "modern-day Israel" and are commanded to attend all the feast days listed in Lev. 23. These "commanded assemblies" are as follows: Passover, Days of Unleavened Bread (first and last days are annual Sabbaths), Pentecost (annual Sabbath), Feast of Trumpets (annual Sabbath), Day of Atonement (annual Sabbath), Feast of Tabernacles (first day is an annual Sabbath) and the Last Great Day (annual Sabbath). Generous offerings are to be given on all annual Sabbaths, and no work is to be done from sunset to sunset. If one of these holy days (festivals) falls during the week, members must still take off work to attend. Children are also expected to be at services for all of these O.T. feast days. To not show up is considered a grave sin. On the Day of Atonement (DOA) they must fast without food or water from sunset to sunset, along with attending services.

The Feast of Tabernacles (FOT) is observed as a seven-day assembly at LCG sites around the world. The Mosaic Law required one to keep the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, and to built a temporary dwelling with wood and branches; however, members feel they do not need to obey this command, but instead follow the teachings of men in regards to the Law. Top ministers--but rarely members--stay in high priced living quarters at the FOT. The Feast is blown up to be the highlight of the year, picturing when they will "rule and reign with Christ" in His Kingdom, but in reality it is the major time of year in which members are further programmed into the group's belief system. Read: When We Attended the Feast (what did they do to our mind?)

Immediately following the FOT, they observe what they call the "Last Great Day" (the eighth day of the Feast), which HWA said pictures the 2nd resurrection "when ALL humanity will finally be given an opportunity to understand the Truth."11 (This "truth," of course, being what HWA said was revealed to him by God.) To read how HWA came up with this "Last Great Day" see footnote #3 at bottom of The Wonderful World Tomorrow: What it WON'T Be Like.

Meredith teaches there are only "two  members in the God family"--God the Father and Jesus Christ, and that God the Father is the foremost member. Only faithful members will become God; e. g.,  "How can you not be filled with ALL of the 'fullness of God' and not be God? ... This is the final fulfillment of the Gospel of Jesus Christ--the ultimate Good News--that man can be born into the God Kingdom, the God-level of existence."12  (bolding ours) Herbert Armstrong stated in Mystery of the Ages (p. 171) that the Kingdom of God was the "born family of God."

Along side this, he teaches that members are "begotten" after conversion, but they not fully "born again" until the resurrection.13. This implies that those who have trusted Christ can be "aborted" and lose the Holy Spirit and eternal life. Such teaching contradicts many Scriptures in the Word of God which show believers have the assurance of eternal life now; i.e., John 3:15; I John 5:13; John 10:28, and that they are sealed with the Holy Spirit. (II Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13; Eph. 4:30.)

LCG members believe it is wrong to observe birthdays. Meredith states: "I do not observe birthdays and I have never had a birthday party for myself or any of my six children nor my wife or anyone else for over 51 years."14 Likewise, members do not observe holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day, etc., calling them "pagan." (HWA taught that only "traditional holidays" were okay; i. e., Fourth of July and Thanksgiving Day.)

Members also observe the law of clean and unclean meats as described in Leviticus 11; as a result they are to abstain from eating eat pork, shrimp, crabmeat, catfish, etc.

Baptism can only be administered by LCG ministers. If you were baptized prior to going into LCG (for instance, by a minister in a mainstream Sunday keeping church), it is considered "invalid." LCG teaches that the Holy Spirit (which they believe is a force, not God) can only be given to those who are obedient to the government of God; i.e., to LCG headquarters teachings and who are baptized in the LCG. (Read: Is the Holy Spirit Only the Power of God?) More about LCG doctrines can be discovered by reading our section: Questioning HWA's doctrines.

LCG believes God can, and will, restore miracles and gifts, which were given to the Apostles in the first century as signs. This includes the gift of healing.15 Rod even wrote a booklet called Does God Heal Today? The original booklet with this title was written by Herbert W. Armstrong in 1952. Thousands of WCG members suffered and died as a result of this healing doctrine.16

Children and teens are strongly encouraged to attend LCG's Living Youth Camp. (Read stories from those who attended HWA's S. E. P. camp and how authority is strict in these camps.)

Members must decline jury duty and are not to involve themselves in politics. They also refuse to participate in war, believing it goes against the sixth commandment not to "kill."

Members are admonished to only date and marry within the confines of LCG.

LCG is considered a secret group and all information is not presented upfront. Potential members must read the free literature, even encouraged to sign up for the online Bible course; then a minister will visit them before they attend services--and especially before they become a member. (The exact address of their meeting places is not posted on their site.) This entire process usually takes awhile. Read: 9-28-09 letter: Spared From Living Church of God After Finding ESN Site.

Meredith's sermons and newsletters are filled with end time prophecies and frightening scenarios, telling how "time is short" and the "end will soon be here."17   This is nothing new as he has been giving false prophecies for the last 50 years. For example: "You might as well wake up and FACE FACTS! The world you live in won't be here 15 years from now!" (The Plain Truth, December 1963). According to the May-June 2005 issue of The Biblical Evangelist (Robert L. Sumner, editor), Meredith sent a video to his members (approximately 6-7,000 at this writing), telling them they were in the "final push--surely in the next 5 or 6 years." As a result of this repetition and fear, members are manipulated into believing they must continue paying tithes, send in generous donations, obey "God's government" (i. e., LCG headquarters), have faith, etc., because God is soon going to punish the "modern descendants of the House of Israel," which Rod claims are America, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.18

Meredith teaches that they, "as Philadelphians," will be protected during the great tribulation for 3 l/2 years--presumably in Petra, a wilderness and rocky place of caves in Jordan--and the "lukewarm Laodiceans" (who do not keep God's Ten Commandments) will not be protected.19 This was an early teaching in the WCG. In fact, Herman Hoeh (evangelist in the Worldwide Church of God) wrote an article in The Plain Truth, June 1963 entitled "If World War III Comes--There is a Way of Escape." The April 1962 and October 1963 Good News both carried articles on Petra, including photos of the area. The latter article told how Petra had "no water" and "no visible food supply," but "plenty of caves." It was only by "absolute faith in God" that the members would get there. (Read: Memories About Petra and additions at bottom of that article to learn more about what Herbert W. Armstrong taught about this "place of safety.")

Those in LCG believe that the other "churches of God" (WCG splinter groups) that keep only some of Herbert Armstrong's doctrines are "Laodocian" and that those people will end up in the "Lake of Fire" (to be annihilated) if they don't repent. Ironically, there are a number of other totalistic WCG offshoots, such as Philadelphia Church of God and Restored Church of God, which believe the exact same thing about their "church."

Roderick Meredith goes so far as to claim that Herbert Armstrong was an apostle and the "greatest minister, perhaps, in the past 1800 years."20 On the contrary, our section Questioning Herbert W. Armstrong reveals how HWA has been exposed as a false prophet, a false teacher, a hypocrite, and an habitual liar, who deceived and exploited thousands. There have also been several factual books written about HWA and his exclusive organization.

Members study LCG's literature diligently, listen to long sermons (usually one hour in length), plus sermonettes, attend twice a month Bible studies, submit themselves unquestioningly to the authority (LCG's "government"), strive for perfection, give excessively, pray one hour a day, fast once a month, and believe the end is near. As a result, their personality is altered, critical thinking skills are suspended, and they remain under mind control. However, they will state they are "living by what the Bible teaches."

Educate yourself on thought reform and the identifying marks of an exploitive, abusive group, so that you don't end up a casualty in Roderick C. Meredith's Living Church of God.

By D. W.
Exit & Support Network™
January 18, 2003
Last updated September 30, 2009

Also read:

Letters regarding the Living Church of God shooting spree that occurred during Sabbath services in Brookfield, Wisconsin on March 12, 2005 (includes: "Info on Rod Meredith")

The Error and Deception of Living Church of God (excellent 2009 testimony and insight from a man who kept a diary of all the odd things he noticed in LCG)

Stories & Testimonies (some of these are by former LCG members; includes the above)

NOTE: Living Church of God has been known to meet in Masonic temples or buildings (as did Herbert Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God). Freemasonry is considered a religion but not a Christian religion. Roderick Meredith confessed to being initiated into the DeMolays, a Masonic club for boys, when he was a teenager. ("Trust Christ's Leadership," taped sermon by RCM, July 6, 1996.) Some believe that groups such as the DeMolays are "feeder groups" for the Masons ("...being groomed for potential membership in Masonry and the Eastern Star when they reach adulthood." Hidden Secrets of the Eastern Star by Cathy Burns) Also see our tapes: Freemasonry and the Cult Connection. Could Dr. C. Paul Meredith (Roderick Meredith's uncle) perhaps have been a Mason himself? C. Paul Meredith was appointed director of the Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course in 1954 by Herbert W. Armstrong. The AC Bible Correspondence Course was used in recruiting others into HWA's organization.

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.

Footnotes:

1 Tape with ESN.

2 The Journal, August 1998)

3 "...we are the 'remnant' of the Philadelphian Church living over into the Laodicean era" (Living Church News; July-Aug 2003, "Wait on God," by Roderick C. Meredith, p. 3.) However, LCG believes that in order to be considered a Philadelphian, individual members must "do their part, and must not allow their lives to be cluttered by the cares of this world so that they themselves become lukewarm (Laodicean)" (Living Church News, Jul-Aug 2001, "What is a Philadelphian?" by Robert Thiel, p.15). Note: "do their part" is construed to mean, "obey the government of God." "It is clear that God's government throughout the Old Testament--AND in the soon coming World Ahead--was (and will be) a hierarchical government under God's direction, based on the Holy Scriptures..." (Global Church News, Sept-Oct 1995; pp. 5,7,8) Read: Why does PCG emphasize the government of God?, which can also apply to LCG.

4 LCG Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs, Church History, 11/14/02.

5 All or Nothing Statement by Roderick C. Meredith.

6 March 21, 2005 letter to ESN.

7 Do You Believe the True Gospel? by Roderick C. Meredith, 1995. "We must never forget that Christ's teaching was not primarily about Himself, but was a message about the coming world government which He will soon set up here on this earth." (January 16, 2005 Dear Brethren and Co-Workers letter by R. Meredith)

8 "God's People Tithe!" by Roderick C. Meredith

9 Living Church News, November/December 1999, "The Blessings of Third Tithe" by Gary F. Ehman, p. 10.

10 Third tithe was rarely ever used for its intended purpose. Instead, it was used to subsidize the luxurious lifestyles of the leaders. The articles Fleecing the Flock and Southern Exposure in Ambassador Report #2, 1977 showed this was true. (Note: Please be aware that the AR is now posted on an agnostic/atheist website.)

11 The Holy Days—God's Master Plan by Roderick Meredith, 1998.

12 Your Ultimate Destiny by Roderick C. Meredith, pp. 31, 33,1996. Meredith also teaches (as HWA did) that "God's purpose is that He is reproducing Himself..."  (Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs of the Living Church of God. March 2004).

13 LCG Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs, The Meaning of "Born Again," 11/14/02; Your Ultimate Destiny by Roderick C. Meredith, 1996; p. 9.

14 AUE [Audio tape in English] 123, 3/31/01, "Faith for Healing" by Roderick C. Meredith.

15 June 24, 2002 Member Letter from Roderick Meredith.

16 "Did Herbert W. Armstrong Abuse His Flock? / The WCG's Healing Doctrine" (also read footnote #1 in the article with accompanying links)

17 Following is a sampling from Meredith's newsletters: "The very end of this first 6,000 years of human experience will soon be here." (December 8, 2004 Dear Brethren and Co-Workers letter from Roderick Meredith) "Alternating storms and droughts, firestorms and earthquakes, disease epidemics and increasing terrorism will afflict our peoples in a manner unprecedented in modern history!" (June 17, 2004 Dear Brethren and Co-Workers letter from Roderick Meredith) "Millions of people all around you will become increasingly alarmed and afraid as the wars, the acts of terrorism and the drought, famine and disease epidemics all become more and more serious." (July 21, 2004 Dear Brethren and Co-Workers letter from Roderick Meredith.) 

18 Dear Tomorrow’s World Subscriber by Roderick Meredith, November 1, 2004.

19 Living Church News, July-August 2001, "Is There a Real Place of Safety?" by John Ogwyn. "As you zealously respond to God’s instruction in His word, you will become a faithful 'Philadelphian Christian' whom God will supernaturally protect from the soon-coming Great Tribulation prophesied to come on the world." (July 21, 2004 Dear Brethren and Co-Workers letter by R. Meredith) 

20 VTE [Video tape in English] 131, May 19, 2001, "The Elijah Question" by Roderick C Meredith.

Lifton's Eight Criteria of Mind Control (includes how it has been used by Herbert Armstrong and authoritarian offshoots)

Identifying Marks of an Exploitive, Abusive Group

Outsider's Inside Update Newsletters (Shows how doctrine was used as a massive propaganda tool. OIU FIVE and SIX are detailed reports surrounding the Ecumenical Movement (EC) and the current EC strategy involving the Worldwide Church of God conglomerate. Those interested in researching the "reasons behind the events" and activities of the Worldwide Church of God and its extension groups; i. e., United Church of God, Global Church of God (today the Living Church of God), Philadelphia Church of God and other splinters, will find these two Volumes helpful, thought-inspiring and possibly shocking. The OIU looks behind the scenes at the real activities and associations pertaining to the "transformation" of the WCG.)

How Did Herbert W. Armstrong Recruit People? (shows the step by step process that certain controlling offshoots of WCG still use)

Questioning Herbert W. Armstrong (was he who he said he was?) (many articles)

Historical and Revealing Background Info on WCG & Herbert Armstrong

Prayers for Freedom From Spiritual Strongholds (very effective in gaining liberation from many strongholds and oppressions due to involvement in any harmful cult or occult practices; includes moral issues)

Articles For Those Who Were Emotionally and Spiritually Abused

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