Public criticism concerning HWA began circulating many years before he died. To mention a few: Joseph Hopkins wrote The Armstrong Empire in 1974; Dr. Robert L. Sumner wrote Armstrongism: The "Worldwide Church of God" Examined in the Searching Light of Scripture in 1974; The Ambassador Report¹ started exposing the Armstrongs and Worldwide Church of God in 1975; Marion J. McNair wrote Armstrongism: Religion or Rip-Off? An Exposé of the Armstrong Modus Operandi in 1977; Dr. Walter Martin exposed Herbert Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God in 1965 in The Kingdom of the Cults ²; S. E. Anderson wrote Armstrongism's 300 Errors Exposed (by 1300 Bible Verses) in 1973 as a result of long and concentrated study of the group's material; David Robinson wrote Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web³ in 1980; Paul N. Benware analyzed the history and teachings of the WCG in Ambassadors of Armstrongism in 1984; certain WCG exiters worked tirelessly by distributing public flyers on HWA, the WCG and the Plain Truth, and other exposé books and articles⁴ were written about HWA while he was alive.

All this was in addition to both secular cult watching organizations and Orthodox Christian ministries that were attempting to make the public aware of Herbert Armstrong and his "church." The fact that almost all members were unaware of this material shows how effective the information control of the WCG was. Since the mass exodus from the WCG began taking place after WCG's new doctrinal changes were given to the members in 1995, easier access to computers and the internet have enabled even more people (especially exiters) to come forth and criticize Herbert Armstrong and the WCG.

Today Herbert Armstrong lives on in hundreds of offshoots and splinter groups, most of which continue to believe that he was a "true servant of God," "God's End-Time Man,"  or the "end-time Elijah" who restored the true gospel a.k.a. the "Truth." 

Don't members, who believe HWA was led by God, say they aren't following a man?

Herbert Armstrong was heard at Feast sites (i. e., in 1972 in Penticton, BC, Canada) to say, "Follow me! I will lead you into the Kingdom!" and "He [God] is speaking through me!" The ironic thing is that it was HWA who then turned around and taught members that they "weren't following a man, but God." As a result, you will hear many of his followers (especially in Philadelphia Church of God) talk more about Herbert Armstrong and his "truths" than they do about the Lord Jesus Christ and His grace. 

HWA was able to convince many readers and members that it was God who was speaking through him (instead of God speaking through His Son. See Heb. 1:2a). Consequently, they came to believe that every doctrine HWA taught was true. However, most false teachers say the same thing. [Read: All or Nothing Statements (from those who have "the truth")

If one researches HWA's background and his religious roots, they will discover that he didn't really receive any new truth from God, but took most of his teachings from various heretical belief systems (i.e., Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, Seventh-Day Adventistism, etc.). He also gave out over 200 false prophecies (not "speculations") which were to take place "within 5, 10 and 20 years." The Bible shows that it only takes one false prophecy to make someone a false prophet (Deut. 18:22); therefore, wouldn't this show that members were not only following a man, but a false prophet?

I thought HWA said to "listen to no man":

He did, but then in what could constitute double-speak he persuaded members to refuse to listen to anyone else but him and to read only his literature. This is known as "milieu control" or "information control" and Bible-based cults (i. e., mind manipulating groups) know how to make use of this. This means he held back information, distorted information and basically used only his literature (booklets, magazines, newsletters, videos, tapes, etc.) for instruction. Anything that was critical of his organization was said to be "only lies," and "of Satan."

The beginning lessons of The Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course started out by instructing the student to use only a Bible and the Correspondence Course; i.e., no evangelical Christian books, tracts, or other religious literature material, no asking questions from other mainstream Christian ministers--lest the student "get confused." (The Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course, 1965, Lesson #4, p.11. Read HWA's full quote.)  This was the method HWA used in order to take Scriptures out of context and distort them in order to enable the student to believe he was actually finding out certain truths on his own. This can be classified as subtle deception because the reader ends up thinking he "proved" all of his religious beliefs (did his own thinking) by simply studying his own Bible. In reality, HWA succeeded in controlling that person's thinking, including financial exploiting him in the process. [See: Armstrongism: Religion or Rip-Off? An Expose of the Armstrong Modus Operandi. Chapters 2 and 3 give an analysis of Herbert Armstrong's co-worker letters, revealing the propaganda methods he used in order to solicit donors and then con them out of thousands of dollars.]

Almost all deceptive religious groups, in one way or another, say "don't listen to me; read your own Bible," or as HWA said, "Don't believe me, believe your Bible," but they are able to lure their listeners into reading only their literature, and distrusting all others, because that is what is supposed to show the reader "how to interpret the Bible."

"Leaders get members and potential members to believe that they don't interpret the Bible but just 'teach what is in the Bible'--making the Bible synonymous with their interpretation!" (Mary Alice Chrnalogar, Twisted Scriptures, "Tricks to Keep You Controlled," p. 139)

As a result, people can come to place complete trust in one authority who tells them he has "the truth." [Read: I Listened to a Man] Not only did HWA lead members to read only his material, but, without their awareness, he distorted historical church documents and omitted words from other books he quoted from.

Those leaving any totalistic, high demand group which teaches HWA had the "restored gospel" and was "God's Apostle," "the end-time Elijah," etc. will have a very difficult time getting this belief system out of their head, mainly due to an ingrained mistrust of all other Christian material, and through mind control programming. When they do read other material, it is often avoidance of that which HWA frowned on. Therefore, it is helpful, whether one is still in these Armstrong groups, or has exited, that they study the history of the group (WCG), the background of the founder, and the marks and methods of deceptive religious groups. [Refer to our transcript of tape EX-2, Clues to Application of Mind Control in WCG, and the book: Scripture Twisting.] 

Didn't HWA emphasize the family?

HWA emphasized the family; e.g. "how to have happy marriages" and "how to produce happy children," but at at the same time he was causing countless break-ups of families by his divorce and remarriage doctrine (D&R) (see Worldwide Church of God History), by his attitude toward those who were "unconverted" in the members' family, by "counseling" given, and by the demands and harsh teaching regarding the women and discipline of children. His own family was far from "happy" and certainly did not set a good example. (Read about his son, Garner Ted Armstrong.)

The members in such an authoritarian structure will follow HWA's teaching in regard to isolating themselves from those "in the world" (or having no contact with "Laodiceans") and will have close relationships only with those inside their group (which they refer to as their "family"); e. g., focusing their life around socials, potlucks, activities for the youth, fund raising, camp outs, Bible studies, etc. This cutting off, especially from their own "unconverted" families who do not understand the "truth" as taught by their founder, causes much grief and burdens.

Wasn't HWA unaware of abuses by ministers?

Some have spread the story that certain ministers under Herbert Armstrong were abusive, yet HWA had "no knowledge of it." This is false because HWA used abusive methods himself. Read: Did Herbert Armstrong Abuse His Flock? What is disfellowshipment if not abusive? What is exploiting someone financially if not abusive? Certainly, there were ministers who felt they were sincere in what they were doing, but were they not mind-controlled themselves through the strict training they received at Ambassador College and through the ministerial refresher programs they had to attend? (Notice the instructions given to ministers in 1969 which showed them how to be deceptive in order to "avoid prosecution" in case of an untimely death due to the healing doctrine.) Students were carefully chosen at AC for the ministry, and those who would not yield totally to all HWA taught were not chosen. To control others through thought reform methods and mind manipulation necessitates abuse and exiting from such groups is always difficult. If anyone believes HWA was unaware of thought reform, they can read more about his background. 

I heard HWA say that we aren't saved by works:

HWA said that we "aren't saved by works," but then if someone didn't rest on the 7th-day Sabbath, attend all the holy days (annual Sabbaths), tithe 3 tithes (including "tithe-of-the tithe"), give offerings, serve, obey the government of God, etc. (which were the "conditions"; i.e., works), they were said to not be "qualified" to enter the Kingdom of God. For instance, in his booklet All About Water Baptism, he says in the first sentence: "WE ARE saved by GRACE, and through FAITH -- make no mistake about that; but -- there are conditions!" (emp. HWA's) If he said there are "conditions," it can't be by grace, because there is no such thing in the Scriptures as "conditional grace." To add anything to grace is to fall from grace. What happened if a member refused to do those "conditions" HWA talked about? According to Armstrong--and all those that believed him--they would disqualify themselves from salvation. In other words, if members didn't do the works of the Law that he taught--and which he added to grace--they ended up out of his organization and headed toward the "lake of fire." Notice what he said in a 1979 Bible Study (tape with ESN): "We have to prove our obedience before we even get into it!" [the Kingdom of God] His many Co-Worker letters reveal how he would threaten loss of salvation if members didn't send him money. This is making grace conditional and salvation contingent upon doing certain works. HWA's words makes it clear that he was teaching works are required for salvation. We cannot add to what Christ has already done for us in his one time, all-atoning sacrifice on the cross. (Hebrews 10:10) 2 Corinthians 6:1 says it is possible to receive God's grace "in vain." Vain means "empty, without results, useless." This is what happens when works of the Law are added to grace (as the "Judaizers" were doing in Paul's day and as HWA taught and his ministers teach today.) This is believing a truncated gospel and is spurning the gospel of grace. 

Did HWA confess his sins before he died?

Herbert Armstrong left no written record or reliable witnessed testimony that he ever repented. He was said to have been sitting in a chair, listening to the AC music tapes when he died. (Read letter from former member who questioned HWA's death diagnosis.) He had plenty of time to repent as his failing health continued for some time. In fact, he was supposed to have appointed his successor nine days before he died, written a letter to the members one week before he died, made out a will four days before he died, gave instructions for his jet and Big Sandy College to be sold and his Autobiography Vol. 1 to be reprinted and Vol. 2 printed, plus he was able to play the piano almost to the end. Nothing mentioned of "confessing his sins." For the last ten years of his life many who were close to HWA wrote letters to him, pleading with him to start living the way of life he had preached for decades and to reconcile with his son, Garner Ted. There is no record, or evidence, that he ever admitted he did anything wrong; likewise that he ever confessed to living a double standard, destroyed a massive number of lives and wasted thousands of dollars (from those who sincerely thought he was the head of God's "one true church") by living in luxury and opulence. Is this was a true servant of God will do? (For a stark contrast of how a true servant of God will conduct his personal life and his work for God, read the book George Muller of Bristol by A. T. Pierson. This book can also be read online)

But let us ask a question. Did HWA even know the true God, or want to know Him? If so, why was he not sensitive all those many years to the Holy Spirit who convicts us of our sins? A "death-bed repentance" has always been the excuse of those who want to justify someone as being "commissioned and led by God." In HWA's case, there is no evidence there was even a death-bed repentance. But if HWA ever repented, he would have had to come to God through Jesus Christ as His Savior, which is the only way he could have come. HWA, as we know, was ashamed of the name of Jesus, not only failing to mention it to dignitaries that he visited in foreign countries, but leaving out songs in WCG's hymnbook about Jesus. The Bible is clear that Christians are to teach the whole Word of God, which centers around Jesus Christ and his free gift of eternal life. Instead, HWA ridiculed and slandered other Christian ministers (calling them counterfeit.) He did not teach that salvation comes by turning to Jesus Christ as our Savior and placing our faith in Him, instead of relying on membership in what he called "God's true church." Instead, made the unscriptural statement that we are "not called just for salvation," but for "a special training provided only in God's Church." (Mystery of the Ages, p. 270-271)

But wasn't HWA sincere, even though he wasn't perfect? 

For someone not to care about the thousands of people they were exploiting, the numerous families they caused to be torn apart, the fears and guilt they were injected into innocent minds, turning a deaf ear to others' pleas, and knowing the hypocrisy of their own life--even incesting his own daughter for years--has got to be the absolute depth of evil. HWA may have said, "follow me as I follow Christ," but the reality was, he didn't follow Christ. Anyone who proclaims that HWA was "a sincere Christian" or "dedicated to Christ" when they know otherwise is having a part in that evil. This words are hard to hear but we cannot continue to hold onto a myth.

Notice David Robinson's words:

"The truth is that this man is so profligate, so practiced a liar, so evil that he can only be a direct servant of Satan the devil. He operates in the name of God to serve his own wicked self, just as he took his own teenage daughter and abused her for 10 years, in the name of God! Many of his ministers know this and privately say so. He has brought great shame on the name of God and on true religions." - Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web

William Hinson, a former WCG minister, had this to say:

"Herbert W. Armstrong has destroyed more lives than anyone I know in the name of religion in such a short period of time. The Armstrong work is a work of darkness and Christians are called upon to reveal the work of darkness." - Broadway to Armageddon

It is hard for many to admit that Herbert Armstrong was a charlatan who used religion as a racket. Many have written about his sins, including his false prophecies. HWA wrote in the AC Bible Correspondence Course that one of the keys to understanding the Bible was "obedience." If that is true, then why was he engaged in sexual abuse of his own daughter at the time he said he was "restoring the true gospel"? Read about the allegations that began to surface about HWA and which were reported in the New Times Los Angeles paper. HWA never denied this was untrue.

Why was HWA reported to be stealing from the till (financial improprieties) when he was with the Church of God 7th Day (and supposedly converted) and later fled to Pasadena to start up his Radio Church of God?⁵

"In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God ..." (I John 3:10).

"None of God's Servants Were Perfect" (for those who like to use this reasoning)

Why was HWA reading Hitler's Mein Kampf and studying communism? Read: Herbert Armstrong Used Mein Kampf as a Guide in Controlling People (includes links)

Those who continue to hold tightly to the belief that Herbert Armstrong had to be God's "true servant" will often cling to one last straw: "HWA was God's true servant because he lived a long life and died peacefully in his sleep, while Joseph Tkach Sr. died a miserable death⁶ not long after making the changes." While this may sound like ridiculous reasoning, it is actually what is known as mystical manipulation (which is used in high-demand, mind-manipulating groups). The fact is that many wicked people and good people have lived both long and short lives. 

Others will totally ignore the hypocrisy in HWA's life and say it makes no difference because "the truth is the truth," or HWA got "some truth" out. But where did HWA receive his "truth"? Was it really revealed to him by God? Was it found in the Word of God? It is common knowledge that he plagiarized/copied these "truths" from Church of God 7th Day and other groups such as Seventh-Day Adventism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, etc.⁷ It was nothing "new." Holding to the belief that "HWA had the truth" is actually putting doctrine over person (explained in Lifton's Eight Criteria of Mind Control). Whereas, the Scriptures teach that a person's life will be transformed after conversion:

John 3:20-21: "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

Many refuse to see the real truth except as viewed through the glasses of Armstrongism.

Did HWA do "a great work" as some have tried to claim? Or was it Christ who did the great work when He shed His blood for us on the cross of Calvary?

The Scriptures warn us about those who will bring a "different gospel"; those who claim to speak for God, but instead are not who they claim to be.

"But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity."

Look first to the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, not to any man who would try to beguile you by claiming he has "the truth."

By D. W.
Exit & Support Network™
November 23, 2003
Last updated March 7, 2008 

Important Note: Herbert Armstrong stated in a 1967 Co-Worker letter that he had studied Communism in the 1930's and 1940's and he also made mention of the book, Witness by Whittaker Chambers. (Witness is an autobiographical memoir, written just after Chambers confessed to his earlier affiliation with the Communist Party and testified against his former friend and comrade, Alger Hiss.) For more info on this and to understand how HWA lured people, read: Communism; Fascism; Socialism; Totalitarianism; or Armstrongism from OIU Newsletter, Vol. 5. What was behind HWA and his "church" is important for survivors to understand. Be sure and read some of the articles under: Questioning HWA's background.

Footnotes:

¹ The Ambassador Report helped many to leave WCG through its exposé of the organization. In the beginning Trechak and the team that he worked with appeared to have a very noble goal. But after awhile it was apparent that he had a close attachment to Stan Rader and the message in his AR became so mixed that it caused people to become bitter instead of being on the road to healing. His report was later referring readers off to agnostic, aberrant, cultic, New Age, meta-physical, anti-Bible and humanistic sources through comments, letters, addresses and book titles. Neither did the AR reveal the real reasons behind the WCG changes. Nevertheless, many issues of the AR (including the letters) have valuable info which exposes the WCG, HWA and Tkach. John Trechak died September 2, 1999. (Note: Please be aware that the AR is now posted on agnostic/atheist website.)

² The earlier editions of The Kingdom of the Cults (e.g., copyright, 1965, 1977, 1985) were replaced after WCG's doctrinal changes by a newer version, with a forward by Hank Hanegraaff. Chapter Four on "Mind Control and Thought Reform" was written by Gretchen Passantino, who debunks mind control and who is closely aligned with CRI. (For more information on Passantinos, read Greg Reid's article: The New Inquisition. Note: Bob Passantino died of a massive heart attack 11-17-03)

³ While this book is now out of print, it is available in comb bound edition through: Emissary Publications, 9205 SE Clackamas RD., Clackamas, OR 97015 (503) 824-2050), or order online. (See our Booklist for titles of other books written about Herbert W. Armstrong and the WCG.)

⁴ While few books were written about Herbert Armstrong before the 1960's, there were, from time to time, articles written; i.e., Joseph Hopkins, author of The Armstrong Empire made mention of several: "Herbert W. Armstrong: Does He Really Have the 'Plain Truth'?" by Leslie K. Tarr, (Moody Monthly, Sept. 1972); Herbert Armstrong: Mr. Confusion by Roger F. Campbell, 1971; The Armstrong Error, by Charles F. DeLoach, 1971; The Marson Report  by Richard A. Marson, 1970; "The Armstrong Movement: A Former Member Speaks Out" by Richard A. Marson (Unpublished  manuscript, 1971); The Plain Truth About Armstrongism by Roger R. Chambers, 1972; "The Plain Truth About the Armstrongs and the World Tomorrow," by William C. Martin, (Harper's, July 1973). Quotes from these authors and others are in Chapter XII of The Armstrong Empire. Other such articles written about HWA and the WCG were: "What Does Herbert Armstrong Preach?" by Herbert V. Caneday (The King's Business, September 1959, pp. 26, 27); "Pertinent Answers to Armstrongism," Roger Campbell (The King's Business, September 1963, pp. 14, 15); The Armstrong Heresy by Paul Wilson.

⁵ Radio Church of God was renamed Worldwide Church of God in 1968. Note: 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). In 2006 they were considering changing their name.

⁶ Joseph W. Tkach died of cancer on September 22, 1995 at the age of 68. (Some insiders have said it was pancreatic cancer.)

⁷ For evidence, see ESN's critical review of Mystery of the Ages, chap. 3, Herbert W. Armstrong's Religious Roots, Roots of the Worldwide Church of God, and Armstrong Charged With Plagiarizing "U.S. And Britain in Prophecy".

Did Herbert W. Armstrong Have God's Truth?

Lifton's Eight Criteria of Mind Control (includes how it has been used by WCG and controlling offshoots)

Profile of a Sociopath (A number of mind-controlling cult leaders may exhibit many of the behavioral characteristics of a sociopath)

Where Do I Find the "One True Church"?  

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

Back to Questioning Herbert W. Armstrong (was he who he said he was?)