Then along came the Plain Truth magazine. I respected it because it didn't "beg for money"1 like those despicable TV evangelists. But even after years of involvement with the Worldwide Church of God, I never realized how I could excuse Herbert W. Armstrong's excesses, even justifying them. After all, he was "God's Apostle"--he needed that Gulfstream II jet to preach the gospel to the world. "God's Apostle" shouldn't be expected to sit at airports like everyone else. So what if he had the Czar of Russia's gold tableware and $28,000 salt and pepper shakers. He needed it to entertain world leaders and the Ambassador College graduates.

I recall a sermon by our Associate Pastor. It was about "quality" and how "God is a God of Quality" and how HWA upheld that standard. He was telling us about how he was serving as an usher during one of the Friday night Ambassador Auditorium Symphony series (where your church dollars were spent entertaining HWA and the rich community with the world's best performers, but where the name "Jesus" was never heard, nor was anyone ever converted). He said a gentleman walked into the auditorium and sarcastically bellowed out, "Armstrong extravagance!!" The Associate Pastor was not amused by this man's outburst.

I also remember some members telling us about their trip to the Pasadena campus. They told us about soap dispensers that would shave off the perfect amount of soap into your hands, and how the swimming pool was the best in the world because it didn't slosh up the sides. They told us of all the marble, gold, crystal, rare wood, costly paintings, etc. and how this place reflected God's love for quality (not Armstrong's greed).2

The Associate Pastor continued his sermon with how we had no right to question "God's Apostle" about the Steuben crystal (often valued at $5,000 or more3) that HWA presented to world leaders. In fact, we had no right to question about how our tithes were used. To question headquarters was to question God (and how dare we?!?)

Thinking back on it, I wondered how I could easily see the greed of Roberts, Bakker and Swaggart, but could overlook these same indulgences and financial abuses in HWA. I ate beans while he dined on filet mignon; I drove a compact car while he owned limos and Rolls Royces; I lived in a small, poorly built home while he lived in mansions with a million dollars worth of art treasures; I shopped at Goodwill for my clothes while he wore expensive Italian suits and $5,000 cufflinks; I sent in tithes and offerings and he didn't tithe at all (the Royal Priesthood a.k.a. "ministry," was exempt). It was okay for HWA to have all these riches, but it was sinful for me to have them. How could I have held two different values at the same time?? I was putting up my treasures in heaven while HWA was amassing them on earth.

I'm sure that the early apostles could have demanded the best camels and fastest horses to reach the ends of the empire with the gospel message; the finest robes so they would appear respectable; homes fit for a king so they could entertain world leaders, and the richest foods to ensure their health so they could preach the gospel for as long as they could. But did they? Jesus himself could have rightfully demanded these things, but He didn't!4

Accountability is not equal to sin or rebellion. There is nothing wrong with asking for a detailed financial statement--you are not challenging God by doing so. The Church of God's various groups are, after all, corporations, and they should not object (unless they're trying to hide something like unjustifiably high salaries?). If you truly believe that tithes are "God's money," then you have every right to make sure that God's money is being used properly. This does not dishonor Him.

I now attend a small church where I know how much the pastor makes ($24,000/yr.), and how much is spent on utilities, building upkeep, various ministries, etc. ($40,000/yr.) because a detailed financial statement is made public. No one is made to feel guilty for asking how the money is spent. This is how it should be.

By Lindsey
Exit & Support Network™
November 4, 2002 

Note: Herbert Armstrong had five luxurious homes filled with art treasurers. (Post-Gazette, Thurs., Nov. 24, 1977, "Worldwide Church of God Amasses Wealth Amid Rising Criticism). His 1980 income tax returns showed that he gave himself and his wife Ramona an income of $387,755, paid federal taxes of $147,545, and deducted only $37,427 (or just over 9.5 percent) as church contributions. His accountant, Jack Kessler, said HWA gave himself a salary of $500,000 per year in 1981. (Jack Kessler 1981 Letter to Worldwide Church of God Board of Directors). HWA had a number of Swiss bank accounts, many foreign bank accounts, owned considerable wealth and had all his living expenses paid for by the church. (AR#26, October 1983)

HWA's opulent Ambassador Auditorium was built for $11 million in 1974. (LA Times, January 17, 1986)

Be sure and check out what a genuine Christian church financial statement looks like (submitted by Lindsey)

Note from ESN: Herbert Armstrong always wanted to be rich and he was able to use religion and "church" to make money. However, some of his earlier connections are very questionable. See the section: Questioning Herbert W. Armstrong's background.

Recommended book: Armstrongism: Religion or Rip-Off? An Exposé of the Armstrong Modus Operandi by Marion J. McNair (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.)

Footnotes by ESN:

1 While the Plain Truth and other literature was advertised as "free," HWA used propaganda techniques in his Co-Worker letters to get donors and then con them out of thousands of dollars. See chapters 2 and 3 of

2 Several book have been written about Herbert W. Armstrong and his luxurious and extravagant lifestyle; e. g., see: The Armstrong Empire: A Look at the Worldwide Church of God Empire by Joseph Hopkins, p. 183, and Armstrongism: Religion or Rip-Off? An Exposé of the Armstrong Modus Operandi by Marion J. McNair, Chapter 1 and 4.

3 Armstrongism: Religion or Rip-Off? An Exposé of the Armstrong Modus Operandi by Marion J. McNair, p. 5

4 Jesus was poor, not rich. See Matthew 8:20 and Luke 9:58
 

Jack Kessler's 1981 Letter to WCG Board of Directors (reveals the financial abuses)

Gerald Flurry Spends $107,500 for Items Auctioned off by Worldwide Church of God 

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

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