"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (I John 4:18)

Have you questioned why Gerald Flurry (if he is really "that prophet") would be demanding more and more money from you, yet spending it for seemingly extravagant items and lavish buildings?

If you have ever had these nagging questions and doubts in your mind, it doesn't mean you have harbored a "bad attitude," are "rebellious," or are "letting Satan get to you." You are simply using your own God-given critical thinking skills to question certain things that don't seem right to you.

Ask yourself what Gerald Flurry has to gain if he is able to exert total control over your life? 

Is Gerald Flurry's motivation to really help you to escape the Tribulation and to be in God's Kingdom? Do you think that is the main reason why he admonishes you to stay in "the church"? Haven't you ever questioned why he (and his ministers) would seemingly act so ruthless as they toss people out of this "one true church" or tell you that you must break off all relationships with your own family (those he has labeled "Laodiceans")?

Is that really the way Jesus acts towards sinners that He came to die for? Don't the Scriptures show that He used harsh language to denounce sin when dealing with the hypocritical Scribes and Pharisees who used false leadership? Yet wasn't He was always merciful and compassionate with those who came to Him? Isn't this what the gospels really teach when you read them straight through? Why would Gerald Flurry picture God as authoritarian and quick to wrath towards His own children? Is this the picture Jesus brought us of the Father? Why are PCG and Gerald Flurry equated somehow with God? In other words, "Leave PCG and you leave God."

There are thousands of other groups in society who claim that they are the "one true Church of God." They teach some of the same doctrines and use some of the same fear methods that Gerald Flurry does. They believe they are the elect, and they are the only ones proclaiming the end time warning message to the world. The main theme in all of them is that their members fear to disobey or to leave the organization (i. e., "God's true church"). They fear something bad (a "curse") will happen to them if they don't obey the "Government," the "authority," the "minister." They fear to stop tithing, to not attend all the holy day convocations; they fear to question the leader (who "stands in God's place"). They all claim to have the answers to the questions about life, and they all say God is working only through only them 

High demand groups (also termed "religious cults") have many things in common with each other. Take a look at Identifying Marks of an Exploitive, Abusive Group and honestly ask yourself if Gerald Flurry or Herbert W. Armstrong ever used any of those techniques on you? Could it be possible that Gerald Flurry wants to do your thinking for you? If not, why would you fear to go to him about questions and doubts that you may have? Was anyone in the New Testament ever put out of the church for asking questions or having problems? Did Jesus throw Peter off because he denied Him in a moment of temptation? Christ showed Himself to Cephas (Peter) after His resurrection (I Cor. 15:5), and before He ascended to heaven (instead of rebuking Peter) He asked him if he loved Him. (John 21:15-17). Peter had failed the Lord, but the Lord still loved him, because He died for him and there is no greater love than that. (John 15:13)

You knew you were free at one time to research on your own, to think for yourself and to make your own decisions. Are you still free? How did that freedom come to be hampered by fear? Herbert Armstrong (the same as Gerald Flurry) always said, "Believe the Bible, not me!" But why is it when one becomes a member of PCG, they must then believe (and obey) whatever Gerald Flurry says, or face the consequences, including being thrown out of the "one true church"--this same church that is alike in so many ways to other groups that say they, too, are "God's true church" with the only true gospel being preached. 

Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Is it loving to use fear and manipulation in order to force people to obey God? Is it loving to only accept others if they perform in certain ways, and to cast them away if they don't? Is it loving to turn a deaf ear to members' sufferings? Is it true love to turn your back on your own family and to tear apart close relationships, causing untold agony?

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." (I John 4:7-8)

Do the Scriptures say that we must "obey God's government" in order to have God love us?

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ... Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God." (I John 4:10, 15)

If we are honest with ourselves, we will see that Herbert Armstrong (and later Gerald Flurry) got us to searching for mysteries, truths and new revelations. Both attempted to answer the questions anyone might have about "What is truth?" "What is our destiny?" "Where are we going?" "Who was Jesus Christ?" "Why all the suffering on this earth?" The real truth is that we are never going to have all the answers to life. But God has made a way for us to be with Him forever through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He loved us that much. Isn't that the most important thing?

It is not Christianity, or the Philadelphia Church of God, or any other offshoot, denomination or church that we should strive to be a part of. Our part must be with the Lord Jesus Christ who died for us and was raised again in order that we might receive eternal life that never fades away. This is not a religion; it's close, personal fellowship with the One who loves us with an everlasting love. Only He can put us into the true church, which is His Body. The Word of God shows that it is Christ we are to be identified with. Notice in the Epistles how the Gospel is about Him.

Do we really need to have all our questions answered if we have Christ Jesus, caring for us, guiding us, teaching us and ministering to our every need through His Holy Spirit?

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19)

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (I Peter 5:7)

We must not become swayed from the simple truth that is found in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on Calvary. We are told in the Scriptures in a very clear and simple way that we are justified (made right before God) by faith and not by works²: 

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified" (Galatians 2:15).

To believe that we need to add anything to our faith in Jesus Christ destroys the gospel. And keep in mind that the true gospel is not just the gospel about the Kingdom that will be set up on earth, but is a gospel about Jesus Christ as Savior and is called: "the gospel of peace" (Rom. 10:15; Eph. 6:15); "the gospel of His Son" (Rom.1:9); "the glorious gospel of Christ" (1 Cor. 9:18; 2 Cor. 4:4); "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24); "the gospel of Jesus Christ" (Mk. 1:1).

Every religious "cult" and false religion instructs people to do something for God. But faith is an accomplished act. We can't put the new into the old. We can't put the old covenant into the grace of the New Testament and Covenant. We have everything we need in Christ Jesus, and that includes having the righteousness of God that enables us to stand before a holy God. This is "positional sanctification" and it is what "in Christ" means.

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (II Cor. 5:21)

"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested...even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference" (Romans 3:21-22).

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (Romans 10:4).

Don't be afraid to question any of these things, or to read your Bible without the literature or sermons from PCG. If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and believe in what He did for you on the cross, you can be assured that He has given you His Spirit and you are His child. The Lord Jesus Christ says that He will not cast out any who come to Him, and that Eternal life is found in Him. It is not contingent upon being in a certain church.

"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them: (Hebrews 7:25).

"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." (I John 5:11)

You can ask God to make the words of the Bible real to you and He will open your understanding. In fact, sit down with your Bible, and sincerely ask Him to show you where something is not right with Flurry's literature--and believe that He will show you.
 
By D. W.
Exit & Support Network™
December 13, 2003
Last updated April 10, 2007  

Footnotes:

¹ When high demand, authoritarian groups refer to obeying "God's government," "the government of God," etc., it is always intended to mean their group's headquarters. However, "government of God" is not mentioned in Scripture. While false teachers will use 2 Pet. 2:10: "...despise government..." to try to correlate this somehow with "God's government" (which the member is to always obey), the verse preceding 2 Pet. 2:10 shows that Peter is talking about "the unjust." Those who are in Christ Jesus are not in the category of being "unjust." This word really means "dominion" and occurs few times in the Bible.

² There will be works of faith that follow placing our faith and trust in Christ, but this is different than striving to keep the Mosaic Law in order to "qualify" for salvation. Read: Are We Still Under the Law in Spite of Grace?

Without My Informed Consent! (Would you have gone into the group if you had known what the stipulations were?)

How to Recover After Exiting a Deceptive, Abusive Group

How Do I Receive Eternal Life?

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