If You Are Questioning Whether to Stay in Philadelphia Church of God
Have you ever experienced disillusionment concerning what Gerald Flurry said would come to pass if you obeyed everything that he taught you? Have you and your family really been happy, successful and free from fear, doubt, guilt and shame? Or do you feel weighed down, overwhelmed with burdens and feeling you can never measure up to what "God's government" demands? Do you have assurance of your salvation? If you died, are you certain that you would be in the first resurrection? Or do you worry that God's Holy Spirit might leave you if you refrained from doing certain things, left PCG, or were even disfellowshipped? Have you ever questioned why God would say, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3) and then take away His Spirit from you so quickly and without any hope, especially if you were ever "marked"?
"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
Do you question why Gerald Flurry (if he is honestly is "that prophet") is demanding more and more money from you, yet spending it for seemingly extravagant items and lavish buildings?
Have you questioning his harsh "no contact" ruling which has caused you to break off all relationships with your loved ones, labeling them "Laodiceans")?
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 and emotions?
Is his 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 PCG? 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"?
Is that the way Jesus acted towards sinners that He came to die for? The Scriptures show that while He used harsh language to denounce sin when dealing with the hypocritical religious leaders, He was always merciful and compassionate with the common people. Isn't this what the gospels 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 revealed to 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 totalitarian groups in society who claim that they alone are the "one true Church of God." They all claim to have the answers to the questions about life, and they all say God is working only through them. Did you know 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 who are the only ones proclaiming the true gospel and the end time warning message to the world. They talk about the Kingdom of God which will be set and how they will rule with Christ. But the reoccurring theme in all of them is fear. 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 their holy day convocations; they fear to question the leader (who "stands in God's place").
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
~ II Tim 1:7
High demand groups (ones where you are kept constantly busy; your activities revolving around the group and what you can do for the group) 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 do you fear to go to him with questions and doubts that you may have?
Was anyone in the New Testament ever put out of the church for asking questions? Did Jesus throw Peter off because he denied Him in a moment of temptation? We see that Christ showed Himself to Peter after His resurrection (I Cor. 15:5), and before He ascended to heaven, and instead of harshly rebuking him and casting him off, 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. There is no greater love than that. (John 15:13)
Do you remember when you were free at one time to research on your own, to think for yourself, and to make your own decisions? How did that freedom come to be hampered by fear? How have you come to the place where you no longer trust your own mind? 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 his "one true church"? This same church that is alike in so many ways to other exclusive groups that declare they are "God's true church" with the restored and true gospel.
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 compel people to obey God? Is it loving to only accept others if they perform in certain ways and shun them, or cast them off, if they don't? Is it loving to turn a deaf ear to members' sufferings simply because you've been made to believe they "deserve it"? Is it true love to turn your back on your own family outside of PCG 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? What is "God's government" anyway?1 Is it possible it is only headquarters' rules and demands?
Be honest with yourself. Realize that it was Herbert Armstrong (and later Gerald Flurry) who got us to searching for mysteries, truths and new revelations. They 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?" And they gave us black and white answers.
The real truth is that we are never going to have all the answers to life. However, God has made a way for us to know Him in a close, personal way. Were the Israelites under the old covenants ever promised such? To the contrary, they were promised only material blessings. But the blessings under the New Covenant are far greater. Not only can we personally know God in this lifetime, but we can abide with Him forever. He loved us that much. Isn't that the most important thing?
It is not the Philadelphia Church of God, or any other offshoot, that we should seek or strive to be a member of. Our focus should be on the true Lord Jesus Christ who died for us and was raised again in order that we might receive eternal life by doing no more and no less than believing on Him.
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe on his name:" ~John 1:12
The Word of God shows that it is Christ we are to be identified with. We are called to Him, not to any specific group or denomination.
Why would we 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 works.2
"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 2:16
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 when Christ returns, but is a gospel about Jesus Christ as Savior of the world (I John 4:14) 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 in order to win His favor and avoid His punishment. 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
Don't be afraid to question any of the things PCG is teaching, or to read your Bible without the literature or sermons from PCG (or another similar offshoot). If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and believe in what He did for you on Calvary, you can be assured that He has given you His Holy Spirit and you are His child forever. The Lord Jesus has promised 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 organization or church. Who are you going to believe?
"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. This is not the "understanding" that PCG has offered you. In fact, sit down with your Bible, and sincerely ask Him to show you where something is not right with Flurry's literature--and to lead you away from error. Believe that He will show you.
By D. M. Williams
Exit & Support Network™
December 13, 2003
Last updated November 16, 2010
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." ~ John 5:39-40
Footnote by ESN:
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 Works of faith are 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?