From: rpitts@darth.gatech.edu (Richard Pitts)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: ARMSTRONGISM
Date: 21 Jan 93 08:22:56 GMT
Organization: Georgia Tech CERL/EE, Atlanta, Ga

In article <Jan.19.01.25.17.1993.2382@farside.rutgers.edu> BRUNS@LSTC2VM.stortek.com (Terry Bruns) writes:
>In article <Jan.15.12.08.01.1993.10928@athos.rutgers.edu> on
>15 Jan 93 17:08:03 GMT you write:
>>Does anyone here have any information they could share with me on the
>>Worldwide Church of God or Church of God International, also called

Hopefully, I will be able to submit an article that speaks to the changes
that are occurring in the WWCoG (or WCG.)  Following are two news clips
from the same source.

------------#1
    The Worldwide Church of God continues its march toward 
Christian orthodoxy.  As discussed in the previous issue of 
this journal (see below), the WCG has been conducting a 
doctrinal review, which resulted in the sect pulling away 
from some of its long-held beliefs.  Now, according to 
spokesman Michael Snyder, the church has pulled its revised 
edition of _The United States and Britain in Prophecy_, 
which was one of its main texts promoting Anglo-Israelism.  
WCG leaders also met with the faculty and graduate students 
of Trinity Evangelical Seminary which was "very helpful in 
our doctrinal review," according to Snyder.

------------#2
    Elsewhere we have read that the group's membership is 
down to 94,000.  In this occasional newsletter put out by 
dissidents you will find some of the reasons: the possible 
shut-down of all its colleges, low income, cutbacks in 
publication and broadcasting, doctrinal revisions, and even 
a de-emphasis on eschatology.  Abassador Report (P.O. Box 
60068, Pasadena, DA 91116), September 1990.  [zip code maybe 
91106.]

------------

Now, I'd like to make a few comments within this post and ask the question
"since most of these points that are made below seem to be mainstream on the 
surface, what are the differences as seen by WWCoG members between the WWCoG
and say the Southern Baptists??"  Are the SB or other protestant groups A OK?

A revised comment: After reading through and commenting therein, I realized 
that there was no mention of Jesus' death on the cross and his bodily
resurrection.  This the central point of the gospel (the Good News) - for
without it our faith is in vain (I Cor 15.)
 
>              - Overview of The Worldwide Church of God -
> ...
>The Church doesn't actively seek new converts, believing that only
>God himself can set such a change in motion.  As Jesus said to his

This seems strange, for we are to GO and MAKE disciples, aren't we? (Matt. 28)

> ...
>The Church stands by the commitment to live by every word of God, as
>found in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.  This means
>that the Church does not hold to religious activities that stem solely
>from tradition; rather, it upholds biblical practice.  For example,
>since the Bible does not command Christmas or Easter celebrations
>(which the record of history shows developed through tradition over
>centuries), members of the Worldwide Church of God do not observe
>these days. Jesus taught his disciples to follow his example.  Church
>members strive to fulfill this obligation by holding faithfully to the
>biblical record and an understanding of history.

Again, this seems a little strange, for the Apostle Paul tells us that
we are to let NO ONE judge us in whatever day or festival we observe,
we can observe one above the other or all days alike.  (Romans 14, especially
verses 5-6, and Colossians 2, especially verses 15-23.)  What we do is to
be done as unto God.
 
> ... 
>       - Statement of Beliefs of the Worldwide Church of God -
> 
>INTRODUCTION
>  The mission of the Church is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ
>  around the world and to help members grow spiritually (Matthew

It says GO AND MAKE disciples, too.

Hopefully, a second post will comment on revisions/closed creeds, if
there are no copyright restrictions.

>CONVERSION

Does it have anything to do with Jesus' life, death on the cross,
burial, and resurrection??
 
>THE CHRISTIAN
>  The Christian is the person in whom the Holy Spirit abides, whose
>  attitude and behavior are consistent with the teachings of Jesus

Is this saying our works determine our relationship to God or is it
a gift of God by grace through faith and not of works, so no man can boast???
You comment on this below, but it should be here, too.
 
>THE GOSPEL
>  The gospel is the message preached by Jesus Christ and by the Church
>  about the kingdom of God.  It is the good news of what God has done

It includes the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ,
the God-man, Jesus of Nazareth.  (I Cor 15.)

Why were these not mentioned?

>PROPHECY
>  Prophecy is the divine revelation of God's will and purpose.  In

The testimony  of Jesus (his life, his death, his being God) is the spirit 
(essence, nature, central theme) of prophecy.  Rev 19:10.

>THE LAW
>  The law is a system of divinely inspired moral and religious precepts

Does observance of the Law have anything to do with one's salvation?
Paul tells us that the law is for the lawless - we are to live worthy
lives, for we are bought with a price and should live worthy of our calling.

We should live above the law (in the spirit of the law) not on the
edge ready to slip over at any time.

>THE SABBATH
>THE FESTIVALS

Paul tells us not to let anyone judge us in these.  Jesus told us that it is 
lawful to do good on the Sabbath, as it is anytime.  The Jews has made the 
Sabbath a negative thing, but it was made for man - not man made for it.

Paul tells in Col 2 that these things are a shadow of things to come - outward
observance is not the big thing.

For Christ and His Kingdom,
Richard Pitts
-- 
rpitts@cerl.gatech.edu  |    Love and Worship God the Father and His Son, 
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