From: dlc659@huxley.anu.edu.au (Drew L Corrigan)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Subject: Re: Info request: WWCoG, Armstrong, The Plain Truth
Date: 18 Nov 92 03:40:38 GMT
Organization: Australian National University
NNTP-Posting-Host: 150.203.2.12

Here is an overview and copy of the Statement of Beliefs of the WCoG.

Drew Corrigan.  (drew@cs.anu.edu.au)

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              - Overview of The Worldwide Church of God -
 
The Worldwide Church of God, with its administrative center in
Pasadena, California, is an independant organization, not affiliated
with any other group.  From its modern beginnings in 1933 under
Herbert W. Armstrong, the church has grown from its parent
congregation in the northwestern United States to become an
international Church encircling the globe.  The Church currently has
about 132,000 members attending weekly services in more than 800
congregations located in more than 120 countries and territories.
Mr. Armstrong's successor, Pastor General Joseph W. Tkach, is a
longtime minister and administrator.  He oversees all key activities,
including serving as chancellor of the Church's Ambassador College
in Big Sandy, Texas, and as chairman of the Ambassador International
Cultural Foundation, which sponsors humanitarian, cultural and
educational programs around the world.
 
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
disciples, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws
him" (John 6:44).  It stays out of the political arena.  Everything
the Church offers is free - including its educational magazines,
books, booklets, and brochures.  These are paid for by the freely
given tithes and offerings of the membership.  The Church makes no
requests for donations from the general public and takes no
collections at its weekly religious services.
 
Each year, the Worldwide Church of God dedicates a substantial amount
of its resources to publishing and broadcasting what the Bible calls
"good news" (the gospel).  The two major vehicles used by the Church
for this purpose are: "The Plain Truth", a monthly magazine printed in
six languages; and "The World Tomorrow", a weekly television and radio
program.  The Church also publishes a magazine for young people titled
"Youth 92" (the title changes to reflect the year), as well as books,
booklets, and brochures covering a variety of subjects including the
AIDS crisis, drug and alcohol abuse, positive child-rearing principles
and numerous biblical topics.  More than 1.7 billion pieces of
literature have been distributed free by the Church since 1933.
 
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.
 
The Worldwide Church of God believes that human beings were created
by God as free moral agents, capable of choosing between two general
approaches to life.  One way can simply be characterized as the way
of "get" - of taking, selfishly demanding personal satisfaction to
the detriment of other people.  The other way is the "give" way - of
loving, caring and sacrificing personal desires to help others.  The
Bible presents God's instructions in the "give" way, and records the
unhappy results when humanity chooses the "get" approach to life.
 
God does not force humanity into obedience - man has a choice.  As
is firmly stated in Deuteronomy 30, verse 19, "I call heaven and
earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you
life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that
both you and your descendants may live." Church doctrine clearly
states that everyone - all who have ever lived - will have the
positive choice of obeying God and becoming part of his kingdom.
The Church believes that God's eternal plan for humanity is equally
open to all races, cultures and peoples.
 
 
       - 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
  28:19-20).  As a Spirit-led body of believers, the Church is
  exhorted, "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior
  Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18).  The Spirit of God leads the Church
  into all truth (John 16:13).  Accordingly, this Statement of
  Beliefs does not constitute a closed creed.  The Church constantly
  renews its commitment to truth and deeper understanding and
  responds to God's guidance in its beliefs and practices.
 
GOD
  God, by the testimony of Scripture, is the only true God and Father
  of all, eternal, immutable, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent.
  He is creator of heaven and earth, sustainer of the universe and
  source of man's salvation.  God is love and infinite goodness.  The
  Church affirms the oneness of God and the full divinity of the
  Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
  (Mark 12:29, Ephesians 4:6, I Timothy 1:17, I John 4:8, I John 5:20,
  Matthew 28:19, II Corinthians 13:14, I Corinthians 8:6)
 
JESUS CHRIST
  Jesus was the Word, through whom and for whom God created all
  things.  He was God manifest in the flesh for man's salvation. He
  was begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. During
  his earthly life, Jesus was the Son of God, worthy of honor and
  reverence and the prophesied Savior of man  He died for our sins,
  was raised from the dead, and ascended to heaven, from where he
  mediates between man and God.  He will come again to reign as King
  of kings over all nations in the kingdom of God.
  (John 1:1, Colossians 1:16, I Timothy 3:16, John 3:16, Matthew 1:20,
  I Corinthians 15:3-4, Hebrews 7:25, Revelation 19:16)
 
THE HOLY SPIRIT
  The Holy Spirit is the Comforter promised by Jesus Christ, sent from
  God to the Church on the Day of Pentecost.  God's Holy Spirit is the
  power that transforms man through repentance, baptism and continual
  renewal.  The Holy Spirit is the source of inspiration and prophecy
  throughout the Scriptures, and the Christian's constant guide to all
  truth.
  (John 14:16, Acts 2:4, 17-19, 38, Titus 3:5, John 16:13)
 
THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
  The Holy Scriptures comprise the canonical books of the Old and New
  Testaments.  They are the inspired Word of God, the foundation of
  truth and the accurate record of God's revelation to mankind.  The
  Holy Scriptures constitute ultimate authority in all matters of
  doctrine, and embody the infallible principles that govern all
  facets of Christian living.
  (II Timothy 3:15-17, II Peter 1:20-21, John 17:17)
 
THE ANGELIC REALM
  Angels are created spirit beings endowed with free will.  The holy
  angels serve God as messengers and agents, are appointed to minister
  to those who will obtain salvation and will accompany Christ at his
  return.  The disobedient angels are called demons.
  (Revelation 1:1, 22:6, Hebrews 1:14, Matthew 25:31)
 
SATAN
  Satan is a fallen cherub who heads the evil forces in the spirit
  realm.  He is referred to in the Bible in various ways including
  the devil, adversary, evil one, murderer, liar, thief, tempter,
  accuser of the brethren, prince of demons, and god of this world.
  He is in constant rebellion against God.  Through his influence,
  Satan generates discord, deception and disobedience among human
  beings.  His dominion and influence as god of this world will
  cease at the return of Jesus Christ.
 
MAN
  Man was made mortal, in the image of God.  God formed him of the
  dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of
  life, endowing him with mental and spiritual faculties.  He was
  given dominion over all the earth, and the freedom to choose whether
  to obey his Creator.  Because he chose sin, man was alienated from
  God and can be reconciled only through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
  Man's destiny is to inherit eternal life in the kingdom of God.
  (Genesis 1:26-28, 2:7, 16-17, Romans 5:12-21)
 
SALVATION
  Salvation is deliverance from the bondage of sin and from the
  ultimate penalty of sin, death.  It is the gift of God, by grace
  through faith in Jesus Christ, not earned by personal merit or good
  works.  Through our acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God
  offers salvation, not only for the present life, but for eternity
  following Christ's return.  In the broadest sense, salvation
  encompasses even the creation.
  (Romans 6:18, 22-23, Ephesians 2:8-9, I Peter 1:4, Romans 8:21-23)
 
GRACE
  Grace is the free unmerited favor God bestows on a sinner who
  repents.  In its broadest sense, grace is expressed in every act
  of God's self-disclosure.  By grace, man comes to know God, is
  justified, and is saved.  Through faith, the Christian remains
  always under grace.
  (Romans 3:24, 5:2, 15-17, 21, Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:7)
 
SANCTIFICATION
  Sanctification is the state of holiness imparted to the believer
  through the indwelling of God's Holy Spirit.  Though all Christians
  sin, God's Holy Spirit leads them to a life of repentance and
  obedience, a life evidenced by the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
  Sanctification follows conversion and is made possible by God's
  grace, through faith in Jesus Christ.
  (I Peter 1:2, I John 1:8, 3:6, 9, Romans 6:22, Galatians 5:22-23,
  Romans 5:1)
 
JUSTIFICATION
  Justification is God's gracious act of pronouncing a believer
  righteous in his sight.  It is dependent upon repentance and is
  made possible through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ and
  acceptance of him as Lord and Savior.
  (Romans 3:20, 24-31, 4:1-8, 5:1, 9, Galatians 2:16)
 
CONVERSION
  Conversion is a turning from the way of sin to the way of God.  It
  is closely connected with God's calling, repentance, and baptism,
  and is sealed by the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Conversion is
  manifest in godly thoughts, attitudes, and actions that form the
  basis of the believer's life in Christ.
  (John 3:3-6, Matthew 18:3, Acts 2:38, 3:19, Colossians 3:1-17)
 
REPENTANCE
  Repentance is a change of mind and attitude toward God.  It follows
  conviction by the Holy Spirit through the word of God.  Repentance
  entails an awareness of personal sins, accompanied by remorse and
  a resolution to respond to God's calling.  Rather than a temporary,
  emotional response, repentance toward God results in an abiding
  change of thought, behavior, and direction of life, wherein a
  person resolutely turns to God and purposes to forsake all sin and
  walk in all God's commandments.
  (Acts 2:38, Romans 2:4, II Timothy 2:25, II Corinthians 7:9-11,
  Matthew 3:8, Romans 12,2)
 
WATER BAPTISM
  Water baptism demonstrates a believer's repentance for personal
  sin and acceptance of Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice.  Baptism
  signifies a commitment to a new way of life governed by the
  spiritual laws of God, the example of Jesus Christ, and the in-
  dwelling of the Holy Spirit.  The Worldwide Church of God practices
  baptism by immersion.
  (Matthew 3:16, Mark 16:16, Galatians 3:27, Romans 6:4-5)
 
THE CHURCH
  The Church is the collective body of believers who are called by
  God and in whom the Holy Spirit abides.  The Church began on the
  Day of Pentecost and was commissioned to preach the gospel, to
  teach all that Christ had commanded, to baptize, and to nurture
  the flock.  In fulfilling its mission, it looks continually to
  Jesus Christ, the living head of the Church.
  (I Corinthians 12:13, Romans 8:9, Matthew 28:19-20, Colossians 1:18,
  Ephesians 1:22, Acts 2:1-47)
 
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
  The head of the Church is Jesus Christ.  He guides the Church in the
  will of God, as revealed by the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures.  In
  the Worldwide Church of God, the decision-making process under Christ
  involves councils of ministers that report to the Pastor General, who
  holds the chief administrative office in the Church.
  (Ephesians 1:22, Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 4:11)
 
THE CHRISTIAN
  The Christian is the person in whom the Holy Spirit abides, whose
  attitude and behavior are consistent with the teachings of Jesus
  Christ.  Through the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, the Christian
  is born from above and maintains a right relationship with God and
  man through a life of love and service.
  (Romans 8:9, 14, I Peter 2:21, I John 2:4-6, Matthew 22:37-39,
  John 13:35)
 
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
  and will do through Christ, and is the central message of the Old
  and New Testaments.
  (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 1:14-15, Acts 8:12, 28:30-31, Luke 24:46-48)
 
PROPHECY
  Prophecy is the divine revelation of God's will and purpose.  In
  prophecy, God reveals himself as the one who supervises the course
  of history and reminds man that God is judge of all and that his
  judgement is surely coming.  Prophecy assures man of God's love,
  mercy, and faithfulness and motivates the believer to live a godly
  life in Jesus Christ.
  (Isaiah 46:9-11, Daniel 4:17, Jude 14-15, II Peter 3:14)
 
THE LAW
  The law is a system of divinely inspired moral and religious precepts
  which, in letter and in spirit, define sin and regulate human
  conduct.  Christ magnified the Old Testament law by revealing its
  spiritual intent and purpose.  The Christian is not justified by the
  law, but by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  Whereas the
  Christian sins by breaking the spirit or letter of God's law, he is
  not to persist in a state of sin, but must strive to exemplify the
  mind of God in every facet of his life.
  (Romans 7:7, 12-14, Matthew 5:17-19, Ephesians 2:8-9, I John 3:9,
  Romans 13:10, I John 5:3)
 
THE SABBATH
  The Sabbath is an appointed day of rest and worship.  It was
  sanctified at creation because, on the seventh day, God rested from
  his work.  The observance of the Sabbath was enjoined in the Ten
  Commandments, was a sign between God and his people Israel and was
  affirmed by the example of Jesus Christ and the apostles.  Following
  these scriptural examples, the Worldwide Church of God continues to
  observe the seventh-day Sabbath.
  (Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 20:8-11, 31:17, Luke 4:16, Acts 17:2,
  Hebrews 4:9)
 
THE FESTIVALS
  The observance of the festivals and holy days enjoined on ancient
  Israel was affirmed by the example of Jesus Christ and the apostles.
  They are holy convocations, memorials of God's great acts of
  salvation in history, symbols of the power of God, and types of the
  anticipated future fulfillment of God's plan of salvation.  For the
  Christian, the festivals and holy days are annual celebrations of
  God's power, love, and saving grace.
  (Leviticus 23:1-2, John 4:45, 5:1, 7:37, 12:12, Acts 20:16,
  I Corinthians 5:7-8)
 
TITHING
  Tithing is the scriptural practice of giving a tenth of one's
  increase to God.  Freewill offerings are distinct from tithes and
  are given as the believer is able.  Tithes and offerings were
  commanded in the Old Testament and were confirmed by Jesus Christ
  and the apostles.  The Church uses tithes and offerings to fulfill
  its God-given mission to preach the gospel.  tithing and giving
  reflect the believer's worship, faith, and love for God, the Source
  of salvation and Giver of all good things.
  (Leviticus 27:30, Numbers 18:20-21, Matthew 23:23, Hebrews 7:4-14)
 
THE SECOND COMING
  Jesus Christ, as he promised, will return to earth to judge and
  reign over all nations, in the kingdom of God.  His second coming
  will be visible, and in power and glory.  This event is the hope of
  the Church, because it inaugurates the resurrection of the dead and
  the reward of the righteous.
  (John 14:3, Revelation 17:14, Acts 1:11, Revelation 1:7, Matthew
  24:30, I Thessalonians 4:16-17)
 
THE MILLENNIUM
  The Millennium is the one-thousand-year period during which Jesus
  Christ and the resurrected saints rule the world in peace, justice,
  and equity.  It begins when Christ returns as King of kings and Lord
  of lords to establish the kingdom of God over all nations.  At the
  beginning, Satan is bound and the prophesied "times of refreshing"
  begin.  After the Millennium, when all enemies will have been put
  under his feet and all things made subject to him, Christ will
  deliver the kingdom to God the Father.
  (Revelation 20:1-4, 6, Acts 3:19-21, Revelation 11:15, I Corinth-
  ians 15:24)
 
THE INHERITANCE OF THE BELIEVER
  The inheritance of the believer is eternal life in the kingdom of
  God.  This inheritance is reserved in heaven and will be bestowed
  at the second coming of Christ.  The resurrected saints will then
  rule the nations with Christ in the kingdom of God.
  (I John 2:25, Romans 8:16-19, Daniel 7:27, I Peter 1:3-5,
  Revelation 5:10)
 
THE FATE OF THE UNREPENTANT
  Unrepentant sinners are those who, after coming to a full knowledge
  of God, deliberately and ultimately reject him.  Their fate is to
  perish in the lake of fire.  This death is eternal, and the
  Scriptures refer to it as the second death.
  (Matthew 10:28, 3:12, 25:41, Revelation 20:14-15)
 
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
  The kingdom of God in the broadest sense is God's supreme
  sovereignty.  God reigns in the Church and in the life of each
  believer who is submissive to his will.  The kingdom of God will
  be established over the whole world after the return of Jesus
  Christ and will increase to encompass all things.
  (Luke 17:20-21, Daniel 2:44, Mark 1:14-15, I Corinthians 15:24-28,
  Revelation 11:15, 21:3, 22-27, 22:1-5)
 
  For additional information about the Worldwide Church of God, write:
 
                       Worldwide Church of God
                       Pasadena, CA 91123
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