Herbert W. Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God
Herbert W. Armstrong often said he had the “Plain Truth” to give, but – as we’ve seen – it was all a lie. The real decision of truth must be made by the individual, and we support you in that decision, with no criticism. It’s everyone’s decision. But, please . . . prove ALL things. Trust NO man.
From time to time in my adventures, as I read the letters and articles of people on this website and elsewhere, I come across references to the “true church”. When my eyes were first wrenched open by the unassailable facts of corruption at all levels of the Worldwide Church of God, almost the first question that entered my mind was: “If this isn’t the true church of God, then where is it?”
“…we have extended all parts of our bodies and senses by technology. We are haunted by the need for an outer consensus of technology and experience that would raise our communal lives to the level of a worldwide consensus”.
–Marshall McLuhan, Understanding Media.
The Worldwide Church of God used radio and TV through out its existence as a recruitment tool, much as many cults and legitimate organizations do today.
Those who read The Plain Truth or listened to the broadcast were never subjected to the level of degradation reserved for church members. That would come later when the final phase of the recruitment process would result in their baptism.
Once upon a time, many years ago, there lived a guy named Hank. He was a regular fellow, and at about thirty or so years of age, he lived in the poorer part of a small town in the mid West. Each day, Hank would sweep out the local grocery story, and when he’d finished his stocking chores, he’d shoot the breeze with his buddies in the local bar or at someone’s home, and they all drank lots of beer. Hank had a good flair for telling stories and weaving some homespun philosophy into them, and people listened to him, usually agreed, and they always looked to him as a local friend. We can all live in peace, he had said, and the folks all agreed. He never had a girl friend.
It takes all types, but people will usually listen to anyone who speaks, or yells loud enough, with any kind of authority. Sometimes, this can be good if the info is profitable to the listener, but at other times it can be a disaster. And this can reveal a BIG difference between a guru and a proper teacher.
If you are in bondage, then don’t feel badly. It happens to most of us in our lifetimes. Sure, it happens in our workplace, it happens in an abusive relationship, and it happens in our “church” life. And . . . if you feel that you’re in bondage, then take heart. Most of this world is too.