The Voice

A Few of my very earliest memories was that of what transpired at the Feast of Tabernacles - when I, as a toddler, had my very own luxurious space during the Feast of Tabernacles - on a cold, cement floor surrounded by legs, shoes, and the bottom elements of grey folding metal chairs. Yet these physical elements were not the substance of my memories. The substance of the memories was a booming, authoritative, and strongly echoing voice that filled not only the Tabernacle - or metal warehouse - that I, along with 14,000 others, were inhabiting for hours per day for eight total days in that Fall. It was that voice that I remember most clearly.

It was that voice - the live, and deep bass voice - of Herbert W. Armstrong - that penetrated my head with the force of a clap of thunder and the peal of an angry drill sergeant. Sleeping was a necessity for a person of my age at that time - two, three, or even four years of age. Sleep, however, in the audio presence of a certain Herb was not as the effect of Chamomile. No, sleep was not to be had when you were a baby in the Worldwide Church of God when Herbert Armstrong was speaking. For the very moment that you began to be lulled by a more distant rumble - a strike of lightning would punctuate the Arena - activating the emergency wails of miniature alarms no greater than 20 pounds in weight and 2 feet in height. Also activated were the transporter units of mothers who would take these tiny alarms and rush them to the silencing room, as distractions were frowned upon - and that's putting it mildly.

Herbert Armstrong to the youngest of the Armstrong Era alive to remember it was not the Apostle. He was not the gentle grandfather. He wasn't even "nice" in the memories of us. Herbert was a force. A power - not benevolent in appearance, but violent and fierce. A malevolent being that could change from light to dark in the flash of a heartbeat.

I remember as a child looking up at Herbert on the Big Screen at those Feast of Tabernacles. Literally - I had to look up and between heads and shoulders when I was standing up on a seat and not trying to sleep on blankets, cradled with an Etch-A-Sketch and a "Little Professor". I remember his animatd motions. His lean in the chair. And the one time I did what I wasn't supposed to do - I laughed at him when he knocked a lamp over with his dramatic and far flung hand gestures. I didn't look up to him - now in a more emotional sense - as a religious figure. I looked up to Herbert Armstrong as someone to be very, very afraid of.

That element of fear - a pervasive, far-reaching element - was an emotion that Herbert Armstrong crafted to a science for not only those of us who were babies within the Church, but for all who were a part of the brief, yet powerful, movement - for those of us who were seduced into it. That element of fear was in the single man and woman being told how their marriage would be arranged. That element was in the baptized member afraid to upset the minister for fear he or she would be disfellowshipped for trivial mutiny. That element was in the father and husband who was just told to quit his job because it violated either Church rules or the minister's order. That element was in the wife who was told to submit to the husband, the minister, and every command of the Church. That element of fear was something that we simply called "Submission to Government". It was a part of our culture, ingrained into us from day one of Herbert's regime pounded into our psychological crevices, cemented by threats of eternal damnation should we rebel, and use common sense or critical thinking. That element of fear was called "Unity". That element of fear was called "order". Those not submissive to such unity and order were the "World" - and the "World" was what you did not want to be a part of, because then you were, you were told, subject to great loss - and great affliction from physical and spiritual forces. The element of fear is what held you in. It encapsulated, suffocated, and paralyzed you - yet was calming and familiar enough to lull you into a sense of security. Reality became unknown, traded for the narrow and false visions of lies and deceit from one man who convinced you he was sent by God to take you where no man had gone in 1900 years - to truth. Except every aspect of Herbert's ministry was founded on lie, after lie, after lie.

It has been a long time since those days of sitting on the cold, gray, unfeeling cement floors of those warehouse buildings used as Tabernacles. A few of those buildings still exist, such as at Wisconsin Dells, Lake of the Ozarks, and Big Sandy. Time, however has changed those buildings, and time has changed those who used to fill it's cavernous coldness (in some cases, literal coldness!). The Ozarks building only houses boats now. The Wisconsin Dells building belongs to another group altogether, as does the Big Sandy Tabernacle. And for most of us who grew up under the shadow of an abusive, dominating, greed-filled bully - there is no longer any reason to fear him or Armstrongism in general. For the movement that created such fear has fizzled out in a most spectacular dud you could ever imagine.

That voice? That resonant, powerful voice? Silent. Yet the voice that continues to persist and penetrate - that Voice - the voice that says, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life". That Voice that says "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." That Voice that says  "I am the Resurrection and the Life." That Voice that is gentle as a whisper and timeless as the Alpha and Omega. That Voice that searches our hearts and minds. That voice of Truth - yes, that Voice remains, and has remained from the Time of His Birth, to now, and to forevermore. He was never silenced. He was always there. That's the Voice. That's the One. That's the Truth. He's the Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace, the Everlasting Father. And HE - Jesus - is far more powerful than that other voice of lies that came, spoke, and has been silenced so we could finally hear and know The Voice of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

1 John 4 -5: Armstrongism Revised Version

                                

1 John 4/5: What Armstrongism REALLY is trying to get the scriptures to say they mean.
Actual scriptures crossed out. What Armstrongism actually says in their doctrines in pink.
Not official, my interpretation.

*****


Dear friends, let us love one another keep the Sabbath and Holy Days, for love Sabbath and Holy Day keeping comes from God. Everyone who loves keeps the Sabbath Day has will be been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love keep the Sabbath and the Holy Days does not know God, because God is love has given the Church the sign of the Sabbath. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. He gave his Church the Sabbath and the Holy Days as a sign to those He has called as His people. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. so that we may be begotten by God's Spirit and someday might have a chance at eternal life. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another by Showing God we love him by being obedient to God's commands of Sabbath and Holy Day keeping. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another keep the Sabbath and the Holy Days, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
¹³ This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: We keep ths Sabbath by He has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to someday be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ If anyone God calls acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. ¹⁶ And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love The sign of the Church is Sabbath keeping. Whoever lives in love keeps the Sabbath lives in God, and God in them. ¹⁷ This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus set ourselves apart by keeping the Sabbath and the Holy Days. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love Sabbath Keeping. But perfect love Sabbath Keeping drives out fear, because fear Sunday Keeping has to do with punishment. The one who keeps Sunday is not made perfect in love.
¹⁹ We love keep the Sabbath because he first loved us kept the Sabbath. ²⁰ Whoever claims to love God yet does not keep the Sabbath hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, Keep the Sabbath physically whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen, if they keep Sunday. ²¹ And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. keep the Sabbath, and the Holy Days, and Tithe, and go to Church, and obey the minister without question.


Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born begotten of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. ² This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands of Sabbath and Holy Day keeping and the Law. ³ In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands of Sabbath and Holy Day keeping. And his commands to observe the Sabbath are not burdensome, ⁴ for everyone born of God overcomes the worldly attempts to stop you from Sabbath keeping. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God keeps the Sabbath and the Holy Days and obeys the Law.
⁶ This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. ⁷ For there are three two that testify: ⁸ the^[a] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three two are in agreement. ⁹ We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. obedience to the Law. ¹⁰ Whoever believes obeys the Sabbath in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God keep the Sabbath has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. kept the Sabbath.  ¹¹ And this is the testimony: God has may given us eternal life if we qualify, and this life is in his Son. ¹² Whoever keeps the Sabbath has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God keep the Sabbath does not have life.

The Legacy of Church of God "Ministers" and Deception.

Power.

It's quite the word in the Churches of God, because those in charge have had a lot of it.

Add money in, and you've got a narcisist's dream job.

Then add supposed divine authority - and you are a god.

That's the long and short of the story of the ministers in the Churches of God, who for over 70 years have convinced good-hearted and well meaning people that they are the inheritors of supreme authority on the basis of a supposition of the inheritance of diving power through top-down ordination. And when people buy into that belief, there's little - if anything - that you can say, or do, that they won't believe is right.

That has been the story in the Churches of God ever since Herbert Armstrong began his vain, narcissistic scheme of self-interpretation of religion for the furtherance of his financial empire and worldly success. It has been a story that Herbert's hirelings have written over and over again - with tragic mental and physical results.

Not every one of these people - named "Ministers" of varying rank and title - have taken advantage of members in various ways as many have. But those that have taken advantage of members for their own benefit, either personally or corporately - have done so vigorously, unashamedly, and forcefully, as they personally have benefited from their perceived deceptive power plays. From the beginning, it has been the minister who has been served by those they have been entrusted to serve. It has been a culture of privilege, superiority, arrogance, pomposity, and hubris that had encompassed their entire lives - all enabled and created by the headquarters corporate who developed a system that rewarded them for their heavy-handedness towards those who they were entrusted to spiritually develop.

From the beginning, the "ministers" who were ordained into full-time ministry into the Church were given "the Good Life". At the peak of their financial prosperity, due to conning the members to believe they were required to give 30 percent or more of their income to the Church, they were given handsome salaries, expense accounts, for a time utility expense, parsonage credit, a fleet car - and that's just financially. They also - well, many of them - used the members of the Church as personal slaves - car washers, lawn mowers, movers, or anything else that the members were willing to do. And their "work"? Many of them in some areas really did not have much to "do" during the week! Prospective member visits were low, visitations were not always required, the occasional wedding and/or funeral, and a whole week to write a sermon or sermonette. Those who did have large congregations and were constantly busy had high expectations - and were sometimes the most brutal with their unrealistic and supposed authority that they pounded home was, according to them, from God.

They also had the full backing of their boss, Herbert Armstrong, when it came to disputes or claims of malpractice. Herbert Armstrong had a policy of always believing the minister's word over the members' claim - and let that be known specifically - if there was no specific evidence against the minister. The weight of that kind of backing was something the ministers knew and wielded well, in many cases.

And then there was the belief of absolute divine authority, which many ministers claimed they inherited via ordination - and the belief that their every decision was through the guiding ministry of a higher portion of the Spirit of God within them. From the very smallest to the very largest decisions, such a mindset and belief caused a co-dependency from member to minister that was just as powerful as the dependency from a son or daughter to a parent. The difference between this child to parent relationship and a member to minister relationship? The parent-child relationship was temporary until adulthood. The member-minister relationship was eternal. In short, the members were never permitted to grow up.

The ministerial dominance of supposed authority extended well into the realms of discipline, as any rebellion, slacking, without full support, or disobedience in any way shape or form could result in not only extreme physical consequences (losing friends, even family, isolation and rejection, as well as separation from Church, either temporarily or permanently) but also spiritual consequences (loss of salvation, condemnation, rejection from the Kingdom, and being thrown into eternal cessation via being burned in the Lake of Fire). Some of these "ministers" fully abused such a belief that they had such supernatural, God-ordained powers to the order of complete oppression of their members, and fully hijacking every decision that members ever made in their lives in many cases. This was not the case with all of them, or all of the members. But it did happen. And it did happen often.

All of this of course created an atmosphere of excessive pride and arrogance within the ministry that they created their own super-culture that was far and above beyond the normal clique. It was a culture that created special seating, and roped-off areas. It was a culture of higher living that in many cases the regular member was not invited to nor ever could know. It was a culture of "We are better than you,and you well better know it." It was a culture of posh, arrogant hubris and superiority. It was a culture of superiority based on rank and position and power. They were them, you were you, and you better follow the rules, or you, who were next to nothing, will be nothing. This was the message sent and widely received by many.

Your expectations, spiritually and physically, within the dominant sphere of the minister's supposed authority, were both excessive and exhaustive. Submission to not only the rules and regulations required by the doctrines and dogmas of the Church's spiritual interpretations, and the rules and regulations of the local Church as interpreted and enforced by the pastor, dominated every aspect of the life of the member, the member's family, and all areas within. Personal decisions were expected to be ran by the pastor in cases of job, marriage, dating, finance, personal issues, sex, school, friendships, Church attendance, Church social lives, and all issues related to "the world" as to what was proper and what was not, including birthdays, holidays, events, gatherings, sports, and overall life, including what to wear, music, child-rearing, child discipline, and a host of other subjects that you were not "smart enough" to know on your own what was or what was not appropriate or expected of you. Your adherence to expectations was constantly analyzed, judged, disciplined, and reported to superiors on a constant basis. You were judged on your masculinity, your femininity, your handshake, your hair length, your dress, your suit, your communicative style, your personality, your macho or manliness, or your ability as a homemaker or wife. The minister's power within the marriage was nearly absolute when it came to marriage counsel - and for some decades, broke up or dissolved marriages based on their own interpretive judgements of what defined adultery. Make no mistake - lives were under, in many cases, the complete dominance and power and authority of the Minister, the one whom was Greatly to Be Feared.

This was the power they had - the power of deception. This deception was enabled by fear, first and foremost. Fear of God's Punishing Power. Fear of the Minister. Fear of the Church. Fear of Disobeying, and lastly but certainly not least - the Fear of Discipline up to and including dis-fellowshipment.

Once you had invested your whole life into the controlling powers of the system - who controlled your life in every way - who could ruin your entire life in one letter of disfellowshipment - or one order to quit your job - or one order to leave your spouse - or to reject a family member in some recent cases - you resigned yourself to their will. You resigned yourself to just obey them, because the consequences would be rougher than if you lose your entire social system. That power over the social system that the Church wielded was, and is, the biggest shackle and chains that grab onto and hold a member under their thumbs. The minister sits on them with that power with the full weight of a 400-lb tablet of stone. If they leave, they lose. If they leave, they fear. They believe it's the end.

Tragically, because of that belief, many have simply given up, fallen into depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and some have committed suicide according to many reports. This is the tragic results of drunk on power charlatans who have abused members emotionally and spiritually for far, far too long.

Those who have been abused sometimes do not think it's really that bad because they're used to it. They believe what's out there is far worse than what's "in there". They believe that what they have experienced for decades, is normal. They believe this because that's what they've been told to believe. They have been lied to, deceived, and had have their minds stolen, and many have lost the capacity to live on their own or even make the most basic decisions without help. All the while, their pastor and corporate church rake in their income, their assets, their estates, and their lives because of the love of sordid gain and the lust of mammon and riches. Their cold, calloused assault on the well being of their members is excused and rationalized away with the belief and statements that "Their donations and acceptance of the doctrines is voluntary" and no one is forced to do anything.

Of course, that's a lie.

When you threaten their eternal salvation because they aren't doing what you tell them to do. When you threaten their eternal salvation because they don't submit to your authority or every order. When you threaten their eternal salvation because they are not giving you the required donation. When you threaten their eternal salvation because they have failed in every expectation handed down from on high. And not just their eternal salvation, but their family's well being? Their jobs? Their social lives? Their marriage? Their everything? And you make the dastardly excuse that it's "voluntary"? There's nothing voluntary about it. You've deceived yourself into thinking you are doing nothing wrong.

And the well-intended, good hearted members who simply just want to do what they believe God has said for them to do end up in  system of bondage and chains - thinking in full belief right is wrong, and wrong is right. The results are tragic.

The entire concept of ministry is to serve. The entire concept of ministry is to help those who are Christ's as a supporter, an encourager, a defender, and a protector - not an abuser, a parent, a fraudster, a charlatan, a scammer, a conner, or a robber. The entire concept of ministry is humility, not pride. The entire concept of ministry is not based on money or assets or estate, but on the spiritual health and well-being of the member. The entire concept of ministry is growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ - not the wallet, not mammon, not money, not corporate. The entire concept of ministry is not rooted in wickedness, or pride - and most of all, the entire concept of ministry is not rooted in abuse of a member. Whether that abuse is emotional, mental, physical, or developmental - abuse is abuse. And the truth is, the COG's have miserably failed as a whole in not only failing to stop abuse within the churches - but enable it, in the name of greed and presumptuous gain.

Those ministers who truly are ministering are out there - the few, and the faithful. The other ministers? The so-called ministers who have trashed everything Jesus Christ stands for - who puke and vomit on God's Word? The ones who got rich by making the poor poorer? The ones who idiotically stand in their pulpits enthralled in the stink and filth of their vomit-stained words, nauseating those who are shackled with their putrid arrogance? They aren't ministers.

They're a disgrace.

The members who are in bondage can regain control. They can regain their lives. They can be set free. They can live again. They can recover. But they can only do it through and by the power of the Living Jesus Christ. It is my prayer that through prayer, they can live again, and be set free.

Ramblings

Today, I just thought I'd ramble a little bit. It's been a little bit of a difficult day, in some respects, as certain things shift and move in the waves of life. But it all is a matter of perspective in the way one deals with the way the winds change, isn't it.

I've been watching with interest a few things in the Church of God Universe i wish to talk about. Again, it's more of a rambling sequence of thoughts in the form of print. I have not taken the effort to outline this particular thread in any consistent dialogue. Keep that in mind as I write this posting.

On Depression

At the Banned Site, there has been some reporting on PCG's stance, according to an article published by their group, on depression. Apparently, the PCG seems to think they have the scholastic and psychiatric training and ability to interpret and diagnose clinical causes of depression and mental health issues. Anyone mind if I take a moment to step out, laugh my head off, and run back in? You don't mind? Fine then!

HAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA.

Now I'm not an expert on the issue in it's clinical study, but I know enough about it - both from those who do know a little bit about it, and from personal experience - to talk about what depression is, and isn't.

Depression IS, in many cases, a bio-chemical imbalance in the brain, and may or may not be rooted in actual issues of life. Depression CAN be "enhanced", or even develop, or become chronic due to life's stresses and issues. And I can tell you, based on much evidence I have read over the years of PCG's Direct Influence on Life, that their doctrines and policies can be a direct initiator or enhancer of MAJOR depressive disorders.

For them to get on there, and act like they are the ones who can cure depression when they have directly caused so much for so many people is one of the most laughable and nearly ironic things that could be written in print.

Regardless of what they say the causes are, depression is extremely serious, and it is critical that those who suffer from depressive disorder get help to know what steps to take to isolate and proactively resolve any issues that are severely impacting and destroying their well-being.

On Certain "Ministers" 

It is irking to watch certain self-appointed "ministers" attempt to assert themselves as some sort of "authority" to those who subscribe to their splinter or "church" body. One of the most irking - yet, strangely - amusing - ones that is setting themselves up as such an authority is the leader of the Continuing Church of God, Bob Thiel, who has to call himself an "overseer".

I have consistently said that many of those COG-types who attempt to present themselves as authorities set themselves up as some sort of spiritual "parents" who rob and steal the intellectual and adult abilities of those who "submit" to their ideas and claims. Calling ones self an "overseer" is certainly not subtle about it.

Then, there's the time-old lies that leaving their church body corporate is a spiritual death sentence. That is absolute rubbish and a lie from the pits of darkness. The CCOG is, in no way, shape, or form, any kind of "One True Church", and it's leader is not even - despite their claims to the contrary - ordained or appointed to any ministry. The arrogance and hubris is appalling. As in every movement no matter how insignificant, there are always a few who get sucked into the thinking of the leader of the subgroup. And let there be no doubt about this: The only "overseeing" power that Bob has is only the power that any individual person gives him. The only power any COG minister has over anyone is the power to deceive and make people believe their claims. When those claims do not pan out, then the evidence is clear they are not who they say they are. Sadly, many decide to stay with the lies then to pull themselves out into the light of truth.

On LCG

It appears, according to some LCG insiders, that a certain LCG minister is "recycling" "inspirational" messages each Saturday to their congregants, using the same material on repeated cycles.

Look, I don't see how this is any different, if true, then the same sermons being recycled over and over again! We all know this goes on in COG services. The same subjects, the same sermons, the same messages, the same material recycled over, and over, and over again. I don't honestly know how people - no matter what COG they go to - can sit there, and take the same dull and repeated and boring, lifeless messages time and time again - especially when given by ministers who have no clue how to give a sermon if their life depended on it!

I remember very well with my time in the COG's how I would have to endure a hopelessly borin speaker. It was much like listening to National Public Radio (No offense to NPR) when they introduce classical music. Anyone who has listened to NPR knows exactly what I am talking about! How is it that people put up with it?

Because they feel they HAVE to.

For the same reasons they feel they HAVE to keep the Sabbath, and they HAVE to keep the Holy Days, and they HAVE to do this, and HAVE to do this, "Or else". In the COG life, it's all about obeying commands militarily, instead of wanting to do things because they have the freedom and the ability to do so from the heart.

The Church was never supposed to be a military camp. But with the COG's, that's what people have voluntarily surrendered themselves to be - financial and spiritual slaves to their "masters".

And again - it's ALL about the money!

More interesting tidbits I'm not really commenting on at Banned about the big fiasco going on with CEM and the RLDEA people. I'm just going to say this:

How much evidence does one possibly need to conclude to the obvious answer as to what's in the heart and the minds of certain COG people? What in the world is it going to take?

A lavish expensive auditorium didn't do it.
The juxtaposition of the End of the World with the building of the auditorium didn't do it.
The threats of loss of eternal salvation because of lack of tithing didn't do it.
RCG's compound didn't do it.
Weinland's conviction didn't do it.
PCG's extravagance and jet airplane didn't do it.
The poverty lives of some COG members for the cause that turned out empty didn't do it.
The good life of pastors while the poor suffer didn't do it.
The evidence in co-worker letters 50 years back didn't do it.

What in the world will do it?

I say nothing is going to do it. They are willing to give up everything for the contemptuous sordid gain of a few bullies who capitalize on whoever they can devour. They attach like a leach and through lies and threats and shackles and chains pull the life out of whoever they can. And it's all deception. It's all lies.

It's a financial SCAM.

It's not like the evidence isn't there. It's literally everywhere. It's getting to the point where they just don't seem to care anymore. How is accepting lies in the face of truth any different than what they've been railing against in their own minds for generations???

That's it for now.

If You are Traumatized, You Can't Just Let it Go.

One of the admins over on Banned posted a post on the blog over there called "2019, rise above your darkness, let it go". Though the essential message was well-meaning, and some of the elements had good intentions, the three words that are the most ineffective and invalidating to a survivor of a traumatic experience, whether emotional or physical, are "Let It Go".

Even for Christians.

Perhaps many remember the namesake song from the movie "Frozen". It's a nice concept. It's a beautiful concept. It seems so easy, doesn't it? Now I'm not saying that Jesus doesn't have the power, or his followers don't have the faith for a supernatural miracle of deliverance from all of the effects of trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, negative thoughts, and all of the associated emotional damage which is associated with the deep indoctrinations and damage from a severe cult experience. Yet this path may in fact, be detrimental for those who could gain much needed life-skills, coping skills, thought-skills, and life management skills for those who have been victimized by the charlatans and greedy wolves who take advantage and emotionally molest those who put their trust within them. These skills are best obtained by doing the one thing that cults hate their victims to do: Seek the help of professional counselors and services.

The skills that I have learned through over four years of professional therapy have taught me things that I never, ever were taught or understood within the confined, walled-in kingdom of Herbert-Armstrong. I never understood how cults damage and rewire the brain the way they do. I never understood the massive effects that their brainwashing, indoctrination, propaganda, and negativity caused in upsetting the logic vs. emotional balance of the mind. I never learned the concept of mindfulness, or the meaningful brain-healing of meditation and loving-kindness. I consider the things I have learned, and have been taught as absolutely life-saving and priceless beyond words.I am learning the skills to handle major depression and severe anxiety. It is an ongoing, critical process - especially when balancing these issues with a severe heart condition (which, by the way, could have been managed much, much earlier had Herbert Armstrong not got his nose into other people's lives due to greed and the love of money and power). It is a process that would not have been possible had I not received professional help. The truth is, if I had not received professional help, I would not have known HOW to BEGIN the process of overcoming, and managing the effects of Armstrongism in my life. The truth is, at this time, I would have been dead.

It would be easy for Jesus to supernaturally wave his Hands and "Poof"! Everything's gone and healed and it's all okay now, and life goes on. It would be a miracle, absolutely! It would be spectacular! Until the person - who has not learned any new life skills - or gained new insights or knowledge - gets - through his or her own deficiencies - into situations - has a whole new set of problems and begs for healing again. And what has truly, in the long run, been accomplished? Jesus can do things miraculously. Yet often, he brings us to a path to take advantage of learning, of growing - to eliminate the root causes that cause the peripheral issues in the first place.

It reminds me of all of the Christians who seek a sign, or a miraculous intervention, or a powerful healing - and then don't receive it - and miss out on a God-ordained way that is better and wiser than some miraculous intervention. See, God COULD have abruptly healed me. He could have taken away my heart condition before it nearly led to my early death. He could have fixed my anxiety issues without any problem! Sure, He could have - in a second! Yet, if he did - I would not have learned. I would not have grown. I would not have built character, or learned skills never taught to most until they "have" to know them. I would never have been given the incredible network of heart doctors and cult-recovery professionals I have now.

Because of the path Jesus led me on beyond a supernatural manifestation of electrifying power from the Higher Dimensions, I am alive, and I am growing. Jesus' ways are higher in so many ways than ours. There are sometimes better ways, in the long run, then "Poof, You're healed". Many times, the higher way is in wisdom and in understanding and experience.

No, for many, you can't just "let it go". There is a class of people who think they've let it go - but have not dealt with the underlying issues that are the more serious problems from trauma and pain, and hurt. These people think they've let it go - but haven't. They've buried their pain deep within, unwilling to bring it out, to work it out, and to learn and to grow. They're hurting themselves by their lack of getting help.

For those who truly have "let it go", consider it a blessing, and perhaps a miracle, and be thankful you have the strength to do so. For those who think they have, but deep down know they haven't - or those who KNOW they haven't. Get help. It's okay to admit you need help, and to get help. You will learn invaluable things, you will grow - and maybe, just maybe - that could be God's will for your life.

So if you're a Christian, and these words have touched you somehow, may I make a recommendation?

Please pray about it. Seek the will of the Father. Ask Jesus to take control and if it is his will for you to go the path of seeking help - that He would guide and lead and take control and charge of your life. And trust Him. The path may be long, and the journey may he hard. But you will be forever grafeful for the lifelong benefits - and wisdom - you will have attained.

May your journey to recovery be full of grace and healing.

Materialism and Rest. Thoughts.

I've been reading but not really participating in great detail on the lengthy thread over at Banned by HWA on an estate fight going on over a late minister's estate.

I'm not going to get into it here. I'm not one to cast judgement, because I was not there, I don't know the details, it's all hearsay to me. But from the little I do know about what I am seeing, can I just say that I'm disgusted by the whole thing? Well, I am. Materialism is here today, and is gone tomorrow. And yet, what is consuming the attention of two supposed religious entities at this point? Materialism. Back and forth. He said, she said. Over what? Over property. Over money. Disputes. It's sad to watch this mess.

During the course of one or the other discussions over there at Banned, a subject came up regarding the Rest that Christians enter into. I'll just copy how the conversation started.

The original poster was a "c f ben yochanan":

yeah, afraid ur right: once they see the ancient writings of the Word of God fulfilled, particularly Luke 13:25 Spoken by Jesus, whom, ironically, the writers of this blog like to accuse the cogers of rejecting, then they will understand that they will simply not be entering into His Rest, and will go the way of every doubter and scoffer in the bible that has preceded them...

woe unto them, there will be wailing and weeping at missed opportunity to merely stay the course of the simplicity that is in Christ and receive Praise from the Son of David, son of judah...

c f ben yochanan  

Here, CF clearly states that the "writers of this blog", obviously including myself, "will simply not be entering into His Rest" - and then, in judgement, blasts them as doubters and scoffers, who will be weeping and wailing because of rejecting "the simplicity that is in Christ".

Pretty crazy stuff right there.

This commentator seems to know for a fact the spiritual condition and salvation status of each of the writers at the Banned Site. More than this, he has already judged that "they will simply not be entering into His Rest". In other words, he has judged me as a non-Christian. Pretty bold stuff, there, isn't it? Quite a convincing, judgemental statement, isn't it? I know for an absolute fact that such a judgement is absolutely incorrect - categorically incorrect. I know this because Jesus Himself saved my life, and Jesus Himself has guided and led my path. I know this because I acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior. This, and for a thousand other reasons I'm not going to get into here. Suffice it to say, YES, Jesus is Lord, YES, I obey and serve Him to the best of my abilities. NO, I am not perfect. But for someone to come on a blog, to a complete stranger, and state to them the judgement they have cast? Only believable in a religion such as Armstrongism.

Anyway, I digress. I responded in this manner;

Christians have already entered into His Rest. The opportunity is not missed. It's here. Christians do not have to wait for a future event to experience Christ. Sorry to say it, your words and predictions are empty and without authority. Jesus is alive and well within His people. 

I thought it was short, and to the point. I did not feel the need to go on and on about it. Armstrong followers have their minds closed, shut, locked and sealed. I don't want to waste my time or get my anxiety all up in an knot over this. It's not worth it for my health, it's not worth it - well, simply, period.  But then, I get THIS response from an anonymous commentator:

"Christians have already entered into His Rest."


you can't be serious, have you looked around you lately? have you not noticed the condition of the world???

the only rest Christians have right now is the Sabbath each week (Heb.4)

What?  Really? You have GOT to be kidding ME.

What were the words of Jesus? What did Jesus say? Any Christian should know the phrase and scripture by heart. Jesus said, "Come to ME, all you who are weary and heavy [burdened], and I will give YOU REST." And this writer really comes on and says that the only rest Christians have right now is the Sabbath each week? Really? Seriously?

Have I not noticed the condition of the world? Sure I have! I responded in this manner;

Did I say I was talking about the world? Did I say every liar, stealer, assaulter, and abuser is a Christian? Did I say that those who are on the "will not inherit the Kingdom" list are Christians? Did I allude to anything about that? What then is your definition of a Christian?

a Christian is one who has the Holy Spirit, Christ in them, and is known by the fruits they exhibit. The fruits they exhibit are directly correlated with Christ's Rest.

The rest is not physical. The rest is spiritual. It's emotional. It's relationship. All those with the Spirit of God, Christ in You, are inheritors of the Promise. They are confident in their future because they have been sealed by the Spirit. What you are doing is confusing Christianity as a corporate, which it isn't. Christianity is personal. It is a relationship. Those who have Christ exhibit Christ and exhibit through their fruits the evidence of His Rest.

Why is this so hard for Armstrong followers to understand?

It's just inconceivable that a Christian would possibly say that the only rest a Christian has is the Sabbath Day. This is exactly the evidence of what I was talking about when I say how Armstrong followers deny what Jesus Christ accomplishes and freely gives to those who seek Him, and receive His Holy Spirit. This is the evidence of why I have often called Armstrongism non-Christian. Because so many of them wholly deny that Jesus Christ gives Christians rest through the Spirit of God within them! And through that Rest, by Christ, one exhibits righteousness. One exhibits peace. One exhibits joy. Patience. Lovingkindness. Gentleness. Mercy. Self Control. And of course, LOVE. These are the fruits of a spiritually rested person. These are the fruits of a Christian. "Come to ME, all you who are weary, and heavy laden, and I will give you REST".

Sure, people can take a day of rest on the Sabbath Day. It certainly doesn't mean they're RESTING. It certainly doesn't eliminate the attitudes and carnality so freely evident even on the Sabbath in so many Armstrong related movements. Just because one is working without pay certainly doesn't mean they're RESTING! God is Spirit, and His worshippers worship in Spirit. It should go without saying that His followers also rest in Spirit.

You can keep the Sabbath. You can keep the Holy Days. You can tithe. You can serve the Church. You can be a pillar in the Church, and still not be in His Rest. This is evidenced by the fruits of a non-spiritually rested person. And we all know in Armstrongism there is an abundance of this out there, carnality and wickedness in all of it's ugly nature, whether it's on the Sabbath or not on the Sabbath. Whether it's on the Job or at the Feast. Keeping a day or a festival does not change the heart and soul anymore than wearing a suit cleans you up if you haven't been able to shower for a long time. You're still dirty. And if Jesus has not changed your heart and your mind, no matter how often you keep a DAY of rest, you still have not entered into HIS Rest.

There are many, many Armstrong believers out there who hold to the belief that because they keep the Sabbath and the Holy Days, that that's the sign they are Christians. Jesus had something different to say. Jesus said:

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (NIV)

I can just hear Armstrongites say just as easily, "Lord, did we not keep your Sabbath? Did we not keep the Feast of Tabernacles and did we not tithe and follow Herbert Armstrong"? If Jesus was so strong about people who actually prophesied in the name of Jesus, or people who literally drove out demons in the name of Jesus - or even performed many miracles in the name of Jesus - what about those who believe they know Jesus just because of the days they keep or the festivals they keep? What makes them even greater than those who did not know Jesus who were able to use His power and His name? Their hearts were not in the right place. Their fruits were not evident. They were not in his REST. They did not have a relationship with Jesus. Jesus never KNEW them. And he even called those who used his name and his power evildoers - because they did not know the one who was the Source of that power.  

Earlier in the chapter Jesus said: 

 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

For those who easily like to judge others who think a little differently then them - especially those who are Christian - this would be certainly some advice that might be worth a little bit of extra thought. 

It is Jesus - Christ in You - the Spirit of God - that gives you rest - as you yield yourself to Him. As you turn from the things that are not of the Spirit - the things of wickedness and sinfulness at heart - like idolatry, greed, covetousness, immorality, abuse, heavy-handedness, sordid gain, and the love of money - things disrespectful to God and to others - things not done out of love but out of power and greed and lust - you enter into that Rest and peace through obedience, and by following the will of the Father - to LOVE God, and to LOVE your neighbor. When you love God, your neighbor, and do right - that's a peace and rest beyond all understanding. And that - in this crazy, selfish world - is a virtuous, and treasured gift to be valued and held dear. 

 

Will Armstrong Apologists Ever Accept Reality?

The easy answer is no. 

To the fundamentalist Armstrongite - the serious, hardcore, fully-indoctrinated believer in the methodologies of Herbert Armstrong - looks at reality in an augmented way. A good way to call their worldview is "Augmented Armstong- Based Reality."

Augmented means simply - to make greater than it really is. Which is their view of their role in the world, their vision, their reality, and their God, to be point blank. They have a distorted position from what reality really is. This is very provable - irrefutably provable - based on the track record of their claims vs. what really happened. Their realities, as  claimed, never, not even once, have happened. Every last one of them has been humiliated by the extreme reality of the epic proportions of their failures. Yet, the cling on, in divisive, arrogant, unsubstantiated, ignorant, and uneducated blindness as to the reality of what they are proclaiming as irrefutably false.

It is not just one lone, isolated, rogue case among Armstrongites. This lies at the very core of their ideology. Every speculation. Every prophetic utterance. Every promise. Every prediction. Every claim, and every date has been proven - yes, proven - to be a lie. A misjudgement. An error. A presumption. They just call it "overzealous" behavior. Or, mistiming. Or, just a "partial revealing", only when fully revealed to be twice as false as the first revealing. They lead their believers on a wild roller coaster that always gets bumpier, and never has an end, an infinite loop of chaos and confusion, while running the meter the full trip. And yet, the hardcore believers seem just fine with it.

Ignored - willfully - is the abuse. Ignored, willfully - is the condemnation. Ignored is the dissonance, the abhorrent behaviors, the greed and the love of money and mammon, the harm it has done to themselves and their families, their income and their well-being. Ignored is the blatant untruths preached from the pulpit - and most ignored, and most obvious - the mind-numbing, unintelligent, theological bull which comes from the pulpit. Rinse and repeat, and settle for it all, like a failed and abusive relationship - which is really, what it is. 

What's behind this? What's the real story? Why, or how - could anyone staunchly defend the indefensible? Why- or how - could anyone be involved in this level of emotional and psychological - and sometimes, physical abuse? How can anyone be duped into literally handing over so much of their income to be mismanaged by Pharisaical idiots whose greatest skill is how to bully, to lie, and to deceive? How does this happen?

It happens because of one word: Fear.

The Pharisaical Idiots have successfully deceived their congregants to believe that their physical organization is the way, the truth, and the life - not Jesus. The Pharisaical Idiots have convinced them that apart from them - whichever organization it is - or Armstrongism as a whole - they are lost. Doomed. Gone. Forsaken. Abandoned. Hopeless. and the dreaded A-Word - "Apostate". The believers believe these Pharisaical Idiots - because of years, upon years of mind-conditioning which is piled on layer after layer after later of the Paint of Fear on the fortress of the mind. They have grown to love the darkness, and have blinded themselves from the light.

Fortunately, this is not the case for everyone.

There is a continuing group of those who drank the Kool-Aid who are slowly coming around and waking up to the reality of what really has happened in their lifetimes. They are slowly awakening to fact, to reason, to reality, and many to the love of Jesus that Armstrongism has robbed them of for so long. They are slowly seeing what was the true story all along. These people - once they see - some, for the first time - are shocked, traumatized, stumbling babes - many of whom have been conditioned to believe the antithesis of reality in so many cases and situations. It's overwhelming. But evidence has shown they are coming to grips of the reality based on three words - Herbert was wrong.

I guess the answer to the question is yes - for some. Regardless of how great or strong the "awakening" may be - there will always be a subset of Armstrongism in the world. My prediction is , however - and this is becoming more sure - that in very little time, it will be as insignificant and unknown as the little church on the corner of your small town that no one's ever heard of but the locals. You all know what that church is in your town - and every town has one.

For those who refuse to accept reality? For those who staunchly defend the indefensible, and excuse the inexcusable? The power of belief is their reality. They have defined their hope, their dreams, and their futures based on their personal faiths. Their personal story will be based on their foundation. What that foundation is? That's only personal to them. My hope is it is built on Jesus Christ. Because any other foundation - according to the very Gospel they claim to know - is sinking sand.

There is a Boat, and his name is Jesus. His nets are drawn. His hands reach out. He urges them to come to Him. He pleads with them with love in his eyes and heart.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy ladened, and I will give you rest."

You Have a Voice, and You Have a Right and a Freedom to Exercise Your Responsibility in Your Community.

Herbert Armstrong continually railed against the member's right - their constitutional right - to vote.

I know I said that I would not talk politics in this blog - and I won't. No politicians will be mentioned in this post. It cannot be ignored, however, that one of the long-standing dogmas of the Church in Armstrongism was that the right to vote. It was forbidden. It was said to be "involvement with the World" - because, we were supposed to be in the world, but not of the world. It was a method of control and the assertion of the strong belief that the Government of God was not democratic - it was autocratic - from the top, down. Any involvement with the world such as the right to vote was squelched by Herbert and Company.

There are many reasons why this was the case. One, Herbert didn't want people to get used to the idea that they could have a "say" in anything. Once one starts to get the mind set that he has a voice, then he might get the idea he could use it in the Church. This was not to be with Herbert. He despised people doing "their own thing", or not in agreement with his doctrines or principles, seemingly believing that they came from God and not himself.

Yet I think there was an even bigger reason. If a member began to get "involved" with the policies of the world - the government, the issues, the proposals - then they might actually begin to learn the methods that Herbert used on his church.

Herbert used a specific psychology in his methods of control on the members of the Church. This psychology was a combination of advertising finesse, sales tactics, and mind control. The last thing he ever wanted, or needed, was for a member to learn of those tactics or how they worked. This would make one intellectually smart as to his tactics and what he was doing. If someone was privy to sales tactics and influential - then the best thing to do was to absorb them into the collective - make them an ordained minister so they're on "his side". If someone was not, keep them away from any influence that could show them what was going on. Even those "absorbed into the collective" may not have been consciously aware of what was going on - but certainly some were. Garner Ted Armstrong was not shy about telling pastors about the "mind conditioning" and "psychology" used in publications about issues on religion, sex, and the like. This is one reason why he railed so hard against the world's "psychology" or psychologists. He wanted no one to learn the secrets of mind conditioning they used on the membership to assume mind control and full brainwashing.

Voting was just one small part of this piece of the puzzle. The main message of Armstrongism was obedience, submission, respect of authority and the government of God - and how well and how into serving the Church and supporting the "apostle" you were. Any involvement with the community - be it rotary clubs, community service, or anything of the "world" put you in danger of the "leaven of intellectualism", as he called it. It plugged up his control over the member, both of information, and of ministerial authority and his teachings. Which of course, directly affected the "bottom line".

This tactic of oppression - one of many - led to an isolationist, exclusive culture within the Church that caused one to completely lack any care or concern to their community, the issues of their community, or the people around them. They became, unintentionally, aloof, superior, and ignorant. They cast a blind eye to the concerns of the world around them because they were in it, but not "of it". They were commanded to be "separate". In other words, to not give a flying fig about anybody or anything around them. After all, to the average member, these were people under Satan's rule, and they weren't worthy of your attention to their issues because they were not called. We simply turned a blind eye and regarded them as uncalled, unsaved, blind and wretched inferiors to us, the royal kings and queens about to rule over them in the World Tomorrow. As such, we looked like arrogant and stuck-up, snotty rear ends of a donkey. If you get my drift.

One of the things that I have learned in my years in cult-recovery is the importance of being a part of the community. One of the individuals who I talk to told me something I would never forget. This person said:

"You are a part of the community. Everyone helps each other out, and watches over each other. Everyone takes part in the issues that concern them."

This concept struck me like a bolt out of thin air, because it was contrary to everything I ever was taught about community. I was taught to avoid the community. To avoid others. To avoid involvement with anything. To not care. To literally stick my nose up in disgust to the world, because the world was ruthless. It was an un-loving, un-caring attitude of total jerk-hood.

But what about this "be in it but not of it" that I was taught?

The answer is so simple. It means don't get involved in the sinful ways around you.

Galatians 5:19-21

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 This is being "of" the world, I believe. But when it comes to community involvement? Standing up for your beliefs and your principles? Exercising your right to vote? That's a personal right and a constitutional guarantee. No man has the right or the authority to tell you you cannot do what your principles tell you to do. This is the world you live in. And no matter what some spiritual arrogant know-it-all might try to make you believe, you do have a voice, and you do have a say. 

Today is a day when those in the United States of America have a chance to make their voice heard. Do not let anyone tell you you do not have the right to have a voice, and to have your say in the world that you live in every day. If you feel you want to express your freedom - get out there and express your freedom and make your opinion count. If not this opportunity, next time.

Because no matter what the ministers of Armstrongism say. You matter.  Your voice matters. Your mind matters. And you have the right to get out there and be heard. 

Don't ever let anyone tell you any differently. 

Who Are You?

Are you you, or are you something that you never wanted to be? Who are you, anyway?

When you first wake up in the morning, half awake and groggily rising from your nightly slumber, you may find yourself half awake, off balance and heading for the bathroom. As you flip on the light, while yawning, you may catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror.

And you quickly wake up - WHO is that staring back at you? Your hair looks like it's been through a tornado or the latest punk rock phase, whatever is worse. Your eyes may seem puffy, pillow marks on the side of your face. Five o' clock shadow if you're a guy. It's a picture of you that you would only share with your closest of relatives.

Nevertheless, it is who you are. But is it who you are?

I know that may seem like a redundant question, highly without logic and seemingly without ration. But in the common experience of our past - the Worldwide Church of God - who you believed you are may never be who you really were, or are, or will be. Because they wanted you to conform to what they wanted you to be. And many still have not discovered exactly who they are.

There was a set and established mold of expectation in the Churches of God as to who you were expected to be. Indeed, there was a specific, well-thought out, highly integrated standard that you were expected to either already have met, or were expected to conform to. This standard engulfed everything in your life - from appearance, to characteristics, to communication, to finances, to your marriage, your children, and everything in, around, and in between. They called this expectation of appearance "Godliness". And they called the process of molding yourself to this expectation "Character-building". Once you became the person they expected you to become, in every way conforming to their expectations (a combination of Law-keeping and Standard-Bearing), you were fully integrated and accepted as to one who is "bearing the fruits" as a "Deeply Converted" member of the Churches of God.

Yet the reality is often different from the illusion. The illusion of who you are. The reality of who you are was often what you were when no one was watching. Or when you were at work. Or school. Or with your spouse. The reality may be a shadow of what you had hoped to be, hidden, and dormant for so many years, unable to grow and to cultivate and to be nurtured and fed. The reality may honestly never have been known, because the reality of what you wanted to be - you were told was wrong, or incorrect, or unacceptable.

Take for instance profession. Many in the church were discouraged from being what they knew they could be or do. People with skills for medicine were discouraged, for example. Perhaps one had the gift of law enforcement in public service - police, fire, ems. Perhaps the job they were good at doing, they could not do, because they were convinced that doing so would violate the Law. The list could go on, and on, and on.

Take for instance those who did not meet the mold because they were not good at what they were told to be good at. Like the student at Ambassador who was not sports-oriented, or the Y.O.U. member who couldn't throw the ball in the hoop. Or the high-voiced male who was constantly told was effeminate or unmanly. Or the woman who was dreadfully unhappy with the role chosen for her as a homemaker, cook, and sewing expert. They were forced to mold and condition themselves to expectations because that was considered the right way to be and behave. But was it who they were?

Is it who they are?

When I confronted a minister about some aspects of my time in the Worldwide Church of God, this preaching elder admitted outright that the attitudes displayed by the minister were the way they were because they were expected to conform certain people and types to expectation. People were not allowed to be who they were. The level of control was beyond the maximum. Your expectation was to be a drone. A robotic programmed, wholly obedient, assimilated member of The Family. Where any deviance of the expectation was met with condemnation and judgement. Your personality and your talents may have been stomped on, defecated on, pissed on, and finally, puked on if you did not change and conform, or "repent" of who you were to become what they wanted you to be.

I'm not saying we should not aim for a goal of Godliness. But Godliness does not eliminate YOU.

Godliness does not eliminate your talents. Your skills. Your personality. Your humor. Your abilities. And Godliness does not eliminate your freedom. Your freedom of choice, your freedom to live, and your freedom to grow and develop who you are, and to take the best path in your life to the glory of God.

I know of some people who simply do not believe that they have free will. That God has to tell them every decision, and command every path, and instruct every highway. How can one grow with this mindset? How can one possibly understand the gift God has given to us if they believe that they are simply programmed drones with no abilities beyond "Yes, Sir"? Does not God intend for us to life an abundant and fulfilled life - one of service and Godliness - but also one of truth, fully using every talent and ability to the fullest of one's potential?

What we were not told in the Worldwide Church of God is our true identity. As Christians, our identity is in Christ, and is in Christ alone. Being in Christ does not rob us of who we are, or what we can do. Being in Christ means doing all things and all decisions in an attitude of love and respect to God and man, in faith, trust in confidence of God's providence in our lives - believing in the power of the Word of God in our everyday life - which is a way of life beyond physical standards. It is spiritual purity, the clearest of living waters.

Our identity in Christ is defined by our Fruits in Christ - the exhibition and the practice - in whatever skills we have - of righteousness in Christ. Of love, of peace, of joy. Of kindness and gentleness. Of meekness. Of self control. These fruits do not rob us of our abilities and our talents. They compliment and embody our abilities and our talents. In fact, they are quenched and stifled in drones and autocratic robots. Our identity - and who we are - is in Christ.

What we DO is up to us. As individuals. As people with choice, and freedom. As people with talents, and gifts, and paths to take that for so many of us have been trampled on and covered up by so many hirelings of the Churches of God, whose only goal is to conform us to their version of law and expectations. They are the self-appointed Thiels, and the Malms, and the Hard-core leaders of the Churches of God - they are the do's and dont's of Armstrongism that hold you down and out, and poor, and weak, and miserable.  They are the ones that have kept you from discovering who you are.

When you discover WHO you are in Christ, you are released from bondage, and free to live in the service of Christ - by His fruits - to everyone. You are free. Free to serve, free to grow, free to use your skills and assets and virtues in ways that your talents are best suited for unencumbered by the demands of the oppressors, guided by the Law of Love, respect, and the Spirit of Christ in all you say and do in accordance with the will of the Father.

For the Christian - this is life.

As Jesus said in scripture:

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (Biblehub)

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit .

Galatians 5:1 1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

13-24 (Biblehub)

13You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ^a ; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ^b 15If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever ^c you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Dating In Armstrongism

Dating was one of the most complicated and most watched activities within the church, as the church was attempting to control the morality of it's members (and, it could be argued, maintain massive immorality in it's ministers at the same time, though this was not always the case with all ministers.) There were many very complex do's and dont's among the single and teen dating scenes that dictated exactly what you were going to do, with who, and how it was to be done. Along with these were a strong list of exactly what you were NOT going to do – that is – if you wanted a good chance of staying in the church, for those who cared.

Take kissing, for example. 

Was this even acceptable when dating within the Church?

 

Kissing was considered something to wait for until marriage vows were traded among a couple. Many did not, but there were just as many rebels as there were followers. Physical contact while dating was considered completely tabboo, and kissing was a small part of this. The fear was that if a couple started kissing, it could lead to uncontrollable attraction, foreplay, and ultimately pre-marital intercourse. Therefore, to attempt to stop this from happening, kissing itself was forbidden among dating couples. How often this was ignored by dating couples, outside of prying eyes of watching ministers and parents, however, was anyone's guess. 

If the Churches of God had this back in the Armstrong Era...

 

Speaking of “Prying Eyes”, it wasn't uncommon for the ministers to either spy themselves, or set up spies in the church for the purpose of trying to catch somebody “in the act” of breaking one of the church's laws on morality and infidelity. Even so, there were those who were just plain unliked in the church, and it wouldn't be a stretch to report a complete fib just to get someone in trouble – especially if they were trying to break up a couple they thought should not be a couple, or a friendship, or anybody they didn't agree with should be talking with each other. This was commonly done in the church. 

This happened more often then Kermit Nelson wanted to know at SEP.

 

There were usually two groups of teenage kids in my local congregation: I called them The Rebels, and the Losers. Since I was undoubtedly a part of the “losers”, partly because I wanted to follow the Church's version of what was right, this was not an issue for me. However, I did walk in on a few of the “rebels” - and of all places, this was at the Summer Educational Program. You either were against the church's teachings due to hormones, and indulged in “rebellious” behavior, or you were for the church, and relegated a “loser” no matter how innocent and naïve you were. Regardless of either class you were in, you were an outcast to the world through and through – unless you completely “rebelled” and became a part of what was termed “The New Morality”. 

This would get you kicked out of everything!!!

Petting and Necking – admittedly a stage beyond just “kissing” - in the church, was considered sexual foreplay and was forbidden among dating single individuals. Couples were supposed to wait until marriage to perform forbidden acts such as listed here. Dating was strictly controlled and in some cases, date results were to be reported to the minister to see how it went. Just like with kissing, Once petting and necking began, it was thought that they were already well on their way toward pre-marital intercourse. This was, after all, considered fornication. If dating included petting and necking while the members were in the church, that couple was separated by the ministry – at the LEAST. At most, you were told you were setting a bad example, and couldn't return until you 'repented'. 

Another thing – interracial dating of any kind was forbidden in the church. If you were white, you dated a white person – not olive, not hispanic – not latino – white, and the same exact policy with other races in the church. You didn't do it. Racism was rampant in the church based on their interpretation of scriptures and bible prophecy. Whole congregations at one time of color were segregated. This is just the way it was.

The acceptable space between dating couples: "Let There Be Light!"

Who you dated was controlled by the minister or your parents – and you did what they told you to do. If they wanted you with a person, you obeyed. If you were a teenager, if they wanted you to double-date for a period of time, you did. If they did not want you with a person, you broke up. You did, again, what you were told. If they thought you were compatible, you were compatible – even if you were most obviously not compatible. You simply accepted and “worked through” the trial that was to last your whole life, because this was “God's will”. Regardless of the strange pool of “weirdness” in the church that made dating extremely unattractive for many, you didn't think of dating someone outside of the church – they were unconverted, it was told, and could well become a bad influence in your life. Therefore, if you “liked” someone who was out of the church, you were to – well, “un-like” them – they wouldn't understand you, and you would be too tempted by them. It was called, in church speak, being “unequally yoked” - just like a married couple where one is in the church, and one is out of the church.

With that said, The thought of dating outside of the church – to those who wanted to follow the church's teachings, and were old enough – was unheard of. Any potential mate was only, and I mean ONLY – found within the church. The problem with this is that those within the church were, unwittingly and unknowingly, just as messed up as you were, and any prospective suitor knew you were messed up too. Yet dating outside of the church was not an option, so, regardless of what a couple might say, most church couples, anxious to get married to escape the soon coming Tribulation, they thought, married anyway and settled with what they got.

The thought of dating outside of the church – to those who wanted to follow the church's teachings – was unheard of. Any potential mate was only, and I mean ONLY – found within the church. The problem with this is that those within the church were, unwittingly and unknowingly, just as messed up as you were, and any prospective suitor knew you were messed up too. Yet dating outside of the church was not an option, so, regardless of what a couple might say, most church couples, anxious to get married to escape the soon coming Tribulation, they thought, married anyway and settled with what they got. A truly tragic thing for many of the couples who were entangled in the dating snare of Armstrongism.

And don't hold hands.