Look for the Helpers, He Said....

There are plenty of buffoons out there who like to claim they alone are the mouthpiece of God. All it takes is a simple youtube search to find all of the buffoons who truly like to claim that their knowledge is God's knowledge. Some of them seem rather tame and benign, while others go full out in apostolic clothing with a beard that would make Santa himself jealous. What is it that makes a person go so hogwild with their interpretations? What makes a person so special that they feel they alone have been hand-picked by God to carry out their message?

It really doesn't matter if it's the pastor at the local corner church, or some lone ranger on a youtube channel. They all think they alone are right. They've established their little piece of the religious pie, and are intent on getting anyone they can to take a bite out of it. These range from the scholarly to the absolute ridiculous - harping about on the latest thing that catches their eye that no one's doing, but they feel everyone must do. Yet, in spite of all of this, there is one thing that they all nearly universally agree on - tithing.

From the weird to the wacko to the strange and the destitute to the socially awkward to the pulpit pounder, you will find they all agree that you must fund their life so they can get their message out. Yet, in this day and age of free youtube and live broadcasting - why do they need your money to do it? They already have cable internet, or you wouldn't be seeing the message in the first place. They have a computer or they wouldn't have a way to broadcast the message. What they are really asking for is that you - as a watcher, or even a follower - would recognize the "calling" they recognize and then give them your money as agreement that they are God's mouthpiece for whatever it is they are so zealous about. Once you agree, whether it's a youtube "preacher" or a full on church member, you're in "the system".

Now this isn't to say that there isn't good out there in the world of corporate Christianity. But the bottom line of corporate Christianity is very simple - it's the word "Corporate". The religious industry is big business. It's tax-free, supposedly charitable non-profit business which rakes in millions to even billions of dollars, often pastors amd denominations benefiting the most from the deal with some notable and worthy exceptions. Many not-so-worthy individuals would love to get into that system with intentions that are not so good. And many already have.

From the background and experience of my life growing up in an Armstrongism Cult, many of these individuals have risen from the muck. Not of their own power, but because the muck has drained and their sorry heads pop out looking for whatever and whoever they can devour with their own pithy propaganda, believing they and they alone are God's Mouthpiece for "this end time" generation, joining the thousands and thousands of others who believe the same thing of themselves. Instead of getting out there in the business of love and service, as the hands and the feet of Jesus, they exalt themselves as whatever figure they see themselves at and dupe the fragile in the process. And the cycle repeats itself, over and over again.

"Look for the helpers", Mr. Fred Rogers would often teach. Perhaps his lesson was the best lesson - to avoid the pitfalls and snares of Corporate Americanized Christianity with all of it's love of money - and rejoin what true Christianity is - the simple act of helping, of loving, of caring, of giving, of being a kind and good person. Because - to all those who think they are somebody and they really are not - it's not about you - it never has been about you - and it never will be. It's about how you show Jesus to others, and even the world in your life. It's not about buildings, or bank accounts, or trees, or calendars, or this thing, or that thing. It's not about what day you worship, it's about how you worship, in spirit and truth, or lies and deception. It's not about if you go to Church in a suit and tie, but if you're willing to be "a helper" when the need arises. It's about being a light. It's about being the one people look to not because you are yelling at them to look at you, but because you are one of the helpers - a good and bright example of Jesus.

In my background, we were taught not to be "helpers". We were taught to be inclusive. Introverted. Self-withdrawn. "Away from the world". The only ones we helped were ourselves. It is this introverted legacy that infiltrates cultic thinking and even corporate Christianity. There's much more to life than what's shallow. Living is being a helper. And you don't have to glorify yourself to be just that.

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.

Short Story: The Prayer.

By Blog Owner. 

*****

It was a moment he had prepared his entire life for. A moment greater than High School Graduation. A moment greater than his first kiss. Yes, a moment even greater than his wedding day. A moment even greater than the consummation of his marriage that night. Yes, it was The Moment. The moment he had been waiting for his entire life. The moment.....

He got to stand for the first time Behind The Lectern.

He remembered when he was little how he was never allowed on the stage, nevertheless near that beautiful walnut-stained solid wood Lectern with the Adjustable Microphone and Most Holy Seal on the front displaying the ever-awesome Seal of the Church, signifying the God-Ordained Official role of the blessed or doubly blessed servant that was fortunate enough to stand behind the Edifice of the Local Congregation of the One and Only Truest Church. He remembered watching how people would walk up to the Edifice – how they bent their knees. How they turned and looked. How they placed their stacks of papers or their Bible. The way they placed one hand on one side, or their other hand on the other side. Or both hands on both sides, stretching his suit way out about to rip at the seams, it seemed. After all, it was an Ordained Position to Position yourself Properly at THE Ordained Position behind the Edifice.

Yes, he remembered every occasion, week after week. And now, for the first time, he was asked to stand behind this Lectern himself. To give the most humble of all tasks. The Opening Prayer.

What an honor. What a privilege this was. He'd heard the Opening Prayer a thousand times, if not tens of thousands of times, or so it seemed. He heard the good ones, and he cringed at the bad ones. He remembered solemnly the one-hit wonders, who would give a Sermonette instead of a Prayer, never to return behind the Edifice again. He remembered the passionate prayers, the boring prayers, the suck-up-to-the-Pastor Prayers, and the “Quick, I'm Hungry, Let's Eat” closing prayers. He just had to nail the Approved Style to get it right, so he could possibly do it again. Maybe, just maybe, if he did it right, he could get up there not just to pray, but to chicken flap his way through all the songs he knew since birth.

He though about how he'd do it. “Our Father..” No, too bland. “Eternal, Heavenly Father”... no, everyone does it that way. “Our Most Gracious, Eternal, Heavenly Father...” No, too much for the first one. “Father in Heaven”... yeah, that'll work. Not too little, not too much. “We just...” We just. No, too bland. “We come before you on this..” YES. Now we're getting what we need to do, he thought. “Beautiful Sabbath Day?” Wait, what if it's raining? It's not beautiful then! “Wonderful Sabbath Day...” That's better... but what if it wasn't wonderful. “We come before you on this Sabbath Day, we thank you..” He was getting the groove of what he had heard for years upon years.

“Let's See..” he thought... “Bless the pastor, inspire the speaker...that you would bless the words...inspire the thoughts....that many would have ears to hear...” Yes, he liked that. “Bless the entire service...and we ask this all in the name of Christ, Amen”... Yeah, something like that. Gulp. Now. Presentation, he thought.

He walked up to the mirror. Cleared his throat. And with as low of a voice as possible, he growled... “ETERNAL..” No, no, no, he thought. He tried a higher voice. “Eternal...” NO, that's too Kermit THEE Froggish. Just be natural, he thought. For the first time, he felt the sweat drip from his brow. SO much to this, he thought! “How should I stand? Oh, don't worry about it”, he thought, everyone will be

looking down, anyway. But what if they don't? What if they stare at me? What if they see how nervous I really am? What if I bomb? WHAT IF I TOTALLY SCREW THIS UP? WHAT IF I.... WHAT IF I..... WHAT IF I BONK MY NOSE ON THE MICROPHONE? OHH THE HUMANITY!!!”

He went to the fridge and pulled out the scotch and took a guzzle of it, and tried to relax. It'll be okay. After thirty seconds, it will be over. But will it meet the approval of The Minister – or will he be black-listed forever???

Finally, it was THE DAY. 

It was the longest drive. Every mile seemed like an eternity, driving down the highway, hearing the pavement thumping and the tires singing underneath the wheels of his station wagon. 

"You'll do fine, honey. Stop worrying about it!", his wife said, trying to encourage him. 

"Yeah, daddy, I can't wait to hear your voice through the loudspeakers!" One of his pre-school age children said. Of course, this did little to relieve the anxiety. He gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. 

Finally, he saw the outline of the old abandoned school where they met for services approaching. As he turned the corner, he could see two well-dressed men chit-chatting next to the doors that led to the ramshackled meeting hall in the gymnasium of that school. He slowly turned into a parking spot, and stopped the car. He glanced into the rearview mirror and with a dart of his eyes caught the assuring smile of his youngest child. His wife patted him on the thigh, saying "Go Do That Prayer." 

Slowly, he got out of the car, went to the trunk and grabbed his Bible and Notebook. He caught up to his wife and the two children were walking behind. He turned around and with anxiety said, "Now you two be on your BEST behavior today. This is an important day for Daddy." 

"We will!", they said, then ran into the hall nearly setting the balance off from one of the Greeters. 

"Good Morning!", one of the greeters said, extending a firm, masculine handshake. 

"Morning, beautiful weather", he nervously replied. He walked into the hall where another well-dressed man gave him a hymnal and a Bulletin - and an equally firm handshake. 

"Good Morning!", he to the Hymnal Guy. 

"Hey, Buddy, I heard today you're going to give the opening prayer. Don't worry about it, you'll do fine." 

Gulp. 

He could feel the sweat running down his brow onto his cheek. He nervously glanced around looking to see if the Song Leader had arrived. Maybe he isn't here, he thought. Maybe, just maybe there will be another song leader and another Prayer giver! Alas, however, he could see that the Song Leader was already talking with the Pianist about the hymns. He decided to sit down. Actually, he felt he needed to sit down. He chose an aisle seat close to the front of the hall, as was the tradition. 

The hall was filling up now, as the Murmor of  hundreds of voices was getting louder and louder. As he looked up, he could see the Song Leader check his watch and say a quick word to the Pianist. The Song Leader then ambled over to the Lectern, flipped a couple pages, and pulled out a small long card and placed it on the Lectern. He glanced up, smiled, and adjusted the Microphone perched on a boom stand in front of the Lectern. 

"May I Have your Attention, please. Will you all please begin finding your seats, services will begin in three minutes." And at once, the Pianist began plinking and planking away at a familiar tune "O Come and Let Us Worship Him." 

Everyone began finding their seats, adjusting baby stuff, setting down hymnals, or just sitting. Soon, every seat save a few were full. The Song Leader was chit chatting with the still-playing pianist, and the small handful of choir members assembled on stage. Finally, the Pianist stopped and looked at the Song Leader, perched with both hands on the lectern. 

"Well a Pleasant Sabbath Morning to all of You!" - he paused and slowly looked around the room. 

"Beautiful Weather we're having today, in fact, a glorious day to sing songs to God, so let's all RISE" - his hands palm up swooped in a rising gesture - "And turn in your hymnals to page 75. Holy Mighty Majesty. Page 75." 

The Introduction rang out and soon off and singing, but so did the rising anxiety increasing like a pressure cooker deep within. 

"Worship and exalt, The Eternal One, Holy Mighty Majesty!" - the last of the three verses ended. 

"Beautiful beginning! Now let's turn in our hymnals to..'

The voice faded out as he went on autopilot, turned to the song, and sang, mind racing. And then, the last song. Here's where he knew he had to begin his Walk of Fame. 

As the very third verse of the last song began, he slowly closed his hymnal, and his lead-weighted feet slowly moved out to the aisle. He glanced nervously to his wife. She nodded and smiled. He turned and walked up the steps, and, as so many did before him, paused right between the piano player and the song leader, furiously flapping his arms away with what seemed to be complete ease and grace. 

"So it is seemly so to do..." 

Almost time...

"And shall from age to Age enduuuure." 

Gulp. 

"Our opening prayer this morning will be given by a member here...."

The song leader stepped away from the lectern, three steps backward, and looked at him, and nodded. 

Dead silence in the room. A quick glance at the audience showed bowing heads - except a few staring right. at. him. every step toward the Lectern sounded like cannons going off. 

Clunk. Clank. Clunk. 

And there it was. The Lectern, in front of him, in all of its magnificence. Instinctively, he cleared his throat, but taken aback the microphone picked it up as it echoed throughout the entire hall.  He opened his mouth to talk, but nothing came out. He bowed lower, and almost ate the microphone. PANIC! 

Relax. Just pray. Do it right. You know the drill, he thought. 

"............."

"come on man, go...pray", he thought. 

"......................"

And finally, after hearing these prayers all of his life, he was able to recite the prayer word for word. 

"Eternal Heavenly....come before you...this Sabbath....grateful...we just pray.....bless the speaker....let us hear the words....we commit this service into your hands......Amen..."

He was so relieved after he said "Amen" that he didn't even think, he just blurted:

"I DID IT"!!!!!

Everyone laughed. Well, most everyone. A few higher profile individuals didn't find that so funny. A perfect prayer with a not so perfect ending. He did do it. He finally was able to give the Opening Prayer in a real, live, Church Service. And as he walked down the stairs, for the first time, he realized how soaked with sweat he was. 

He was SO thankful he had to wear his suit jacket. Though the rest of the service was unbearable. 

After all, Go Ye Deodorant into All The Church was a good motto to live by. 

***

*Fictional Story, by author. 

 

What Is it that makes Armstrongism SO appealing to those who support it?

It's a valid question.

What is it exactly, that makes Armstrongism SO appealing to those who fully embrace it's completely flawed ideologies? What is it about Armstrongism that has caused people to completely deny reality in their quest for truth and understanding?

Despite the full brunt of historical evidence which is a free and open library for the browsing, Armstrongist supporters wear blindfolds and earplugs in the face of such dramatic affronts to their concepts and mindless imaginations. Despite the full brunt of hardships and assaults on rightful living, and despite the full brunt of even half-ways intelligent rebuttals to some of their most easily dis-proven theological embarrassments, they continue to relish in the madness of constant deceptions and continual delusion. They do not believe it is deception, nor do they believe it is delusion. To them, it's reality - even though clearly, and without any legitimate dispute, it is anything but reality. It is clearly, and unarguably, complete non-sense - made up by one man, with one vision, and one dream, fueled by vanity, ego, conceit, and power.

With that framework clear - what is it, then, that makes Armstrongism SO appealing to those who support it? It is the clear embracing of the concepts and imaginative dreaming of exactly the mindsets of the one who started it all. Namely, vanity, ego, conceit, and power.

Armstrongism is a fairy tale land of make-believe for many who did not, in real life, achieve, attain, or grasp the lifelong dreams of authority they may have wanted in their human lives to that point. For others, it was an avenue to create within that very structure the very embodiment of real power, using ego, and vanity, and conceit to achieve just such.

For others, traditional religion had, for one reason, or another, burnt them severely - whether it was Catholicism, or Protestantism, or any other form of organized religion which had shown itself, to them, as a fully evident fraudulent system - Armstrongism provided bucketfuls of theories as to why Corporate Christianity was as untruthful as they had observed it to be. With stories of abuse and freshly laid paths that all led to evil and paganism from within their horror stories of Corporate Christianity past, they were more than eager to embrace a different, seemingly refreshing concept of what they took to be a new light of truth.

This new light of truth, in fact - was the spark that all of these people began to fully indoctrinate within themselves, regardless of what exactly their specific reason was. Their leader, Herbert Armstrong, or whichever splinter leader they bought into later on down the road - spoke with enough convincing argument and authority that - when juxtaposed against the lies they had bought in the past, simply seemed to make sense and were appealing to minds that rejected what they thought was correct in the first place. Perhaps, in previous experiences, they experienced the abusive Southern Baptist Pastor, or the deviant Catholic Priest. Perhaps, in previous experiences, they remember the commercialism of secular Christmases, or the perceived emptiness they may have felt chasing Easter eggs on Easter morning. Or, perhaps, they simply were not taught the tenets of actual, authentic, Christianity - instead trapped in a televangelist-oriented, money-abusing system bent on money, authority, and power - and fled it, only to be attracted to the exact same system by someone else who told them they, well, were not after their money, and were not, initially, believing the system was about money, authority, and power. In short - they were duped once, then were duped again.

In a majority of so many of these cases was one common characteristic that was embraced. The idea that what was before was wrong - so what is now must be right.

And you have to admit, from the surface - in the worldview that it was in the 20th Century - it seemed right. It certainly did seem right! Technology - the space age - in fact, the nuclear age - made a convincing argument to Herbert's theories. The rapid rise of Armstrongism and growth led a sense of credibility to the argument. It's hard to argue when your emotions are completely overtaxed with 14,000 other people who are believing what you believe, and are of the same mindset! If they are right, and you are right - well then, it must be right, and that's that, right?

And that - right there - was the seed and the trap that made it all appealing. Here's a new and different way of living and thinking that opened up new doors to a whole new world of opportunity. But with all of the available opportunities and traditions were the acceptance of unquestioned and unchecked power from those in charge of the system they were embracing. The kicker that said "I'm in" The belief that down the road, in just a few years - is the absolute assurance that Herbert's ideas were true - including you being a part of a World Rulership where you, yourself, would be one of those in the King's Inner Circle, ruling and governing in - you guessed it - authority, luxury - and power - right back to square one.

The only thing is?

Herbert's ideas were not true. They were lies. They were built on financial greed and empirical lust. They were built on irrational concepts of racism and superiority. They were built on worldly business models, with the capstone worldly treasures that would make the top rich and powerful in their world, and the poor impoverished and shackled. The promises of a Utopian government in 3 to 5 years were false. The promises of interpretations of prophecies were also just as false. The ideas of the majority of the ministers were - you guessed it - false. In fact, Herbert's empire was just as scandalous, just as abusive, just as divisive, and just as greedy as anything you'd find in what they came from in the first place. The end result was disappointment, disillusionment, and a deep hunger for facts without the emotional and/or spiritual concepts that hurt them so much in the first place. And what was created? Dysfunction, Distrust - and in many cases, agnosticism and atheism. And in most cases? Anxiety, depression, trauma - to name just a few behavioral issues that were born from the cesspool of Armstrong's Atrocities.

Bringing it back around to the original question. What is it then, NOW, that makes Armstrongism SO appealing to those who support it - despite all of the above, or the reasons, and what not?

It can only be one thing. And it's best described summarily in just five words.

It is, what it is.

Their entire lives, full extended families, decades of memories, and a host of other entrenched webs are simply worth more than what it would be to start new. So, even though there are other more appealing options that look available despite the disgust of the deceit they plainly see, not changing anything would be, to them - a greater risk of collapsing their entire life's structure than it would be to leave the structure and build new. In other words - they fear it would all collapse on them before they get out to start new.

Thus, the appeal the remains, honestly - in totality -  is for many - rooted in just ONE word.

Survival.

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.

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.

It's Not About Them.

Recently, Banned by HWA posted an article on the Philadelphia Church of God's ridiculous statements about the causes of the wildfires that have plagued California in recent days. In the article written by PCG, the group has said:

In his 2003 article “Is California Under a Curse?”, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry pointed out that California’s problems go much deeper than wildfires. Multiyear droughts, crippling debt and eruption of racial tensions in the early 1990s are just a few of the problems that California has struggled with. Out of all the states in the union, why is this state especially suffering so intensely?

In his article, Mr. Flurry pointed to the unfounded lawsuit that the state launched against the Worldwide Church of God and Pastor General Herbert W. Armstrong in 1979

 It's been a COG constant for everything in their view - worldwide, regional, or local - to revolve around either them, or their history. In this case, they believe that California is under a curse because of something that happened in 1979.

Do I need to point out the Berkeley Fire of 1923, which destroyed 640 structures? This was before the Armstrong movement even got going. What about the Griffith Park fire of 1933, which killed 29 to 59 firefighters? Then there was the Laguna fire in 1970 which killed eight. There was the Rattlesnake fire in 1953.

But, "They're getting worse", they might cry! Why? "Wildfires in California are growing more dangerous as people build in rural burn areas." (Wikipedia.) Population sprawl building into areas which previously were uninhabited is causing the increase in wildfires. But what is the real reason?

Diablo winds, and Santa Ana winds. Which have been occurring in California for as long as it's geography has been what it is today. Click the links for information on to how these hot and dry winds happen, and how they fuel dry timber wildfires.

As far as PCG claims go? Let's be real, as I always tend to say.

This is fear religion. These are fear tactics, by a fear-based cult. This is an attempt to provoke fear and paranoia against "attacking" the "Church of God", or, the "PCG", as they view themselves as the modern day Church of God. It is an attempt to substantiate bad things with going against their religion. It is an attempt to say "This is happening because this has happened". It is an illogical, desperate, lie-filled line of reasoning that has absolutely no bearing on reality, historically, or otherwise.

The 1979 Receivership crisis in the Worldwide Church of God has no more to do with the current wildfire situations in California then the Philadelphia Church of God has anything to do with... well, pretty much anything! Bluntly, it has NOTHING to do with it. Because as it turns out, the State of California was not needed for the implosion of the Worldwide Church of God. They took care of their own implosion all on their own, no intervention required.

To even insinuate that the problem of wildfires in California is a result of the 1979 Receivership is an insult to history, to science, to those families who are affected by the wildfires, to the victims, to property owners, and to all who have been impacted for the thousands of years before 1979's receivership on a small California church ever happened.

Let's look at the facts. This is a church (Worldwide Church of God)  that was abusing the funds and monies of it's congregations. This was a church that had been threatening their members with the Lake of Fire for not giving enough (when they were already giving 20 to 50% of their pachecks to the Church!!). This was a church caught up in immorality, vanity, conceit, infighting, scandal, intrigue, gossip, greed, power struggles, ministerial abuse, member abuse, lust, and covetousness. This was a church that had been for near 40 years been lying about world events for the love of money. This is a church that had been knowingly and intentionally lying to it's members about the return of Christ, about fleeing to Petra, about what would happen to them, in their lifetimes, to their friends, their families - about what would happen if they left the Church, about what would happen to them in the third ressurection. This was a church that used fear and negativity to beat down and shame their members in ministerial madness time after time after time. This was a church that was so worldly there was little difference between one of their top leaders and the likes of Hugh Hefner. This was a church where it's top leader had such an explosive and violent temper staffers trembled in fear when HWA got on the line, and students cowered in fear when approached by HWA. This was a church where HWA's aides constantly had to step in and intervene to save students and members from the wrath of Herbert Armstrong on a constant basis.

And yet, the PCG is saying that the current wildfires is because the State of California attacked such a holy, righteous, God-fearing, obedient, law-abiding church? What kind of world are they living in? What kind of delusions do they behold? How is it they can be so ignorant of the facts and the reality around them?

As a victim of the cult of the Worldwide Church of God, this is outrageous, and this is untrue. This is fear religion. And this is untrue. The Worldwide Church of God was not a shining light in Pasadena, being attacked for it's ever radiant righteousness in Sodom and Gomorrah. The Worldwide Church of God was part of the problem. The wildfires in California are not the result of a curse on California because of the State's pursuit of illegalities in the Church. They are a result of geography, of nature, and of timeless ecological conditions that have been happening for thousands of years - even before Christianity, and probably even during the times of Abraham, Moses, and Job.

This is not about them. This is about the victims, the people, the pain, and the suffering of those who have been severely impacted by these fires. The elderly, the handicapped, the sick, and the hapless who had nowhere to go when the fires came. The properties that were taken by the vicious infernos.

But it's about more than this.

This is about the firefighters, The public servants, the utility workers, the government workers. This is about those who have housed the homeless. Who have helped the hurting. Who have fed the hungry. Who are rebuilding for those who can't rebuild. Who are spending days and weeks helping to clean up. This is about the nurses, the doctors, the care-givers. This is about those who travel thousands of miles on their dime to help the hurting and the victims. This is about the compassionate angels of mercy who give of their time and their effort and their money to assist when needed. This is about Christianity in action. This is about basic human goodness in action. This is about compassion, and kindness, and empathy. This is about mercy. This is about caring. This is about LOVE.

It's not about a little small group in Oklahoma with a history of shunning family members of all ages who wake up to the harmful doctrines of it's leader, and it never has been. No, it's not about them, and it never will be. This is far bigger than any insignificant little church roaring like a lion with the effectiveness of a gnat.

Fear religion has no place in the hearts and minds of good hearted people. I applaud those who, with common sense, are out there, as they are able, helping, guiding, assisting, loving, caring, and comforting - in mercy, and in grace. As for those who write putrid vomit of self-absorbed cockiness and conceit and lies about disasters with no concern about the suffering of the victims?

Nothing I can write or say can express my revulsion. So, I simply pray it up to God,  and say no more about it except one thing. Wake up, sheeple who accept such Godlessness as Godly!!

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. 

The Unwritten Tenets of Armstrongism

Tithing, Hubris, Inward Behavior, Expression of Appearance, Loyalty.


These are what I believe are the Five Unwritten Tenets of Armstrongism that define it's movement more than anything else. Let's break them down one by one.

1. Tithing.

No doctrine was more tightly monitored and enforced than the three tiered tithing system.

Where else does 10% of your income go directly to one place - national headquarters. Where else does the other 10% have to be saved so you could attend their annual convention. And where else on the third year of your baptism does the additional 10% supposedly go to a benevolence fund?  And on top of that, your offerings, your building fund offerings, local church activity funds, money for district meets and other activities - after government taxes and religious taxes (your tithes), you were lucky to have half your income met. That is, if you followed the letter of the Armstrongism law. Many were rebels. But if you had half a mind of wanting any type of ordination, your paycheck lived for the Church, and only the Church. They were first, and you trusted God for the rest.

Headquarters constantly checked up on members who did not tithe with their state of the art computer systems. This, in combination with the lies and destructive tactics that extorted money for their building programs, was what led to the Ambassador Auditorium and the sprawling campus properties and real estate developments of the Church - and the "highest paid ministers in the world", according to Armstrong. 

2. Hubris.

Pride.

Pride of being specially called people. Ministerial pride of prestige. Pride in the belief of kingly inheritance. Pride of being spiritual "Israel". Pride of having the most beautiful college campus in the world. Pride of having the magnificent gold and mammon Auditorium. Pride of hosting the most worldly celebrities and meeting the most worldly heads of state (Armstrong, that is). Pride of being the only ones in the whole world who were properly keeping the Law (don't get me started on that one.) Pride of biblical knowledge (without spiritual application and context). Pride of attending the largest worldwide convention on the face of the Earth. Pride of being the "One True Church". Pride of being God's elect. Pride of being "protected". Pride of "becoming God as God is God". Pride, pride, pride. Of course, if you didn't tithe, then your pride's busted, because you were a slacker headed for the Lake of Fire, so said Armstrong. 

3. Inward Behavior. 

Set Apart and called out from the World God was never trying to save. Friends that were only in the Church, ignorant of the evil of friendships and relationships, family or otherwise, outside of the church. Where anything resembling ancient paganism was the manifestation of evil (except for the things that headquarters deemed OK.) Where birthdays were equated with evil and satanism. Where members hid in the bathroom with their lights off on Halloween instead of letting their lights shine. Where congregations met secretly and silently in bingo halls and gymnasiums. Where the public knowing of their church was shunned for many years. Where The Church was just an "extension program" of Ambassador College. Inward behavior, a defining measurement of nearly all cults, was predominant of Armstrongism and still is. Inward behavior is a major unwritten tenet of Armstrongism. 

4. Expression of Appearance.

Appearance was, and is, paramount within Armstrongism. How you dressed, how you behaved, how you represented Herbert Armstrong was paramount. How clean your house was for ministers when they visited. How manicured and perfect the grounds of the Headquarters were. How cultured you were, how masculine of how feminine you were. This all played into the culture as one of the five unwritten tenets of armstrongism. 

5. Loyalty

Last, but certainly not least, Loyalty. How loyal were you to the Church? How loyal were you as a minister to Headquarters? How loyal were you to Herbert Armstrong's teachings? Were you loyal even if things seemed to appear wrong? Or were not working out as to how you thought? Or to how they thought? Would you remain loyal regardless of how things appear - and have the faith to remain, and be loyal, even if things seemed wrong - believing they would work out in the end? Because in the Church, if you weren't loyal, you would end up in the Lake of Fire. Loyalty to the Church was a chain of bondage that would not let you out and gripped tighter if you tried to escape.

The only way out of the bondage of the Tenets of Armstrongism was for Someone else to turn the key and release you. Yes, Bondage to T.H.I.E.L - Tithing, Hubris, Inward Behavior, Expression of Appearance, and Loyalty - the five Unwritten Tenets of Armstrongism - can only be released by the freedom available in Christ.

And what is the opposite of T.H.I.E.L?

J.O.Y. 

Jesus First, Others Second, Yourself Last. For J.O.Y. is diametrically opposite to T.H.I.E.L.

Something to always remember. 

Prophecitus Armstrongitus

There's a syndrome out there in COG-Land.

Syndrome: "a characteristic combination of opinions, emotions, or behavior."

It's a syndrome that is marked by delusions, illusions of grandeur, false statements, inability to acknowledge error, erroneous suppositions, and repetition. This syndrome has been ongoing for over 60 years.

That syndrome - though, of course, not officially recognized - is what I will call....

 Prophecitus Armstrongitus. 

Prophecitus Armstrongitus is a tendency to speak forth prophecies (the attempt at foretelling the future) using the Bible, doctrines of Armstrongism, or both, to further and advance their belief system in an attempt to cause others to believe their dogmas as well. 

Though most have Prophecitus Armstrongitus in it's more benign stage (they won't actively spread Prophecitus Armstrongitus, but will defend the prophecies if provoked)- a few have what I will call Malignant Acute Prophecitus Armstrongitus. (MAPA). Those who have MAPA will stop at nothing to proclaim their delusions as truth to the impair and detriment of those who believe what is being said - REGARDLESS of how badly such prophecies have failed.

Malignant Acute Prophecitus Armstrongitus is in my opinion mentally dangerous. Those who succomb to one who has MAPA will first become excited and act on the delusions with belief and expectation. However, the prophecies by those with MAPA always fail. Once these prophecies fail, then the one who succombed to the syndrome will experience depression, anxiety, despair, dissonance, anger, frustration, resentment, discouragement, and may also succomb to long-lasting effects of doubt, distrust, and spiritual harm that may lead to agnostic or atheistic tendencies.

Those who have MAPA will not be able to admit their failures. They will either blame a lack of understanding and set a new timeframe in the not to distant future, or state it has been fulfilled in an ethereal or intangible way, which was different than first prophesied. Often, they will then issue a whole new set of prophecies in addition to the first one.

Those with MAPA are extremely cunning and deceptive, and usually appear to be intelligent. Their speech is smooth, as butter. Often, their response to criticism of any form is rash anger. Some go to the other extreme and avoid any response at all.

A few seem to have displayed strange physical symptoms as an awkward lean, wild gestures, and an apparent astigmatism when it comes to constructing bookcases. OK, I just had to throw that in there. 

How then, can one avoid the snare of MAPA?

First, vaccinate yourself with the Word of God. The Bible is clear that false prophets speak presumptuously. Many claim they are speaking for God when they are not. They are deluded and are speaking out of their own minds. When their prophecies fail to happen - which they always will - pay them no attention whatsoever, and ignore any power they profess to have. They have none. The only "power" they have is to get you to believe. Once they are proven false, you know that they are speaking only of the delusional effects of MAPA.

Second, use discernment. Is what they are saying in line with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? If it isn't, pay them no attention.

Third - use history as a defense. Armstrongism has a long and detailed - and firmly established record of failed prophecies over 60 years. If one with MAPA is fully converted with the doctrines of Armstrongism, the chances of any of their prophecies to EVER happen is .000001%.

Fourth - know what is and is not a prophecy. If one with MAPA attempts to say they are uttering a prophecy, but uses words as a disclaimer to give them an out (likely, seemingly, possibly, maybe, could, perhaps), these are NOT prophecies at all. They are simply suggesting a possible outcome, no matter how they brand it. A real prophecy has a definitive date, time, and fulfillment without room for error. Not one REAL prophecy uttered by one with MAPA syndrome has EVER happened. Even the suggested outcomes rarely ever happen, if at all.

MAPA feeds on the false doctrinal systems which malignantly spread in the 20th century by Herbert Armstrong. Herbert Armstrong's skill and cunning deceptions were propagated by recognition and implementation of advertising psychological methods on target audiences. Many have attempted to replicate his success. None have even come close.

Recovery is a process from one who has been victimized by MAPA. Prayer, support, time, and therapy will slowly begin to heal one from the symptoms of MAPA. The sooner, the better. Each case is different.

*****Of COURSE, a disclaimer: MAPA is NOT an official syndrome, nor recognized as a syndrome by any real syndrome authority. Yet - The effects of false prophecies by those in Armstrongism ARE real. Don't pay any attention to those who speak presumptuously. They will always be wrong - and will always try to take your hard earned money on the pretense of the authority of tithing laws of the Old Testament. Don't learn the hard way how many wolves are out there in sheep's clothing. ********

Pulling Back the Curtain on Herbert Armstrong

For the longest time - it was very difficult me, for any length of time, to listen to the voice of Herbert Armstrong.

Every time that I would attempt to hear his voice, it was an immediate flash back to the days of my youth. Hearing him speak, in a loud baritone yell, sitting on the cold grey floor or chair of the metal Tabernacle building at one of the church-owned Festival sites. Never knowing what he was saying at first - but knowing it was important. And serious.

So important was Herbert Armstrong in my childhood - because of the fact that he was very nearly deified in our family. We didn't quite get there - but if you have ever looked at the adulation and idolatry of the PCG group of Herbert Armstrong - you can get an idea. His importance and influence in my family was first and high, second to God. The ministers were his representative.We were slaves to the madness.

After many years of de-programming by experts, including an individual that had life experience in a similiar situation, I can now look at and hear the man in the third person - not as the young person in awe of the white-haired man with the powerful Wizard of Oz voice. The spell is broken. The chains have been cut. The shackles have fallen. And Jesus is the one who made it possible.

Before, when I would hear him for the short bursts that I could handle, I would have immediate dreams or flashbacks of those experiences. I would literally be able to smell, and taste, and feel the environment. Whether I saw him on the big screen of a transmission at the Feast - or saw him live - it was the same vividness and the same reactions in my head, engraved and etched with a soldering iron tipped with an iron blade, searing in deep precision.

I am taking on the task of hearing and transcripting sermons from the 50s and the 60s, and adding my own commentary (see the link upper right). I was able to get through the whole thing - and did not have to shut it off to de-process and de-brief more than twice. And here's what I have learned.

Looking past the lens of former idolatry and near-worship of my past, he was a short-memoried, not-the-best speaker of a man who actually, beyond expert speaking skills, was not that special. He knew what to say and made sense in some areas behind the pulpit - but turned around and did the exact opposite in real life. In other areas, he was absolutely wrong and speaking from his own mind. His business knowledge was very good - but that's what it was. Business skill. He was as worldly-minded as you could get. I can honestly say that I was absolutely not impressed. The fog of the brainwashing has lifted. I could see the man without the cloud of idolatry and deception.

I could do this only through prayer and through de-programming. I can feel comfortable now hearing him, not as some superbeing in a human suit - but knowing what the truth is. That he was a master at business with plenty of knowledge on how to manipulate and condition the mind due to his advertising training.

I wish to say to anyone who is in recovery from the effects of Armstrongism the following advice. And I mean this from the very depth of my experience.

Do not try to go this alone. It takes time and effort, and much prayer, to detoxify yourself from the horrid influences of cult mentality. The effects of the brainwashing that you must be reliant on others for your salvation takes time, and patience. You must reprogram your wiring. It is probably far, far deeper than you could ever imagine it was. I was surprised at first with how intense and how deep - and how much of my life that was impacted in nearly every way - from who I am, to my personality, to every part of me that needed to be reworked and corrected. I am by no means done with this - I've still got a tremendous ways to go, and I admit it fully. But I cannot do it alone. And anyone who thinks they can do it alone is underestimating the power of the spell cast by the deception of Herbert Armstrong.

And being able to actually listen to Herbert Armstrong without the conditioning of cult mentality is a huge breakthrough. I know he was just a man. A little man - with a huge pocketbook and seemingly endless greed as a chicago real estate businessman who found a product, and sold it without concern or regard to what happens to those who buy it - and to those who did buy it - you were Herbert's financial slave for life. And he had all the treasures you'd ever need to see to prove it.

Yes, it's true - The truth shall set you free.

Cult Recovery: I have the Right to be (as) Healthy (as Possible)

This is part four of a series on Basic Rights. 

This may not seem like it should be a Basic Right. It should be just a status-quo statement. It should not even have to be posted. In a world as blessed and prosperous as the one we live in - this honestly should not even be a question. With as many hospitals, access to prescriptions, medical professionals, and specialists, you would think that such a statement is simply a given. But it is not.

And it certainly was not in the environment that I came from. 

The right to be healthy is a new concept for me. Yes, it really is. Because in the environment that I grew up in, the cult of Armstrongism, those rights were denied.

Everyone in my collective past has a different experience. Some were very liberal and simply didn't care what the cult leaders thought (risking expulsion). Others, like my family, were very fundamentalist - and followed Armstrongism to the core of it's foundation - where every word was as if it came from God, and every practice was followed to the letter. Of which was the practice of medical treatment.

Doctors were shamed. Prescriptions were witchcraft. Going to hospitals was a lack of faith. Therefore, hospital visits in my childhood were non-existent. I should have gone when I had a serious viral infection as a toddler. I should have gone when I had every childhood illness you could think of. I should have gone to be vaccinated. I should have gone when I needed dental care. Should of, would've, could've. These things did not happen because of the practices of the Church.

I should have gone when I developed a persistent and troublesome cough at a very young age that got worse, and worse over time. As it turns out, because of a very pre-mature birth, I had immature lungs and a weak heart. Down the road, partly because of my failure to resolve these issues, this led to a nearly-fatal heart condition - which is now a part of chronic care in my life. There are other serious issues as well which I will not get into. Suffice it to say, the lack of care of these ailments in my life - that nearly cost me my life - were a direct result of the violation of my right to be as healthy as I can possibly be.

This is not to bemoan my individual past. This is a wake-up call to those who, for some reason, feel that God's healing for whatever reason does not happen in a hospital, or at a doctor's office, or with medical treatment, or with prescriptions. Everyone has the right - in fact, the duty, and the obligation - to medical care and treatment when and where it's available - regardless of cost or expense. Health Care should not be based on the status of a person, but solely on the premise of the notion and value that each and every life is important. Regardless of who you are, where you are, what you are, or any other factor - you have the right to live and to be healthy. No religion, no power, and no policy should ever take that away from you. 

Yet that is exactly what happened with thousands who came from my cult experience. Many, sadly, died. Many suffered excruciating pain and deaths needlessly. Many did not take prescriptions. Many with health conditions felt the obligation to fast on the Day of Atonement without care or concern for their ailments - because of fear of God's wrath and ministerial punishment. Many were talked down to, or talked out of, going to get medical help. Those who did were shamed into thinking they did not have enough faith. The practice was to simply call a minister, get prayed over, have a cloth put on their forehead anointed with oil - and then believe you are healed, and wait. And because of this, they stayed outside of the very place that could have been the healing they were looking for.

I now have doctors. I have medicines. I have people who know what they are doing and what path is best for me. It is a different world then what I used to have as my world. It's a difficult world. But I am alive - and if I had listened to the Church I grew up in, I would NOT be today. And this is everyone's right - to be able to prolong their lives for the benefit of their wives, their husbands, their kids, their pets - and themselves.

Yes. I have the right to care for my body as best I can. And so do you. And to anyone who has a religious mentor telling you otherwise?

Shut the door in their face, and get yourself some medical care. You will feel so much better about it - mentally and physically. And your FAMILY will thank you for it!

These rights have been adapted from The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Eugene Bourne (Oakland, CA, New Harbringer Publications, 1995)

How Religion Became a Business

There really is not anything that infuriates me more than when I turn on the television and I see a televangelist using every sales tactic in the world to convince his followers that God's Blessings are in direct proportion to the amount of money that you give to their church.

There are many fancy names they have for this practice. "Sowing seeds", that's a big one. "Seeds for Harvest" - I've heard that a time or two. Often times, they insert a highly snactimonious prayer - saying IF you sow this seed, God will bless you back five-fold, ten-fold, hundred-fold - or even thousand-fold. Then, they will tell the accounts of everyone who has been blessed back. Of course, there's a disclaimer - there is no promise that this is what will happen to you. Because, of course, it depends on your faith.

Many have bought into this - and have been burnt big time. Others have bought into it and may have seemed to have seen a return (confirmation bias). But the truth is, the Jesus of the scriptures never preached a prosperity message that linked his blessings to money - where you are essentially buying God's protection and buying God's favor. God's blessing is a free gift, without merit, and fully through the gift of God's Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. You cannot purchase your way to riches, just like you cannot purchase salvation. What God has always looked at is your heart - and how the fruits of the Spirit positively impact the lives of others in and around you, to the glory of God. That is, Christ in You - the hope of Glory.

So where DID this practice originate?

Sadly, one of the pioneer televangelists to conceive and successfully use this practice was the man that founded the cult that I was born and raised in - Herbert Armstrong, and his Worldwide Church of God.

Herbert Armstrong was one of the first to utilize mass media to reach massive amounts of people to send income to a centralized source. Before Herbert actually did so, however, he studied intensively, through books, papers - and personally hanging out with rich and affluent people  the "secrets" and the skills of money. He took fervent note of every action he needed to do to become successful in the world. He listened to advice that he later would say he carried with him for his whole life. In conjunction with this, he learned how to sell through advertising. He learned every technique, every tool, every trick of the trade to get people to buy his products. He attended advertising merchant meetings - and became extremely good at his trade. That is, until the depression - when there was no product to sell.

Until he found a product to sell.

Challenged by his wife, Loma, to prove her wrong about a controversial belief of Christianity, the day of Worship (Loma became a Sabbatarian), Herbert began to embark on a six-month study to "prove her wrong". But here is where I need to stop and explain something to place this into proper context.

Herbert would claim various times that people would meet him years later and say he didn't act like a pastor. He acted like a businessman - a Chicago Businessman. He echoed this later as well, that he always approached his ministry in the ways of business. This is the key, I believe to seeing his approach to everything that he did. He viewed himself as a businessman throughout. Therefore, it stands to reason that his six-month study of all things "Christianity" was viewed with the filter and the vision, not of Christianity, but of business.  He himself admitted he "threw everything out" that he ever learned about Christianity, and, with a totally clean slate - a different perspective - read scripture. And what a trove he found - if he looks at it all with the eyes of a businessman.

Tithing. There we go - God said it - that can be proved. There's an income source. Oh wait! There's a second tithe for what? Festivals? And offerings! They can give income at the Festival - as offerings! Oh, look - a THIRD Tithe to support widows and orphans too! Well, there's the income!

Oh yes, all business has to be totally unique. Hey, look - the Saturday Sabbath! No one else does that! That would certainly be unique! We've got to differentiate! Wait - look at that command - no graven images. All these other churches have graven images - they've got to be wrong! This will do it! Look at what they are doing - Christmas, Easter - see where I'm going with this?

When you look at the Bible out of context. When you look at the scriptures like a book, read front to back, as a legal code or business structure - an organizational manual - you can certainly see how one who is intent on finding a product to sell could certainly find a treasure trove there. And this is what Herbert did.

And the conditions were absolutely perfect for his success. The world was fearful. It had come out of one war and was entering another one. Weapons had become large, and fearsome. Worldwide annihilation was now possible. For the first time, man was looking at his own mortality. It appeared that one could now literally look down the barrel of time and assume that the "end of the ages" was now looming on the horizon. Technology was mushrooming in ways that never happened before. All the materials were there. And the materials that would have squelched his efforts were NOT there - i.e., information, fact-checking, the internet, resources, and historical documentation. He had the perfect scenario for explosive growth - if he played his cards right.

And played his cards right he did. He was able to utilize the techniques of many other organizations - the Seventh Day Adventists, the Jehovah's Witnesses, even the Mormons, into his business. He morphed in a theory of British Israelism to appeal to his target audience - America and Britain - for high morale and superiority. He recruited people who were masters at persuasion - people like Herman "The Brain" Hoeh, who could turn any text into support for his doctrinal positions. People like Rod Meredith - a master orator. People like Raymond McNair - smooth talkers like Gerald Waterhouse. Even his own brother - a four-part harmony piano player.

And then, there was radio. Now, he had clients. An audience. Turns out, he had everything going for him there, too. He had a deep, resonant, preacher's voice that he learned how to use in sales effectively. And he had a product. That product was a twist on the Gospel - a message that he alone had given directly to him. A message that he, under God and Christ, would - with all those who bought into his doctrine - would literally rule and reign with Christ as kings - transforming this Earth into a Utopia - the true Government of God - ruling with a rod of iron, swiftly and severely punishing anyone who dared to be different - literally "forcing" their subjects into happiness.

This appealed to people.

To "prove" he was right, he used a carrot and stick approach. In three to five years, you'll see it all come to fruition. Problem is, it never did. So people kept giving, waiting, giving, waiting, giving, waiting. The church would grow larger, and greater. More radio stations. Then TV. More people. And larger, and greater.

Herbert would keep the income flowing by his sales skills. More crisis! Emergency! Give! Don't Slack! Crisis! Over, and over, and over again, letter after letter - it's happening now. Look! It's happening! It really is! Right now! See? Just wait. Oh wait. It's not happening. You're not trying enough! Give more! Have more faith! If it's not happening, you're the only one to blame!.....

And all the while that Herbert was blasting out how horrible the finances were - those at the top were doing mighty well. Top executives were driving Jaguars. Wearing expensive coats. Shopping at expensive places. And most of all - expanding their empire with a massive building project that would be completed in 1972 - through a weave of lies and campaigns of fear designed specifically to push enough money through to finance the grand idol of the scheme - the Ambassador Auditorium - composed of the most costly gems and products of the world, to schmooze the richest and most powerful of Hollywood cementing Herbert Armstrong as a status symbol of importance and success.

I know this is true, for one thing, because of the pages of history. They speak for themselves. Failed prophecy, greed, vanity, ego, the accounts of those who suffered, the fruits of the organization, and where it is (or actually, isn't) right now, to name a few. 

And others caught on to the formula - with a more "mainstream" approach. And so, you see the televangelists of today using, in one form or another, generally the same principles that Herbert helped to pave the way for them to use.

The intention of Christianity was never to become a business. The intention of Christianity is service and love - servant leadership, and servant lifestyle. It's a way of life not of covetousness, or materialism, or gold, and silver. It's a way of life that shows Christ in you through His Spirit - the fruits of which are love, and joy, and long-suffering, and patience, and kindness, and mercy, and self-control - leading others to see a life worth living not in materialism, where rot and decay will always fail, but in virtue - treasures stored in heaven.

I won't watch those televangelists anymore. I've rejected the concepts of Armstrong. I'm learning the methods to de-program myself from his influence. And it's helpful to know the truth of the matter - of when religion became a business. Because, when I see the business of televangelist religion's tall, massive skyscrapers looming ahead on the horizon, filled with the expensive suits and the smooth tongues - and all the guilt and mammon you can handle -  I can guarantee you there's corruption and worldliness to it's core. I'd rather turn right on the little dirt road, find the small house and the shack, and meet the ones who are genuine, and real.

Only there can you hear the wind, the birds, the breeze - and it's quiet enough to hear the small and gentle whisper of the Spirit of God.

Selected Photos from "The Envoy" - Ambassador College