The Painful Truth-Herbert W. Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God
Understanding the psychology of religious seduction and spiritual abuse.
For thousands of years, church and/or religion has used the same routine of adopting the name of God into their particular organization in order to gain credible acceptance that they have the almighty “power” of God behind them.
From Rastafari Talmud
Herbert W Armstrong was an influential and charismatic church leader who founded The Worldwide Church of God and Ambassador College, to globally propagate his doctrine of British Imperialism, through his version of Anglo-European dominated Christianity. Mr. Armstrong was under the delusion that the Ancient Solomonic Dynasty was divinely preordained to be finally re-established through the British Monarchy’s “jewish” bloodline (see The United States and Britain in Prophecy, Armstrong, H. W., 1954). His conviction becomes apparent during an interview when H.I.M. Haile Selassie I afforded Mr. Armstrong audience, in the following excerpt: “Then I mentioned that I have the genealogy of my ancestry, and that I too, am a direct descendant of King Solomon of ancient Israel. “Well why not?” blurted out the Emperor spontaneously, without waiting for the interpreter to tell him what I had said. At that responsive quip WE ALL BURST OUT IN LAUGHTER. From that point the interpreter had very little to do.” (The Plain Truth, pg 38, Dec. 1973) H.I.M. Haile Selassie I’s reply could be better comprehended within the context of Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us ONTO THE ADOPTION of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will 6 To the praise of the glory of HIS GRACE, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved”.
Wherein lies the evil of Mr. Armstrong’s mentality may not be so much due to his lack of historically accurate biblical references (for The Throne of David to be established anywhere except Ethiopia, absolutely disqualifying Britain and the United States) but the fact that he and many in his ministry subscribed to the lie of white supremacy and incorporated it’s atrocity into their counterfeit gospel. Whether or not these missionaries were under the influence of political motives or mere victims of spiritual blindness the author doesn’t know. Nonetheless, the damage of this false ideology has done an extreme amount of damage by turning souls away from the true Gospel of Salvation, due to a lack of truth in it’s preaching. If intentional, this would be nothing less than practicing the doctrine of Balaam? (Βαλαάμ I.Balaam meaning “perhaps”
A native of Pethor a city in Mesopotamia, endued by Yahweh with prophetic power. He was hired by Balak to curse the Israelites; and influenced by the love of reward, he wished to gratify Balak; but he was compelled by Jehovah’s power to bless them. Hence later the Jews saw him as a most abandoned deceiver/Balaam is the typical hireling prophet, seeking only to make a market of his gift. This is “the way of Balaam” 2 Peter 2:15 and characterizes false teachers. The “error” of Balaam” Jude 1:11 was that he could see only the natural morality–a holy God, he reasoned, must curse such a people as Israel. Like all false teachers he was ignorant of the higher morality of vicarious atonement, by which God could be just and yet the justifier of believing sinners Romans 3:26 . The “doctrine of Balaam” Revelation 2:14 refers to his teaching Balak to corrupt the people whom he could not curse ; Numbers 31:16 ; 25:1-3 ; James 4:4 . Spiritually, Balaamism in teaching never rises above natural reasonings; in practice, it is easy world- conformity. Scofield Reference Notes).
Perhaps, Mr. Armstrong, being not well studied in Proverbs, was unaware as H.I.M. subtly made it known that one’s works are not hidden and proceed them as noted in the subsequent excerpt “Early in our talk, His Majesty mentioned THAT HE WAS WELL AWARE, as were the others in the Ethiopian government, that I was the spiritual leader of a large worldwide following. During the first fifteen or twenty minutes of our meeting, he tended to answer whatever I said with a philosophical observation, apparently inspired by Solomon’s Proverbs, which I rather deduced he has studied continuously and religiously.” (The Plain Truth, pg 38, Dec. 1973).
On the other hand, Mr. Armstrong did publicly champion many crucial issues plaguing humanity according to basic Christian principles. Yet, the question remains: did Herbert W. Armstrong live according to these principles in both Word and Deed?/Spirit and Truth?, or did he truly hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans? (Νικολαΐτης Nikolaïtēs I.Nicolaitans = “destruction of people” A. a sect mentioned in Rev. 2:6,15, who were charged with holding the error of Balaam, casting a stumbling block before the church of God by upholding the liberty of eating things sacrificed to idols as well as committing fornication)
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Read more: “Doctrine of Balaam and Nicolaitans Revealed Laodicea Admonished by The Amen”
Who can forget the senior banquet hosted by Herbert Armstrong for the Ambassador College Seniors? Before graduation, he wanted to expose the AC students to culture, replete with gold and silver place settings and fine crystal, accompanied later in the evening by Herbert Armstrong himself playing the piano — nocturne in e flat major op. 9 no. 2 by Frederic Chopin, was it? Everyone who saw the video at the Feast was so impressed. We were all impressed, that is, until we learned that Ross Jutsum ‘sweetened’ the playing by, well, playing the piece. It was just another one of those situations where Herbert Armstrong cheated. You know, like claiming to obey the Ten Commandments while committing incest with his daughter, being a chancellor of a college when he hadn’t even finished high school, paying 9.75 of his income as a tithe and having a donut and cup of coffee on the Day of Atonement while 95 year old widow ladies fasted and went without. It just seemed he had to cheat and ‘fudge’ everything and even got coconspirators to participate with him.
Herbert Armstrong was high on music — he said repeatedly that it had to be ‘melodic’, which, if you think about it, pretty much defines what music is. He liked to play ragtime on the piano in his youth and was fond of most classical music (except for that demon inspired stuff, like “Let me come in, let me come in!”). Yes, Ambassador College was a real classic and even had rather famous people come play in the Auditorium. He brought refinement to the community. Well, it was Pasadena, so what can we say? Have you seen downtown?
We’re not certain that the Worldwide Church of God membership really caught on, particularly during the days of Garner Ted Armstrong appearing on Hee-Haw and what with the popularity of Bluegrass in the Southern States. We’re not sure that the members really appreciated the finer aspects of culture in their life, but that may be because they had to give so much of their livelihood in tithes, offerings, building fund and Herbert Armstrong induced emergencies when he overspent in his manic mode… or perhaps drunken alcoholic sot, three sheets to the wind mode.
It’s time, of course to reach back in time and bring Armstrongists and former Armstrongists back up to speed by presenting a video about the history of classical music (unfortunately missing one of the most famous composers, P.D.Q. Bach):
You are now cultured.
Stay humble.