His Servants' Ministry

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HIS SERVANTS' MINISTRY

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What is Armstrongism? Is the Worldwide Church of God a cult?

Armstongism refers to the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong, which became the teaching of the Worldwide Church of God. These teachings were often at odds with traditional Christian beliefs, and at times clearly opposed the Bible. The most well-known of Armstrong’s teachings is that of Anglo-Israelism, a belief that modern day Jews are not the true physical descendants of Israel. He believed the lost tribes of Israel had migrated to Western Europe and that the present day British and Americans were actually the heirs to God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Armstrong believed that this knowledge was the key factor in understanding the prophetic passages of Scripture, and that it was his mission to proclaim this message in preparation for the end times.

These beliefs of the Worldwide Church of God were not new and were rooted in an anti-Semitic misinterpretation of Scripture. The Bible is clear that God has NOT replaced Israel with any other nation, and that His plans for Israel have NOT changed and are right on schedule and will come to pass after “the fullness of the Gentiles” have come into the Kingdom (Rom.11:25). We can be absolutely SURE that ALL God has said is TRUE and SHALL take place, because of His character and consistency (Rom.3:3-4). Any attempt to revise God’s plans for both Israel and the Church is to call into question His nature, His sovereignty, His omniscience, and His faithfulness. BEWARE!!!

Armstrong also taught that at death one is in a sleep-like state until Jesus returns to Earth. There would then be three resurrections. The first would be of the faithful Christians. The second would be the bulk of the population who would have a second chance to accept the Gospel and be saved . . . even though the clear teaching of Scripture is that there is NO “second chance” for salvation after death (Heb.9:27). BEWARE!!!

Another teaching of Armstrong is that those that had acted in such a way as to be ineligible for the second chance, they, along with the group from the second resurrection that rejected the Gospel, would then be punished. The Worldwide Church of God did NOT believe in eternal punishment in Hell, but rather a complete destruction through fire, annihilationism. The Bible, however, is VERY clear that there are TWO resurrections, one to eternal life in heaven for believers and one to eternal damnation for unbelievers (Rev.20:4-14). Here again, the theories of Armstrongism and the Worldwide Church of God directly contradicted the Word of God. BEWARE!!!

Armstrong also taught that followers of Christ should remain true to all of the teachings in the Old Testament. The Sabbath was to be holy, and in Jewish tradition the Sabbath was observed from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. He further believed that the Old Testament festivals such as Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles must be celebrated. The Worldwide Church of God taught that modern Christians should follow the dietary laws and tithe (up to 30%). Armstrongism was only one of many salvation-by-works philosophies that look to the keeping of the Old Testament laws as a means of salvation. But the Bible is VERY clear that the opposite is true. Salvation is by faith alone, in Christ alone, because the Law saves NO one.
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (KJV) . . . Clearly, the beliefs of Armstrongism and the Worldwide Church of God were just worldly philosophies that seek to deny the ONLY means of salvation, the exchange at the cross of our sin for the righteousness of Christ.