by little witch 6 Replies latest jw friends
I found this site today and noticed the similarities including "good news" instead of gospel
Anti Christmas (follow the links)
Heavy emphasis on literature.
I wonder which came first, the chicken or the egg. I wonder who founded this church....any input is appreciated.
Here is some more info, linking this church to seventh day adventist, armstrongs church, etc...
Is United Church of God a
Deceptive, Controlling Group?
Do members of United Church of God-AIA fear to disobey or question their ministers? Are they suspicious of any material that is critical of UCG? Are they discouraged from reading books from other mainstream Christian scholars? Do they fear to ever leave the UCG? How much critical thinking is allowed? Is there control over the members' lives? Does UCG grossly overstate the benefits and blessings that one will receive by joining and hide the extent of what exactly happens when one joins? Without My Informed Consent Does UCG use any mind control methods on their members?
UCG (An International Association) was founded in 1995 and is not the same as United Church of God; however, the initials "UCG" will be used throughout.
UCG teaches that they are the "continuation of the one and only true church of God" (tracing their origins to "the church that Jesus founded in the first century"). This is identical to what Herbert W. Armstrong said about the Worldwide Church of God, which he founded in 1934. UCG is merely an authoritarian offshoot of WCG (which has over 150 offshoots today).
If one examines UCG's "free" literature, including their "free" Bible Study Course, they can clearly discern that it is filled with Herbert W. Armstrong thought reform methods of shame, guilt, fear, plus "only true church" dogma. Notice quotes below from one of UCG's booklets. [All emphasis is ours and reveals buzz words that all mind-manipulating, exploitive groups use]:
From UCG booklet: "The Road to Eternal Life"
"We must recognize the sin within us and comprehend our deep-rooted hostility to God."
"We see that the Holy Spirit is given to us by the prayer of and laying on of hands by God's ordained ministers, serving as His representatives."
"Overcoming our habitual sins and selfish nature does not happen instantly. It is a lifelong process, often involving great effort."
"As long as we actively seek God's will and allow His Holy Spirit to work in our lives, our eventual salvation is guaranteed."
"Will you let this precious calling from God go unheeded?"
"We trace our origins to the Church that Jesus founded in the early first century."
"We believe that this fundamental spiritual law [Ten Commandments] reveals the only way to true life and the only possible way of happiness, peace and joy."
"This is the only road to eternal life."
UCG's "free" literature espouses basically the same belief system that Herbert Armstrong held to. This is supposed to be the "only road" or "only way." All members, in order to be "God's faithful servants," and "attain to perfection," must observe the Ten Commandments, which includes the 7th day Sabbath and the the O.T. feast days listed in Leviticus 23 (known as "the Festivals of God" and "seven annual holy days"). These "annual Sabbaths" are "commanded assemblies" and members are expected to take off work and be there. They give a 1st, 2nd and 3rd tithe; observe Passover once a year (with footwashing); the law of clean and unclean meats (Leviticus 11), obedience to "God's government" (UCG) and other O. T. Laws. They believe they must do these things in order to qualify for eternal life at the first resurrection. They also hold to a second resurrection to physical life after the millennium for those whom they say are neither saved nor lost in order that they might "be educated in God's laws." UCG teaches that they will "rule the world" with Christ in the Kingdom of God (even raising children). They place an emphasis on apocalyptic prophecies and end time events.
UCG teaches a false gospel of adding works of the Law to faith. However, all Scriptures that deal with grace and Law can be correlated and unified. Redemption is always connected with the grace of God (Ephesians 1:7) and the definition of grace is unmerited favor from God. Grace is because of what God has done--sending his Son to die--not because of any works we might do to maintain that salvation. The late J. Vernon McGee said:
"Not only are we saved by faith rather than by law but law is not to be the rule of life for the believer. We are not to live by law at all. ...Grace supplies the indwelling and filling of the Spirit to enable us to live on a higher plan than law demanded. This all is our portion when we trust Christ as Savior. It is in Christ that we receive everything--salvation and sanctification. ...Let's stop trying some legal system or rote of rules. We have a liberty in Christ." - Vol. 5, Galatians 5:1
UCG says they merely want everyone to have a chance to read "the truth." Most religious cults claim to have a monopoly on this "truth" that they say they received from their founder who claimed to be "God's chosen apostle, prophet, messenger, Elijah, etc." All Or Nothing Statements (from those that have "the truth" They teach that this "truth" cannot be found outside their particular belief system (or often their own group).
Are You Being Recruited into a Totalistic Group?
The author of Twisted Scriptures reveals that:
Leaders get members and potential members to believe that they don't interpret the Bible but just "teach what is in the Bible"--making the Bible synonymous with their interpretation!"1
These types of controlling religious cause others to come to the conclusion that in order to be "fully committed to God," they must believe all that their church teaches (commands) and if you don't believe it the way their ministers and literature is interpreting it for you, then you are in rebellion against God ("criticizing us is criticizing God") and are not one of the "called out ones." This is just a few of the ways UCG manages to control their members. Possession of members' time, money, reading material, etc. is basically what it is all about.
Lifton's Eight Criteria of Mind Control (includes how these methods have been used in high demand Armstrong groups)
If someone simply wants to request UCG's doctrinal statement, UCG will try to "introduce" that person to their "free Bible Study Course." The Bible course is one of the first steps into getting people to believe their teachings are true and, as a result, end up joining their group.
UCG may state that "no one is ever asked for donations," but these are the exact, same words HWA used for years through his Plain Truth, World Tomorrow and Bible Correspondence program. However, once ensnared within HWA's organization, members found themselves in a mandated three-tier tithing system, plus seven holy day offerings a year.
We Put the "Give Way" to the Test (shows why the blessings HWA promised through tithing don't materialize)
UCG says that they are audited annually by an independent accounting firm and posts their "financial statements" on the web every so often for others to download (November 2000 was said to contain six pages of information). We have heard nothing about whether a non-member can write UCG and ask for UCG's financial statement to show where every dollar goes, as other people are able to request one from healthy mainstream Christian churches. Are they also able to ask what their head leaders receive for salary per year?
UCG has started "United Youth Corps" for youths. They participate in "service projects" and are committed to "the way of give instead of get" and to "form character." [More buzz words of HWA's] UCG is using their youth to participate in "various international service projects" in Chile-South America, Ghana-West Africa, Jordan and Israel. They also have "United Youth Camps." It is common for high demand groups to use/recruit the youth.
Is UCG simply using their youth to sacrifice their lives by spreading UCG's teachings in other countries? Worldwide Church of God's SEP camps were the forerunner for various Armstrong splinter group's "character building camps" today. Was S.E.P. What it Was Cracked Up To Be? One must wonder why it is more important to invest in the youth in UCG than it is to use some of their tithes and offerings to benefit members with their own churches? Why is there no missionary and evangelistic work, such as sending Bibles or tracts to the poor in Russia who have never heard the gospel of Christ Jesus? Unfortunately, UCG (as PCG) feels it is more important to mail out their own literature to draw others into their elite organization, instead of witnessing to the lost about how to be saved. How Do I Receive Eternal Life? Their reasoning goes something like this, "since all the lost will come up in a 2nd resurrection to have their first chance for salvation, why worry about them now?" UCG teaches, as HWA did, that they (the members) will become a part of God's family when they are spirit beings.
Even though UCG's website shows maps where their congregations meet (and phone or fax numbers for international areas), they are not listed in the yellow pages. If anyone desires, for whatever reason, to visit UCG services they are advised to email or phone first. It is true that UCG, like WCG, meets in rented halls, schools, etc. and changes their times and places from time to time, but WCG also used this policy in order to "screen" people beforehand and to see how much of their literature they had read and how much in agreement with it they were. How Did Herbert Armstrong Recruit People? UCG may state that they have an "open door policy," however, elders frown on people walking into services unannounced. For example, if someone walks in during their Passover service, even though that person might be a baptized member of another church; e.g., an evangelical church down the road, they are not allowed to partake of the bread and wine unless they are members of UCG. This was also the policy in WCG.
UCG members have said that if UCG let every person come into their church, it would "set a poor example" to their other members (especially the youth) and be harmful to others." Harmful if the attendee was heard disagreeing with members or questioning the rules or doctrine? Harmful enough that UCG might have to call the police? When was the last time a non-controlling, Christ-focused church had to "call the police" and have someone escorted out of their building? UCG has given plenty of reasonings why this measure "might have to be taken." Most often it is because the member (or visitor) didn't abide by all their rules, or succumb to the leading of headquarters.
United Church of God-AIA is dedicated to the teaching claims of Herbert W. Armstrong. Herbert Armstrong claimed to be "God's Apostle" and in spite of his known hypocrisies, extreme exploitation of members, and his use of thought reform methods on members, many in UCG still feel he was "used of God to restore the true gospel" (which had been lost). Before thinking that the UCG might be a good church to join, thoroughly check out the history of the group, its financial accountability--and investigate Herbert Armstrong's background.
Note: Attendance in UCG has dropped from 20,000 to 12,000, as of 2004.
By Exit & Support Network?
Updated March 5, 2004
1 Mary Alice Chrnalogar, Twisted Scriptures: A Path to Freedom From Abusive Churches, p. 139 - "Tricks to Keep You Controlled."
NOTE: UCG was the largest group that formed after the WCG changes. Outsider's Inside Update Newsletter, Volume 3 contains much expose` information about United Church of God-AIA.
Background information on HWA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Church of God Threatened to "Call the Police" On Us (This article links to: "Why Were We Disfellowshipped by the United Church of God An International Association?" - letters to the ministry)
Is ESN Wrong for Criticizing Worldwide Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God, or Other Authoritarian Offshoots? (Applies to UCG also. Covers hidden information not revealed to potential members)
Letter to Janis Hutchinson, Page 2 (Vitally important letter with much expose` regarding the history of HWA's Worldwide Church of God; also covers the deceitfulness of some UCG ministers)
Back to Articles on United Church of God-AIA
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If you are referring to the the org that used to publish "the plain truth" magazine, it is amazing the similarities.
I rejected them but listened to their radio program as a jw. Marked the religion as soon as i saw old mr. Amstrong rubbing elbow with presidents and prime ministers etc and bragging about it, imitaing the Pope, pretended.to be considered as such.
At some point i considered the religion founded by Amstrong was the real good "bad slave"
I get their magazine`The Good news'
I'm doing a paper on Adventist groups and although I haven't focused much so far on the Worldwide Church of God. I'm pretty sure it spawned from The Church of God-7th Day which spawned from 7th Day Adventist. Church of God -7th Day is also linked up as a main influence on Christain Identity which influenced Aryan Nation.
I can remember listening to H.W. Armstrong on the radio when I was a teenager. It was a very controlling group. My father received "Plain Truth" magazine which was not put out by The Worldwide Church of God but by a group led by HWA's son who broke away from his father's organization and formed his own "association". My father had a lot of respect for HWA's son but was never tempted to join his group.
