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Subj: RE: United Churchof God/Beyond Today James, Doug
From: Rushtyping@aol.com [mailto:Rushtyping@aol.com] Grace and Peace to you in Christ Jesus, The UCG is one of many off-shoots of the Worldwide Church
of God, a church founded in the 1930s by the late Herbert W.
Armstrong. Many young believers and those who have been in the faith a long time may get the impression that the UCG is an evangelical, orthodox ministry declaring historic biblical doctrines. It is not until one looks into the doctrinal teaching of UCG that the real story is told. Often UCG presents their teachings so skillfully that the person is sold on these beliefs before lie or she realizes it. Although there are some details in the UCG teachings that differ from the old Herbert Armstrong teachings of the Worldwide Church of God, just as there are differences between all of the Armstrongite groups, the UCG is still without question teaching Armstrongite doctrines. "l have received and read the last two issues of the Good News (UCG magazine). It is very encouraging to see the same teachings that Christ restored to His church through Herbert W. Armstrong in your publications" (United News, VoL 4, No.7, September 14, 1998). ‘This is also verified by the personal correspondence department's email to me dated January 9, 2006 I will be sending this letter along with documentation for your viewing. The UCG vehemently assails many of the foundational doctrines of Christianity, stating the Blessed Trinity is false doctrine, even using many of the same out of context quotes that the Jehovah’s Witnesses use in their BLASPHEMOUS booklet published in 1989 "Should You Believe in the Trinity?" Concerning the Blessed Trinity, I've listed some of the attacks made by the UCG in their publications. I myself find these statements offensive and unchristian! "There is no sense in which God is a Trinity and in fact the doctrine of the Trinity blinds people to these other wonderful truths of God The Trinity is not a biblical doctrine, it does not describe God. The Holy Spirit is not a person.. and the Trinity doctrine has blinded so many people to the reality of what God is, and what God’s plan is" (Who is God? Sermon transcripts http://www.ucg.org/sermons/transcripts/200109whoisgod.htm). "The Trinity cannot be proven from Scriptnre" (Ambassador Bible Center, The Divinity of Christ, Handonts/Study Material). From the same handout subheading: The Trinitarian View, states "Contrary to Scripture. Cannot be supported from The Bible.Idea developed in the fourth century because of a dispute with Arms. The Holy Spirit is nof a person, therefore, there is no Trinity in the Godhead The Trinity is false doctrine" (Sermon Transcript, Five Areas of Spiritual Growth, June 25, 2005). "It took the Christian community 300 years to come up with the doctrine of the Trinity at Nicaea" (World News and Prophecy, Vol. 3, No. 3, March 2000). "The Holy Spirit of God is not identified as a third person in a Trinity, but is consistently described as the Power of God." (Good News, Questions and Answers, Jan/Feb 2005). ‘Why is the concept of the Holy spirit as a third person of a. supposedly Triune Godhead so difficult to grasp? Because the Bible does not teach it! One cannot prove something from the Bible that is not biblical" (Confusion About the Trinity Teaching, Good News, May/June 1997). As you can see the UCG wants nothing to do with one of the fundamentals of the Christian faith the Blessed Trinity. The UCG has an unorthodox view of our Lord's resurrection,
slating he rose in a spirit body, and that he is not physical
flesh and bone in heaven. This is contrary to the orthodox faith.
PLEASE, FOR Jesus’ sake, do something about stopping this unorthodox teaching from making further inroads where young, weak, and/or immature Christians are influenced. It has no place on any evangelical Christian radio station. Heterodox ministries have a right to be on the air on secular radio and television (as Hebert W. Armstrong was). We woould then have to counter their teachings with the truth. On the other hand, I believe that there is a relationship of trust between a Christian TV or radio stations and its viewers and listeners. People expect Christian TV and radio to be Christian. Christian stations should hold those who broadcast on them to a standard of the basic tenets of Christianity. I believe we would agree’tbat a station that called itself Christian, but was broadcasting programs that espouse the tenets of Hinduism, was violating the trust its listeners place in it. The same would be true of a Christian station airing Jehovah’s Witnesses programs. I think we would agree that a line must be.drawn somewhere. But where? Certainly, it must be drawn at least at the basic tenets of Christianity. The problem is that the UCG, and other Armstrong groups are not on our side of the line, yet they are airing their programs on. evangelical Christian stations such as KGMS. My concern is that by airing programs of organizations, when examined more closely me are actually unorthodox, people are deceived. This deception is enhanced when programs to promote their ministry are placed among well-known evangelical ministers and ministries. Tn closing, having Beyond Today on KGMS 940AM is equivalent to giving acceptance to a program by the Jebovah's Witnesses. My prayer is that you, Brother Martin, will investigate what I have written’ and documented and remove this program from KGMS's programming schedule before many others are misled. Very respectfully in Christ |
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