Paul Warns Against The Deadly Leaven of False Doctrine

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Many who joined or grew up in the churches of God that sprang from the Worldwide Church of God founded by Herbert W, Armstrong and now in the many tiny splinter groups led by ministers trained by Him are readying for the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread. These Annual festivals are found in Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16. They were commanded observances for the ancient Israelites who had just come out of Egyptian slavery by the delivering hand of God. Herbert W. Armstrong (HWA) taught his followers that God COMMANDED the church to observe this Feast of the Lord along with the other six.

You were never taught the truth by your ministers that Jesus Christ during His life time condemned this and His words are recorded in the Gospel of John! The observance of the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread are part of what was considered Temple worship by the Jews in Christ's time,  Passover in the Old Testament. Neither was I during my 45 year journey through the churches of God (COG). I was among the thousands of children that came into the church with parents and grew up under the teachings of HWA. I was strict in observing these feasts as were my parents (actually not observing, but that is a topic for another time). I married in the church and was blessed with two beautiful children. I faithfully attended all of the Festivals until two years ago. I had been attending the United Church of God and began to understand why the churches had been fractured so badly after the death of HWA in 1986. 

The Churches of God teach that observance of the Old Testament Annual Sabbaths, or Feasts, are commanded by God for New Covenant Christians. This doctrine was introduced by Herbert W, Armstrong while he was still and elder in the Sabbath keeping Church of God Seventh Day in Oregon.[1] This was several years before he started the Radio Church of God, later renamed the Worldwide Church of God. From the founding of the Christian Church by the original Apostles Christ appointed on Pentecost 31 A.D. until today the Apostolic church of God did NOT observe the Old Covenant Laws of Moses. Many historians and Biblical Scholars have written histories of the true church and confirmed this. There are many volumes that are available on the internet that confirm this fact. One example HWA used were the Sabbath Keeping Waldensians, under the leadership of Peter Waldo in the 12^th century. They did observe the Sabbath but they shunned the Old Testament rituals as Pharisaical and legalistic. They knew they had been ended at the cross (Colossians 2:14). Catholic Church documents confirm this. When the Sabbath keepers were martyred for rejecting the Catholic Church, it was noted that they also rejected Judaism and the law of Moses as pharisaical. They were being burned at the stake for their belief in salvation by Grace through Faith and nothing else thus rejecting  both Judaism and Popish legalism. It was their rejection of the Pope and the purported authority the church claimed to possess that cost them their lives.

Jesus himself taught against the same practices. His teachings at the well of Jacob in Samaria are pivotal in the establishment of the new covenant with Jesus as the mediator. This event is found in the Gospel of John chapter 4:21-24 where Christ taught clearly that the Temple worship ended at that very hour and God must be worshiped in a NEW way. “In spirit and truth,  because God is spirit.” Jesus said no longer would worship be with physical rituals in physical temples. Read Jesus’ own words in the following passage,

John 4:21-24 (KJV)

 ²¹Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain [2], nor yet at Jerusalem [3], worship the Father. ²²Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. ²³But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. ²⁴God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Why then does the ministry of your church, if you are following Armstrongism,  contradict Jesus’ own words?  Jesus also taught that the Law and the Prophets were only prophetic of Him and the coming of Salvation through Faith.

Matthew 11:13; (KJV)

 ^"13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John."  

Not after. The law and the prophets came to a sudden end at Christ. Christ was the End of the Law. Romans 10:4.

What does the Apostle Paul teach about Christians going back to the Law of Moses, and what does Paul say about those who teach Christians they must? 

Galatians 5:1-6; (KJV)

¹Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. [4]  ²Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.  ³For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.  ⁴Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. ⁵For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.  ⁶For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.  ⁷Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?  ⁸This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.  ⁹A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

Paul is fighting against Jews who came to the churches in Asia teaching they had to go back to the law of Moses for salvation. This issue was decided by the Apostles of the Jerusalem Church in Acts 15. The law was not required for salvation. Only The Grace of God and our Faith in Christ crucified was required. Anyone going back to the old covenant laws and practices were fallen from grace (⁴Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.) 

A very dire warning that your ministers ignore!

While being diligent in removing leavening from your homes you actually bring in another leaven that is far worse as Paul writes in verses 8 and 9;   This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.  ⁹A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. Paul is saying that by going back to practices of the old covenant it is a more deadly type of leaven of false doctrine that cuts a believer off from salvation. Any who teach you this false doctrine of observing the Passover and days of unleavened bread are “hindering you from obeying the truth.” 

See verse 7; Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?   

Paul is clearly telling us that keeping the old law is teaching us to NOT OBEY truth. In fact, the True Doctrine of Christ is the opposite of what your ministers teach you! These ministers are blinded by a veil over their minds that Paul writes about. It is there and will remain blinding them until they accept Jesus through Grace exactly as God offered through His Grace and not our works of the law.   

2 Corinthians 3:1-18, (KJV)

 ¹Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?  ²Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:  ³Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.  ⁴And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: ⁵Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;  ⁶Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.  ⁷But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:  ⁸How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?  ⁹For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.  ¹⁰For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.  ¹¹For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.  ¹²Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:  ¹³And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:  ¹⁴But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. ¹⁵But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.  ¹⁶Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.  ¹⁷Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  ¹⁸But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

At this time of year we must focus on Jesus and the supreme sacrifice He offered as our Passover. His own broken body and shed blood are the memorial of the final passover sacrifice once and for all. The Apostle Matthew records the NEW symbols that Jesus Christ instituted for New Covenant Christians. They are a memorial sacriment so Christians, "as often as you do this" do in rememberance of Me.

Matthew 26:26-28,

 ²⁶ While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” ²⁷ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  

Finally, in John 15:10 - Christ tells us that we must keep HIS commandments as He kept His Fathers. In this we can be sure we will remain in His love.

John 15:10(NIV)

¹⁰ If you keep My commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

In verse 12, Jesus encapsulates HIS command for us in this; "...that you love one another as I have loved you."

By reading from the Torah, or Law of Moses, and thus teaching Christians that they must observe abolished and obsolete rituals and customs cuts the believer off from Christ and is left fallen from Grace. This was a prophesied stumbling stone to the Jews who loved the fact that they had the Law of Moses. They rejected and murdered the prophesied Messiah because they lacked the Faith to accept Him. But were in fact blinded by the veil over their understanding.  The Churches of God follow this doctrine of blaspheming the Words of Christ and the Apostles. They do this by denying men access to eternal life through faith IN Jesus Christ,  Our Only Passover!

Christ has been victorious over sin for us, we ARE the unleavened now. All of these things were fulfilled in Christ as prophesied.  It is not the leaven of yeast that the Christian has to fear now, but the deadly spiritual leaven of FALSE DOCTRINE that infests the Churches of God!

Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees as Jesus warned.

[1] See: Steve Nichols History of WCG, and John Kiesz Letter, Elder of the Church of God (7th Day).  [2] . On this mountain referred to Mt. Gerizim in Samaria in the town of Sychar (formerly called Shechem) where a Samaritan Temple once stood that rivaled the Temple in Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s time.  Both the Samaritans and the Jews worshiped the same true God in Christ’s time, the Samaritans were more strict in many ways than the Jews. [3] The Jerusalem Temple was the Temple King Herod build for the Jews, it was a replacement for the Temple built in Nehemiah’s time that was destroyed in 175 B.C. It was the religious center of Judaism in Christ’s time. [4] See Acts 15 Jerusalem conference (v10) for Peter’s teaching on burden of the law.

UCG member on sabbatical writing a book on Law and Grace to Begin UCG Doctrinal Shift, Just Another ShiningLight Blog Hoax!

Michael Maynard , Publisher of this blog is the "Prime Suspect." James REALLY! Fact Check before you publish, Please.


  
A misleading commentary titled, Watch For: The New Direction, appeared in The Shining Light Blog February 26, 2011 in response to a personal and private email message I sent to James Malm, the writer and publisher of the Blog. He asked that I keep his response confidential, which I did. Subsequently I became an unwitting subject and by-product of James’ korah-rupt  keyboard, lumped into the heap of carnage spewed daily from the SLB writer - though being in good company  with  many other devout  Christians who have come into James’ cross hairs. Those unwashed, miserable, blind fools who may hold to different modes of worship of the one true God and his Son who James claims to know (about) who have been ridiculed, slandered, mocked, and libeled.
As such, I thought it imprudent and irresponsible to form any decent response and pointless to clear my otherwise respectable name and defend my documented and sincere writings. But....I just can’t resist, so against better judgment here I go...
 

First here is what James Malm  wrote directed at me (The Red Letters are Not Christ speaking but James’ misleading rhetoric):

“This is what happened in the WCG with the Tkach era and it is what is now happening in the UCG.  In May there will be another Conference and election: WATCH the direction that is takn after that.  The fruits should become clear by the fall Feast.
 
I received a message from a man in the UCG, who is now taking a sabbatical to write a book on Law and Grace in preparation for the coming changes. His Blog is an excellent placce to see the subtlty of the new take on the Covenants, and Law and Grace; that are slowly being inserted into the UCG.

Michael Mynard’s Blog  will put right before  your eyes in a  nutshell; what will be done subtly over many months in the UCG. His web site is now under construction.  By all means look through this Blog and its pages to see the subtle errors. See how he says that the sons of the King are “above the law” subtly twisting a scripture on the temple tax to somehow include all the law.  Be sure to notice how many “New Age” quotes and translations he uses.

Read through this Blog and then take a listen to the New Covenant series of audios by Robin Webber.  Look for the subtlities, the inferences, the allusions and the little twists, as he uses a six or seven part series to put over the new UCG agenda and bury it in a multitude of words.  “Church family is to love one another; we obey God because we love him and for no other reason because we no longer have to obey, only love.”

Double speak to confuse and distract as the subliminal message of “love trumps law” is entrenched in this phsycologiocal warfare of the spirit. Teaching us that we should just wink at and tolerate sin; and compromise with God’s law anytime the going gets difficult.

Teaching that “love” is the “easy way” and that when the going gets tough we should just push the “easy butten” and compromise with God’s law because he is love and will understand and forgive. This series was started on 1 Jan in Los Angeles.  The New Covenant and Christian Responsibilities.  Be sure to notice how many “New Age” quotes he uses.”

In Response I write...

I could thank James for the considerable promotion bestowed in his piece, elevating me to the Doctrinal Committee of the United Church of God (UCG). Unfortunately, I am not in attendance with the UCG and not presently an employee of UCG nor ever was. (OOPS JAMES) Alas, I would gladly do the work of adjusting their doctrines to come into unity with Apostles Paul, Peter, James, John, not to leave out Christ, all of whom they blaspheme in a routine and most methodical way. Much as the Tkach led Grace Covenant Church (or whatever they are now), and fell into the ditch of  Catholicism/Paganism, Armstrongism falls into the other  ditch of  Pharisaical laws and rituals. Both equally wrong and leading followers AWAY from Christ  and Fallen from Grace. (OOPS JAMES)

James, The reason I left the UCG and Armstrongism is because I DO NOT see them abandoning the doctrines of Armstrong (OOPS AGAIN) ....why would they? Why would they kill the goose that lays the golden eggs? Just look at Geraldean’s  (my pet name for Gerald Flurry) PCG.  Herbert W. Armstrong’s mug is nearly their copyrighted corporate logo. Why? Cash Flow! Armstrongism at it’s finest....except there are too many of us sheep who have educations.  Empire building while ignoring the True Doctrine of Christ exemplified in Acts 2:43-47 that resulted in, “...the Lord adding to the church DAILY those who were being saved,” (OOPSIE DAISY)

“I am the door,” says Christ, “any who attempt to enter into the kingdom another way are thieves and robbers.” One Door, One True Shepherd, One straight and narrow path one narrow gate into the kingdom, and wide is the way to destruction.  

James apparently sees little need for love as he clearly promotes “deeds of the law” as the way to salvation, oh yeah and the Jesus person is cool too! Right James?  Maybe he thinks like HWA and his discipleship that Christ was just all gushy when He said, “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another, AS I   HAVE   LOVED   YOU. (OOPS AGAIN)

Now lets see the LAW TRUMP that in the  LOVE realm James! (OOPS) Did the LAW of Moses ever bring that to the table? NO I don’t think so! Did the Torah ever  successfully lead the Israelites to “Love their neighbors as their selves?” No I don’t think so! (OOPS)

If this kind of love equals your “EASY BUTTON” then we will see if you will be willing to stick with your beliefs and burn at the stake, for a fellow Christian, one you don’t even know...or stand in front of a firing squad...for a SINNER like me? That is a standard I bet most Armstrongites never consider...take the Law James, all of it! I will gladly take your portion of  Love since it will just be left on your plate and tossed into the trash.  Why waste it if you don't want it? (OOPS)

Peter warns you Judizers...You who TEST GOD! You who try to put a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither we nor our fathers could bear. And that was not just clipping off a tad of  skin from a baby boy! That was the WHOLE LAW OF MOSES.  (OOPS) The Apostle James says to you, “ We gave NO SUCH COMMANDMENT!”(OOPSIE) Do you James? The UCG teaches in their doctrinal paper , The Two Covenants of God, this was only physical circumcision, the fleshly removal of a males foreskin.  I do not agree! Neither did James (not you), Peter, Paul,  Barnabas, or the others there in the meeting in Jerusalem (except maybe James Malm, and the Pharisees in verse 5, who were still hopefully growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ). They all knew how Paul and Barnabas stood because that is why they were there. Paul taught Christians throughout Asia, Jew and Gentile, to FORSAKE THE LAW OF Moses!  (Acts 15, and 21, please! read it all)

Galatians 5:
   1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (OOPS AGAIN) (personally I am getting tired of oopses)
   2Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
   3For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. (OOPS)
   4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
   5For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
   6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
   7Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
   8This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
   9A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
   10I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
   11And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
   12I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
   13For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
   14For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (OOPS AGAIN JAMES)

Did the creator give his only begotten Son...His ONLY SON, who came willingly to do the will of the Father and FULFILLED EVERY ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW WITHOUT EVEN ONE SIN AND WAS BRUTALLY MURDERED FOR ALL HIS GOOD DEEDS....FOR US. No Love there James?(OOPS) I think so!!

James, you want law? You be my guest...just remember what the Apostle Paul wrote in
Galatians 3; 

1 O foolish Galatians, (JAMES) who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (OOPS)

and verses 9 - 14;

 9So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
 10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
  11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
  12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
  13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Did you ever read all of the verses and not leave just a few out? I know you do, you do  it all the time in your articles.
You learned it from HWA and his disciples....twist it to fit, if it won’t fit...make it up! If all else fails...IGNORE IT!

I write because I have made a decision to read and believe only what Jesus Christ and the Apostles of the Church of Jerusalem taught and discard all other. I was a “Pharisee” as strict as they come in Armstrongism. Would have made Paul proud! Paid my three tithes, at Sabbath Services every week, observed all of the Holy Days with zeal. Held many positions of responsibility in The WCG, PCG, and UCG. In charge of the Information table and printed the weekly bulletin, Gave Bible Studies, President of Spokesmen Club and Graduate Club. Married for 33 Years and blessed with two beautiful children, now grown.

I have been blessed with every blessing imaginable, a successful business, great income, boats, RV, home with a pool. But then I was always internally in turmoil, and it came through in harshness toward my wife and children. I had rules, Armstrong has rules and regulations.

I was one of the first to resign from the WCG in 1993, even before most even realized there were a changes in the wind. And they were about to blow the church away! I saw them coming in subtle way in 1988. Small things said from the pulpit and in the publications, in the Hymnal. Even the Pastors and elders didn’t see them. (Or the Pastors wouldn’t admit they did.)

So James Malm, I was probably more self-righteous and presumptuous than you ever dreamed of being... if that is possible!?! But I was sincere, because I grew up in the WCG and only knew this way of life. And ‘in the day when terror gripped’, (fear of a false prophet I mean) one dared not  question the Apostle and Profit (yes sp ok) Herbert W. Armstrong.

Every year before the Feast days I would study. I would get out my library of reference Books, Study Guides, Concordances, Cross references, Commentaries, Greek Translations, Hebrew Translations...you get the point. I was THOROUGH, I intended to come into a closer relationship with God and Christ through knowledge and preparation. When the Feast of Tabernacles rolled around, I was ready, plenty of second tithe, luxury Condo reserved, New Custom Van Loaded with new clothes for the family...had to look good..appearance, attire I mean, at the Feast was paramount.

At the Feast we dined on the finest, Porterhouse Steaks and Prime Rib, fine wines and liquors. Had loads of fun, family activities, side trips to cool places for the kids. The obligatory feast gifts for sure!

While enjoyable,  nothing spiritual accomplished except cutting ourselves off from Christ and falling from Grace. Now I see how much time and money was wasted that could have been utilized elsewhere rather that furnishing HWA’s mansions and financing his lavish life style.

I will conclude the matter for the readers and for our beloved James Malm.  One must have the Holy Spirit to perceive why Grace and Love is a stone of stumbling for you. Those who understand that the Holy Spirit transforms the believer such that the Law of Moses is of no consequence since the LAWS are WRITTEN in OUR HEARTS as David said, and Now We Hear.  James I would NEVER break God’s Holy Sabbath, because I love my neighbor! If you love your neighbor as yourself then by default you love God.  I Jn. 2:8-10 explains your challenge with Grace and Love. And the FULFILLMENT of THE WHOLE LAW is just that. AND NO more than that DO WE OWE TO ANY MAN.. Not To You, Not to Armstrong, Not to Flurry, Not to Rodman (another pet name, Rod Meredith), Not to Pacman (you figure that one) to no man.  

We who are under Grace through Faith live thus:
I Peter 4:8, "And above ALL things have fervent LOVE for one another, for love will cover a multitude of Sins." At least it is our goal! And of course we fall short of the mark.
We worship at the Altar before our High Priest at the most Holy Place where He is continually hearing our prayers and sprinkling his shed blood for the sins of the repentant. Continually 24/7 until his return as our King.    AMEN!


Watch for my upcoming article; Christ at the Well Of Jacob which opens up the signifigance of  John chapter four. In my view one of the MOST PIVOTAL teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. The very point where Christ himself VERIFIES the END of the Old Covenant and the beginning of the New Covenant.  Christ’s use of the historical symbolism of Sychar and the Well of Jacob is MindBlowing! You will have few questions left concerning the two covenants of God after reading this article.