Beyond Today

Cernayte, Vallee De Chevreuse, at Cernay La Ville, France-trekearth

Dedicated to Mr. Matt

I have been watching 'Vikings' on History. Although I do not put much credence in historical theatre, in comparison to text, I still appreciate the religious references both Norse and Christian. At the church sermon Sunday, an elder preached and mentioned that the Vikings married Nuns which ended up converting the Vikings. Now, I must be clear that I am totally, ethically and morally against any kind of forced relationship or marriage. It was the product of brutal times.  It is interesting how the Lord used the power of women to lead men to conversion, however. I am not suggesting at all, Christians should date and marry non-believers either, because in a modern democratic Western context that usually will not lead to a conversion. The Vikings were already religious in a sense, and today in the West one would be facing secularism, empiricism, and much skepticism about the supernatural, which would make conversion more difficult in human terms at least.

The Vikings and Nuns scenario does show how God did use women as a ministry in a rather odd, unorthodox way.

As the saying goes, one should not place God in a box.

After church Mr. Matt stated he sent me an email wondering if such and such an organization was a cult.

Note, sometimes I do not receive emails, and I tend to not read them from my cell phone as it is more difficult and less practical and delete most of the messages as usually they should arrive to my Windows Live Mail as well which is my primary email service. Email on the cell phone is my backup only. However, sometimes the email messages do not show up on Windows Live Mail. Therefore for important messages please email them to me more than once if need be, on Facebook and Window Live Mail if needed. Thank you.

And of course there are also Blogger comments, but those would be public.

Mr. Matt was asking about the 'Beyond Today' program.

http://carm.org/ucog

According to Matt Slick from Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry/CARM, 'Beyond Today' is part of the media presentation of the United Church of God.

Founder: It was founded "by Bob Dick and David Hulme, in Arcadia, California, an offshoot of Herbert W. Armstrong and was formed in May of 1995. Headquarters: Milford, Ohio 'Origins: The United Church of God is an offshoot of the Worldwide Church of God. The group claims to beliefs traced backed to the first century.

Sabbatarian.

Slick states quote:

'Analysis: The United Church of God is a non-Christian cult that denies the Trinity, the true divinity of Christ, and requires both baptism and obedience to the commandments to be saved. It teaches that there is a "God family" of which we can become members through keeping the Law. Jesus is one of two divine beings, the Father being the other. The Holy Spirit is a force, a power, and is not the 3rd person of the Trinity, and it is received only through the laying on of hands by their church members. It also teaches that their members are obligated to keep the Sabbath and must observe seven festivals. They cannot eat unclean meat. This is a false religious system that teaches a false God, false Christ, and false gospel. Stay away from it.'

He also states:

'Other Teachings: They teach that the wicked, or unsaved, are not alive in hell but are annihilated. Baptism is by immersion. The Bible is inspired and inerrant. They are pre-millennial and maintain that Satan is a fallen, evil angel. Christians are not to go to war and should refuse being drafted.'

Worldwide Church of God

John Ankerberg and John Weldon provide some information. As does the late Dr. Walter R. Martin.

Herbert W. Armstrong (1892-1986). Garner Ted Armstrong. Ankerberg and Weldon (1999: 1).

Movement also known as Armstrongism Ankerberg and Weldon (1999: 1).

Claim to have the only true interpretation of the Scripture Ankerberg and Weldon (1999: 1).

God is currently two persons the Father and Jesus, now reproducing themselves into 'billions of persons'. Ankerberg and Weldon (1999: 2). God's purpose is noted as to reproduce himself as in recreating his own kind. Martin (1985: 318).

Jesus Christ is understood as Jehovah of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. Triparte. Ankerberg and Weldon (1999: 2). Martin quotes the theological understanding that in the atonement Christ's life resided in his blood and not in his spirit.  It is stated he did not shed a spirit to save persons from sins, and doing so gave life. Martin (1985: 320). But this seems a major theological misunderstanding of both the nature of God and the atonement, for in atonement Jesus Christ as the God/man would suffer physically and spiritually, in the atonement for the sins of humanity, a false distinction is being made. Even though God does not suffer physically, there would be spiritual anguish of experiencing the penalty for sin and the atoning work.

As Slick noted, this points to a misunderstanding of the true divinity of Christ. For the true God did fully understand and also did suffer, in a sense in spirit, in the atonement as God the Son, as some type of artificial separation within the incarnation should not be attempted.

The Holy Spirit is denied as the third person on the Trinity, but is viewed as 'God's mind and power', 'God's mind and love'. Ankerberg and Weldon (1999:  2).

The Trinity is viewed as Satanic and pagan.  Ankerberg and Weldon (1999:  2). The Holy Spirit is viewed as divine spiritual love, but not the third person of the Trinity. Martin (1985: 321).

Salvation is 'By works'. Ankerberg and Weldon (1999:  2).

Martin lists it as 'Salvation by Grace and Law'. Martin (1985: 321).

The blood of Christ is viewed as wiping the slate clean, but not saving a person.  A penalty for sin was paid. Martin (1985: 321). The atoning work of Christ saves persons from the death penalty and therefore based on this theology the Old Testament law and Ten Commandments still needs to be obeyed. Martin (1985: 321).

However, a reasoned review of New Testament texts such as Romans, Galatians, Ephesians and Hebrews will demonstrate that human beings are so corrupted in sin and unable to perfectly and fully obey the law that only the new covenant of Christ through grace through faith, can save persons, making the old covenant obsolete.

For example from Hebrews in regards to change in covenant:

Hebrews 7:26-28 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.

Hebrews 9:11-16 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things [a]to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect [b]tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, [c]having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the [d]cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through [e]the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse [f]your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16 For where a [g]covenant is, there must of necessity [h]be the death of the one who made it.

Human beings become as God at the resurrection. Ankerberg and Weldon (1999:  2).

The Bible is viewed as authoritative only under the Armstrongism view. Ankerberg and Weldon (1999:  2).

Soul sleep is accepted as is a belief in annihilation of the wicked. Ankerberg and Weldon (1999:  2).

Hell is viewed as a pagan doctrine and heaven is denied. Ankerberg and Weldon (1999:  2).

This movement is also associated with Anglo-Israelism also known as British-Israelism. Martin states it originated roughly in the Elizabethan era with Richard Brothers (1757-1824). Martin (1985: 306). The theological view is that the ten lost tribes of Israel traveled westward through Northern Europe and eventually became the ancestors of the Saxons that eventually invaded England. The theory being the Anglo-Saxons are the lost ten tribes of Israel. Martin (1985: 306).

However, this view is not generally academically held.

ANKERBERG, JOHN AND JOHN WELDON (1999) Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions, Eugene, Oregon, Harvest House Publishers.

MARTIN, WALTER (1965)(1985) The Kingdom of The Cults, Minneapolis, Bethany House Publishers.

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