Questioning Herbert W. Armstrong

 

Was Herbert W. Armstrong who he said he was? Did he tell the truth? These articles are for those who want to get to the bottom of these things.

Note: If this is the first time you have visited this page, you might want to read this first: Why is it Difficult For Exiters to Question Herbert Armstrong?

 

Put your faith completely in Jesus Christ,
not in any man or any movement.
~ Robert L. Sumner

 

Questioning if HWA told the truth
Questioning HWA's fruits
Questioning HWA's background
Questioning HWA's methods
Questioning HWA's doctrines


Questioning if HWA told the truth:

  Mystery of the Ages (a critical review) (Chapter by chapter in-depth review by Kelly Marshall; reveals not only Herbert Armstrong's twisted and unscriptural gospel, but shows his recruitment strategies, outright lies, deceptions, contradictions and plagiarisms from other groups.) (If you have dial-up, please give these pages time to download.)

  Mystery of the Ages (a 2nd critical Review) (Chapter by chapter review by William Hohmann; reveals Herbert Armstrong's sleight of hand of religious misinterpretation and how he caused readers to rely on his teachings with the results being a false gospel that diminishes Christ.) 

  True Original Church/Faith Once Delivered (Proof Herbert Armstrong Lied About the "Lost" Church Century)

 More proof showing how HWA failed to quote all of the words from an 1885 book, and thereby making readers think that church history had been lost! (Exact quotes from the book by William Fitzgerald, furnished in Kelly Marshall's critique of Mystery of the Ages, chapter 6.)

  Did Herbert W. Armstrong Distort Historical Church Documents? (this article shows proof that he did)

  Did Herbert W. Armstrong Say God Revealed the "Key to Unlocking Prophecy" to Him Alone?

  John Kiesz Furnishes Information on Herbert W. Armstrong (Kiesz was an elder in the Church of God Seventh Day and a close friend of HWA's; includes a number of HWA's failed prophecies)

  Did Herbert W. Armstrong Have God's Truth? (shows where HWA received his ideas)

  Was Herbert W. Armstrong God's True Servant?

  Did Herbert W. Armstrong Set Dates? (includes HWA saying there is "no prophet today")

Questioning HWA's fruits:

  "None of God's Servants Were Perfect" (for those who like to use this reasoning)

  Herbert W. Armstrong and the Incest

  Letter Regarding Herbert W. Armstrong's Incest

  Worldwide Church of God History (Transcription of message by Ken Westby message reveals how HWA treated those that dared asked questions and confront the abuses; shows double standards of the Armstrongs)

  Why Herbert W. Armstrong Couldn't Have Been God's True Apostle

  Robert Gerringer 1975 Letter to Charles Hunting (Reveals how Herbert Armstrong was confronted time and again with doctrinal issues and failed to change. Covers double standards, false prophecies, bad fruit, lack of intellectual freedom of the members to think for themselves, etc.)

  Jack Kessler 1981 Letter to Worldwide Church of God Board of Directors (Reveals the evil of the continuing, persistent financial abuses in HWA's Worldwide Church of God and the shocking moral depravity.)

  List of books exposing Herbert Armstrong (Includes where to order.)

Questioning HWA's background:

  Background expose` on HWA's early activities (revealing info)

  HWA's early racist activities

  HWA studied communism

  Radio Church of God openly embraced the agenda of the American Communist Party  (this also includes info about "Communism and the Churches")

  Herbert Armstrong Used Mein Kampf as a Guide in Controlling People

  HWA's questionable activities in international governmental affairs

  The Private Letters of Herbert W. Armstrong and Loma D. Armstrong (HWA and his wife were very active in international governmental affairs following the United Nations' first meeting held in San Francisco in 1945.)

  Historical and Revealing Background Info on WCG & Herbert Armstrong

  The Conspiracy Was Strong - The Discernment Ministries  (Herbert W. Armstrong is mentioned in Parts 1-3 of this in-depth report--search for the words "Worldwide Church of God; also mentions the FBI files on Herbert Armstrong and Stanley Rader.) [offsite link]

  Letter Regarding FBI Files on the Worldwide Church of God

Questioning HWA's methods:

  How Did Herbert W. Armstrong Recruit People? (the step by step process)

  Did Herbert W. Armstrong Abuse His Flock? (Includes additional: How Did the Worldwide Church of God Abuse its Members?)

  Profile of a Sociopath (A number of mind-controlling cult leaders may exhibit many of the behavioral characteristics of a sociopath)

  Armstrongism: Religion or Rip-Off? An Expose` of the Armstrong Modus Operandi (Chapters 2 and 3 of this book give an analysis of Herbert Armstrong's co-worker letters, revealing the propaganda methods he used in order to solicit donors and then con them out of thousands of dollars.)

  Beware 'Ambassadors' Bearing Gifts!  (A tragic story of what happened to one member when he responded to HWA's pleas for more money.)

  Dropouts See Hucksterism Where They Once Saw God (newspaper article)
  Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change Words of Sacred Hymns?  

  Lifton's Eight Criteria of Mind Control (Includes how it has been used by Herbert Armstrong and authoritarian offshoots) 


Questioning HWA's doctrines:

Note: Exiters have had the Bible used on them in order to control, coerce, exploit and manipulate them. In many cases the Scriptures were taken out of context and twisted. The following information is listed for those who have expressed an interest in these subjects. Sorting through one's personal beliefs after exiting a high demand group takes much time.

  Two critical reviews of Mystery of the Ages (also linked above)

 Herbert W. Armstrong's Religious Roots (the origin of Herbert's unique doctrines)

  What Were the Lies and What is the Truth? (Replacing HWA's fear-based statements with the truth from the Word of God)

  Where Do I Find the "One True Church"?

  The Law of Moses and the Grace of God (This article is very helpful for understanding the difference between the two.)

  Must We Keep the Law for Salvation? (answers many questions)

  Are We Still Under the Law in Spite of Grace? (Includes at bottom: "Aren't works necessary for salvation?")

  Why Church Leaders Demand Holy Days For Their Members (could it have anything to do with control?)

  Let Go of Days, Take Hold of Christ (Is it necessary to observe holy days and rituals in order to gain eternal life?)

  Should the Sabbath be Observed Today? (excellent study)

  Which Day is the Christian Sabbath? (A Critique of Herbert W. Armstrong's Book)  

  Sabbath and Sunday (Common Misunderstandings)

  Did Jeroboam Change the Sabbath to Sunday?

  Lying for God (covers Colossians 2:14-17) [offsite link]

The Sabbath in the New Testament (offsite link)

What did Jesus mean when he said we are gods in John 10:34?

 Third Tithe - Where Did it Go?

 Tithing and Sheep in Wolves Clothing (Who really is changing times and laws?)

  Tithing? (Brief, but good offsite article on tithing vs. Spirit-directed giving) [offsite link]

  Should the Church Teach Tithing? (reasons to replace tithing) (Online book; click on chapter titles on left) [offsite link]

"Bible Correspondence Course" (an Examination) (Are you able to realize the things unproven and unsupported by Scripture that have been slipped into your Bible Correspondence Course? Includes questions to help you find out.)

  British-Israelism--True or False?

 Where Are the Tribes of Israel Located? (A Critique of Herman Hoeh's Article) (Shows incredible fabrications and lack of concrete, detailed proof.)

  The Origins of Assyria and Germany  (This article shows the fallacy in HWA's teaching that the Assyrians "settled in central Europe, and the Germans are the descendants of the ancient Assyrians.")

 How is the Term Israel Used in the New Testament? (Shows how the church is not "spiritual Israel") (also covers Gal 6:16) [offsite link]

  A Comparison and Contrast Between Israel and the Church [offsite link]

  Law and Grace, Works and Christ (What is the relationship of law to grace and how do we reconcile the commands in the O.T. law with grace?) [offsite link]

  What is the Believer's Rule of Life? (What part and place does the law have in sanctification?) [offsite link]

  Saved by Grace (A Clarification of the Lordship Salvation Issue) (Excellent and in-depth article on grace) [offsite link]

  Seventh-day Adventism Renounced by D. M. Canright (This classic online book is helpful for those who are questioning Herbert Armstrong's teachings. Interesting chapters are 11: "Did the Pope Change the Sabbath?" and chapter 21: "Forty-Seven Prominent Texts Used by Sabbatarians Examined.") 

The Lord's Day From Neither Catholics nor Pagans: An Answer to Seventh-Day Adventism on this Subject by D. M. Canright (online book)

  The Pope Nor the Catholic Church Changed Sabbath to Sunday! (Did Pope Sylvester change the Sabbath during the time of Constantine?) [offsite link]

  What About the Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast? (offsite link)

  Unclean Meats Not a Law For Christians (offsite link) 

  A Look at Herbert W. Armstrong's Booklet, "The Resurrection Was Not on Sunday"

  Did Christ Reorganize the Church? (1939 article by HWA showing he condemned hierarchal church government in his early years)

  Any Good Doctrine in the Herbert W. Armstrong Era?

  Doctrines of Devils - Did Herbert Armstrong teach them?

  The Sin Question (Explains what "dead to sin" and "dead to the Law" really mean)

  Do We Only Receive the Holy Spirit As a Result of Baptism? (Do we receive God's Spirit as a result of faith, or faith plus baptism? How do we receive the Holy Spirit and what does the Holy Spirit do in the believer's life today?)

  Is the Holy Spirit Only the Power of God? (Also lists the Scriptures showing the two natures of Jesus--God/Man.)

  The Quiet Third: The Holy Spirit and the Trinity Relationship

  What About Observing the Lord's Supper? (if you're not attending a church) (personal input from several exiters)

  What is the Gospel? (also shows what the Gospel is not)

  The Work of Christ (Excellent article by the late Arno C. Gaebelein; shows Christ's past work, present work and future work.) [offsite link]

  Can we ever lose our salvation? (Q&A)

  Eternal Security of the Believer (written many years ago, but very good; includes answers to 24 questions at the end)

  Holiness - The False and the True (The fruitless struggle to attain holiness; covers true sanctification; by the late Harry Ironside) [offsite link]

  Books for those who wish to refute HWA's doctrinal errors (from our Booklist)

 

Thou makest this people to trust in a lie.
 ~ Jeremiah 28:15

 

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