Monday, October 1, 2007
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Predestination
What "Predestination" Is Not.
Very few understand what "predestination" is. First, consider what it is not. There is no teaching in the Bible that says the decision you are to make -- your final fate of becoming either saved or lost, is already pre-determined, and that you are destined finally to arrive at that fate.Absolutely no text anywhere in the Bible says anyone is predestinated to be lost.But doesn't the Bible say anything about predestination?Certainly. But it does not say what people seem to think. People seem to think it says we are predestinated to be either saved or lost. Some to be saved -- others to be lost.Let us read the only texts in the Bible speaking about"predestination." And see if you can find anything in any of them about anyone being predestinated to be lost. The difficulty is that people have assumed and taken for granted what is not true.There are just four places where the word "predestinated"occurs in the Authorized Version.Romans 8:28-30: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate,them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified:and whom he justified, them he also glorified."Ephesians 1:4-5, 11-12: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will ... in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ."Notice, none of the places in the Bible where predestination is mentioned says anything about anyone being predestinated to be LOST -- predestinated to reject Christ. No one is predestinated to make a certain decision -- to accept or reject Christ -- to be saved or lost. But some have been predestinated to be called to salvation,now!
When We Were Called
Of those called now, in this age, notice when we were called!II Timothy 1:9: "God, who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."And, as in Ephesians 1, quoted above, notice carefully what it says:God chose us in Him, when? "Before the foundation of the world"!"Having predestinated us" -- what for? To be lost? No, "unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ.""Being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will." Were any predestinated, then, to be lost? Is it God's will that any be lost?He says it is not! Then can't we see that "predestination" has nothing to do with whether we shall be lost or saved -- with our decision -- with our ultimate fate?Notice carefully, now!"Being predestinated ... that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ." Those predestinated are the first to trust in Christ -- merely the first preliminary soul-harvest.And now do you begin to see the glorious truth -- that predestination has nothing to do with your making a decision or your fate -- it has only to do with the time of your calling --whether you are called now, in this age, or later.Notice it in the passage in Romans 8:28-30:"For whom he did foreknow ...." How great is God! If you are one now called, God "foreknew" you. And "whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate" -- to be lost? No, "to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called ...." Not will call in the future -- called, now, in this age.There it is. Note it."Whom he did predestinate, them he also called."Predestination has to do with being called. Not with being saved or lost. Those now being called, in this age, were foreknown, and PRE-destinated to be called now -- to be the first to put their hope in Christ. All others have their call later.God does not decide for you, in advance, whether you shall be saved or lost. He did decide far in advance which ones He would call in this first calling, to be a priest or a king in His Kingdom-- to have part in the saving of others.How wonderful are God's ways, when He opens our understanding to reveal them to us.Let us make our calling and final election sure. Let us not grieve over departed loved ones who probably were not called, in this life. God is able to raise them up again. They will come up In the Great White Throne Judgment. And in that judgment, the book of life shall be opened, and many shall then find it. Judgment, now,is upon the true Church of God -- those now called (I Pet. 4:17). And we are later to judge the world!The overwhelming majority on earth today are neither saved nor lost. Their chance has not yet come. This is not their time. But it is coming as certainly as God's Word is true.This is not the age when Christ is desperately contesting Satan as to whether all humanity shall be saved or lost. If it were, as most seem to believe, a controversy for souls now, between Christ and Satan, then Satan surely is winning the contest, and a one-sided contest it is.But Satan is not more powerful than God. We near, now, the close of the sixth working day of Satan's week. Soon will come "the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." Satan shall be chained, Christ shall rule -- and preach, and save!
Very few understand what "predestination" is. First, consider what it is not. There is no teaching in the Bible that says the decision you are to make -- your final fate of becoming either saved or lost, is already pre-determined, and that you are destined finally to arrive at that fate.Absolutely no text anywhere in the Bible says anyone is predestinated to be lost.But doesn't the Bible say anything about predestination?Certainly. But it does not say what people seem to think. People seem to think it says we are predestinated to be either saved or lost. Some to be saved -- others to be lost.Let us read the only texts in the Bible speaking about"predestination." And see if you can find anything in any of them about anyone being predestinated to be lost. The difficulty is that people have assumed and taken for granted what is not true.There are just four places where the word "predestinated"occurs in the Authorized Version.Romans 8:28-30: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate,them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified:and whom he justified, them he also glorified."Ephesians 1:4-5, 11-12: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will ... in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ."Notice, none of the places in the Bible where predestination is mentioned says anything about anyone being predestinated to be LOST -- predestinated to reject Christ. No one is predestinated to make a certain decision -- to accept or reject Christ -- to be saved or lost. But some have been predestinated to be called to salvation,now!
When We Were Called
Of those called now, in this age, notice when we were called!II Timothy 1:9: "God, who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."And, as in Ephesians 1, quoted above, notice carefully what it says:God chose us in Him, when? "Before the foundation of the world"!"Having predestinated us" -- what for? To be lost? No, "unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ.""Being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will." Were any predestinated, then, to be lost? Is it God's will that any be lost?He says it is not! Then can't we see that "predestination" has nothing to do with whether we shall be lost or saved -- with our decision -- with our ultimate fate?Notice carefully, now!"Being predestinated ... that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ." Those predestinated are the first to trust in Christ -- merely the first preliminary soul-harvest.And now do you begin to see the glorious truth -- that predestination has nothing to do with your making a decision or your fate -- it has only to do with the time of your calling --whether you are called now, in this age, or later.Notice it in the passage in Romans 8:28-30:"For whom he did foreknow ...." How great is God! If you are one now called, God "foreknew" you. And "whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate" -- to be lost? No, "to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called ...." Not will call in the future -- called, now, in this age.There it is. Note it."Whom he did predestinate, them he also called."Predestination has to do with being called. Not with being saved or lost. Those now being called, in this age, were foreknown, and PRE-destinated to be called now -- to be the first to put their hope in Christ. All others have their call later.God does not decide for you, in advance, whether you shall be saved or lost. He did decide far in advance which ones He would call in this first calling, to be a priest or a king in His Kingdom-- to have part in the saving of others.How wonderful are God's ways, when He opens our understanding to reveal them to us.Let us make our calling and final election sure. Let us not grieve over departed loved ones who probably were not called, in this life. God is able to raise them up again. They will come up In the Great White Throne Judgment. And in that judgment, the book of life shall be opened, and many shall then find it. Judgment, now,is upon the true Church of God -- those now called (I Pet. 4:17). And we are later to judge the world!The overwhelming majority on earth today are neither saved nor lost. Their chance has not yet come. This is not their time. But it is coming as certainly as God's Word is true.This is not the age when Christ is desperately contesting Satan as to whether all humanity shall be saved or lost. If it were, as most seem to believe, a controversy for souls now, between Christ and Satan, then Satan surely is winning the contest, and a one-sided contest it is.But Satan is not more powerful than God. We near, now, the close of the sixth working day of Satan's week. Soon will come "the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." Satan shall be chained, Christ shall rule -- and preach, and save!
Was Herbert Armstrong a False Prophet?
Was Herbert Armstrong a False Prophet?
by Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," January 2000
Prophecy is a tricky business. If a prophet is too specific.like the Jeanne Dixons or Edgar Cayces of the world, predicting that certain celebrities will marry, divorce or run for political office or that an earthquake will devastate Los Angeles in a particular year.chances are slim he will have a high percentage of being "right." Conversely, if he is too vague or obscure.like Nostradamus, whose predictions could apply to many situations or times.he runs the risk of sounding unsure.
True prophets, the biblical kind, do not have these problems. Their prophecies are direct revelations from God, who declares "the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, .My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’ . . . Indeed, I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass" (Isaiah 46:10-11). Whether prophesying from a dream, vision or direct conversation with God, a true prophet can be sure what he predicts will happen because he knows the Source never fails.
Over the past few decades, many have wondered whether the late Herbert W. Armstrong (1892-1986), founder and Pastor General of the Worldwide Church of God until his death, was a false prophet. He made many predictions during his ministry, and many of them have not come to pass. Some were plain wrong. Some were vague. Some were specific. Just how should we, who look to his teachings for our doctrinal foundation, consider his track record?
True and False Prophets
Deuteronomy 18:20-22 is the classic passage on judging whether a prophet is true or false:
But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not
commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall
die. And if you say in your heart, "How shall we know the word which the LORD has not
spoken?".when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not
happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet
has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.
This seems fairly clear-cut: If a man falsely claims to speak in God’s name, or if he speaks in another god’s name, he is worthy of death. If the man’s predictions do not occur, he is a false prophet. Conversely, if a man speaks in God’s name, and what he says happens, he may indeed be a true prophet (Jeremiah 28:8-9).
Apart from Christ Himself, Ezekiel may be the clearest case of a true prophet. He prefaces many of his prophecies with "the word of the LORD came to me, saying . . ." (Ezekiel 3:16; 6:1; etc.), followed by a direct quotation of God’s words. This is speaking "a word in My name" (Deuteronomy 18:20). If it is indeed what God commanded him to say, he is guiltless, whether or not it comes to pass within his lifetime. Many of Ezekiel’s prophecies, for instance, had a near fulfillment (in type) and a far fulfillment (antitype). In both cases, he is shown to be a true prophet of God.
However, false prophets on occasion get something right. Balaam is a prime biblical example.
Ordinarily, he was a false prophet, eager to prophesy for or against others, as his employer and his money desired. God, however, puts true words in his mouth when He attempts to prophesy against Israel (Numbers 22-24). He even prophesies of the coming of Christ (Numbers 24:17-19)! What are we to make of this?
Then there is the occasion when God Himself sends a lying spirit to persuade Ahab to fight at Ramoth Gilead, where he would fall in battle (I Kings 22:1-37). In this instance, He also sends the truth by a true prophet named Micaiah, revealing that the prophets of apostate Israel had been lying to the king all along. Nothing like a curve ball to help confuse matters!
We must also consider the instruction found in Deuteronomy 13:1-5, as it adds two important factors to judging prophets:
If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or
a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying,
"Let us go after other gods which you have not known, and let us serve them," you
shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD
your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your
heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and
keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to
Him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has
spoken in order to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the
land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the
way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the
evil from your midst.
The first factor added here is that God recognizes that false prophets, through the power of Satan, can accomplish signs and wonders. The magicians of Egypt imitate Moses’ staff-into-a-serpent miracle before Pharaoh (Exodus 7:8-12). The end-time False Prophet will do similar signs as the Two Witnesses, causing most of the world’s population to worship the Beast (Revelation 13:11-15). Paul warns in II Corinthians 11:13-15 that Satan’s servants are clever counterfeits of Christ’s. Signs, wonders and miracles, then, are not conclusive proof that a prophet is from God.
The second factor Deuteronomy 13 adds is our need to recognize the spiritual message accompanying the prophet’s signs and predictions. This is the essence of the apostle John’s admonition, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (I John 4:1). No matter how impressive or accurate a prophet’s miracles or prophecies, his credibility hangs on whether he leads people toward or away from God.
The following questions, then, must all be answered before we judge a person as a true or false
prophet:
1. Does he claim to prophesy in God’s name or in a false god’s name?
2. Do his prophecies come to pass?
3. Does he do signs and wonders?
4. Does he teach the truth based on God’s Word?
In Herbert Armstrong’s case, we can answer affirmatively only to number 4!
Not a Prophet
Some may raise strenuous objections to this statement, especially in regard to the first question. Did not Herbert Armstrong say he spoke by the authority of God? Yes, he did, but he never claimed to prophesy.predict future events.in God’s name. He never claimed to be a prophet or to prophesy, and that makes all the difference in the world!
It is true that the Hebrew concept of a prophet contains both aspects of foretelling and preaching under inspiration. The context of Deuteronomy 18, though, deals primarily with claiming to make predictions based on personal revelation from God. A telling phrase appears in verse 22: "if the thing does not happen or come to pass." The test of a prophet in Deuteronomy 18 stresses foretelling, not preaching. What a prophet preaches, coupled with signs or wonders he may perform, is covered more specifically in Deuteronomy 13.
On the basis of Deuteronomy 13 and 18, then, Herbert Armstrong was not a false prophet because he never claimed to be a prophet or divinely inspired to make prophetic statements. His preaching, much of which concerned prophecy, came straight from the Bible, not from direct revelation from God by dream, vision or voice from heaven. He allowed the Bible to interpret itself and tried to fit those interpretations into current world events. Such a process resulted in speculative predictions, based on what he understood at the time, but they were never delivered with the force of prophecy or with the authority of divine sanction.
Some in the church, however, took his speculations as authoritative prophecies, and when they did not happen, they were disillusioned. Many of them left the church in bitterness and became dissidents, accusing him of leading people astray through his "false prophecies." Many such former members are still decrying his "setting of dates" and "gun-lap mentality." Despite their opinions on the matter, the Bible judges Herbert Armstrong was not a prophet, nor did he ever prophesy in the biblical sense.
On the Gun Lap
Throughout his ministry, Herbert Armstrong felt that Christ would come soon.very soon. He always thought and preached that the Great Tribulation was on the verge of beginning and that Jesus’ return would occur in the next five, ten, fifteen years. We not infrequently heard him thunder, "You could wake up tomorrow to discover Europe has risen overnight!" The Millennium and God’s Kingdom were always "just over the horizon" and certainly "within our lifetimes." It is this atmosphere of expectation that became known as the "gun-lap mentality." In a race, the gun llap is the final circuit around the track, the time to pick up the pace and make a quick sprint to the finish line. It is the period of the race when a runner makes an all-out effort to cross the tape as a winner, reaping the rewards of an impressive victory. This victory and reward are what Herbert Armstrong wanted for each of us.
But some became frustrated at the pace and length of the gun lap. The final circuit seemed to expand interminably into the future, as they concluded, "My master is delaying his coming" (Matthew 24:48). And as in the parable, some of these began to beat their fellow servants, specifically Herbert Armstrong and those who faithfully followed his teachings, and return to living as they had before their calling (verse 49). If, however, a gun-lap mentality is a sign of a false prophet, then the first-century apostles stand as charged! Several of them use apocalyptic language just as Herbert Armstrong did. Notice Paul in
Romans 13:11-12: And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at
hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of
light. Maybe the most "famous" of Paul’s gun-lap misunderstandings is his instruction in I Corinthians 7, the marriage chapter:
But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have
wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not
weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they
did not possess, and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this
world is passing away. (verses 29-31)
Paul is not alone among the apostles in thinking the end was near in his time. John writes: "Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know it is the last hour" (I John 2:18). James puts it a little differently: "You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand" (James 5:8). Even Peter says, "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers" (I Peter 4:7).
However, they were only imitating the urgent voice of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He made the same kind of statements during His ministry! Is Christ a false prophet? The first words out of His mouth are of this sort: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15)! This urgency is a common theme in His preaching until His death. He says to His disciples on His last Passover, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:3). He makes His return sound very imminent!
His urgent statements do not end with His death, however. In His Revelation to the apostle John, such urgent language persists:
! Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep
those things which are written in it; for the time is near. (1:3)
! Behold, I come quickly! (3:11)
! Behold, I stand at the door and knock. (3:20)
! Behold, I am coming quickly! (22:7, 12)
! Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. (22:10)
! Surely I am coming quickly. (22:20).
If these passages are any indication, Herbert Armstrong’s urgency.sprinkled with predictions based upon his understanding of the Bible and world events.is no black mark on his ministry and certainly no proof he was a false prophet. He was, like his predecessors in the first century, applying a Christ endorsed technique to get us prepared for the Kingdom of God!
Speculation
So what are all those predictions Herbert Armstrong made? Rather than call them prophecies (which they were not) and Him a false prophet (which he was not), his predictions are more correctly speculations, theories based on true but insufficient and unclear evidence. Speculation is not sin, though all speculations involving biblical prophecy.especially regarding the timing of their fulfillments.should be taken with Christ’s words in mind:
But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My
Father only. . . . Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. .
. . Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do
not expect Him. (Matthew 24:36, 42, 44)
The implications, then, are minor for those of us who follow Herbert Armstrong’s teachings. Knowing he was not a false prophet, we can continue to use what he taught as a base for our beliefs because we can verify it from the Word of God. If his unfulfilled predictions pass without vindication, we know that his "batting average" was no worse than some of the most eminent leaders of the church throughout the centuries. He was indeed human, his perspective flawed, his understanding imperfect. Would any of us fare any better?
The most vital part for us is to recapture his sense of urgency for the nearness of Christ’s return. If we should die tomorrow, our day of salvation has ended, and Jesus’ second coming will be our next conscious experience! Some of us are not aware how close the end really is for us! If we knew we had only a day or two left to live, what would we do to strengthen our relationship with God? That is how we must live every day!
"Therefore," writes Paul in Hebrews 12:1, ". . . let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race [the gun lap!] that is set before us."
by Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," January 2000
Prophecy is a tricky business. If a prophet is too specific.like the Jeanne Dixons or Edgar Cayces of the world, predicting that certain celebrities will marry, divorce or run for political office or that an earthquake will devastate Los Angeles in a particular year.chances are slim he will have a high percentage of being "right." Conversely, if he is too vague or obscure.like Nostradamus, whose predictions could apply to many situations or times.he runs the risk of sounding unsure.
True prophets, the biblical kind, do not have these problems. Their prophecies are direct revelations from God, who declares "the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, .My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’ . . . Indeed, I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass" (Isaiah 46:10-11). Whether prophesying from a dream, vision or direct conversation with God, a true prophet can be sure what he predicts will happen because he knows the Source never fails.
Over the past few decades, many have wondered whether the late Herbert W. Armstrong (1892-1986), founder and Pastor General of the Worldwide Church of God until his death, was a false prophet. He made many predictions during his ministry, and many of them have not come to pass. Some were plain wrong. Some were vague. Some were specific. Just how should we, who look to his teachings for our doctrinal foundation, consider his track record?
True and False Prophets
Deuteronomy 18:20-22 is the classic passage on judging whether a prophet is true or false:
But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not
commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall
die. And if you say in your heart, "How shall we know the word which the LORD has not
spoken?".when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not
happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet
has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.
This seems fairly clear-cut: If a man falsely claims to speak in God’s name, or if he speaks in another god’s name, he is worthy of death. If the man’s predictions do not occur, he is a false prophet. Conversely, if a man speaks in God’s name, and what he says happens, he may indeed be a true prophet (Jeremiah 28:8-9).
Apart from Christ Himself, Ezekiel may be the clearest case of a true prophet. He prefaces many of his prophecies with "the word of the LORD came to me, saying . . ." (Ezekiel 3:16; 6:1; etc.), followed by a direct quotation of God’s words. This is speaking "a word in My name" (Deuteronomy 18:20). If it is indeed what God commanded him to say, he is guiltless, whether or not it comes to pass within his lifetime. Many of Ezekiel’s prophecies, for instance, had a near fulfillment (in type) and a far fulfillment (antitype). In both cases, he is shown to be a true prophet of God.
However, false prophets on occasion get something right. Balaam is a prime biblical example.
Ordinarily, he was a false prophet, eager to prophesy for or against others, as his employer and his money desired. God, however, puts true words in his mouth when He attempts to prophesy against Israel (Numbers 22-24). He even prophesies of the coming of Christ (Numbers 24:17-19)! What are we to make of this?
Then there is the occasion when God Himself sends a lying spirit to persuade Ahab to fight at Ramoth Gilead, where he would fall in battle (I Kings 22:1-37). In this instance, He also sends the truth by a true prophet named Micaiah, revealing that the prophets of apostate Israel had been lying to the king all along. Nothing like a curve ball to help confuse matters!
We must also consider the instruction found in Deuteronomy 13:1-5, as it adds two important factors to judging prophets:
If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or
a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying,
"Let us go after other gods which you have not known, and let us serve them," you
shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD
your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your
heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and
keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to
Him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has
spoken in order to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the
land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the
way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the
evil from your midst.
The first factor added here is that God recognizes that false prophets, through the power of Satan, can accomplish signs and wonders. The magicians of Egypt imitate Moses’ staff-into-a-serpent miracle before Pharaoh (Exodus 7:8-12). The end-time False Prophet will do similar signs as the Two Witnesses, causing most of the world’s population to worship the Beast (Revelation 13:11-15). Paul warns in II Corinthians 11:13-15 that Satan’s servants are clever counterfeits of Christ’s. Signs, wonders and miracles, then, are not conclusive proof that a prophet is from God.
The second factor Deuteronomy 13 adds is our need to recognize the spiritual message accompanying the prophet’s signs and predictions. This is the essence of the apostle John’s admonition, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (I John 4:1). No matter how impressive or accurate a prophet’s miracles or prophecies, his credibility hangs on whether he leads people toward or away from God.
The following questions, then, must all be answered before we judge a person as a true or false
prophet:
1. Does he claim to prophesy in God’s name or in a false god’s name?
2. Do his prophecies come to pass?
3. Does he do signs and wonders?
4. Does he teach the truth based on God’s Word?
In Herbert Armstrong’s case, we can answer affirmatively only to number 4!
Not a Prophet
Some may raise strenuous objections to this statement, especially in regard to the first question. Did not Herbert Armstrong say he spoke by the authority of God? Yes, he did, but he never claimed to prophesy.predict future events.in God’s name. He never claimed to be a prophet or to prophesy, and that makes all the difference in the world!
It is true that the Hebrew concept of a prophet contains both aspects of foretelling and preaching under inspiration. The context of Deuteronomy 18, though, deals primarily with claiming to make predictions based on personal revelation from God. A telling phrase appears in verse 22: "if the thing does not happen or come to pass." The test of a prophet in Deuteronomy 18 stresses foretelling, not preaching. What a prophet preaches, coupled with signs or wonders he may perform, is covered more specifically in Deuteronomy 13.
On the basis of Deuteronomy 13 and 18, then, Herbert Armstrong was not a false prophet because he never claimed to be a prophet or divinely inspired to make prophetic statements. His preaching, much of which concerned prophecy, came straight from the Bible, not from direct revelation from God by dream, vision or voice from heaven. He allowed the Bible to interpret itself and tried to fit those interpretations into current world events. Such a process resulted in speculative predictions, based on what he understood at the time, but they were never delivered with the force of prophecy or with the authority of divine sanction.
Some in the church, however, took his speculations as authoritative prophecies, and when they did not happen, they were disillusioned. Many of them left the church in bitterness and became dissidents, accusing him of leading people astray through his "false prophecies." Many such former members are still decrying his "setting of dates" and "gun-lap mentality." Despite their opinions on the matter, the Bible judges Herbert Armstrong was not a prophet, nor did he ever prophesy in the biblical sense.
On the Gun Lap
Throughout his ministry, Herbert Armstrong felt that Christ would come soon.very soon. He always thought and preached that the Great Tribulation was on the verge of beginning and that Jesus’ return would occur in the next five, ten, fifteen years. We not infrequently heard him thunder, "You could wake up tomorrow to discover Europe has risen overnight!" The Millennium and God’s Kingdom were always "just over the horizon" and certainly "within our lifetimes." It is this atmosphere of expectation that became known as the "gun-lap mentality." In a race, the gun llap is the final circuit around the track, the time to pick up the pace and make a quick sprint to the finish line. It is the period of the race when a runner makes an all-out effort to cross the tape as a winner, reaping the rewards of an impressive victory. This victory and reward are what Herbert Armstrong wanted for each of us.
But some became frustrated at the pace and length of the gun lap. The final circuit seemed to expand interminably into the future, as they concluded, "My master is delaying his coming" (Matthew 24:48). And as in the parable, some of these began to beat their fellow servants, specifically Herbert Armstrong and those who faithfully followed his teachings, and return to living as they had before their calling (verse 49). If, however, a gun-lap mentality is a sign of a false prophet, then the first-century apostles stand as charged! Several of them use apocalyptic language just as Herbert Armstrong did. Notice Paul in
Romans 13:11-12: And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at
hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of
light. Maybe the most "famous" of Paul’s gun-lap misunderstandings is his instruction in I Corinthians 7, the marriage chapter:
But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have
wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not
weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they
did not possess, and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this
world is passing away. (verses 29-31)
Paul is not alone among the apostles in thinking the end was near in his time. John writes: "Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know it is the last hour" (I John 2:18). James puts it a little differently: "You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand" (James 5:8). Even Peter says, "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers" (I Peter 4:7).
However, they were only imitating the urgent voice of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He made the same kind of statements during His ministry! Is Christ a false prophet? The first words out of His mouth are of this sort: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15)! This urgency is a common theme in His preaching until His death. He says to His disciples on His last Passover, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:3). He makes His return sound very imminent!
His urgent statements do not end with His death, however. In His Revelation to the apostle John, such urgent language persists:
! Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep
those things which are written in it; for the time is near. (1:3)
! Behold, I come quickly! (3:11)
! Behold, I stand at the door and knock. (3:20)
! Behold, I am coming quickly! (22:7, 12)
! Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. (22:10)
! Surely I am coming quickly. (22:20).
If these passages are any indication, Herbert Armstrong’s urgency.sprinkled with predictions based upon his understanding of the Bible and world events.is no black mark on his ministry and certainly no proof he was a false prophet. He was, like his predecessors in the first century, applying a Christ endorsed technique to get us prepared for the Kingdom of God!
Speculation
So what are all those predictions Herbert Armstrong made? Rather than call them prophecies (which they were not) and Him a false prophet (which he was not), his predictions are more correctly speculations, theories based on true but insufficient and unclear evidence. Speculation is not sin, though all speculations involving biblical prophecy.especially regarding the timing of their fulfillments.should be taken with Christ’s words in mind:
But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My
Father only. . . . Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. .
. . Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do
not expect Him. (Matthew 24:36, 42, 44)
The implications, then, are minor for those of us who follow Herbert Armstrong’s teachings. Knowing he was not a false prophet, we can continue to use what he taught as a base for our beliefs because we can verify it from the Word of God. If his unfulfilled predictions pass without vindication, we know that his "batting average" was no worse than some of the most eminent leaders of the church throughout the centuries. He was indeed human, his perspective flawed, his understanding imperfect. Would any of us fare any better?
The most vital part for us is to recapture his sense of urgency for the nearness of Christ’s return. If we should die tomorrow, our day of salvation has ended, and Jesus’ second coming will be our next conscious experience! Some of us are not aware how close the end really is for us! If we knew we had only a day or two left to live, what would we do to strengthen our relationship with God? That is how we must live every day!
"Therefore," writes Paul in Hebrews 12:1, ". . . let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race [the gun lap!] that is set before us."
Principles of tithing
MR. HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
TITHING:
Review of Principles and Update of Policies I Ministerial Conference January 1973
It is vitally important that all ministers teach what God teaches about tithing. Based on God's Laws, God's Church must have a standard worldwide policy, thus assuring unified and consistent application.The broad principles of tithing must be defined from the Bible and coordinated from Headquarters. Likewise, all matters of judgment based on these tithing principles must also be biblically founded and clearly spelled out from Pasadena. Such serious decisions must not be left to individuals in order that uniformity and consistency will be maintained throughout God's Church. The following are overall guidelines prepared by Mr. Armstrong and the Evangelists for God's ministry. Individual ministers must make judgmental decisions based on these principles. In practical fact, God's Laws are straightforward and simple.
The Basic Principles of Tithing;Tithe on the Increase Received from Productive Effort Every human being who earns an increase is required to tithe. God owns everything (Psalm 24:1; Haggai 2:8, etc.) -- and He therefore requires that we return to Him, for His Work, 10% of all our increase (Genesis 14:20, 28:22; Numbers 18; Hebrews 7). God's Law applies to all people, Israelite and non-Israelite, converted and unconverted. Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong specifically wrote: tithe on 'increase' — we define 'increase' as what we receive as a result of our productive effort (This "productive effort" is most often our own individual personal productive effort. In the case of collective or group effort, either the group must tithe as a whole or each individual must tithe on his or her share.) (We note that the term "productive effort" has a very broad range, including capital gains from property, dividends from stocks, interest from bank accounts, etc.)
Where the Responsibility Lies:With the Earner, Not the Receiver All wealth — all material goods and money — was produced and earned at some point by someone through personal productive effort. That person — the one who actually produced the goods or earned the money — is the one responsible before God for the tithe on that increase. Anyone who receives a gift or inheritance — material goods or money earned or produced by someone else — is not responsible to pay tithes on what he receives. He is not concerned about whether tithes had ever been paid on the goods or money. It is not his responsibility — he need not tithe. (He should, of course, be willing to give an offering according to how God has blessed him. More on offerings later.)
Gifts and Inheritances: No Tithes Necessary Since Mr. Armstrong has judged, on the basis of the intent of the tithing law, that increase comes only as a result of "productive effort," it is clear that there is no command to tithe on gifts and inheritances. (Again, generous, cheerful offerings show our appreciation and are very pleasing to God.) As an example, a man inherits $10,000. It did not come from his own; personal productive effort. (He should, however, give an offering — with the man himself allowed to decide the amount.) If the man invests any part of the $10,000, he must tithe on the earnings and/or the capital gains from the investment. To illustrate the latter, suppose the same man invests $5,000 of the $10,000 in stocks. (He must, of course, always tithe on the dividends earned each year.) Now suppose the value of the stock increases to $8,000 in two years and the man decides to sell out -- what does he pay tithes on? Not his original $5,000 which he inherited — but the capital gained through his own effort.- $8,000 - $5,000 = $3,000. An individual tithes only on the increase earned through his own personal productive effort. As another example, a woman receives a gift of an auto, since she expended NO productive effort, she does not tithe. (See principle of offerings!)
[Third Tithe, Welfare, Social Security]Pensions, Union Funds etc.:No Tithes Necessary The same overall principle can now be applied to all other types of welfare-type income or regular assistance programs. When no productive effort on the part of the recipient has been involved, no tithes are required. There are no tithes required on any of the above.Other sources of income in this same category on which there is no necessity to tithe are unemployment and disability insurance, Medicare, veterans benefits, accident compensation, court settlements, child support, etc.Since there are so many multitudinous variations of these types of assistance programs, in order to avoid letter-of-the-law technicalities, Mr. Armstrong has judged that tithes will not be required on any of them. (This enables the recipient to freely and thankfully give offerings as he is able.)
Mercy and Forgiveness:[No Tithes on Accumulated Assets] When a person comes to a knowledge of the truth (which includes tithing), he is not required to tithe on things acquired before this time. Thus exempted from tithes are all liquid and fixed assets at the time of conversion: all cash, stocks, bonds, businesses, properties, personal possessions, etc. No tithes are required on the capital (the "lump sum"), but tithes are, of course, to be paid on the increase (interest, dividends, rents, profits, etc.) from that time forth. For example, if a person has a piano, painting, etc. at the time of his conversion and then, two years later, sells it for $50 or $5,000, no tithes are required. (Naturally, the greater one's personal assets, the greater the opportunity to serve God and His Work through voluntary offerings.) However, when such possessions are a source of revenue to the individual — his business or a means of investment — he must tithe on the increase, or the capital gains, accrued from the time of conversion. An art dealer, for example, should have his paintings appraised so that he might accurately determine his increase whenever he should decide to sell any specific work.
The Blessings of Life:Freewill Offerings to God As we have seen, God has led Mr. Armstrong to conclude that there is no required tithe on many varieties of money and goods. This all the more puts the responsibility of service to God on the conscious volition of the individual. When no tithes are required, an individual's true relationship with God is put to the test. God doesn't want people constantly worried about their precise tithing "obligations." Freely and cheerfully He has given, and so freely and cheerfully He wants His people to give. We receive many things in our lives apart from the direct productive efforts of our own minds and hands. These are the "blessings of life" — and God just isn't all that concerned about charging for them. But God does appreciate seeing the same attitude in us. Not "Get." But "GIVE"! God has given to us — now we must learn to give to God. It's a process of "reciprocal give" — without the artificial obedience of absolute dictation and initiative-sapping regimentation. There is no better way to express it than Deutereonomy 16:17:
"Give as you are able, according as the Lord has blessed you." (Living /Bible)
"Each of you shall bring such a gift as he can in proportion to the blessing which the Lord your God has given you." (New English Bible)
"Every man must offer what he can afford, according as the Eternal your God has made you prosper." (Moffatt) God wants us to show our love for Him, His Work, His humanity, and His world. He wants us to go above and beyond (Luke 17:10). God wants us to consider our blessings in life —-and then give to Him accordingly, as Paul expresses in II Corinthians 9:6-7:
"But remember this -- if you give little, you will get little. A farmer who plants just a few seeds will get only a small crop, but if he plants much, he will reap much. Everyone must make up his own mind as to how much he should give. Don't force anyone to give more than he really wants to, for cheerful givers are the ones God prizes." (Living Letters)
"Mark this: He who sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and he who sows generously will reap a generous harvest. Everyone is to give what he has made up his mind to give: There is to be no grudging or compulsion about it. For God loves the giver who gives cheerfully.(Moffatt)
"All I shall say is that poor sowing means a poor harvest, and generous sowing means a generous harvest. Let everyone give as his heart tells him, neither grudgingly nor under compulsion, for God loves the man who gives cheerfully." (Phillips) Just doing "our [begrudging] duty" on a gift or inheritance would not develop anywhere near as much character or show anywhere near as much love as giving when it is not required. Oftentimes, an offering of considerably more than 10% can be appropriately and judiciously made. But this is entirely up to the individual! Balance in giving must always be stressed. Some could conceivably give more than they should — possibly depriving their family of some essential commodities. God wants us to develop character by learning to be liberal in our support of His Work — cheerfully going over and above the tithes that He requires -- without losing balance. As Moffatt put it, "he is not asked to give what he has not got." (II Corinthians 8:12) In practical fact, the principle of giving offerings on the blessings of life enables a person to express his own relationship with his Creator and Benefactor -- to show his love for God and zeal for His Work.
MR. HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
TITHING:
Review of PrinciplesandUpdate of Policies II Ministerial Conference January 1973
Tithing for the Wage Earner:Ten Percent of Gross Income A wage earner must calculate all his tithes as ten percent of his gross income.In certain circumstances, specific deductions can be made to generate an "adjusted gross income" on which tithes are paid. These deductions would include expenses needed for on-the-job travel — such as gasoline — if the company or employer did not reimburse the individual (e.g. many traveling salesmen). This on-the-job travel, remember, does not include the normal travel to and from the job. Salary deductions — all taxes, welfare, insurance, pensions, etc. — are, not to be deducted. Also items such as uniforms, tools and union dues are not to be deducted.In countries where tithes and offerings cannot be deducted from the income for tax purposes, and/or in countries with extremely high tax rates, there is still some question as to what really is an individual's "adjusted gross income." Further study will be made on the issue.
The Second Tithe:Doctrine and Practical Application Mr. McCullough is preparing a Good News article, which will thoroughly cover all aspects of second tithe. It will be based on the principles discussed and the decisions reached by Mr. Armstrong and the Evangelists — and the article will be submitted to them for editing and approval.
The Third Tithe:Doctrine and Practical Application Dr. Hoeh is preparing a Good News article which will thoroughly cover all aspects of third tithe. It too will be based on the principles discussed and the decisions reached by Mr. Armstrong and the Evangelists — and, likewise, the article will be submitted to them for editing and approval.
Stolen Tithes:Repentance Is The Key If a person has not paid his tithes, he has, in effect, stolen those tithes from God.
"'Will a man rob God? Surely not! And yet you have robbed me,' 'What do you mean? When did we ever rob you?' 'You have robbed me of the tithes and offerings due to me.'" (Malachi 3:8, Living Bible)
"May man defraud God, that you defraud me? You ask, 'How have we defrauded thee?' Why, in tithes and contributions." (Malachi 3:8, New English Bible)
"Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In what way do we rob or defraud You? You have withheld your tithes and offerings." (Malachi 3:8, Amplified Bible)Whether he voluntarily admits it or whether he was caught, the critical issue is whether the man or woman is really repentant. If a person is really repentant, he is under the blood of Jesus Christ and is forgiven. God has totally forgiven him — and so must we! (The person's repentance is at least partially indicated by his desire to give especially generous offerings in recognition of his having stolen tithes in the past.) If a person is NOT repentant, treat him as a thief and put him out of the Church. (If a person has actually stolen money and/or properties [i.e. petty theft] directly from the Church, from an individual in the Church, or someone not in the Church, he must be willing to pay it back in full. Of course, any case of larceny or grand larceny must be reported to the civil authorities.)
Splitting the Tithable Income:To Preserve A Converted - Unconverted Marriage In a situation where a man in the Church has an antagonistic mate, he is allowed to consider, for the purpose of tithing, that his wife is entitled to half of his income. This means that the man will pay all three tithes, offerings, etc. on one-half of his income. Christian Woman with an Unconverted Husband: Tithe or Don't Work — Unless Essential for the Family The following are guidelines for situations where a workingwoman in the Church has an antagonistic husband who demands that she not tithe. The woman is commanded to tithe on her income. She could quit work, otherwise she must tithe on her income otherwise she would be stealing from God. Exception: If the woman is required to work to supplement her husband's because of children or absolute family necessity - her income may be considered as not her money, but family income, since the husband has authority. But she should tithe even here IF her husband does not object.
Overall Guidelines:In Individual Cases, Ministers Must Make Judgmental Decisions Based on the Foregoing Principles
Brought to you as a Study Resource by theChurch of God Faithful Flock
TITHING:
Review of Principles and Update of Policies I Ministerial Conference January 1973
It is vitally important that all ministers teach what God teaches about tithing. Based on God's Laws, God's Church must have a standard worldwide policy, thus assuring unified and consistent application.The broad principles of tithing must be defined from the Bible and coordinated from Headquarters. Likewise, all matters of judgment based on these tithing principles must also be biblically founded and clearly spelled out from Pasadena. Such serious decisions must not be left to individuals in order that uniformity and consistency will be maintained throughout God's Church. The following are overall guidelines prepared by Mr. Armstrong and the Evangelists for God's ministry. Individual ministers must make judgmental decisions based on these principles. In practical fact, God's Laws are straightforward and simple.
The Basic Principles of Tithing;Tithe on the Increase Received from Productive Effort Every human being who earns an increase is required to tithe. God owns everything (Psalm 24:1; Haggai 2:8, etc.) -- and He therefore requires that we return to Him, for His Work, 10% of all our increase (Genesis 14:20, 28:22; Numbers 18; Hebrews 7). God's Law applies to all people, Israelite and non-Israelite, converted and unconverted. Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong specifically wrote: tithe on 'increase' — we define 'increase' as what we receive as a result of our productive effort (This "productive effort" is most often our own individual personal productive effort. In the case of collective or group effort, either the group must tithe as a whole or each individual must tithe on his or her share.) (We note that the term "productive effort" has a very broad range, including capital gains from property, dividends from stocks, interest from bank accounts, etc.)
Where the Responsibility Lies:With the Earner, Not the Receiver All wealth — all material goods and money — was produced and earned at some point by someone through personal productive effort. That person — the one who actually produced the goods or earned the money — is the one responsible before God for the tithe on that increase. Anyone who receives a gift or inheritance — material goods or money earned or produced by someone else — is not responsible to pay tithes on what he receives. He is not concerned about whether tithes had ever been paid on the goods or money. It is not his responsibility — he need not tithe. (He should, of course, be willing to give an offering according to how God has blessed him. More on offerings later.)
Gifts and Inheritances: No Tithes Necessary Since Mr. Armstrong has judged, on the basis of the intent of the tithing law, that increase comes only as a result of "productive effort," it is clear that there is no command to tithe on gifts and inheritances. (Again, generous, cheerful offerings show our appreciation and are very pleasing to God.) As an example, a man inherits $10,000. It did not come from his own; personal productive effort. (He should, however, give an offering — with the man himself allowed to decide the amount.) If the man invests any part of the $10,000, he must tithe on the earnings and/or the capital gains from the investment. To illustrate the latter, suppose the same man invests $5,000 of the $10,000 in stocks. (He must, of course, always tithe on the dividends earned each year.) Now suppose the value of the stock increases to $8,000 in two years and the man decides to sell out -- what does he pay tithes on? Not his original $5,000 which he inherited — but the capital gained through his own effort.- $8,000 - $5,000 = $3,000. An individual tithes only on the increase earned through his own personal productive effort. As another example, a woman receives a gift of an auto, since she expended NO productive effort, she does not tithe. (See principle of offerings!)
[Third Tithe, Welfare, Social Security]Pensions, Union Funds etc.:No Tithes Necessary The same overall principle can now be applied to all other types of welfare-type income or regular assistance programs. When no productive effort on the part of the recipient has been involved, no tithes are required. There are no tithes required on any of the above.Other sources of income in this same category on which there is no necessity to tithe are unemployment and disability insurance, Medicare, veterans benefits, accident compensation, court settlements, child support, etc.Since there are so many multitudinous variations of these types of assistance programs, in order to avoid letter-of-the-law technicalities, Mr. Armstrong has judged that tithes will not be required on any of them. (This enables the recipient to freely and thankfully give offerings as he is able.)
Mercy and Forgiveness:[No Tithes on Accumulated Assets] When a person comes to a knowledge of the truth (which includes tithing), he is not required to tithe on things acquired before this time. Thus exempted from tithes are all liquid and fixed assets at the time of conversion: all cash, stocks, bonds, businesses, properties, personal possessions, etc. No tithes are required on the capital (the "lump sum"), but tithes are, of course, to be paid on the increase (interest, dividends, rents, profits, etc.) from that time forth. For example, if a person has a piano, painting, etc. at the time of his conversion and then, two years later, sells it for $50 or $5,000, no tithes are required. (Naturally, the greater one's personal assets, the greater the opportunity to serve God and His Work through voluntary offerings.) However, when such possessions are a source of revenue to the individual — his business or a means of investment — he must tithe on the increase, or the capital gains, accrued from the time of conversion. An art dealer, for example, should have his paintings appraised so that he might accurately determine his increase whenever he should decide to sell any specific work.
The Blessings of Life:Freewill Offerings to God As we have seen, God has led Mr. Armstrong to conclude that there is no required tithe on many varieties of money and goods. This all the more puts the responsibility of service to God on the conscious volition of the individual. When no tithes are required, an individual's true relationship with God is put to the test. God doesn't want people constantly worried about their precise tithing "obligations." Freely and cheerfully He has given, and so freely and cheerfully He wants His people to give. We receive many things in our lives apart from the direct productive efforts of our own minds and hands. These are the "blessings of life" — and God just isn't all that concerned about charging for them. But God does appreciate seeing the same attitude in us. Not "Get." But "GIVE"! God has given to us — now we must learn to give to God. It's a process of "reciprocal give" — without the artificial obedience of absolute dictation and initiative-sapping regimentation. There is no better way to express it than Deutereonomy 16:17:
"Give as you are able, according as the Lord has blessed you." (Living /Bible)
"Each of you shall bring such a gift as he can in proportion to the blessing which the Lord your God has given you." (New English Bible)
"Every man must offer what he can afford, according as the Eternal your God has made you prosper." (Moffatt) God wants us to show our love for Him, His Work, His humanity, and His world. He wants us to go above and beyond (Luke 17:10). God wants us to consider our blessings in life —-and then give to Him accordingly, as Paul expresses in II Corinthians 9:6-7:
"But remember this -- if you give little, you will get little. A farmer who plants just a few seeds will get only a small crop, but if he plants much, he will reap much. Everyone must make up his own mind as to how much he should give. Don't force anyone to give more than he really wants to, for cheerful givers are the ones God prizes." (Living Letters)
"Mark this: He who sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and he who sows generously will reap a generous harvest. Everyone is to give what he has made up his mind to give: There is to be no grudging or compulsion about it. For God loves the giver who gives cheerfully.(Moffatt)
"All I shall say is that poor sowing means a poor harvest, and generous sowing means a generous harvest. Let everyone give as his heart tells him, neither grudgingly nor under compulsion, for God loves the man who gives cheerfully." (Phillips) Just doing "our [begrudging] duty" on a gift or inheritance would not develop anywhere near as much character or show anywhere near as much love as giving when it is not required. Oftentimes, an offering of considerably more than 10% can be appropriately and judiciously made. But this is entirely up to the individual! Balance in giving must always be stressed. Some could conceivably give more than they should — possibly depriving their family of some essential commodities. God wants us to develop character by learning to be liberal in our support of His Work — cheerfully going over and above the tithes that He requires -- without losing balance. As Moffatt put it, "he is not asked to give what he has not got." (II Corinthians 8:12) In practical fact, the principle of giving offerings on the blessings of life enables a person to express his own relationship with his Creator and Benefactor -- to show his love for God and zeal for His Work.
MR. HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
TITHING:
Review of PrinciplesandUpdate of Policies II Ministerial Conference January 1973
Tithing for the Wage Earner:Ten Percent of Gross Income A wage earner must calculate all his tithes as ten percent of his gross income.In certain circumstances, specific deductions can be made to generate an "adjusted gross income" on which tithes are paid. These deductions would include expenses needed for on-the-job travel — such as gasoline — if the company or employer did not reimburse the individual (e.g. many traveling salesmen). This on-the-job travel, remember, does not include the normal travel to and from the job. Salary deductions — all taxes, welfare, insurance, pensions, etc. — are, not to be deducted. Also items such as uniforms, tools and union dues are not to be deducted.In countries where tithes and offerings cannot be deducted from the income for tax purposes, and/or in countries with extremely high tax rates, there is still some question as to what really is an individual's "adjusted gross income." Further study will be made on the issue.
The Second Tithe:Doctrine and Practical Application Mr. McCullough is preparing a Good News article, which will thoroughly cover all aspects of second tithe. It will be based on the principles discussed and the decisions reached by Mr. Armstrong and the Evangelists — and the article will be submitted to them for editing and approval.
The Third Tithe:Doctrine and Practical Application Dr. Hoeh is preparing a Good News article which will thoroughly cover all aspects of third tithe. It too will be based on the principles discussed and the decisions reached by Mr. Armstrong and the Evangelists — and, likewise, the article will be submitted to them for editing and approval.
Stolen Tithes:Repentance Is The Key If a person has not paid his tithes, he has, in effect, stolen those tithes from God.
"'Will a man rob God? Surely not! And yet you have robbed me,' 'What do you mean? When did we ever rob you?' 'You have robbed me of the tithes and offerings due to me.'" (Malachi 3:8, Living Bible)
"May man defraud God, that you defraud me? You ask, 'How have we defrauded thee?' Why, in tithes and contributions." (Malachi 3:8, New English Bible)
"Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In what way do we rob or defraud You? You have withheld your tithes and offerings." (Malachi 3:8, Amplified Bible)Whether he voluntarily admits it or whether he was caught, the critical issue is whether the man or woman is really repentant. If a person is really repentant, he is under the blood of Jesus Christ and is forgiven. God has totally forgiven him — and so must we! (The person's repentance is at least partially indicated by his desire to give especially generous offerings in recognition of his having stolen tithes in the past.) If a person is NOT repentant, treat him as a thief and put him out of the Church. (If a person has actually stolen money and/or properties [i.e. petty theft] directly from the Church, from an individual in the Church, or someone not in the Church, he must be willing to pay it back in full. Of course, any case of larceny or grand larceny must be reported to the civil authorities.)
Splitting the Tithable Income:To Preserve A Converted - Unconverted Marriage In a situation where a man in the Church has an antagonistic mate, he is allowed to consider, for the purpose of tithing, that his wife is entitled to half of his income. This means that the man will pay all three tithes, offerings, etc. on one-half of his income. Christian Woman with an Unconverted Husband: Tithe or Don't Work — Unless Essential for the Family The following are guidelines for situations where a workingwoman in the Church has an antagonistic husband who demands that she not tithe. The woman is commanded to tithe on her income. She could quit work, otherwise she must tithe on her income otherwise she would be stealing from God. Exception: If the woman is required to work to supplement her husband's because of children or absolute family necessity - her income may be considered as not her money, but family income, since the husband has authority. But she should tithe even here IF her husband does not object.
Overall Guidelines:In Individual Cases, Ministers Must Make Judgmental Decisions Based on the Foregoing Principles
Brought to you as a Study Resource by theChurch of God Faithful Flock
Principle of God's law
This world started in SIN. Sin is the transgression of the law, and the law is God's spiritual law. It is summed up in the one word, LOVE.
It is expanded into the great commandments, love to God, and love to neighbor. These in turn were expanded into the Ten Commandments - the first four expressing the principle of love toward God, the last six the principle of love toward neighbor.
Jesus magnified the law - expanded it further, in principle. Under the Old Testament, a man had not committed adultery until the actual literal act. But in the New, Jesus said a man who even lusted after a woman had committed adultery in his heart!
In II Corinthians 3:6, it is written that we must obey the law according to the SPIRIT - that is, the principle or intent of the law not according to the specific letter.
The law of God is the PRINCIPLE OF LOVE.
God's LAW is stated in the one word, LOVE. The word LOVE is a PRINCIPLE, and in principle it is opposite to the word LUST. It is LOVE toward others. First of all, LOVE toward GOD, in love, worship and obedience. Secondly it is love toward other humans. It cannot be vanity, because vanity is toward self and puts SELF before God.
Love toward and worship of God in itself is the PRINCIPLE of humility, not self-glory or vanity or coveting. It is love toward neighbor in the spirit of outgoing CONCERN for neighbor's welfare and good - of cooperation, serving, helping, sharing. It also may be love toward self in the sense or principle of concern for the physical and mental and spiritual welfare of the body and mind, which is the temple of God's Holy Spirit.
YOU CAN APPLY THAT PRINICPLE TO ANY QUESTION OF HUMAN CONDUCT. It is the real answer to the SIN question.
Principle-A principle is a general law which gives action; a fundamental truth as a basis of reasoning.
A fundamental law or rule as a guide to action; a rule of conduct; a fundamental motive or reason for action, especially one consciously recognized and followed. A principle is commonly formulated around a core concept
It is expanded into the great commandments, love to God, and love to neighbor. These in turn were expanded into the Ten Commandments - the first four expressing the principle of love toward God, the last six the principle of love toward neighbor.
Jesus magnified the law - expanded it further, in principle. Under the Old Testament, a man had not committed adultery until the actual literal act. But in the New, Jesus said a man who even lusted after a woman had committed adultery in his heart!
In II Corinthians 3:6, it is written that we must obey the law according to the SPIRIT - that is, the principle or intent of the law not according to the specific letter.
The law of God is the PRINCIPLE OF LOVE.
God's LAW is stated in the one word, LOVE. The word LOVE is a PRINCIPLE, and in principle it is opposite to the word LUST. It is LOVE toward others. First of all, LOVE toward GOD, in love, worship and obedience. Secondly it is love toward other humans. It cannot be vanity, because vanity is toward self and puts SELF before God.
Love toward and worship of God in itself is the PRINCIPLE of humility, not self-glory or vanity or coveting. It is love toward neighbor in the spirit of outgoing CONCERN for neighbor's welfare and good - of cooperation, serving, helping, sharing. It also may be love toward self in the sense or principle of concern for the physical and mental and spiritual welfare of the body and mind, which is the temple of God's Holy Spirit.
YOU CAN APPLY THAT PRINICPLE TO ANY QUESTION OF HUMAN CONDUCT. It is the real answer to the SIN question.
Principle-A principle is a general law which gives action; a fundamental truth as a basis of reasoning.
A fundamental law or rule as a guide to action; a rule of conduct; a fundamental motive or reason for action, especially one consciously recognized and followed. A principle is commonly formulated around a core concept
Principle of Spiritual sin
Finally, I repeat, sin, spiritually, is self-centeredness, self-exaltation, desire to be beautiful, vanity, coveting, desire to GET and TAKE, to exalt the self, jealousy and envy, competition, oft-resulting violence and war, resentment and rebellion against authority. These are the PRINCIPLES of spiritual SIN.
After all, sin is not the thing, but the ATTITUDE and the use of the thing in response to a wrong attitude.
SIN is violation of God's spiritual LAW. And that violation always is an ATTITUDE and intention contrary to love toward God and neighbor, and/or the acting upon such attitude or intention.
After all, sin is not the thing, but the ATTITUDE and the use of the thing in response to a wrong attitude.
SIN is violation of God's spiritual LAW. And that violation always is an ATTITUDE and intention contrary to love toward God and neighbor, and/or the acting upon such attitude or intention.
True Spirituality What is it - Do You Know?
Good News - June/July 1984
True Spirituality What is it - Do You Know?
by Herbert W. Armstrong page 1 Good News June/July 1984
HOW OFTEN do we hear one say, "He is so SPIRITUAL"? Or, "Those people are not very spiritual"? What is true spirituality do you know? We need, just now, to be warned against being deceived into a false standard of spirituality. We need to examine the true scriptural standard.
Four things usually accepted as sure evidence There are four things generally regarded as sure evidence of a spiritual mind:
1) Speech, noise, emotion, demonstration. 2) Knowledge of Scripture. 3) "Faith." 4) Rigid standard of righteousness.
It will prove interesting, and profitable, to take a brief look at each, and measure according to the scriptural standard.
1) The most commonly accepted evidence of spirituality is the way people talk or demonstrate. Some people have deliberately cultivated spiritual-sounding language. Or, perhaps, they have unconsciously acquired the habit of using "spiritual" sounding expressions. People say, "My, isn't Brother so-and-so spiritual?"
Many think a church service does not amount to anything unless there is more or less noise, mass enthusiasm and a great deal of emotion worked up and visibly expressed. They never enjoy a sermon, no matter how edifying, unless the preacher is full of certain emotional enthusiasm, fluent in the accepted spiritual phraseology and able to generate in his audience the usual emotional reactions and outbursts expected in this type of meeting. If such things are present, these folk enjoy themselves immensely, whether they learn anything really worthwhile or not.
This is not to discount or to criticize the natural emotional expression resulting spontaneously from a genuine spiritual experience, or the true spiritual language springing naturally from an honest heart. Far from it.
Some people are naturally emotional. Some are not. We shall see from the Scriptures that emotion and spiritual phrases of themselves are not the essence of spirituality. They may be the natural result, the honest and spontaneous expression of it; or, if deliberately generated and "worked up," put on for show and effect, they may be only its counterfeit. And the sad part is that those who deal in counterfeit always insist they have the genuine.
"By their fruits," Jesus said, we shall KNOW (Matthew 7:20).
It is important that we get a right balance.
2) The second class is well indoctrinated. Usually these people do not believe in much, if any, noise or any spiritual manifestations. They have a great deal of head knowledge, but most of this class have a great deal of misunderstanding, and often they have queer personal theories resulting from misapplied, wrongly divided Scriptures.
They love to try to trap and corner others with the Scriptures, and especially do they delight in it if they are able to corner some minister. Arguing Scripture is their one great interest in life.
These misguided people believe their arguments, contentions and beliefs will win their eternal salvation, without real repentance, or living a surrendered, righteous life in Christ Jesus, showing the fruits of the Spirit in their lives.
3) And then there is the "faith" group. These say they are saved "by FAITH, and faith ALONE." They are not so much concerned about the Holy Spirit, and seldom mention such things as repentance, utter surrender or any need of submission and obedience to God's will and law. Their religion never works any miracle-changes in their lives. Since "Jesus died for our sins," we do not have to obey. "Just BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," is their sole condition to salvation. The invitation of the ministers of this group is, "Give the preacher your hand, and the Lord your heart."
And when, later, you ask such "converts" what they did — what really happened — when they "gave the Lord their heart," they usually just look blank. They do not know. It really did not MEAN anything. It was merely a FORM. The churches of this class should be called social clubs — they are not soul-saving institutions.
4) Finally, there are those whose spirituality consists of a rigid standard of righteousness. In fact, they usually are so strict about following God's commandments that they fall into the error of keeping the strict LETTER of the law in their own strength. They are scrupulously honest, severely punctual, critically exact.
But, as Paul said of the strictest sect of his day, they are "seeking to establish their OWN righteousness," and have not "submitted to the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:3). And they are usually harsh, stern, critical, intolerant of those who do not live up to their particular ideas of righteousness.
The true scriptural standard
Now, let us turn to God's Word, and humbly seek God's standard of spirituality.
Of the true spiritual mind, God says to us, through Paul, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5).
But HOW can you have the mind that was in Christ Jesus in You? Jesus says: "Behold, I stand at the door [of your heart] and knock. If anyone hears My voice and OPENS the door, I will come in to him" (Revelation 3:20).
And Jesus meant exactly what He said! He will come in, through His Spirit, and literally LIVE His life of true righteousness in you, if only you will surrender all of SELF and let Him IN.
"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, IF indeed the Spirit of God dwells IN you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, HE is NOT HIS." Unless His Spirit abides within you, living His life of true righteousness in you, you are not a real Christian! "And if Christ is IN you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness" (Romans 8:9-10).
When God first begets us as His children, He takes us who have been proud, worldly, sensual, disobedient. His aim is to make us like Himself. This transformation (not reformation) is a tremendous undertaking. It requires a miracle.
God stands pledged, upon real, thorough repentance and faith in Christ (Acts 2:38), to start the performance of this tremendous miracle by putting His Holy Spirit literally WITHIN you! But God will work the complete change in your life ONLY if you are willing to SUBMIT to the process!
The FIRST condition is real, deep, thorough repentance. You will have to be willing to accept correction and repeated chastisements at His loving hands, for "whom the Lord loves He chastens" (Hebrews 12:6).
The spiritual mind is the surrendered, yielded mind. It is the mind that has given up all wanting its own way. It is the mind that has been CONQUERED in its rebellion against God.
It is the mind that, henceforth, is willing to obey God no matter what the cost, and that continually studies God's Word, not to argue and strive and corner others, but to learn more of God's will, and to WALK in it!
It is a mind FILLED to overflowing with real LOVE for God and all fellowmen — even one's enemies and that has sympathy, patience and kindness for others in their ideas and beliefs, their faults and mistakes, that speaks softly, gently, kindly, that seeks only to help and to serve. It is the mind that has DIED to SELF.
True spirituality The real spiritual mind can say with the apostle Paul, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME" (Galatians 2:20). When you can say that, then you have the mind that was in Christ Jesus.
The real spiritual mind is a SOUND mind (II Timothy 1:7)!
To those being carried away with a false and pseudo spirituality, where real manifestations of the Spirit were being counterfeited by DEMONSTRATIONS of SELF in a fanatical emotionalism, Paul, correcting them, said, "Brethren, do not be CHILDREN in understanding"(I Corinthians 14:20).
True, Paul said to these same Corinthians, "I wish you all spoke with tongues, BUT," he added, "even more that you prophesied [preached]; for he who prophesies [preaches] is greater than he who speaks with tongues" (verse 5).
True, Paul said to those overly emotional Corinthians, "I speak with tongues more than you all; YET," he continued, "in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue" (verses 18-19).
And also he said, "God is not the author of confusion," and, "Let all things be done decently and in order" (verses 33, 40).
Let us get a proper balance, in the position of their relative scriptural importance.
"By their FRUITS," not by their tongues, their language, their emotion, their ability to argue, their empty profession of faith, their self-righteousness, said Jesus, shall we KNOW their true spirituality.
And the true FRUIT of God's Spirit is "love" first of all, then "joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). These things, expressed in living character, determine true spirituality.
These things are the expression of "the LOVE of God," which has been "poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:5), and thus the Holy Spirit in us is simply God's LAW in action in our lives, for LOVE is the fulfilling of the law.
And that, and that alone, is true Christian spirituality.
The four substitutes REAL spiritual-mindedness is the mind of LOVE, for God is LOVE.
So let us review our four SUBSTITUTES for spirituality in the light of God's Word:
1) "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not LOVE, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal" (I Corinthians 13:1). Did you ever hear one speak with the tongues of ANGELS? Spiritual TALK, "tongues" or "manifestations" are only a lot of wind, or a noise like beating old tin pans, if you have not LOVE.
2) "And though I have the gift of prophecy, and ... ALL KNOWLEDGE," and
3) "Though I have ALL FAITH, so that I could remove mountains, but have not LOVE, I am NOTHING" (verse 2).
4) "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not LOVE, it profits me NOTHING" (verse 3).
What is it to have LOVE? The next four verses of this chapter tell. Here is TRUE spiritual mindedness: "LOVE is very patient, very kind." Are YOU? "LOVE knows no jealousy; love makes no parade, gives itself no airs, is never rude, never selfish, never irritated, never resentful; love is never glad when others go wrong, love is gladdened by goodness, always slow to expose, always eager to believe the best, always hopeful, always patient" (verses 4-7, Moffatt).
Read those four verses again, substituting your own name wherever "LOVE" appears. Try it as a test on yourself. It will tell you how truly SPIRITUAL you are. Let us seek more real, genuine SPIRITUAL-MINDEDNESS!
True Spirituality What is it - Do You Know?
by Herbert W. Armstrong page 1 Good News June/July 1984
HOW OFTEN do we hear one say, "He is so SPIRITUAL"? Or, "Those people are not very spiritual"? What is true spirituality do you know? We need, just now, to be warned against being deceived into a false standard of spirituality. We need to examine the true scriptural standard.
Four things usually accepted as sure evidence There are four things generally regarded as sure evidence of a spiritual mind:
1) Speech, noise, emotion, demonstration. 2) Knowledge of Scripture. 3) "Faith." 4) Rigid standard of righteousness.
It will prove interesting, and profitable, to take a brief look at each, and measure according to the scriptural standard.
1) The most commonly accepted evidence of spirituality is the way people talk or demonstrate. Some people have deliberately cultivated spiritual-sounding language. Or, perhaps, they have unconsciously acquired the habit of using "spiritual" sounding expressions. People say, "My, isn't Brother so-and-so spiritual?"
Many think a church service does not amount to anything unless there is more or less noise, mass enthusiasm and a great deal of emotion worked up and visibly expressed. They never enjoy a sermon, no matter how edifying, unless the preacher is full of certain emotional enthusiasm, fluent in the accepted spiritual phraseology and able to generate in his audience the usual emotional reactions and outbursts expected in this type of meeting. If such things are present, these folk enjoy themselves immensely, whether they learn anything really worthwhile or not.
This is not to discount or to criticize the natural emotional expression resulting spontaneously from a genuine spiritual experience, or the true spiritual language springing naturally from an honest heart. Far from it.
Some people are naturally emotional. Some are not. We shall see from the Scriptures that emotion and spiritual phrases of themselves are not the essence of spirituality. They may be the natural result, the honest and spontaneous expression of it; or, if deliberately generated and "worked up," put on for show and effect, they may be only its counterfeit. And the sad part is that those who deal in counterfeit always insist they have the genuine.
"By their fruits," Jesus said, we shall KNOW (Matthew 7:20).
It is important that we get a right balance.
2) The second class is well indoctrinated. Usually these people do not believe in much, if any, noise or any spiritual manifestations. They have a great deal of head knowledge, but most of this class have a great deal of misunderstanding, and often they have queer personal theories resulting from misapplied, wrongly divided Scriptures.
They love to try to trap and corner others with the Scriptures, and especially do they delight in it if they are able to corner some minister. Arguing Scripture is their one great interest in life.
These misguided people believe their arguments, contentions and beliefs will win their eternal salvation, without real repentance, or living a surrendered, righteous life in Christ Jesus, showing the fruits of the Spirit in their lives.
3) And then there is the "faith" group. These say they are saved "by FAITH, and faith ALONE." They are not so much concerned about the Holy Spirit, and seldom mention such things as repentance, utter surrender or any need of submission and obedience to God's will and law. Their religion never works any miracle-changes in their lives. Since "Jesus died for our sins," we do not have to obey. "Just BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," is their sole condition to salvation. The invitation of the ministers of this group is, "Give the preacher your hand, and the Lord your heart."
And when, later, you ask such "converts" what they did — what really happened — when they "gave the Lord their heart," they usually just look blank. They do not know. It really did not MEAN anything. It was merely a FORM. The churches of this class should be called social clubs — they are not soul-saving institutions.
4) Finally, there are those whose spirituality consists of a rigid standard of righteousness. In fact, they usually are so strict about following God's commandments that they fall into the error of keeping the strict LETTER of the law in their own strength. They are scrupulously honest, severely punctual, critically exact.
But, as Paul said of the strictest sect of his day, they are "seeking to establish their OWN righteousness," and have not "submitted to the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:3). And they are usually harsh, stern, critical, intolerant of those who do not live up to their particular ideas of righteousness.
The true scriptural standard
Now, let us turn to God's Word, and humbly seek God's standard of spirituality.
Of the true spiritual mind, God says to us, through Paul, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5).
But HOW can you have the mind that was in Christ Jesus in You? Jesus says: "Behold, I stand at the door [of your heart] and knock. If anyone hears My voice and OPENS the door, I will come in to him" (Revelation 3:20).
And Jesus meant exactly what He said! He will come in, through His Spirit, and literally LIVE His life of true righteousness in you, if only you will surrender all of SELF and let Him IN.
"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, IF indeed the Spirit of God dwells IN you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, HE is NOT HIS." Unless His Spirit abides within you, living His life of true righteousness in you, you are not a real Christian! "And if Christ is IN you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness" (Romans 8:9-10).
When God first begets us as His children, He takes us who have been proud, worldly, sensual, disobedient. His aim is to make us like Himself. This transformation (not reformation) is a tremendous undertaking. It requires a miracle.
God stands pledged, upon real, thorough repentance and faith in Christ (Acts 2:38), to start the performance of this tremendous miracle by putting His Holy Spirit literally WITHIN you! But God will work the complete change in your life ONLY if you are willing to SUBMIT to the process!
The FIRST condition is real, deep, thorough repentance. You will have to be willing to accept correction and repeated chastisements at His loving hands, for "whom the Lord loves He chastens" (Hebrews 12:6).
The spiritual mind is the surrendered, yielded mind. It is the mind that has given up all wanting its own way. It is the mind that has been CONQUERED in its rebellion against God.
It is the mind that, henceforth, is willing to obey God no matter what the cost, and that continually studies God's Word, not to argue and strive and corner others, but to learn more of God's will, and to WALK in it!
It is a mind FILLED to overflowing with real LOVE for God and all fellowmen — even one's enemies and that has sympathy, patience and kindness for others in their ideas and beliefs, their faults and mistakes, that speaks softly, gently, kindly, that seeks only to help and to serve. It is the mind that has DIED to SELF.
True spirituality The real spiritual mind can say with the apostle Paul, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME" (Galatians 2:20). When you can say that, then you have the mind that was in Christ Jesus.
The real spiritual mind is a SOUND mind (II Timothy 1:7)!
To those being carried away with a false and pseudo spirituality, where real manifestations of the Spirit were being counterfeited by DEMONSTRATIONS of SELF in a fanatical emotionalism, Paul, correcting them, said, "Brethren, do not be CHILDREN in understanding"(I Corinthians 14:20).
True, Paul said to these same Corinthians, "I wish you all spoke with tongues, BUT," he added, "even more that you prophesied [preached]; for he who prophesies [preaches] is greater than he who speaks with tongues" (verse 5).
True, Paul said to those overly emotional Corinthians, "I speak with tongues more than you all; YET," he continued, "in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue" (verses 18-19).
And also he said, "God is not the author of confusion," and, "Let all things be done decently and in order" (verses 33, 40).
Let us get a proper balance, in the position of their relative scriptural importance.
"By their FRUITS," not by their tongues, their language, their emotion, their ability to argue, their empty profession of faith, their self-righteousness, said Jesus, shall we KNOW their true spirituality.
And the true FRUIT of God's Spirit is "love" first of all, then "joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). These things, expressed in living character, determine true spirituality.
These things are the expression of "the LOVE of God," which has been "poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:5), and thus the Holy Spirit in us is simply God's LAW in action in our lives, for LOVE is the fulfilling of the law.
And that, and that alone, is true Christian spirituality.
The four substitutes REAL spiritual-mindedness is the mind of LOVE, for God is LOVE.
So let us review our four SUBSTITUTES for spirituality in the light of God's Word:
1) "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not LOVE, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal" (I Corinthians 13:1). Did you ever hear one speak with the tongues of ANGELS? Spiritual TALK, "tongues" or "manifestations" are only a lot of wind, or a noise like beating old tin pans, if you have not LOVE.
2) "And though I have the gift of prophecy, and ... ALL KNOWLEDGE," and
3) "Though I have ALL FAITH, so that I could remove mountains, but have not LOVE, I am NOTHING" (verse 2).
4) "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not LOVE, it profits me NOTHING" (verse 3).
What is it to have LOVE? The next four verses of this chapter tell. Here is TRUE spiritual mindedness: "LOVE is very patient, very kind." Are YOU? "LOVE knows no jealousy; love makes no parade, gives itself no airs, is never rude, never selfish, never irritated, never resentful; love is never glad when others go wrong, love is gladdened by goodness, always slow to expose, always eager to believe the best, always hopeful, always patient" (verses 4-7, Moffatt).
Read those four verses again, substituting your own name wherever "LOVE" appears. Try it as a test on yourself. It will tell you how truly SPIRITUAL you are. Let us seek more real, genuine SPIRITUAL-MINDEDNESS!
Smoking is a Sin
Worldwide News, 3rd July 1978 page 1
Smoking is a Sin
By Herbert W. ArmstrongIt may come as astonishing news to some of our members, but the truth is, I personally did smoke - until a little more than 51 years ago, that is. As a matter of fact I was smoking until after I was baptized! Let me EXPLAIN THAT.
True, I had not been a heavy smoker. On the average I had, since age 19, been smoking about THREE CIGARETTES a day (not three packets), or one cigar. On those days that I smoked a cigar I usually smoked no cigarettes at all.
How did I get started. Not like most youths of 19 or under. But at age 19 I had the job of time- keeper and paymaster of the Finkbine Lumber Mill just out of Wiggins, Miss., some 30 miles north of the Gulf. I had to keep work-hour records and pay the main labour force, all blacks, only a generation or two after the abolition of slavery. It was at the time when they were totally illiterate, not one of them could write his own name. They made an X mark instead of a signature. What a long way our black population has come since then.
I did not belong on that job. I had felt flattered when it was offered to me. It was offered because I had made such an excellent record in my first job on a daily newspaper. But on this job I was like a fish out of water. I was doing the work it had taken three men to do before I was put on that job.
But I tried, I did my best. And that required working until 10 at night on alternate days and until midnight on nights in between, and rising at 5.30 every week day morning. I think it is understandable that I had difficulty keeping awake on those long nights. But I was determined to succeed. I was determined to GET THE JOB DONE no matter how long the hours required.
I began to find myself drowsing off on these late night hours. That is when I started smoking. I tried smoking a pipe. I found that keeping the pipe in my mouth while I worked kept me awake. After leaving that job I turned to the three cigarettes a day or the one cigar.
During my super-intensive in-depth study of the Bible, evolution and allied subjects from the fall of 1926 until the spring of 1927, my mind was on the studies - not on smoking. But in the spring of 1929 I made an unconditional surrender to God. I came to BELIEVE what He said in His Word. I GAVE MY LIFE TO HIM and was baptized. I was very conscious of the experience of receiving God's Holy Spirit. --- This was the spirit of a CHANGED mind. It was the RENEWING of my mind. What had seemed important before now seemed utterly worthless. My whole approach to the things of life - my whole attitude - was CHANGED.
What about smoking?
Then it was that I asked myself, "What about smoking?"
I had learned that "all the churches" - meaning Protestant and Catholic - did NOT take their religious beliefs and doctrines from the Bible. Rather, they attempted to read THEIR ideas and beliefs INTO the Bible - by twisting and distorting the Holy Word of God, and by taking verses out of context. I said, "I will not give up smoking just BECAUSE the church in which I was reared regarded it as a sin…I must find the answer in the BIBLE," I said.
Now I knew smoking was not mentioned specifically in the Bible. But I HAD LEARNED GOD'S PRINCIPLE OF SIN! I knew God said, "Sin is the transgression of law" - meaning God's laws. I had learned that there was the SPIRITUAL law based on the principle of outgoing LOVE. I had learned there were also physical laws God had set in motion within our human bodies to control our state of health.
I had learned, even at that early stage of my knowledge of the things of God, that GOD'S SPIRITUAL LAW is first of all outgoing LOVE. Next it was magnified into the two Great commandments - love toward GOD, and love toward human neighbour. The Ten Commandments, I knew, merely stated the broad PRINCIPLES of love toward GOD (the first four of the Ten), and love to fellowman (the last six commandments).
But also I had learned one more VITALLY IMPORTANT BASIC PRINCIPLE. In II Corinthians 3:6, God through Paul began explaining that the ministers of the NEW Testament are ministers NOT of the strictness of the letter of the law, but of the SPIRIT - that is, the obvious intent, meaning or principle involved.
I knew, for example, that the Ten Commandments explained only the general PRINCIPLE of the direction, attitude and purpose of the law.
God had given me, in my own experience, a very vivid example of what Paul was talking about in II Corinthians 3. My elder daughter, then 9 years of age, was a rapid and inveterate reader. She had been bringing fiction "love-story" books home from the school library. She would read an entire book in just two or three evenings. I had received a note from her teacher.
I said to Beverly: "Your teacher has warned me that you are injuring your eyes, and even perhaps your mind, by reading so much of this fiction and suggested I speak to you about it. Therefore I am telling you not to bring any more of those fiction books home from the school library".
The very next evening, I noticed Beverly reading a book and already about half way through it. "Beverly", I asked, "isn't that another love-story fiction book?" "Yes, Daddy," she replied. "Well, why are you disobeying me, when I told you to stop reading such books?" "Oh, I'm NOT disobeying you, Daddy. You said, 'Don't bring any more of those books from the school library.' I didn't bring this book from the library. I borrowed it from Helen!"
My daughter obeyed the strict LETTER OF THE LAW - but not its obvious intent and meaning - not in the PRINCIPLE involved - not 'the spirit of the law'.
Principle applied to smokingI applied this PRINCIPLE of God's law defining sin to smoking. What was the obvious intent, meaning and principle of the law?
It was the principle of outflowing LOVE toward others, toward God and toward neighbour.
I then asked myself, "WHY do I smoke? Is it to express outgoing love to God?" Most assuredly NOT! "Am I smoking to express outgoing love and concern for the welfare of other humans?" I had to answer in the negative. Often, I realized, smoking is obnoxious and objectionable to nonsmokers.
Then I asked myself, "Is it injurious to me?. It was not yet then known that smoking is a cause of lung cancer. But I knew well the function of the lungs - to filter out impurities from the blood passing through the lungs returning to the heart. I did know that inhaling smoke into the lungs simply had to be harmful, at least in some degree.
I realized that the opposite to, or transgression of, the law of outgoing love to others was coveting or lust - inordinate self-desire.
WHY, I finally asked myself then, do I smoke? It was a form of SELF-DESIRE, breaking - at least in some measure - the Tenth Commandment!
In other words, God was showing me SMOKING WAS A SIN, even though a mild one! That was more than 51 years ago. I stopped smoking then and there.
Now it had happened that my smoking was obnoxious to my wife. She had merely tolerated it.
That is how THE LIVING GOD SHOWED ME THAT SMOKING IS A SPIRITUAL SIN!
But what about being a physical sin - harming the physical laws that God set in operation in our bodies? We know now that it is a cause of lung cancer, which can be fatal.
But I learned one point more. Some 10 years after I had quit smoking, I made a test on myself. I was in Portland, Ore., doing a broadcast or making recordings. On this particular trip my wife was not with me. I knew that if I smoked she would smell it either on my clothes or in my breath. I tried an experiment.
I bought a pack of cigarettes. In my hotel room, removing all my clothes and hanging them in the wardrobe closet with the door shut, I took out a cigarette and lit it. I wanted to learn how it would affect me after some 10 years of non-smoking.
After about two puffs, I felt DIRTY all over. I felt definitely that it was in violation of the natural law of cleanliness. I never took the third puff. I threw the cigarette and the remainder of the pack into the toilet and flushed it. Then I took a shower so I would feel CLEAN again - and perhaps also so that my wife would not discern the telltale smell of it when I returned home in Eugene, where we then lived.
That is how and WHY, when God had used me as His apostle in building His Church for this era of time. GOD used me to put into HIS CHURCH the truth that smoking IS, INDEED, A SIN. Even though one may argue it is only a mild sin, yet SIN IS SIN and that does include smoking.
Other uses of tobacco fall, in principle and obvious intent of the law, in the same category!
Tobacco is a poison weed!
I know because a ditch digging labourer, working front of our house when I was 5 years old, induced me to "take a chew" of his chewing tobacco. I swallowed it! I learned at age 5 that tobacco is a poison weed that can make you horribly sick in your stomach! I swore off chewing tobacco at age 5!
Smoking is a Sin
By Herbert W. ArmstrongIt may come as astonishing news to some of our members, but the truth is, I personally did smoke - until a little more than 51 years ago, that is. As a matter of fact I was smoking until after I was baptized! Let me EXPLAIN THAT.
True, I had not been a heavy smoker. On the average I had, since age 19, been smoking about THREE CIGARETTES a day (not three packets), or one cigar. On those days that I smoked a cigar I usually smoked no cigarettes at all.
How did I get started. Not like most youths of 19 or under. But at age 19 I had the job of time- keeper and paymaster of the Finkbine Lumber Mill just out of Wiggins, Miss., some 30 miles north of the Gulf. I had to keep work-hour records and pay the main labour force, all blacks, only a generation or two after the abolition of slavery. It was at the time when they were totally illiterate, not one of them could write his own name. They made an X mark instead of a signature. What a long way our black population has come since then.
I did not belong on that job. I had felt flattered when it was offered to me. It was offered because I had made such an excellent record in my first job on a daily newspaper. But on this job I was like a fish out of water. I was doing the work it had taken three men to do before I was put on that job.
But I tried, I did my best. And that required working until 10 at night on alternate days and until midnight on nights in between, and rising at 5.30 every week day morning. I think it is understandable that I had difficulty keeping awake on those long nights. But I was determined to succeed. I was determined to GET THE JOB DONE no matter how long the hours required.
I began to find myself drowsing off on these late night hours. That is when I started smoking. I tried smoking a pipe. I found that keeping the pipe in my mouth while I worked kept me awake. After leaving that job I turned to the three cigarettes a day or the one cigar.
During my super-intensive in-depth study of the Bible, evolution and allied subjects from the fall of 1926 until the spring of 1927, my mind was on the studies - not on smoking. But in the spring of 1929 I made an unconditional surrender to God. I came to BELIEVE what He said in His Word. I GAVE MY LIFE TO HIM and was baptized. I was very conscious of the experience of receiving God's Holy Spirit. --- This was the spirit of a CHANGED mind. It was the RENEWING of my mind. What had seemed important before now seemed utterly worthless. My whole approach to the things of life - my whole attitude - was CHANGED.
What about smoking?
Then it was that I asked myself, "What about smoking?"
I had learned that "all the churches" - meaning Protestant and Catholic - did NOT take their religious beliefs and doctrines from the Bible. Rather, they attempted to read THEIR ideas and beliefs INTO the Bible - by twisting and distorting the Holy Word of God, and by taking verses out of context. I said, "I will not give up smoking just BECAUSE the church in which I was reared regarded it as a sin…I must find the answer in the BIBLE," I said.
Now I knew smoking was not mentioned specifically in the Bible. But I HAD LEARNED GOD'S PRINCIPLE OF SIN! I knew God said, "Sin is the transgression of law" - meaning God's laws. I had learned that there was the SPIRITUAL law based on the principle of outgoing LOVE. I had learned there were also physical laws God had set in motion within our human bodies to control our state of health.
I had learned, even at that early stage of my knowledge of the things of God, that GOD'S SPIRITUAL LAW is first of all outgoing LOVE. Next it was magnified into the two Great commandments - love toward GOD, and love toward human neighbour. The Ten Commandments, I knew, merely stated the broad PRINCIPLES of love toward GOD (the first four of the Ten), and love to fellowman (the last six commandments).
But also I had learned one more VITALLY IMPORTANT BASIC PRINCIPLE. In II Corinthians 3:6, God through Paul began explaining that the ministers of the NEW Testament are ministers NOT of the strictness of the letter of the law, but of the SPIRIT - that is, the obvious intent, meaning or principle involved.
I knew, for example, that the Ten Commandments explained only the general PRINCIPLE of the direction, attitude and purpose of the law.
God had given me, in my own experience, a very vivid example of what Paul was talking about in II Corinthians 3. My elder daughter, then 9 years of age, was a rapid and inveterate reader. She had been bringing fiction "love-story" books home from the school library. She would read an entire book in just two or three evenings. I had received a note from her teacher.
I said to Beverly: "Your teacher has warned me that you are injuring your eyes, and even perhaps your mind, by reading so much of this fiction and suggested I speak to you about it. Therefore I am telling you not to bring any more of those fiction books home from the school library".
The very next evening, I noticed Beverly reading a book and already about half way through it. "Beverly", I asked, "isn't that another love-story fiction book?" "Yes, Daddy," she replied. "Well, why are you disobeying me, when I told you to stop reading such books?" "Oh, I'm NOT disobeying you, Daddy. You said, 'Don't bring any more of those books from the school library.' I didn't bring this book from the library. I borrowed it from Helen!"
My daughter obeyed the strict LETTER OF THE LAW - but not its obvious intent and meaning - not in the PRINCIPLE involved - not 'the spirit of the law'.
Principle applied to smokingI applied this PRINCIPLE of God's law defining sin to smoking. What was the obvious intent, meaning and principle of the law?
It was the principle of outflowing LOVE toward others, toward God and toward neighbour.
I then asked myself, "WHY do I smoke? Is it to express outgoing love to God?" Most assuredly NOT! "Am I smoking to express outgoing love and concern for the welfare of other humans?" I had to answer in the negative. Often, I realized, smoking is obnoxious and objectionable to nonsmokers.
Then I asked myself, "Is it injurious to me?. It was not yet then known that smoking is a cause of lung cancer. But I knew well the function of the lungs - to filter out impurities from the blood passing through the lungs returning to the heart. I did know that inhaling smoke into the lungs simply had to be harmful, at least in some degree.
I realized that the opposite to, or transgression of, the law of outgoing love to others was coveting or lust - inordinate self-desire.
WHY, I finally asked myself then, do I smoke? It was a form of SELF-DESIRE, breaking - at least in some measure - the Tenth Commandment!
In other words, God was showing me SMOKING WAS A SIN, even though a mild one! That was more than 51 years ago. I stopped smoking then and there.
Now it had happened that my smoking was obnoxious to my wife. She had merely tolerated it.
That is how THE LIVING GOD SHOWED ME THAT SMOKING IS A SPIRITUAL SIN!
But what about being a physical sin - harming the physical laws that God set in operation in our bodies? We know now that it is a cause of lung cancer, which can be fatal.
But I learned one point more. Some 10 years after I had quit smoking, I made a test on myself. I was in Portland, Ore., doing a broadcast or making recordings. On this particular trip my wife was not with me. I knew that if I smoked she would smell it either on my clothes or in my breath. I tried an experiment.
I bought a pack of cigarettes. In my hotel room, removing all my clothes and hanging them in the wardrobe closet with the door shut, I took out a cigarette and lit it. I wanted to learn how it would affect me after some 10 years of non-smoking.
After about two puffs, I felt DIRTY all over. I felt definitely that it was in violation of the natural law of cleanliness. I never took the third puff. I threw the cigarette and the remainder of the pack into the toilet and flushed it. Then I took a shower so I would feel CLEAN again - and perhaps also so that my wife would not discern the telltale smell of it when I returned home in Eugene, where we then lived.
That is how and WHY, when God had used me as His apostle in building His Church for this era of time. GOD used me to put into HIS CHURCH the truth that smoking IS, INDEED, A SIN. Even though one may argue it is only a mild sin, yet SIN IS SIN and that does include smoking.
Other uses of tobacco fall, in principle and obvious intent of the law, in the same category!
Tobacco is a poison weed!
I know because a ditch digging labourer, working front of our house when I was 5 years old, induced me to "take a chew" of his chewing tobacco. I swallowed it! I learned at age 5 that tobacco is a poison weed that can make you horribly sick in your stomach! I swore off chewing tobacco at age 5!
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