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Armstrongism

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Armstrongism refers to the doctrines of Herbert W. Armstrong, founder of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG). Some of the doctrines can be found in other religion groups including Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Seventh Day Adventists while others are truly unique to Armstrong. The church that he founded has now rejected most of his own teachings, but Armstrongism lives on in the splinter churches founded by the followers of Armstrong who dissented with the WCG church leaders after Armstrong.

Use of Name

Armstrong's followers refer to themselves as members of the Church of God, while the label Armstrongite is generally considered as an inaccurate and insulting way to describe them, feeling that the name will give the impresion that they follow Herbert Armstrong when they feel that the focus of their beliefs must focus on God, and not on any mortal man.

Doctrinal differences

The following are some of Armstrong’s identifiable doctrines that are in addition to or are different from historic Christian doctrines. Some or all of these are followed by the Armstrongist churches.

Church authority

Armstrong taught the Bible is the authoritative Word of God. However, he noted that the correct interpretation of the Bible had been obscured until he himself discovered them. For this reason, the current Christian churches were in a state of apostasy and that his church, at the time the Worldwide Church of God, was the only true church. Many splinter churches individually make this claim.

God Family

A unique Armstrong doctrine is that the Godhood consisted of two individuals, Jesus who was the Old Testament god and the Father who was superior to him. This is a form of binitarianism. The family concept comes when humans who accept Jesus as their saviour can then join the God Family and become like gods themselves.

Sabbatarianism and Old Testament beliefs

The keeping of the Sabbath on Saturday was the first doctrine that Armstrong expounded. Eventually he expanded this to include the following of dietary laws, tithing, and celebration of Jewish feast days such as Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles. Some of this was based on his beliefs in Anglo-Israelism (see below). Related to this is that the celebration of Christmas and Easter was banned as they were considered to be of pagan origin.

Anglo-Israelism

Through his studies of the Bible, he came to conclusion that the Anglo-Saxon peoples were the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel. This was already well-established as Anglo-Israelism. However, Armstrong added some details as he identified the United States and British Commonwealth with the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim. This claim can be found in a book called ["United States and British Commonwealth in Prophecy"].

Other unique teachings

  • the wearing of makeup was sinful
  • triple tithe – in addition to the Old Testament 10% tithe given to the church ("first tithe"), a second 10% was to be reserved for use during festival days (The Feast of Tabernacles) ("second tithe"), and on the third and sixth year of each seven-year period, a third 10% was to be sent to the church to be used for those in need ("third tithe").
  • one is not born again until the return of Christ
  • the cross is a pagan symbol
  • interracial marriage is discouraged
  • healing comes from God not from doctors
  • the celebration of birthdays is a sin
  • forbidden to eat "unclean meats" such as pork, shellfish
  • The day of Atonement - members to fast (not eat or drink) for one day

Armstrongist churches

There are many splinter churches, possibly more than 300, as well as second generation splinters. Some of these are listed below.

See also

References

Worldwide Church of God, "A Brief History of the Worldwide Church of God", [1]

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