Should Christians be wary of “the Church of the Eternal God”?

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Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,776
113
#1
The short answer is “Yes”. While the name of the church sounds Christian, after reviewing their Statement of Beliefs it would seem that it is cultish. It is an offshoot of the Worldwide Church of God of Herbert W. Armstrong, who held to the idea of British Israelism -- that the throne of England is the throne of David from which Christ will rule, and that the lost tribes of Israel are the European nations. They say that "The major doctrines of the Church are those, which were taught by Herbert W. Armstrong...”

This church has a strange mixture of Gospel truth, false doctrines, and parts of the Law of Moses.

1. They believe that God consists of only the Father and the Son:
“God consists of the Father and the Son Jesus Christ...”

2. They do not believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the triune Godhead, but only “the power of God”:
“We believe in the Holy Spirit which is the power of God, both of the Father and of the Son...”

3. They believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit is given by the laying on of hands by "true ministers":
”...they [believers] are baptized by immersion and, after the laying on of hands by one of God’s true ministers, receive the Holy Spirit...”

4. They believe that born-again Christians become “divine” members of God’s family:
”...the potential of Man [is] to become a born-again immortal and divine member of the God-Family”. Which would mean that Christians eventually become “little gods”.

5. They believe that the Gospel of the Kingdom of God must be preached
“especially [to] the lost tribes of the house of Israel (mainly in the United States, Great Britain, certain Commonwealth nations and nations in Northwestern Europe)”

6. They believe in tithing:
“We believe in the godly institution of tithing...:

7. They believe in observing the holy days which are mentioned in the Law of Moses:
”We believe that we are to observe certain weekly and annual Holy Days, during which time we are to attend Church services and to refrain from secular labor, including school, college or university attendance, and which time we are to dedicate and devote to worship, spiritual study, prayer, fellowship with Church members, and physical rest. These weekly and annual Holy Days are: Weekly Sabbath, Passover, The Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, The Feast of Trumpets, The Day of Atonement, The Feast of Tabernacles, The Last Great Day."

8. They believe in the dietary restrictions (“unclean meats”) of the Law of Moses:
“We believe that we are to refrain from eating meats which the Bible instructs not to eat and designates as unclean in passages such as Leviticus 11:1-47; Deuteronomy 14:3-20; and Acts 10:1-21, 28.”

9. They reject (a) voting, (b) jury duty, and (c) military service:
”...We therefore, following Biblical commands and principles, do not participate in voting for national elections or jury duty, and we do not join the military...”

10. They reject active evangelism and call it “proselytizing”:
”...We do not believe in proselytizing. Therefore, we do not seek members by having people standing on street corners or going around neighborhoods knocking on doors...”
 
P

persistent

Guest
#2
So glad to see this post. I was baptized by a Mr.soandso of WCG in 1971 and baptized again by a Mr.notsoandso of the WCG about a year or two later because Mr.notsoandso said the first baptism didn't take. About two years later Mr.notsoandso was visiting WCG headquarters in Pasadena, Ca. and got into a car wreck on soandso street in Pasadena. Strange coincidence??? WCG was my introduction to the "Christian" world. Oh! The car wreck was not terribly serious but still I look back at the incident as more than just coincidence and only recently see it another "sign".
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
8,345
2,157
113
#4
I've never heard of them. Thanks for the info.

Crazy the things people will believe. It's neither biblical nor even historical.
 

soberxp

Senior Member
May 3, 2018
2,511
482
83
#5
The first paragraph makes me feel that person's inferiority, which is not humility, but inferiority:sneaky:.

But I think I agree with Article 10.We are in an information age, so it is not necessary to adopt such a traditional way.
 

Dirtman

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2022
1,151
441
83
#6
Looks to me like another much like Mormon or jehova witness or seventh day Adventists.
Its sad really they will deceive many
 

soberxp

Senior Member
May 3, 2018
2,511
482
83
#7
Looks to me like another much like Mormon or jehova witness or seventh day Adventists.
Its sad really they will deceive many
I from a Church seventh day Adventists,But I won't go on the Sabbath.
 

Jesusfollower

Active member
Oct 21, 2021
352
197
43
jamaica
#8
Another cult to add to the pile.

Yes, the pile is too high and now reaches millions and millions of people. it is why I have started a few days ago new threads about false prophets and teachers preaching false doctrins, and giving scripture references in full context. I will not name any cult or denominations in particular as i do not wand to create discord amongst the members of this forum. I simply wish people would check out their belief system against the the words of GOD and the only true gospel as thought by the Jesus, son of GOD.

Peace

JF
 

Jesusfollower

Active member
Oct 21, 2021
352
197
43
jamaica
#9
I've never heard of them. Thanks for the info.

Crazy the things people will believe. It's neither biblical nor even historical.
Are you certain what you believe is all true? I was certain I did for a long time but i was wrong , my views have changed a lot. I did a lot of digging for the truth but at the end it was simple;

JOHN 14 (NKJV)

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: ifit were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Joh 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Joh 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Joh 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Joh 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
Joh 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Joh 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Joh 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Peace.

JF
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
1,721
596
113
#10
---Most of the Churches today ====either preach a Mixed bag of what they think is the right Gospel or they water down the Gospel and just preach what they think their flock wants to hear so they get their money to keep the Church and the preaching of the so called word that they spew out going =====most of the higher Echelon of each denomination is just interested in getting their funds so they can keep their loose --sugar coated or false Doctrine going and not caring about where their flock will end up in their end -----

This church is just Preaching what other Churches preach ----false Doctrine -----so no surprise here ---

read full article here
https://carm.org/minor-groups-issues/church-of-the-living-god/

The Church of the Eternal God is a non-Christian cult. It was developed out of the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong, who started the “Worldwide Church of God.” The Church of the Eternal God does not practice proselytizing. They keep the Saturday sabbath from “Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.” They also keep different biblical holy days such as the Feast of Unleaved Bread, Pentecost, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Trumpets, and the Feast of Tabernacles.1 It is premillennial, holds to post-tribulation rapture, and teaches that voting in elections is “a grave sin.” 2 It has many other aberrant teachings, including the idea of becoming Gods. Please see the following quotes taken from their website at eternalgod.org.

I say -------Most Ministers today I would say don't have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit ----they are ordained simply by the laying on of human hands ---there is no rule to have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to be a Minister ---today a person can be a minister over the internet -----no Spiritual attachment to God is needed -----

Jesus told His Disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit ----Jesus did not start His ministry till the Holy Spirit can down upon Him -----no person can know or Preach the truth of the Gospel without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit =-----all the human training can't give you the Spiritual meaning behind the Word ----only the Holy Spirit can do that ------

So many people are going to their eternal 2nd death because of the False Doctrine and watered down Doctrine that Ministers are feeding their Flock out of their own ignorance of wrongly dividing the Word --it is a sad --sad --sad thing that is happening in the world of the So called Churches today -----

We need great True Teachers of the Word in our Pulpits ----not False Preachers ------there is a big difference in Teaching what the True Word is about then just Preaching what we think the Word is about ---

We are to Teach the Truth of the Word by and through the Holy Spirit not our Human Spirit -----

1663074429897.jpeg ------- 1663074647213.jpeg
 
P

persistent

Guest
#11
Worldwide Church of God was my first and only exposure to anything other than Roman Catholicism. I was involved on and off from 1971 to 1977 maybe. They have certainly spawned a number of offshoots. According to Wikipedia a man by the name Robert Laurence Kuhn helped develop some of their theology. Kuhn also had a program on PBS called Closer to Truth and according to Wikipedia he is an advisor to Xi Jinping.
 

soberxp

Senior Member
May 3, 2018
2,511
482
83
#12
Worldwide Church of God was my first and only exposure to anything other than Roman Catholicism. I was involved on and off from 1971 to 1977 maybe. They have certainly spawned a number of offshoots. According to Wikipedia a man by the name Robert Laurence Kuhn helped develop some of their theology. Kuhn also had a program on PBS called Closer to Truth and according to Wikipedia he is an advisor to Xi Jinping.
Really? I didn't even know before. Interest.
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
3,691
113
#13
The short answer is “Yes”. While the name of the church sounds Christian, after reviewing their Statement of Beliefs it would seem that it is cultish. It is an offshoot of the Worldwide Church of God of Herbert W. Armstrong, who held to the idea of British Israelism -- that the throne of England is the throne of David from which Christ will rule, and that the lost tribes of Israel are the European nations. They say that "The major doctrines of the Church are those, which were taught by Herbert W. Armstrong...”

This church has a strange mixture of Gospel truth, false doctrines, and parts of the Law of Moses.

1. They believe that God consists of only the Father and the Son: “God consists of the Father and the Son Jesus Christ...”

2. They do not believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the triune Godhead, but only “the power of God”: “We believe in the Holy Spirit which is the power of God, both of the Father and of the Son...”

3. They believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit is given by the laying on of hands by "true ministers": ”...they [believers] are baptized by immersion and, after the laying on of hands by one of God’s true ministers, receive the Holy Spirit...”

4. They believe that born-again Christians become “divine” members of God’s family: ”...the potential of Man [is] to become a born-again immortal and divine member of the God-Family”. Which would mean that Christians eventually become “little gods”.

5. They believe that the Gospel of the Kingdom of God must be preached “especially [to] the lost tribes of the house of Israel (mainly in the United States, Great Britain, certain Commonwealth nations and nations in Northwestern Europe)”

6. They believe in tithing: “We believe in the godly institution of tithing...:

7. They believe in observing the holy days which are mentioned in the Law of Moses: ”We believe that we are to observe certain weekly and annual Holy Days, during which time we are to attend Church services and to refrain from secular labor, including school, college or university attendance, and which time we are to dedicate and devote to worship, spiritual study, prayer, fellowship with Church members, and physical rest. These weekly and annual Holy Days are: Weekly Sabbath, Passover, The Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, The Feast of Trumpets, The Day of Atonement, The Feast of Tabernacles, The Last Great Day."

8. They believe in the dietary restrictions (“unclean meats”) of the Law of Moses: “We believe that we are to refrain from eating meats which the Bible instructs not to eat and designates as unclean in passages such as Leviticus 11:1-47; Deuteronomy 14:3-20; and Acts 10:1-21, 28.”

9. They reject (a) voting, (b) jury duty, and (c) military service: ”...We therefore, following Biblical commands and principles, do not participate in voting for national elections or jury duty, and we do not join the military...”

10. They reject active evangelism and call it “proselytizing”: ”...We do not believe in proselytizing. Therefore, we do not seek members by having people standing on street corners or going around neighborhoods knocking on doors...”
Some cults contain truthful statements but also many lies. If lies and false doctrines define a cult, then most widely-accepted denominations are actually cults.

That means there is literally one true church. If you want to join the true church you need to try a lot harder my friend.
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
8,345
2,157
113
#14
Are you certain what you believe is all true? I was certain I did for a long time but i was wrong , my views have changed a lot. I did a lot of digging for the truth but at the end it was simple;

JOHN 14 (NKJV)

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: ifit were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Joh 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Joh 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Joh 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Joh 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
Joh 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Joh 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Joh 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Peace.

JF

I can be very sure that British Israelism isn't true 👍
 

Jesusfollower

Active member
Oct 21, 2021
352
197
43
jamaica
#15
Some cults contain truthful statements but also many lies. If lies and false doctrines define a cult, then most widely-accepted denominations are actually cults.

That means there is literally one true church. If you want to join the true church you need to try a lot harder my friend.
yes one true church and I am still looking for it.....

Peace,

JF
 

Jesusfollower

Active member
Oct 21, 2021
352
197
43
jamaica
#16
I can be very sure that British Israelism isn't true 👍
you could be right, I have not found with certainty where the 10 lost tribes went, many historians disagree.In Honestly i do not know, they are still lost.

Peace,

JF
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
10,294
4,340
113
Almost Heaven West Virginia
#17
you could be right, I have not found with certainty where the 10 lost tribes went, many historians disagree.In Honestly i do not know, they are still lost.

Peace,

JF
Armstrongism, Hebrew Israelites and a whole bunch of other cults make it a race issue. They used to be on the radio a lot, so I'd hear them time to time.
They reject the Bible that the seed of Abraham was Jesus, Who would bless ALL nations. Those who did what Abraham did, believe on the Lord, would be saved and hence the spiritual Israel of God.

This is what happened to the tribes of National Israel. They then intermarried pagans and we're scattered.
I was just reading this last week.
This is a pivotal chapter that explains much about the subject of National Israel.

https://thekingjamesversionbible.com/2-kings-17
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
8,345
2,157
113
#18
you could be right, I have not found with certainty where the 10 lost tribes went, many historians disagree.In Honestly i do not know, they are still lost.

Peace,

JF

Who says the tribes have been lost. I am sure there are ethnic Jews all over the world who, if they could, would be able to trace descent right back.

After Solomon, the kingdom divided. The Northern Kingdom (Israel) was later defeated and a huge chunk carried off into captivity ca. 721 Bc. They then assimilated with the surrounding peoples hence we have the Samaritans. And of course Judah the southern kingdom itself was defeated ca. 586 Bc. And captives where taken in to exile.

So the tribes weren't 'lost' they just inter-married and/or ceased to be tribes.

Its all in the OT. No secret, no mystery.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,314
3,618
113
#19
British and American Israelism have a serious problem. Lost means lost. The 10 lost tribes are lost to history. Any theory or explanation for who they are or where they went is pure speculation.

I used to believe in this nonsense. It's really based on one thing: Britain and America have inherited the blessings made by Jacob to Ephraim and Manasseh. But there's nothing in scripture to support this and no historical evidence: no prophecies, zip, zilch, nada.