Taken from Stay at Home Mum reply on Quora
Is or was the Worldwide Church of God a cult?
YES it was! After having been out of it for 20 plus years…I would venture to say that many churches could fall into the category of cult.
I actually grew up in the World Wide Church of God…born into it 1975 and left in 1997. I remember sitting in my Religious Studies class in a regular University and reading through Cults…and seeing the name of my Church!! I didn’t even think about it like that. Of course at the time I was still attending and I said something like “well it isn’t a bad one… and we were the only TRUE church so who cares?” Little did I know…because it was all I even knew and of course I was somewhat brainwashed…
That next year I attended the University that Church kids were encouraged to attend…down in Big Sandy, Texas not knowing within the next year it was about to all fall apart. I was 19 when everything I ever believed and was taught to be TRUTH was thrown in my face to possibly be wrong. It was a crazy time for sure. I witnessed the falling apart of a very LARGE church…and saw a lot of ugliness. It wasn’t pretty…and was an easy excuse for me to RUN from all things Religious…and feel like I was FREE from so many of the extreme Rules of the Church.
I could write a book…and there are some that have been written. There is even a wonderful little documentary that shows how we came out of a Theology that wasn’t pointing us to Christ. We were a obedient group…but much of it was off of FEAR than out of LOVE. There were congregations and ministers that def took advantage and there was manipulation and HURT in areas. Power and abuse…def was in this church…as with many churches. We were a “cult” based on a few factors.
You couldn’t just walk in off the street. There was structure to joining the church. You had to abide by the theology or you would be disfellowshipped. You weren’t “saved” by the blood of Jesus but by doing all the old testament laws. We segregated ourselves and tended to only be around CHURCH members. I know many kids couldn’t hang out with friends outside church.
He taught something called British Israelism. Many different beliefs that aren’t like mainstream Christianity. We were taught that we couldn’t sing “christian songs” outside our own church and read literature outside our own church. Couldn’t wear a cross. God's children are not actually "born again" into spirit until after the return of Jesus to the Earth.
They didn’t believe in the the trinity. They were set apart from other churches and considered ourselves only TRUE church. ‘
They focused on doomsday end times..hence fear. We twisted scripture. Armstrong actually predicted end times would happen between 1975–1978 and HE would be the one to guide people through to safety.
Armstrong taught that he was God’s Apostle- and that there was only ONE that God talked to and he was the selected…
I don’t remember learning much about Jesus…growing up. It was fear driven….I really thought END TIMES could be at any moment as a young girl in the 80s. I do think that has affected me as an adult even though I haven’t really analyzed that at 49!! I never felt the FREEDOM of Christ and the Grace and Mercy of God got left out of the mix. We were very set apart…and most of our lives were focused on “the Church”. Many kids didn’t associate with friends outside the Church and we weren’t allowed to sing songs and read literature “outside” the Church. It was exclusive. If you left…you would be disfellowshipped and risk loosing all the church family you might have ever known. Much of the Theology wasn’t mainstream and sort of a mix of what Armstrong took from the 7th Day, Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses- plus we kept all the Jewish Holidays. Many members adored Armstrong like he was God. I remember when he died…I was scared. WHAT NOW? Our ministers had a lot of power of their congregations and many rules and regulations! I remember members going to ask our ministry if they should buy a car or if there were any major decisions they had to ask first.
Anyways…saw this question and just made me go back 20 plus years. Never a regret growing up in this Church…but I was lucky with my immediate family. There is a lot of junk that came along with this…distrust of all things God and people and institutions. I spent my 20s a bit bitter and lost. I just wished I knew the LOVE of Christ and the Freedom he gives much sooner! I grew character from being so different…no doubt. I was not a “normal” kid at all…but I was taught good values and morals…along with some really jacked up bad theology. Many many people were very hurt within the church as well (as with many churches for that matter). It took me 13 years to seek him out for myself and I’m still learning and growing and getting rid of some of the false teachings of the Church.
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I grew up in The Church, and we went to United Church of God an International Association when The Church split. I left when I was about 17, and to this day my dad and I don't speak because of it. His choice. He's still in it. I left when I came to the realization that I hated The Church and didn't believe in God (and may never have).
Growing up in it created so much isolation for me and my family. “Live in the world, but be not of it" meant that I didn't have many friends at all- especially from school. In Birmingham, AL, our congregation was super small, with very few kids. We weren't really
Yes , I was victim of this church for 7 years and with full confidence I can say it is a cult and exploits it's members financially and physically.
Dont be trapped by
1) their prophecies
2) Fake love
3) Their pressure to join them and get baptized immediately
4) Fake social service
Cross check
There prophecies about End of the world -1988,1999,2012,2017
There mother god personal and sexual life
Church Earnings
Ex members testimonies
Reasons they are spreading
Innocent members are motivated by so called blessings and celestial bodies God offering them in next world
Ex :- wmscog says if you save a member and
My grandmother is in the WMSCOG cult. It is definitely a cult I'm 13 now but i remember them recruiting her when i was around 4. They pressured her to be baptized right there and she gave in and baptized her in the yard. THEY GAVE ME YACULT AS A TREAT LOL. She is still in the cult and i will put evidence down bellow as to why i refer to it like this.
CONTROL
my grandma cant even celebrate Christmas
they act like she's special and get mad when she doesn't go no matter what (manipulative tactic)
MANIPULATING BIBLE AND TEXTS
she has multiple “niv bibles” around her house
there is a bible that is highli
I am writing anonymously since my family was intimately related with the Lexington Church of Christ and Kip McKean, the founder of the International Churches of Christ, and historically the members of the church have been very hostile to detractors. Note that, while I had lots of interaction/knowledge of the church up through mid-1990’s or so, I haven’t followed it much since then, but am familiar with the events leading to McKean’s ouster.
The Church of Christ denomination from which the ICOC originated is a fairly mainstream sort of evangelical Christian denomination. They aren’t so much diff
Is the Restored Church of God a cult?
What is the Mother God cult?
Is the International Churches of Christ a cult? If so, how?
What are the beliefs of the Members Church of God International?
What is Members Church of God International?
My husband got involved in it when he was younger. He didn’t go to meetings, but read the Plain Truth and sent them money. They taught a lot of truth, but they got those truthful ideas from my religion, Jehovah’s Witnesses. But they also incorporated tithing which is not something Christians are expected to do. So they got ten percent of people’s income.
I think Worldwide Church of God was like a lot of religions. Many have extremism, the Catholic Church has corruption, so do other churches. There are a lot of undesirable things about many religion. As far as words like brainwashing and cult, I
The International Church of Christ is a denomination, similar in ways to other denominations in that they have a hierarchical type organization structure, or at least have periodic meetings where groups of men get together to make decisions on what the denomination believes, how the worship services will be held, and develop man-made creeds and doctrine that are often published. Oversight is then given to ensure those claiming to be part of that denomination do not overstep these man-made creeds or they will be told they can no longer wear the name of that denomination.
As stated in Acts 2, the
Is or was the Worldwide Church of God a cult?
I agree with Steven T Cook, that the World Wide Church of God met most of the criteria of a cult under Herbert W Armstrong, particularly in areas like restricting members’ involvement with members of other religions, requiring high levels of commitment of time and money, and considering themselves the only ones who are saved. Of course, there was no questioning the doctrines Armstrong taught.
They were also a Jesus-only (anti-trinitarian) group.
The woman who brought members of my family, including myself, into the Baptist Church joined them not long
If anyone wants proof that the CAG (Church of Almighty God) is a cult, they should watch these two YouTube videos now. In this first one, an elderly man tells point by point why the cult is heretical and unChristian after comparison to Bible Scripture.
The second video is by a woman who exposes cults. She shows the horrific past of the CAG in China and then how they abuse members and non members alike. These two videos are extensive but only two of the many videos I found that expose the CAG as a dangerous cult with worldwide reach.
Yes grew up in the church from a baby fasted at 4 years old Friday night till sat night feast in big sandy texas was a cheerleader basket ball .baseball volleyball .married who the family chose for Me both family had too approve the marriage. No birthday no halloween no christmas no fri or sat with friends my ex husband and I got a divorce he got custody of the kids I was disowned placed on the streets my family didn't talk too me for 27 yrs made peace with 1 yr before he passed my mother is methodist now ..but still believe in some .beliefs my other half still believe all of the old ways even
Acts 5:38-39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
Matthew 12:31–32 Why I say to you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven to men. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world
ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY YES. YES!!!! YES!!! IT WAS A CULT AND A VERY, VERY, VERY, DANGEROUS ONE AT THAT! IT DESTROYED MANY LIVES INCLUDING MINE … FOR YEARS. I WILL NEVER STEP FOOT IN ANY “CULTISH” CHURCH E V E R AGAIN! IT RUINED FAMILIES, MARRIAGES. THEY STOLE YOUR MIND AND YOUR MONEY AND THEY WERE A PITIFULLY DANGEROUS GROUP OF BRAIN WASHING, MANIPULATIVE, POWER AND MONEY HUNGRY PEOPLE. THEY MADE PEOPLE FEARFUL AND SPIED ON PEOPLE AND CONTROLLED OTHERS. THANKFULLY, I GOT OUT BUT I STILL SUFFER THE SCARS M A N Y YEARS LATER. MY FAMILY WAS TORN APART (AND I WAS PARTLY TO BLAME AS WELL BECAUSE I
I don’t like to attach the word “Cult” to religious groups as a rule. There are too many shades of meaning to “cult” and so it isn’t specific enough.
Any group, religious or secular, should be examined as to whether they have one or two dangerous characteristics, such as being Authoritarian and/or using Mind Control techniques.
If the answer is yes to either or both of those, AVOID !
How dangerous was/is the worldwide church of God?
What is Armstrongism? Is the Worldwide Church of God a cult?
What are the beliefs of the World Mission Society Church of God, and why is it considered a cult?
Is the World Missionary Society Church of God a cult?
Why do some people consider the Church of God a cult?
Is the Restored Church of God a cult?
What is the Mother God cult?
Is the International Churches of Christ a cult? If so, how?
What are the beliefs of the Members Church of God International?
What is Members Church of God International?
Is the church of Christ (the United Church of Christ) a cult?
Is the ICOC (International Church of Christ) a cult? And if so, how are they more cult-like than other religious groups?
What happened to the Worldwide Church of God?
Is the Worldwide Church of God the same as the church of God?
Is the Bountyful Church a cult?
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