The World Wide Church of God You Never Knew:
"Another" World Wide Church of God
You may have heard about the story of Herbert Armstrong and the history of the Worldwide Church of God. The details below may seem very familiar, but the following story is actually one that was never told to the members of the Worldwide Church of God.
It all started with the "Sabbath". The church founder had originally accepted from others, that Sunday was the weekly "Sabbath". However, through his personal study, he discovered that Saturday is the true "Sabbath" to be observed. Rejected by church leaders, he began preaching to anyone who would listen. An eloquent speaker, he had been searching for something to which he "could commit all his energy and drive". Dedicating his energy to preaching the truth about the Sabbath, a small congregation was formed. Other doctrines that differed from mainstream protestantism, were discovered and taught. These included the keeping of all of the Ten Commandments, observing all of the annual Holy Days or Festivals of Lev. 23, observing a sunset-to- sunset Sabbath, observing the laws of clean and unclean foods, tithing, the foot-washing service, divine healing, the Millennium, the Resurrection of the dead, those "elect" who are alive to be "changed" at the Second Coming of Christ.
The church also taught controversial doctrines regarding the use of makeup, jewelry, clothing styles and "immoderate" hair styles. Women were not to wear pants to church services and the piercing of ears for jewelry was banned. Divorced individuals could not remarry unless the church determined it was acceptable in God's sight. At times, all members were asked to participate in national or worldwide days of fasting and prayer for various reasons. Eventually, special meetings were held throughout the U.S. and several foreign nations. Small churches began to appear throughout the United States. As the work grew, geographical districts were created and national co-ordinators were appointed.
A church newspaper was started. Programs for the youth, including Sabbath schools, were instituted. A national youth organization was started using the acronym YPU. Activities were planned for the singles and they were encouraged to date only within the church.The church expanded its horizon and turned outward, attempting to reach others through various "outreach" programs. Scores of churches were established in foreign nations. It eventually grew to an international work with congregations scattered throughout the world. Annual conventions were the highlight of the church year. At church-owned convention centers, many would dine on the grounds to enjoy fellowship.
At some point, the head of the church was declared by some, to be an "apostle". He was described by others as having "a deep awareness of contemporary problems and incisive insight into the nature of man." After more than fifty years, an attitude of achievement was reached. The church, which was first started in a city near the coast, was relocated to the largest city on the coast by the time it was a national organization.
To handle the growing organization, a hierarchy was established, including a board of directors, however the "apostle" had ultimate authority.Some prominent names in the organization included Meredith, Cole, Hill, Ward, Martin, Hamner, Wilson, Clark, Smith, Robinson, Walker, Jackson and Wright. Other familiar names included Cartwright, Sherrill, Williams, Watson, Phillips, Taylor, Mason, Lewis, and Harris.
It became necessary at one point to make a change in the name of the national organization. By the time of the founder's death, the church had reached a creditable level of stability. But after the "untimely death" of the church's second leader, a wave of dissent and unrest swept through the church. The leadership became divided. Meetings and leadership were split between another coastal city and places like Lexington, Ky. and a city in Ohio. There were splits in the organization and separate churches were formed. One group used "United" in its corporate name.
As we said earlier, all this may seem very familiar to members, and former members, of the Worldwide Church of God. All of the details above are about "a Church of God" and it is "world wide", but with all the similarities, the details above are taken from the history of another church!
There are some differences between the two churches. The "Commandment Keepers" was a small congregation started by R.A.R. Johnson in 1910, in Washington, D.C. (Herbert Armstrong was only 17-18 years old at that time.) It became a national organization and then international in 1928, with its headquarters in New York City. The name was changed to the "House of God" and its worldwide outreach program also began in 1928. (The Radio Church of God began in 1934, in Oregon, and later changed its name to the Worldwide Church of God, after moving to the Los Angeles area. Herbert was still an entrepreneur until the "crash of 1929". He began preaching in 1928 and was ordained in 1931.)
R.A.R. Johnson died in 1940. After the church's second leader, A.A. Smith, died suddenly, about 1950, the church split behind two leaders, one in Florida, the other in Lexington, Kentucky. More recently, two of the congregations merged, forming the "United House of God". After over 80 years, the organization has 79 congregations in thirty states, Canada, Jamaica, Africa and Australia.
The current Chief Apostle of the House of God is Bishop F. C. Scott of Lockland, Ohio. The House of God's national temple is located in Lexington, Kentucky.
One other difference is that R.A.R. Johnson, the other leaders and nearly all the membership are African Americans.
More information concerning the organization and its beliefs can be found at the following web sites. Also you can see pictures of members and leaders.:
http://www.concentric.net/~whouston/index.htm
http://www.houseofgod.org/
While the Worldwide Church of God has been taken into mainstream Christianity by its current leadership, the House of God continues to teach the basic doctrines which its founder came to understand over 80 years ago.
There are a few other differences with the original WCG teachings. The House of God teaches that Pentecost is fixed as Sivan 6, being always counted from Abib 15. Water is used for Passover in lieu of wine or grape juice. The 14th, 15th and 20th of Abib are all observed as Sabbaths. The "use of earrings, either post or clip-on, nose rings, lip rings, or the piercing of any part of the body with rings or any ornamental object for any of our saints, either male or female" is forbidden.
Also, "the use of face paint, colored or tinted nail polish, colorful lipstick, tattoos, and immoderate hair design" is banned. The church "does not endorse the wearing of pants/shorts for women or dresses/skirts for men. Neither does it endorse the wearing of shorts above the knee for men or other public displays of nudity by any of the saints."
Regarding divorce and remarriage, "Our members shall not marry a divorced person until after their Pastor or Organizational Leader has investigated and made a determination. Saints who are found in plural marriages should be treated with compassion. In every case sensitivity should be shown."
The youth program is called Young Peoples Union or YPU.
The "ranks" for men are Deacon, Elder, Jr. Elder, Minister, Pastor, Bishop, Evangelist, and Apostle. The ranks for women are Elect Lady, Minister, Pastor, and Evangelist. Yes, they have women as ministers.The first question that comes to mind is, "Why did God do this, this way?". In our opinion, it is a validation that both "works" were of God, in other words, we were given "two witnesses" which "establish" the "word" of God against the world (Nu.35:30; De. 17:6-7, 19:15; Isa. 43:10,12; Mat. 18:15-17; Acts 5:32).
(This is not to say that these two organizations fulfill the prophecy of "two witnesses" of Rev. 11. Furthermore, we are not saying that this endorses errors by any administrators or teachers, either in word or in deed.)Considering the cultural aspects of race relations in the U.S. during the 1900's, it did give both African Americans and European Americans equal opportunity to come into the truth of God, "without excuse".
The existence of the House of God, and it's history of accomplishments which predate WCG's, creates a problem for the concept that "church eras" are sequential (as opposed to being concurrent) and are limited to specific organizations (in contrast to being "attitudes" that exist, to some extent, within all organizations).The preceding information was taken from House of God web sites and is the best information we have to date. A published history of this organization is available from their church historian who may be contacted through their web site. (Links listed above.)
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