Do You Know “David Pack”? My Life and Ministry—Rumors and Lies vs. Facts and Truth [Cult Wars]

RCG.org (Restored Church of God, splinter group from Armstrongism) ^ | David C. Pack

[Colofornian]

...Many today use innuendo, outright lies and other forms of deception to confuse and divide in order to control followers...

The end result?...About 80% of the Church succumbed to lies and deceit, and either followed Joe Tkach or went home in confusion...-most...became “lost to history,” spiritually dying where they sat. The remaining 20% fell into following various bickering, disagreeing splinter leaders teaching selected—preferred!—parts of the truth...

Fast forward to 1993-1998, to sample one splinter. An evangelist (Roderick Meredith) arose and came to power in the Global Church of God. This second new leader also promised...he would uphold the truth as the Church “understood it...” at Mr. Armstrong’s death. Yet he began almost immediately teaching numerous false doctrines—many of them big...Again, all of this happened on top of shocking revelations about his personal character...

The end result?...About 80% of the Church succumbed to lies and deceit, and either followed Rod Meredith or went home in confusion...

There were always—always—wolves in sheep’s clothing around Herbert W. Armstrong. Do you doubt this?...he reported in his autobiography about how often leaders and others stabbed him in the back and betrayed him all through his Oregon years. This pattern never really ended as the next 40 years continued. Have you forgotten how many top ministers and administrators completely fell away after his death?...other once top ministers and administrators have severely compromised his teachings since his death? Obviously, this has also been true of scores of thousands of former WCG members...

Some say Mr. Armstrong would not do what I am doing. I say he would! If I could, I would write every member in LCG, UCG, COGwa, PCG, and every other splinter and sliver, about the literally hundreds of wolves who are lying (doctrinally) to them from pulpits in the name of Herbert W. Armstrong...

[Kevmo]

“cult war” piece:
***Was it you that added the [Cult Wars] tag to the title of this thread?

[Kevmo]

In this thread and a couple of prior threads, we see anti-trinitarians acknowledge that their own beliefs are "unorthodox" and that trinitarian beliefs are valid. Trinitarians consider the anti-trinitarian beliefs to be heresy. Would an [anti-trinitarian] caucus be allowed on Free Republic? Where is the line drawn on simple heresy? For a definition, from Dictionary.com heresy   Use Heresy in a sentence her·e·sy [her-uh-see] Show IPA noun, plural her·e·sies. 1. opinion or doctrine at variance with the orthodox or accepted doctrine, especially of a church or religious system. 2. the maintaining of such an opinion or doctrine. 3. Roman Catholic Church . the willful and persistent rejection of any article of faith by a baptized member of the church. 4. any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs, customs, etc.

[Religion Moderator]

"Anti" subjects are not valid for caucus designations because by their name, they contrast beliefs with others who would then have an interest in speaking for themselves.

A caucus must never be used as cover to attack the beliefs of non-members of the caucus.

[Kevmo]

Okay, how about if they engage in 2nd tier euphemisms, such as “restoration Christians”?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3069049/posts?page=2513#2513

[Religion Moderator]

A “Restoration Movement Caucus” would be a valid caucus but all the same rules apply. An article by the caucus must not contrast its own theology with any other belief. It must discuss its beliefs on their own merits - or church business, news, etc.

[Colofornian]

Almost always — when you see a bracket on an FR head — the poster has added it.

[Kevmo]

An article by the... “Restoration Christians” ... caucus must not contrast its own theology with any other belief. It must discuss its beliefs on their own merits -
***Well, then, to be candid, it would seem that Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Christadelphians, Universal Church of God, Gnostics, scientism believers, and a host of other beliefs which DEFINE their belief systems as a “contrast with its own theology with [christian] belief” would not be allowed a caucus tag on Free Republic.

[Religion Moderator]

If they cannot speak but by contrast, then they would not be able to caucus on the RF.

[Kevmo]

They are not allowed to caucus, but they seem to be allowed to operate freely on FR.

Well, that’s a place to start...

[Kevmo]

If they cannot speak but by contrast, then they would not be able to caucus on the RF.
***It would appear that the “Sabbatarian Caucus” was and is unable to define their beliefs other than by contrast to trinitarianism.

[Elsie]

2 Timothy 4:3

[Elsie]

 

Acts 17:18-19
 18.  A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
 19.  Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?

 

Acts 18:11
    So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

 

 

 

 

 

Romans 15:4
 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

 

 

Romans 16:17
   I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

 

 

1 Corinthians 4:17
   For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

 

 

1 Corinthians 11:2
 2.  I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings,  just as I passed them on to you.

 

 

Ephesians 4:14-15
 14.  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
 15.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

 

 

2 Thessalonians 2:15
   So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings  we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

 

 

2 Thessalonians 3:6
  In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching  you received from us.

 

 

1 Timothy 1:3-4
 3.  As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer
 4.  nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith.

 

 

1 Timothy 1:7
  They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

 

 

1 Timothy 2:7
   And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle--I am telling the truth, I am not lying--and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.

 

 

1 Timothy 4:1-2
 1.  The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
 2.  Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

 

 

1 Timothy 4:6
   If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.

 

 

1 Timothy 4:11
  Command and teach these things.

 

 

1 Timothy 6:3-5
 3.  If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
 4.  he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 
 5.  and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

 

 

2 Timothy 1:13
  What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.

 

 

 2 Timothy 2:15-17
 15.  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
 16.  Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
 17.  Their teaching will spread like gangrene.

 

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17
 16.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
 17.  so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

 

 2 Timothy 4:3-4
  3.  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
  4.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

 

 

Titus 1:11
   They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain.

 

 

Titus 2:1
  You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.

 

 

Titus 2:15
  These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

 

 

 Hebrews 13:9
 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.

 

 

 2 Peter 2:1-3
 1.  But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.
 2.  Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
 3.  In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

 

 

2 John 1:10
  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.

[Elsie]

It is interesting that FR allows a [heresy] tag on religious threads.

The owner is a Christian.

He might just know a little bit about the subject!

;^)

[Elsie]

Okay, how about if they engage in 2nd tier euphemisms, such as “restoration Christians”?

I LOVE these dudes; because when simply asked to show PROOF of their 'restoration', their claims become like day old manna on Wednesday!

[Elsie]

They are not allowed to caucus, but they seem to be allowed to operate freely on FR.

I'm glad they can!

How many of us would actually chase these folks down to STUDY about them where we could NOT spotlight their error!?

And, conversely; how many of THEM would be exposed to the TRUE teaching of Christianity if they merely sat in their OWN pews(?) highfiveing one another all day?

---

Bring 'em on; one and all; and let us REASON together!

[Elsie]

***It would appear that the “Sabbatarian Caucus” was and is unable to define their beliefs other than by contrast to trinitarianism.

Romans 16:17
I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

[Colofornian]

2 Peter 2:1-3 1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up.

The apostle Peter's focus on "destructive heresies" (2 Peter 2:1) zeroes on their hallmark of "fabricated stories." (v. 3)

Scripture also provides some clear boundaries; in addition to Elsie's listed verses, here is another:

1 John 4:1-3:

4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world."

[Kevmo]

That’s a good positive outlook. That is also what we’ve been doing over this last Christmas season with some heretics on FR. I’ve noticed that you & Colorfornian are quite vigorous about battling mormon heresies and I appreciate your work. Since I’m not as familiar with the ground rules, it’s good to know where we stand on FR.

[Kevmo]

They appear to have been granted a caucus tag. It's like satanists labelling themselves with a euphemism such as "sub terra deists". www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3109355/posts‎

[Kevmo]

If they cannot speak but by contrast, then they would not be able to caucus on the RF. ***It would appear that the “Sabbatarian Caucus” was and is unable to define their beliefs other than by contrast to trinitarianism. until now... the heretics get their own caucus... www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3109355/posts‎