Help Us Help You

Hello, dear reader. I bet you didn't expect to see any more posts here. I sure didn't! But, I think I have a good reason.

With Seeker passing away, I started wondering what kind of legacy did she leave behind. I have believed in this blog since before I joined it back in 2009. But there is always room for improvement. I would like to know if any improvements could be made.

Bearing in mind the point of this blog is investigating the Churches of God (ie. Armstrongism) from a Christ-centered perspective...
Is this blog being helpful to people looking for answers? Could we do something differently and be even better? Is there something we've missed that you would like more answers about? Have we said something that throws you off and we could re-phrase it to make it more accessible?

Please be aware that you can use the Search bar over on the right and down just a little >>>
And don't forget we have a Categories page and a FAQ page, created to help you find answers more easily.

If you have found any help or comfort here, please reach out, in a comment or preferably by email, and let us know. Share your experiences and suggestions with us. Perhaps you can help us to help you. And others!

God bless you and thank you for visiting!!

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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom. ; )

Acts 17:11

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Farewell To A Friend

I wanted to write a post letting everyone know that the founder of this blog site, my good friend, Seeker of Truth, has passed away. I wanted to say a couple words to honor Seeker's memory. She deserves so much more than this, but we do what we can do with what we have.

Seeker started this blog with her husband on April 17, 2008. She started it with these words:

A Warm Welcome to You, the Reader!

This blog is about the importance of seeking the truth of God's Word, for those in search of truth, and those leaving Legalism in search of truth: 

When we consider what others say/teach about God's Word, it's vital to make sure it's TRUTH. We should NEVER take anyone's word for it, but ALWAYS prove it for our self. It's OUR responsibility. We cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom. Don't we prefer the truth, whatever it may be? Even if it's not what we had thought? Of course! 

Because we desire to PLEASE God! So... we do 'As Bereans Did.'

Amen to that!

About four months after I escaped Armstrongism, I started my own blog. It was a way to vent and share ideas. I went looking around for others who were seeing the errors of the system and giving themselves permission to prove what they had been taught, just as the noble Bereans had done (ACT. 17: 10-11), regardless of where that truth lead them. Not many people were fighting this good fight back at that time. Not from a faith-based perspective, anyway. Wasn't hard to find Seeker and the ABD blog.

Seeker and I both attended Ron Weinland groups, and we both wanted particularly to focus on him. We formed somewhat of a partnership. Then we tried to form a larger partnership with other bloggers out there at that time. Then we decided to try one grand unified blog where everyone can write. It wasn't but a few months later, on March 16, 2009, I closed my own blog and started writing here. The idea quickly grew past Ron Weinland and started addressing the larger ideas of Armstrongism that we began to see as we studied. We tried recruiting other authors. Soon, we had Bill, James D H Bruce, Corrinna, Caleb, Penny, and Martha, and not only that but a guest post from readers here and there, like Dillon, Centurion, Child Survivor, and others. 

Seeker eventually retired from actively blogging. The day of the blog had come and gone, for the most part. But she left us with her blog to keep going until we felt like we had said enough, too. She didn't stop writing and praising God, she just went to other venues.

None of this would have happened if it wasn't for Seeker. So many people were blessed because of what she did. All of the authors, guest authors, and readers around the world were blessed by God working through the seemingly small and insignificant efforts of one person. When I say people around the world, I mean it. We have gotten visitors and letters from literally all around the globe! All of those people who found any blessing from this effort have ultimately one person to thank for it. All blessed because one person followed the Holy Spirit and started a blog to write about grace and truth. She did what she could with what she had. Isn't it true that we plant and God provides the increase!

Well, God harvests what He grows. Last night, He brought home a good friend and faithful witness for Christ who blessed many in His name. 

If there is any truth to what Charles Dickens stated when he wrote, "It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellowmen, and travel far and wide [and turn what they can to happiness]," then truly Seeker did so. She will be missed! But I for one am confident wherever she is now she is working for Him still.

Go, enjoy your rest. You've earned it. And shine on you crazy diamond.
Until we meet again.

You Were Right To Join

Hello, dear reader. It's been a few minutes since I last posted. Truth is, I simply don't have the time anymore like I used to. Sometimes you just have to make time.

Today I want to give you two things - one that I almost never do, and one that I almost always do. First the one I almost never do...

YOU WERE RIGHT!

You were right to join your Church of God group.
You heard me. You were right to join Armstrongism.

Have I lost my mind? No. (I don't think so anyway.) Hear me out. Let's take a closer look here. What was the situation? You were faced with a huge decision - given the information that you had, your choice was either deny what you were convinced was true -or- you leave the world behind and join a Church of God. You saw something - maybe the 4th Commandment - and you were challenged with what to do with it. You chose to go with what you had been convinced was true with the information you had. How can that be a bad thing?

It's no small decision, either. You sacrificed, you faced scorn, you swam upstream, you basically had to isolate yourself from society. And you did it all because you have respect for truth and faith in God. Personally, I can't fault that. In fact, I think that anyone who does find fault in that isn't thinking clearly about the human condition. We all have to do the best we can with what we have. We have finite knowledge and finite resources. What can be expected!?

So I say again, you were right to join Armstrongism. Bear in mind that nothing I write in this article will diminish this.

That's what I almost never do; I almost never say people were right for joining a COG. Now for what I almost always do...

A BIG BUT

I always seem to have a "but!" to throw into the mix. It's kinda my thing. And my "but" is - you have access to more information now. And the information you now have access to should not be dismissed offhand but considered in every bit as much gravity and importance as the information that convinced you to join, or remain in, a COG group. You didn't dismiss the COGs; don't just dismiss us, please.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Life tends to go in large circles and by being here at ABD you have arrived back once again at that very same decision point. My question is - how would your original decision have been changed if you had access to more information?

Back when you made your decision to join or remain in a COG, you had already in your possession a certain set of information. You had on one hand what you brought with you and already accepted as true up to that time, and you had in the other hand what you were being given by the COGs. Then you made the best decision you could at the time. No one can fault you! You know what you know and that's all you know. Ya know? Well, now you have at your fingertips all of the articles and experiences of the writers and contributors here at ABD.

We all faced and made the same decision you made. We were all once in a COG (either born into it or joined later). But then we were presented with more information that we simply didn't have access to previously. We each found ourselves at that same decision point once again, but this time with better information. We share that information freely with you.

Today, you have in one hand the things the COGs have convinced you is true, and in the other the articles in this blog which give you the rest of the story that the COGs left out.

GOING FORWARD

I am not exaggerating when I say there are very important things you need to know that will completely alter the equation. There are things that were purposefully hidden from us by the COGs. Things they don't want us to know. What should one do with such information? Bury the head in the sand? Dismiss it outright? Refuse to listen?

We ask, what will you do?

So, you were right to make the decision you did. Nothing said here diminishes this in the least. You did the best you could at the time. So did we! But we offer you more information than what you had then. Are you willing to at least hear us out? Are you willing to prove all things and see if what we are saying is true? What if it is?

If no information in the world could possibly convince you to reconsider, then go in peace. We harbor no ill will here. But, we suspect you wouldn't be here in the first place if that were so.

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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom. ; )
Acts 17:11
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On a Personal Note: Why We're Here

If you've stumbled onto As Bereans Did, chances are good that you have two questions: who are these guys, and why do they criticize the Churches of God so much?

A reader from a COG splinter, who knows me both as myself and as Martha, reminded me recently that it might wise to give any newer readers a refresher on the motives behind this blog. It's a reasonable suggestion, and I'm thankful for it.

So what's the point of As Bereans Did? Are we just a bunch of haters who let bitterness steal our crowns? Are we mockers out to persecute God's true church?

ABD has been around for more than a decade. It's been through many hands, but the goals have always been the same:

1. To challenge the doctrinal and historical fallacies promoted by Herbert Armstrong, the Worldwide Church of God, and the splinter groups that remain today. 
2. To reach out to and support those who are questioning or contemplating leaving these splinter groups. 

But why? Do we invest our time because we're bitter, angry and will do anything we can to disparage the COGs? 

Not at all. We do it because we care about you. We do it because we WERE you. 

All of ABD's writers were COG members at some time. Some came in as adults, others were raised in it. But all took a hard look at COG doctrines, found them wanting, and left, embracing mainstream Christianity in some form or another. We're relatively content. Sure, we have some regrets and some scars. But for the most part, we're living the abundant life Christ promises in Him. We're free from the weariness of the mental checklist. We're free from the fear of falling short and ending up in the Lake of Fire. We're free from the ministerial abuse, from the toxic culture, the loneliness.

But you're not.

You - our grandparents, our mothers, our fathers. Our siblings, our cousins, our nieces and nephews. Our childhood friends. Those with whom we went to college. Who stood by us during painful church splits. Who've bandaged our children's skinned knees. Who've shared pieces of our lives that few other can understand.

That weighs heavily on our hearts. And that is why we're here, and why we do what we do. Trust us, it would be a whole lot easier to grab a bag of chips and turn on Netflix.

Let me make it clear:

We don't care what you eat. Eat pork, don't eat pork, whatever. Trying to figure out what to serve our friends on the latest fad diet is much harder, anyway.

We don't care what day you go to church. Sure, the Saturday-Sunday schedule conflict can be a challenge. But whatever. We care about you, and if we all try, we can find a way to make the relationship work.

We don't even care - really - about the holy days. We do think holy day observance can be dangerous - because of the self-righteousness they foster, the bad theology your church uses to support them, and mostly because we believe they distract from the very One they pointed to. But hey, Paul turned out ok. Evidence is mixed on whether he continued to keep all of them or mainly used them as a gospel opportunity. But we're not here to argue about that, not today.

We don't care about lobster, about the sabbath, or about Pentecost. We care about what's happening to YOU.


Toxic Culture

Even you can't deny that the COGs have a toxic culture. Oh, not the COG that you attend, of course, just all the other ones. Rather than consider that the shared doctrines might be causing the dysfunction, you blame the guy(s) at the top of the other groups. Don't forget that they're ALL trying to imitate the same guy, and restore what he taught to some degree or another. Yes, even "so-called Christian" churches have struggles that are inevitable as long as men are in charge. But even ugly disagreements are handled with a level of discussion and grace that is unheard of in the COGs. It infuriates us to see you demeaned, slandered and cast aside, especially by lifelong "friends." We want better for you.


Self-Righteousness

We know you'll deny it, but the COGs reinforce, and sometimes directly teach, salvation by works. This can't help but reinforce a culture of self-righteousness. Instead of living for Christ, you live in fear of screwing up. Understanding grace sets the tone for true forgiveness, compassion and a basis for real Christian relationships. But if your salvation depends upon what you do, then you must do your best to get everything right - or at least some mysterious, unquantified percentage.

This false doctrine fuels the underlying dynamic of criticism, fractious relationships between brethren and the never-ending cycle of church splits. These painful splits shook our worlds, ended our friendships and tore apart our families. We're done with them, and are trying to learn how to forge relationships based on grace, love, mercy and forgiveness. But it breaks our hearts to see you suffer in fractured organizations and fractured relationships, because we know the pain all too well.


Isolation

Life in the COGs was isolated enough when we were in them, and it's not getting any better. Fellowship with mainstream Christians and apostate family members is often discouraged, and sabbath and holy day observance make it a challenge with friends and co-workers. That wasn't fun, but wasn't as bad when congregations were large and thriving. But today, splits, an aging population and lack of growth make most COGs a lonely place to be, leaving many members vulnerable to depression, alcoholism and suicide. In many ways, this can become a spiritual concern. The Bible describes Satan as a hungry lion, prowling to find whoever he can devour. Lions don't attack the pack head-on. They come from behind, looking for those who are young, sickly or weak, and try to pick them off. Isolation makes you vulnerable to the devil.

The Bible makes it clear Christians function best in community, working together to fill different roles and take care of widows, orphans and members in need. Yes, we know you have scattered congregations and Facebook communities. But an elderly member can't come shovel your driveway when you're snowed in. Someone who lives two hours away can't sit with you while you wait for the paramedics to arrive. A Facebook friend across the pond can't care for your children during a family emergency. We have felt the strain of loneliness and the pain of isolation. It doesn't have to be this way. We want you to be joyful, safe and healthy, both physically and spiritually.


Salvation

I'm going to tread lightly on this one because it's above my pay grade. I'm not going to argue about when one attains salvation, when one becomes part of God's family, or the so-called "once saved, always saved" doctrine. This is not a treatise on salvation. If we believe that salvation comes by grace, through faith rather than works or perfect understanding, it would be foolish to claim that false doctrines will jeopardize your eternal life.

At the same time, in one of our favorite books of the Bible, Paul has strong words for those who promote a gospel that combines grace and works. He tells them that they are cut off from Christ, that His sacrifice does nothing for them if they try to secure their salvation through their actions, works, observances and abstentions. A church that at best hints - and at worst promotes - observance of commandments, sabbaths and holy days as components of salvation leads its members toward sinking sand rather than the Rock. We can't judge your heart, judge your motives, judge your standing with God. We don't want to. But we'd be lying if we said we weren't concerned, and didn't pray for you regarding this matter.


You are Worth It

We know that we don't update this blog as often as we used to. The truth is, Jesus knew what He was talking about. Life gets amazingly, ridiculously abundant when you're trying to serve Him instead of spending your time reading ingredient wrappers or calculating sunset times. We hope that someday, we'll find time to write on occasions other than milestones, holy days, Easter and Christmas. But for now, there's lots of good information here to help you on your spiritual journey. I know, because it was one thing that helped me start mine.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Jesus told us that we'll be rewarded for the things we give up in this life. If what the COGs teach, and the doctrines and practices are what your Creator expect of you, it's all worth it. The abstentions. The observances. The rigidity. The isolation.

But what if it isn't what God expects of you? Is it worth it then?

We believe that isn't what He wants for you. We believe He wants more for you. And so do we.

So, in case there's any further doubt, why are we here?

The answer is simple:

Because of you.



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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom. ; )

Acts 17:11
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On a Personal Note - Why We Do What We Do

We've noticed that a number of people have been checking out the “About ABD” section lately. It seems a few of you out there wondering who we are, what we're doing and why we're doing it. Fair questions.

As Bereans Did is a collaborative blog that examines the teachings of the Church of God movement, often called “Armstrongism” after its founder, Herbert W Armstrong. God called the writers out of the Churches of God and, as folks who have been on both sides of the fence, we feel uniquely qualified to address many doctrinal issues from a standpoint that many who've spent their entire lives in mainstream Christianity cannot. We try to offer a respectful, Christian perspective, in contrast with many other ex-COG blogs. Although we do enjoy us some sarcasm.

The following are NOT some of the reasons we run this blog:

We like to make fun of the COGs and its members. While some of the COGs doctrinal wranglings are amusing, for the most part, we try to attack ideas, not people. Sometimes it's hard to separate the two, and there are some people who, well, you know... many of them are probably the reason you found us in the first place. But we believe that all of us – you, me, Rod Meredith, Jim Franks, Victor Kubik and, yes, even Dave Pack – were made in God's image; that Jesus died for all of us, and that all are worthy of respect.

We think you believe you are earning your salvation. We know that most of you absolutely do NOT believe this. We know most of you feel  that your behavior absolutely does not merit you salvation. A carrot-and-stick salvation is the logical conclusion of the belief system you've been handed, but over the years, cognitive dissonance on these teachings have made things very, very muddy. We'd be lying if we said we weren't concerned about your eternal destiny. The Bible has strong words for those who add to the gospel. Is the responsibility with the teacher? Does God honor the faith of the listener? These are questions we are glad are above our pay grade.

We think you intentionally are following a man. We focus so much on Herbert Armstrong precisely because many of you believe you do not follow him. At this point in the COG movement, you're so far removed from HWA that you're learning from men who were taught by men who followed a man. You can't understand where you've arrived are unless you understand where you were, or more accurately, where past generations came from.

We are bitter people who hate HWA. Actually, some of us are young enough that we barely remember Herbert Armstrong. We're not thrilled what what his false teachings have wrought in our families, and we fear for his soul, but there's no deep-seated loathing on my part.

We think everyone in the COGs are dumb and/or bad people. Don't forget, we were with you. We WERE you. We have come to understand the New Covenant only by the calling and grace of God. We know you are genuine, sincere, thinking people who are trying your best to live in a way that pleases your Creator.

So then, why do we run this blog? In short, because of you.

We care about you. There's no doubt that relations are frequently strained between those who leave the COGs and those who remain. Many of us left without saying good-bye, because we wanted to avoid the inevitable arguments. We know what's said about us, to our faces or behind our backs - because we said those things about others. We know we are judged harshly for some of our choices - because we judged others harshly. We often keep our distance, and that's easy to do since we no longer share Sabbath or festival fellowship time. But you are our friends and family, and we care about you.

We want to “pay it forward.” Those who went before us – sometimes those whom we talked about and judged harshly – helped us negotiate our questions and confusion. We know you think we “took the easy way out,” but in reality, there's nothing easy about this road. Coming out of a controlling, restricted religious environment is difficult, and asking questions in such a place is often an invitation for abuse and harassment. It can feel like there's no one to talk to, nowhere to turn. Without these people, we would have felt stranded and alone. But someone was there for us, and we want to do the same for those who will come after us.

We know how it feels. This is a frustrating time to be a COG member. Splits and financial crises are coming more and more frequently. Almost as frequently as open letters from young COG members  pleading for unity among the divided groups. It's maddening to have your support system, your friends and your family torn apart each time the ministry decides they are no longer “pleased to dwell” and must separate for the sake of all that is Holy. If you're reading this blog, then either you or someone you know is discouraged with the state of the COGs. We are thankful that the drama no longer affects us, but we are still grieved to see it happen to you. True, Jesus did come to turn father against son, daughter against mother. We must “hate” our own family and our own lives by comparison to our dedication to God. But is what we see today really what Jesus meant?

We want you to have the joy, peace and rest of the New Covenant. Even at the height of the Worldwide Church of God's success, it was not a happy place. Feelings of impending doom as the end approaches. Strife that naturally accompanies legalism. Worry that you won't be good enough to “make it.” These are discouraging, demoralizing feelings that can paralyze you, rather than live the abundant life Jesus came and died for you to have.

Life as a Christian, mainstream or otherwise, is not all sunshine and lollipops. In fact, much of the New Testament is devoted to teaching Christians how to conduct themselves when life is less than ideal. But there is joy in knowing that my salvation and my righteousness are found in Him. This security does not give license to sin, but rather affords peace and rest in Christ rather than a lifetime of worry and doubt. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.

Here's the bottom line: we don't care if you never, ever eat a bite of pork. It seems to have worked out OK for Peter. We don't care if you prefer to worship on Saturday, although we wish you understood how the Sabbath was fulfilled in Christ. Many churches – even mainstream Christian ones – offer Saturday options. We find the Holy Days distasteful and wish you'd embrace the reality of their fulfillment in Christ rather than their shadows. But we know you find some of our practices distasteful, too, like Christmas and Easter. On that note, we wish you'd see their significance and examine their real, historical roots rather than the fabricated ones Herbert Armstrong and Alexander Hislop handed you. But in the end, that's not what we really want for you.

What we want for you is to quit living in fear and despair. Despair about your future – and your children's future - in this dying religious community. Fear that leaving will land you in the Lake of Fire. Fear that, even if you stick with it, you won't be good enough to “make it.” Spoiler alert: you won't.  That's kind of the whole point of salvation by faith through grace.

Bottom line, if the COGs are right about your eternal destiny and how to achieve it, then it's all worth it. But what if they're not? Would that change your answer?

We don't believe it has to be this way. We believe God wants more for you. Hear us out. That's all we ask.

That's why we do what we do.

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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom. ; )
Acts 17:11
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Some Reassurance RE Privacy

The thought occurred to me that I have never written here to reassure you, our guests, on how we treat your privacy. I wanted to let you know that your identity is completely safe here. You are free to read and comment and send us email in confidence.

We collect only the normal amount of information about your visit that every website collects - where you are from, what kind of browser you are using, what post you read, etc. In other words, we do not know who you are unless you tell us who you are in a comment or email. You may notice that Feedjit bar on the page. It operates on cookies. But the only thing it can do is say where you are from. It cannot tell us anything else. It does not collect any data for us. It's a novelty, really, but it encourages us and others that they are not alone in this search.

We insist that you remain safely anonymous every bit as much as we insist we remain safely anonymous.
If we remain anonymous then it's easier for us to do what we do. We want no payment of any kind, nor do we want accolades. If you choose to remain anonymous then it is easier for you to do what you do. Read, study, ponder, pray with no pressure from anyone and no fear that you'll be discovered.

We only collect what we do so we can know if there's any point to us continuing; we are auditing ourselves, not you. We're here for you, but in order for that to happen we need to know if you're there. If you're not there, then what's the point? We need to know something about visitors.

We do not harvest that information for any other reason. In other words, we do not sell, trade, publish, or leak any of this information beyond a few harmless bits such as for example every once in a great while we may post "we have had x number of hits this month" or something like that. 

We don't even sell advertising space on the site. We find it unspeakably annoying that a person can't seem to use a website or download an app on your phone that doesn't track you for advertising purposes or require you to create an account and log in for whatever reason. We aren't about that. As a visitor here, you are both truly welcome and truly free.

But most of all, I thought it would be important for you to know that we do not and will not ever leak that you've been here reading our material to your church or minister or the dreaded deacon's wife. We couldn't even if we wanted to, because we don't collect that kind of information about you. They cannot and will not know you were ever here. 

More than anything, we want you to step into the New Covenant in the finished work of Jesus Christ. But how can we get to that point if you aren't safe here to read our posts? We cannot! Therefore, we will never endanger that goal through the foolishness of data-mining. As far as we are able, we will do whatever we can to ensure that you are safe and anonymous here, so long as you choose to be. Read 5 words, or read every word we've ever written -- no one can ever know! Send us an email -- it will be between us.  :)

One disclaimer: we reserve the right to pass information on to the authorities if a guest is being out of line, for example threatening us or someone else.

God bless you, dear reader. I pray His light shine on you always. I hope knowing you're safe here has brought you some comfort even if it is just a little.

30 Years Later

When I was 19 years old and at college, I decided upon reading the Bible that I should be baptized by immersion, and I became convicted that I believed in Jesus Christ.  Shortly afterward a friend gave me a magazine called the “Plain Truth,” and in it was a card to order a free booklet on baptism, which I ordered because they said it was “free.” Free...well not quite. Within weeks, the Worldwide Church of God had saturated me with booklets, meetings with ministers, proof-texts beyond my ability at the time to discern, and I was convinced of what they taught.  Within a few short years I met my wife and we began a family, which made my ties to the organization strong and, as it would seem at the time, permanent.

Over the years I continued to read the bible and began to study the history of the WCG. I felt a nudge deep inside that something was not right in my faith. I was not sure if I would “make it” into the kingdom, and I found it continually more difficult to explain a grace that results from works. I had trouble grasping why we kept some laws but not others. Eventually I began to realize that I never really kept the law according to the Old Covenant at all. Yet all those other churches were false because they didn’t keep the law. My head was spinning. And when our friends lost their son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren to the silence of the Philadelphia Church of God, never to be permitted to speak to them again, it was too much for my wife and me. We cried for them and wondered, my God, could this happen to us?  Could we lose our children to one of these groups? What if this is not right? We need to do something!

Most of you reading this have a similar story. We were certain that we had found the one true church and God’s true end time apostle. We continued on for years. Some of us were ordained, many of us gave sermonettes, sang in choirs, and we all had fun spending a lot of money on ourselves at the Feast. But we also spent a lot of time judging everyone else as false Christians.  We became caught in our own trap, for if one must keep the law to be a “true Christian” then we were in trouble. So we lived on for years with questions and doubts but were afraid to face the answers. Some of you are still in a COG group, some have left, and some are alternating attendance between different COG splinters, frustrated with the continued splits and divisions.  

Some of you are now like my wife and I were, feeling a strong sense that “we need to do something” but not knowing what to do.

That is where I was at when a Google search popped up the result for this blog. The many posts here were invaluable to helping me sort all this out. What a privilege to now be a contributor to this work. My entire family left the COG in 2010 and since that time we’ve been blessed beyond words. I have had the privilege to attend Columbia International University in their graduate seminary program. What a joy it is to study the Word of God!  I’m involved in our church worship and have recently begun to become involved in various missions. My wife and I have met young people from China and other parts of the world who long to know about this Jesus who we talk about. Oh yes, while I was spending years arguing about Sabbaths, holy days, new moons, calendars and such, God was on a mission to bring the blessing of his Son to the many people groups around the world!  

I have tearfully learned, having lived under legalism and fear, to value grace so much more than I ever would have.  In that sense the entire COG journey has been a blessing. I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the one and only way to life everlasting, that He gave himself willingly for me and for all humanity, and that I am saved by grace through faith in Him alone. Realizing the joy of this freedom in Christ has made me even more committed to living a life that shares his grace, forgiveness, mercy, compassion, love and peace with other people, as the Lord has instructed.  Far from grace being a license to sin, I am overcome with a desire to please him as a result of what he has done for me.  And I am dedicated to use my training in the legalists’ arguments and proof-texts in order to refute them and free those who may be troubled by such arguments as I was.   

May your time here be a blessing to your journey!

Caleb

ALL THINGS OLD ARE NEW AGAIN

It's not every day I get to write a post for As Bereans Did. There have been no "new" posts here for two years. Seeker said there might eventually be a post here some day. I am honored to announce that today's the day!!

Two years is a long pause. Please excuse our absence! I'm thankful that people still come here to read our material even after all this time. I've kept up on comments, so we never truly left. That isn't the same as being actively here for you, though. We are going to fix that.

It occurred to us recently that there is still more to say.
More glorifying the work of Jesus our Lord and Savior. More uplifting messages of hope for people in a Church of God splinter group who don't know why they're there anymore. More encouragement that there is a New Covenant and all you need is to step into it. More reader testimonials to share so you can know you're not alone. More in-depth analysis on faulty truth-claims. More fresh perspectives on old ideas. And a few things more for us to learn, too, as we go along.
We didn't want to start a new blog to bring this to you when this one is already here. So instead we brought in new writers.

I would like to welcome the first of our new writers, James D. H. Bruce, to the team. I know I can't wait to read what he has to say. He'll be putting up a hello post soon.

We'll be announcing more new writers as they are ready. I'm incredibly excited. As for now, we've got some re-tooling to do and some dust to blow off the Ethernet. I hope you like the new look! It's clean, it's bright, it represents the powerful God we serve and the bright future we have in His Son.

For readers out there who are new to As Bereans Did, welcome! Please take your time, relax, and learn with us. For the old stalwart readers, welcome back, it's good to have you here.

One Year Today

It looks like Mike & I were kind of in the same mind set. I wrote this post on the 14th and scheduled it to post today, the one year anniversary of this blog. I noticed that Mike, too, is noting his one year anniversary (April 13, 2008). Wow Mike, I hadn't relized that we had begun our blogs so close together, just four days apart. Happy anniversary.

It doesn't seem that long ago, but I started this blog one year ago today, April 17, 2008.

I couldn't imagine where I would be right now, with new friends & co-authors, hearing from people who have been helped by this blogs postings.

I started this blog because I was so angry with RW & I wanted to share the truths of the Bible that I had discovered when I began investigating RW's teachings.

I can't help but wonder if RW wasn't placed in my life by God, because before he came on the scene in my family's lives, I was NC mostly by faith, but I really didn't know a whole lot, and couldn't even hold a good NC conversation without getting lost... until RW came on the scene AND ensnared three of my family members.

I had gone to the FOT with my Mother in 2005 where he announced that he had some big revelation or something along that line. So everyone was attentive and held in suspense waiting for him to reveal this big thing.

I can remember sitting there for what seemed a painfully long time trying to understand what he was saying, because really, he wasn't saying anything. He was beating around the bush... I guess testing the waters or something before he spilled it. And finally it came, but he hadn't said it outright yet. I asked myself: "Is he saying what I think he's saying? Is he saying that Jesus was created? Should I get up and walk out on this blasphemy?!" I didn't. I sat there in shock for the remainder of the "service".

I can remember later that evening calling my spouse about what I had heard. I was very concerned about the whole thing, and most disturbing was that my Mother was willing to buy it! It seemed everyone was willing to buy it! My Mother kept asking me questions and saying things as if in hopes that I was believing it too. Like it was some great new truth that had been revealed. Of course, I didn't, not for a nano-second.

When I returned home, I  continued to listen to RW every Saturday, but I also began to investigate everything he was teaching. I asked my spouse, who had been NC before we even got involved, questions about scriptures and the answers sounded logical. Then I would ask my Mother about the same scriptures, and her answers sounded logical. This went on for a week, maybe two, when I realized I was getting nowhere and that I was going to the wrong place for answers.

I started telling God that I wanted to know the truth, and I wanted him to understand that I had no preferences. I told him that if we are to keep holy days, no problem. I told him that if we aren’t to keep holy days, again, no problem. I told him that all I wanted was HIS truth. I prayed that most every day for the entire length of my investigation.

I studied, literally, every single day for ten months long into the night and when it was over, I had learned more than I had in all my years. I was amazed at God’s NC! I was amazed at how I hadn’t seen it before. I was amazed at how simple it was to understand – sure some things are confusing, but pretty much, it’s straight-forward. But I guess when you’ve been spoon fed what the scriptures “actually mean” by deceivers, you look at scriptures with the wrong pair of glasses.

I can remember asking my three family members about two scriptures (Is. 48:12, 13 & 16 and Jer. 23:5-6). I only got a response from two. I wanted to know what these scriptures said  to them. One brother needed time before he could get back to me. Why would it be so difficult to understand? I’ll tell you. It’s because it said the opposite of what he was taught, and it’s difficult to make a scripture say something it doesn’t. So when Jer. 23 says that Jesus is called Yahweh, (so The Father and the Son are called Yahweh), and Is. 48 says Jesus is the Creator, how do you explain the “true” meaning of the scripture when RW has told you that only the Father is Yahweh and that Jesus had a beginning. All of a sudden, a simple scriptures becomes complicated and confusing.

So I took a lot of the papers I had written in my quest for truth and started this blog on the very day in which RW had said was the beginning of the Final Great Tribulation… in his first time-line, beginning with the one that seems to bother me most: Did Jesus Have A Beginning? Jesus is the center of everything and RW took away His identity, took away His Self-Existence, and turned Him into a created God, when clearly Is. 43:10 says that no God has or ever will be created, and when 1 Tim. 3:16 says that God was manifested in flesh. Of course, you will have to look to your interlinear to see those words (there’s a link on the right to an online one).

And here I am one year later. I’ve since been trying to deal with my anger. I don’t believe there is anything wrong with my anger other than that I have used it incorrectly. Rather that striking out, I can simply present God’s truth with love and kindness. I am, and have been, working on that, and my friend xHWA has been a huge help (I think God sent him my way). He has set the example that I am attempting to incorporate. So, thank you for that xHWA, and thank you God for sending him my way. I can only hope that in some way I have helped him in his journey as well.

I want to say thank you to those of you who have commented and/or e-mailed me to let me know that you have been helped by this blog. I’ve often struggled, wondering if I was doing anyone any good at all, and each time one of you contacted me, I was encouraged. I want to serve God. I want Him to be pleased with me. I hope that in some small way, He is.

I am thankful, grateful,  for the help of my blog team, and I pray we will continue to help others in their quest for God’s truth.

 

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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom.

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New Authors, New "About"

As some of you may have noticed, new authors have joined!

I have updated the"About" to better clarify our goal, our intent. It is as follows:


A Warm Welcome to You, the Reader,

This blog is about the importance of seeking the truth of God's Word: When we consider what others say/teach about God's Word, it's vital to make sure it's TRUTH.

Do we prefer the truth, whatever it may be? Even if it's not what we had thought?
Because we desire to please God, we do 'As Bereans Did.'

Acts 17:11 (NIV)

'Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.'

UPDATE!

I’ve invited a few contributors to the blog, all of whom are believers & advocates for our Lord & Savior Jesus.

It’s wonderful and refreshing to hear different views on Biblical matters from fellow believers in Christ. If a debate should result, one in a spirit of seeking truth and not of competition and self-aggrandizement is desirable for stimulating thought and to provide a resource for individuals in coming to their own conclusions. However, we will not debate the existence or non-existence of God, or of Jesus as the Christ.

The object here is not to jam our views down anyone’s throats. A healthy debate is not an argument, and if each view point were identical, there would be little to be gained toward stimulating thought and growth. We will certainly write as if certain that our beliefs are true, since to say otherwise would be an inaccurate representation of ourselves.

I think it’s safe to say that the authors here will have no need to denounce anyone;
Except some who have not discussed issues but rather dominated as if they were the singular oracle of truth;

Except some who have crossed the line of civility to become theological terrorists; 

Except some who have set themselves up as a point around which others should orbit, as if only this will open up the doors to commune with God;
 
Except some who lodge themselves and their views between a believer and his Lord. 

All others (authors & commenter’s) should be confident of being afforded a forum for civil faith-based discussion and a place to present their opinions and evidence so that everyone involved might increase in understanding. 

Hopefully the revealing of lies and liars can come to an end. We would rather focus on what is beautiful, uplifting, inspiring and true. However, deceivers continue spreading the Gospel of Themselves & we who have suffered deception have a soft spot for those who are being deceived. We could ignore those who would travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, [they] make him twice a son of hell as [they] are (Mt. 23:15), but to do so, is to acquiesce to a victimizer, surrendering the victim to the wolves, perhaps making ourselves an accessory to the crime. 

In such cases, love moves us to speak out.


May God bless you in your quest for truth!

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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom.

************

ABOUT AS BEREANS DID

A Warm Welcome to You, the Reader!

This blog is about the importance of seeking the truth of God's Word, for those in search of truth, and those leaving Legalism in search of truth: 

When we consider what others say/teach about God's Word, it's vital to make sure it's TRUTH. We should NEVER take anyones's word for it, but ALWAYS prove it for our self. It's OUR responsibility. We cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom. Don't we prefer the truth, whatever it may be? Even if it's not what we had thought? Of course! 

Because we desire to PLEASE God! So... we do 'As Bereans Did.'

(Acts 17:11) [NIV] Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Our goal is to help others understand & receive the Grace & Freedom that is in the New Covenant through Christ Jesus our Lord & Savior. 

ETIQUETTE

It’s wonderful and refreshing to hear different views on Biblical matters from fellow believers in Christ. If a debate should result, one in a spirit of seeking truth and not of competition & self-aggrandizement is desirable for stimulating thought & to provide a resource for individuals in coming to their own conclusions. (However, we will not debate the existence or non-existence of God, or of Jesus as the Christ).

A healthy debate is not an argument. If each view point were identical, there would be little to be gained toward stimulating thought and growth. We will certainly write as if we are certain that our beliefs are true, since to say otherwise would be an inaccurate representation of ourselves. Just keep in mind that everything is based on the current understanding of each author and that you, the reader, must research with more than just the scriptures we provide, and with God's guidance, prove for yourself.

The reader should be confident of being afforded a forum for civil faith-based discussion and a place to present their opinions and evidence so that everyone involved might increase in understanding. 

May God bless you in your quest for His truth!