Wade Cox Offers His Side

This is yet another follow-up post in a series about Wade Cox and his adventures on Facebook. You can find part 1 here, and part 2 here. I will continue under the assumption that you have read them.

As fortune would have it, Wade Cox has given his side of the story in a post on Facebook. In the interest of fairness (ABD is a polemics blog, but we try to remain fair) I will post it here, verbatim, unedited (except that names have been removed).
And then I will post the responses of each of the former Administrators of the group now occupied by Wade Cox, verbatim, unedited (except that names have been removed).

Did I say that I expected the last of it? Wow! Was I wrong! (See? I admit when I'm wrong.)

-------THIS FROM WADE COX
Facebook
Former Worldwide Church of God and Other COG Groups
Topic: Administration
Thursday, November 18, 2010

As a result of the false information being put out regarding the circumstances of the administration of this site, I will post the true circumstances.

This site was commenced as a result of the abusive behaviour of the clique that was operating on another site. [**UPDATE: I have just learned that by "another site" Wade here refers to the WCG Survivors Facebook group, where he unsuccessfully tried the same hostile takeover trick one year ago.] Many of us were on that site and left in disgust at the abusive behaviour there. We were asked by an administrator of this site not to leave the other site but to keep posting. When we refused they asked us to come to this site. The creator of the site guaranteed us that the abuse of the other site would not be permitted. They also guaranteed us that these abusers would not be allowed on this site. The creator of the site also stated that it was her intention to ask one or two of us to become administrators of the site.

On those provisos we agreed to assist here. After a period of productive and civil exchanges it seems that a conspiracy appears to have been formed between at least three parties to conduct a campaign of malicious defamation on this site. This conspiracy was confirmed when one of the people on the other site, who had been seemingly asked to come on to this site, blatantly stated on this site that the campaign existed and that there were three people operating within it. One of those named was one of the administrators of this site.

The members of CCG and others who had been posting here decided that there had been a significant breach of trust. After consistent failure to have the defamation removed and the site restored to rational behaviour, we all requested that all posts of ours be removed and all defamatory posts also be removed forthwith. It is obvious that the effect on the site would be serious.

The administrators were informed of our views and their agreements. One was given an email letter regarding the declared conspiracy allegedly involving the one of them. [This email is posted in full below.] The administrator receiving the letter did not deny the matters. Neither of the administrators have ever been a member or in fellowship with the CCG in spite of what has been suggested.

At no time was it ever suggested by any one of the CCG members that they be given administration of the site. At no time did I ever suggest that the site be handed over to me. At no time did any member or officer of CCG ever suggest or ask that the site be handed over to any one of us.

On 15 November 2010 I Skype called Ms. Dana Hilburn to discuss a number of matters. She stated to me that she was on her cell phone speaking with Ms. [Admin #1] the administrator of this site. She said: “[Admin #1] has rung to ask me (Dana) to take over the administration of the site and she wants you to be an administrator as well” or words to that effect. I asked her a question about it. I said: “yes we could do it” or words to that effect. She relayed my comments to [Admin #1] via the cell phone. I could hear [Admin #1] speaking but could not make out the words clearly. Dana relayed her ([Admin #1]’s) comments to me via the Skype. She discussed how she would hand over the administration and I was told.

In the end [Admin #1] was told that we would accept the administration and clean up the site. We requested letters of appointment from her. She sent one to me naming us as administrators. She then reorganised the administration removing both the administrators and appointing the both of us. We then cleaned up the site removing the group of abusive trouble makers.

[Admin #1]’s comments regarding the cleanup and the posts on site were:
“Yes, Wade, you have presented some good stuff that has helped me to better understand who God is and who Jesus is and also about who the Elohim are. You have a lot of good historical material that you present too - just like with this particular question here.

And yes the site is in your good hands now. I'm sure that you will make it succeed in what you want it to be. I failed miserably at it, at the vision I had."

We all started work on this site with the same view, or so we thought. Perhaps it was too successful and that was why they began the campaign.

Shortly afterwards another site had been formed [Wade is referring to "Former WCG & COG Believers Now Embracing The Truth". A group started by the two now former Administrators of the group Wade took over.] and false and malicious statements began to appear there posted by the people allegedly in the group stated to be formed to attack the people on this site. Other false statements are being circulated on the anti-COG hate sites [We can only assume that Wade is referring to As Bereans Did, Exit and Support Network, and Living Armstrongism.] allegedly by these same people. They do not seem to understand the requirements of civil law.

Fortunately what goes on in the English speaking world generated from these US etc. hate groups has little influence outside of the gossips of the US and BC. The Antinomian hate groups work together promoting the same lies and we have closed a number of them down over time for malicious and criminal defamation. No doubt we will have to continue to do so.

Declared by me Wade Cox on 18 November 2010

-------END FROM WADE COX

As Bereans Dis is a grace-based polemics website dedicated to investigating Armstrongism. We stress the New Covenant which mainly consists of Faith, Hope, and Love. Wade calls that "lawless" and "hate," while he goes around saying that Hitler is a full blood Jew and that the Jews, Catholics, Protestants, and the Adventist groups will be made to bow before him and follow his version of religion or die. As Bereans Did prints our thoughts and opinions and invites anyone to comment who can manage a respectful sentence. We are good friends with Agnostics, Catholics, Protestants, and believe it or not even Armstrongists. We even give Wade Cox equal time to defend himself. Wade, on the other hand, shuts down chat groups and threatens to sue anyone who disagrees with him in order to silence his opposition - while he hypocritically makes the exact same sort of comments that he rails against and terms "defamation."
You decide which sounds like "hate." I leave that obvious decision in your capable hands, dear reader.

And now, in the interest of fairness, the rebuttals to the rebuttal.

-------RESPONSE FROM ADMIN #1
Facebook
Former WCG & COG Believers Now Embracing The Truth
Topic: I'm Sorry
Thursday, November 18, 2010

Wade took my comments out of context from a post that I had previously posted a day or two before. Here is my post in its entirety:

Yes, Wade, you have presented some good stuff that has helped me to better understand who God is and who Jesus is and also about who the Elohim are. You have a lot of good historical material that you present too - just like with this particular question here.
And yes the site is in your good hands now. I'm sure that you will make it succeed in what you want it to be. I failed miserably at it, at the vision I had.
But worse of all, I betrayed [Admin #2]'s trust in me and I let her down. I should have talked to her first but I didn't know what else to do and neither she nor I needed the problems. I felt the only way to deal with the problem was to just hand over complete control to you and so that is what I did. And I felt it was in mine and [Admin #2]'s best interest and I think it is all for the best.
I thank you for taking the time to answer my question here that you posted.
As far as me posting here anymore, my heart is no longer in it. I came to the different COG and former WCG FB groups looking for answers. Some of the answers I have found have been hard, not what I was wanting to hear. But the evidence speaks for itself. Where the path will lead, I don't know. And maybe I will never have all of the answers that I seek in this life time.

The day I turned the group over to Wade, I had received several messages from both him and Dana. Wade was threatening legal action because he said we had committed criminal conspiracy. I was informed that we would be sued. So I gave Wade the group to put an end to it all.
Did I make a mistake giving the group to Wade? It depends on how you look at it. For myself, no, it was not a mistake. I thought Wade had the 'truth'. I was coming dangerously close to getting mixed up with Wade's group. But there have been things that I was seeing that I questioned. But I think it took all of what has happened to make me see what they are all about.
I have been told that CCG is not much of a church at all but just someone who writes a lot of technical papers. I can't confirm this. But what I will say, based on my experience and everything that has happened, Wade's group is not one that I would chose to get involved with.

Yes, I did believe Wade had the 'truth'. I do believe he knows a lot and he knows a lot about historical information.
But because someone knows a lot and may have a lot of answers to questions, does not make a person right or make this person have the 'truth'.
I had to learn the hard way but I don't think Wade is God's one and only true church. And even though this was a hard, painful way to have to learn something, I'm glad that God got my attention.

I did say all of that. As I previously stated, I think Wade knows a lot. And he had answered some of my questions.
And when I told Wade the site was in good hands, I said it was in his good hands now. It was irony and at the same time I felt like I had failed. I did fail.
I made a mistake believing Wade had the 'truth'. I was wrong. I can't undo believing Wade and believing that God was using him. I can only go forward now.

-------END RESPONSE FROM ADMIN #1


-------RESPONSE FROM ADMIN #2
Facebook
Former WCG & COG Believers Now Embracing The Truth
Topic: I'm Sorry
Thursday, November 18, 2010

To all:

Since Wade is freely posting in public "his" version of what happened, I feel free to post his letter to us. Here is the truth. 

[The following is a letter sent from Wade Cox to Admin #2 Date Mon, 15 Nov 2010 11:13:59 +1100. I want to note that this more than corroborates what we quoted and commented upon in the previous post in this series. This is the letter we received anonymously; a word for word match.]

[Admin #2] and [Admin #1], 

This matter is very serious.
[Admin #2], what you and [Admin #1] have allowed to happen, and which you, [Admin #2], deliberately encouraged and participated in, was a breach of an agreement and understanding. That was that we would participate and assist you on this site provided these WCG Survivor people and the ringleaders of the scandalous behaviour there and specifically [Group Member #2], [Group Member #4], [Group Member #3] and these others you allowed on this site from the WCG Survivors site were not permitted access. As I understand it now, you [Admin #2] specifically went against our implicit understanding and actually invited them on and seemingly for the purpose of attacking CCG and me in particular.
The fact that [Admin #1] has handed the admin over to you does not negate her undertaking on the commencement of this site. Nor does it negate her legal position regarding the site.
What you have effectively done is to enter into a Conspiracy to commit Criminal Defamation against CCG and its people with at least two people namely [Group Member #1] and [Group Member #2] to defame and attack CCG as some sort of cult and to attack our people and me in particular. [Notice here that Wade makes a definite statement of fact not opinion, which is indeed false (the Group Members who read this letter have denied the accusation), the false statements of fact were about specific people (I have removed their names here, but they are named in the original), and this letter was sent to a third party - Admin #2 - and it appears fairly apparent that the statements were made with the intent of doing harm to these three people's reputations. This could very well qualify as genuine and actionable libel.] You have used the Former Worldwide Church of God and Other COG and Offshoots site (the site) to conduct the campaign, which is jointly run by [Admin #1] and yourself. The fact that [Admin #1] is now taking a lesser position does not negate the liability that you have placed her in. We of necessity are obliged to take action against you for what has been done there if it is not corrected immediately. What you have done to [Admin #1] is a very serious matter and she has a legal liability to join you should this matter proceed.
[Group Member #2] has publicly declared that you [Admin #2] and [Group Member #1] and He ([Group Member #2]) are acting in concert (against the CCG as a professed cult). [Cult - "a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader." (Definition #6 from dictionary.reference.com "cult".)] Indeed it appears to some that you may well have conspired to do this from the very beginning and if that is the case then the conspiracy is even more serious and extensive than it will be tried to be argued. Indeed when Ewart Cox wrote to [Admin #1] expressing dismay over [Group Member #1], she was making comments again on the site using his words to you within hours, indicating to him that you were encouraging them by simply passing on the correspondence, which you had no permission to do and which was a breach of the privacy legislation. [There is no reasonable expectation of privacy on Facebook.]
The simplest way to deal with the problem and get [Admin #1] free of the problem is to completely shut down the site forthwith and limit the damage. The very least we will accept is to remove all posts and threads by us completely; and any reference to us and any member or person in CCG or to CCG completely in any post or thread.
If you persists with the campaign we have no choice but to take action against the administrators of the site, both you and [Admin #1] and Face Book and [Group Member #1] and [Group Member #2]. Every additional defamation will simply add to the liability you face in running the site. Surely you can see what you have done in this regard. We understand [Admin #1] has been ill and we have prayed for her. However, that does not excuse you [Admin #2] and nor does it limit the liability of either of you. That you would be so foolish, after the treatment you received at the hands of these people, to engage in such a conspiracy with them against other people, who were helping you and lawfully registered and lawfully and responsibly operating within a number of nations under proper audit and government control, is inconceivable. You actually appear to have contacted these people to bring them on to the site for this very purpose.
That you both had made statements to me, and especially you [Admin #1] that you did not believe what these people were saying and then simply assisted them to conduct this campaign of what appears to be a Criminal Conspiracy is astounding. At the very least you took no responsible control of what was a public site operated by you. I can only conclude that you do not understand the implications of what has been done using you and the site as the vehicle and the very serious legal position you are both now in.
We are not prepared to simply sit there while these people conduct a campaign of public defamation and hate against us. Surely you can understand that simple fact.
Wade Cox

[End of letter from Wade to Admin #2. Continue with comments from Admin #2.] 

We all have a right to believe what we choose to without having a person or group constantly harrassing us, following us around the Internet making demands.
If this other group's motive is to "save" us, do they really think bullying us is the way?
If their motive is to gain control of yet "another" religious view site, then that is not going to happen.

-------END REBUTTAL FROM ADMIN #2

There you have it. Verbatim. Unedited (except to remove names). Minimal editorial.
Now you have what you need to make up your mind. And that, dear reader, is going to have to suffice for being the end of the matter. We have reported enough for you to be informed about the goings on in the greater sphere of Armstrongism. We are dropping the subject. The rest is up to you.

On a side note, I understand through the uncorroborated grapevine that people around the globe are seeing Wade's attitude on Facebook and are opting to exit his church. ABD denies playing any part in that, but we welcome the news. In our honest opinion, if there is any (to put it in a phrase we think Wade Cox would use) "damage" to Wade's reputation or the reputation of the organization he represents, he has only himself to blame. The rumors state that people are leaving because of what they see from Wade Cox, not from what they see from others about Wade Cox.

Wade may desire to lash out at others, but that won't solve what clearly is a pattern of his own creating. We recommend Wade turn to God in humility and surrender, and pray for His undeserved grace and mercy, and that he step into the New Covenant in the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. There he will find peace!

************
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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Wade Cox of the Christian Churches of God

This is a follow-up to our November 4th post, "Wade Cox In His Own Words".
Since that post, which chronicled several of Wade Cox's own verbatim comments in a discussion group on Facebook, we have witnessed a few interesting developments. As predicted in our post, Wade has acted to have any record of his comments removed completely. How he chose to go about this is the interesting part.

-------
If you are a little behind on this topic, here's a little info to bring you up to speed:
Facebook is a social networking site where people join to discuss whatever they may want to discuss and to leave posts about whatever they were doing throughout the day. Facebook members can create discussion groups on whatever topics they wish and invite others from around the Internet to join in. It's a great way to meet new friends and have spirited conversation. There are several discussion groups orbiting around the various splinter groups of Armstrongism.

As it turns out, in 2009, two people decided to start a generic discussion group for all active members of any Armstrongist COG. This group is named "Former Worldwide Church of God and Other COG Groups".
The group fell into contact with Wade Cox and some of his close associates. The group quickly became what amounted to an echo chamber for Wade Cox. Apparently Wade Cox would dominate and police any conversation, and made a habit of repeatedly copying information from the CCG.org website and pasting it there (from what I can gather, it appears that Wade believes the studies on the CCG.org website are definitive on any subject, and that they are by inspiration of God, and are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness). That was... until late this past October, when many of the people in that group came to grace and stepped into the New Covenant in the blood of Jesus Christ.

I understand, from comments made by two separate members of that discussion group who left the law for the Gospel, that Wade's own personal conduct was what drove them to see the truth. They both remarked how they felt his conduct was the opposite of what they expected from a Christian. From the comments that I personally read, it appeared that this opinion was not limited to these two people.
In the opinion of these two, anyone who did not agree with Wade Cox was made the butt of threatening and terribly demeaning comments. Judging from Wade's own comments that we recorded here, which you can see for yourself in the link above, we would tend to agree. In our opinion, Wade Cox's comments definitely appear threatening and terribly demeaning. He mentions death several times. That alone is disturbing enough to sour us to any involvement with the man or his organization. We are forced to question what sort of organization would willingly "elect" a man who makes comments such as those.
However we hear uncorroborated information through the grapevine that Wade Cox has instilled only yes-man sycophants into leadership positions and that the "election" process is a total sham.

At any rate, it was the sheer ungodliness of the attitudes that led these two group members (and others) to reconsider their theology, and to choose grace. There is a silver lining after all. Praise the Lord!! What a God we serve, who turns evil on its head and when that is done, "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it" (COL 2: 15). Amen!
So, now you're up to speed.
-------

After our last post, we predicted that Wade would try to remove his comments on Facebook. He has apparently done just that. Cowardly? Dishonorable? You decide.
At some point over the past weekend, likely Sunday, November 14th, 2010, the administration of the "Former Worldwide Church of God and Other COG Groups" Facebook group changed hands. Two of Wade Cox's trusted followers are now in control. Almost everyone who disagreed with Wade have been kicked out of the group. Most of the discussions were deleted. Several new "discussions" have appeared and guess what they contain. That's right! Copy/paste content from CCG.org. All of the old content appears to have been thoroughly reviewed, and anything that did not pass inspection was deleted. The effort appears to be a complete napalm; slash-n-burn.

As Tangina Barrons would say, "The house is clean." And just like in the movie Poltergeist, everything winds up completely destroyed and covered in filth.

Since around the time of our previous post, we had been lurking on the Facebook group and watching certain conversations with interest. There appeared to be a small group of people who were refuting Wade Cox and his legalist doctrines. This group of seven or eight people were standing up against Wade, offering no quarter to deceit and anti-Christ doctrine, giving no aid and comfort to the accuser of the brethren. So far as we can tell, there was a rather heated debate regarding the Trinity doctrine and how many Roman Emperors accepted the Trinity prior to 381 AD.
It appears to have started on Saturday, October 30, 2010, when an official of the CCG by the name of Russell Hilburn offered $500 to anyone who could "show that there was more than one Trinitarian or Binitarian Emperor of Rome before 381. They were Unitarian. .....put up or shut upl!!!!! [sic]", and certain people accepted the challenge. That debate went on for at least a week and a half. Among other questionable tactics, Wade Cox was apparently caught red-handed misquoting his source material (a time-honored tradition in Armstrongism, and a thing we have seen in more than just one of Wade Cox's articles on CCG.org). Wade, it appears, quoted Philip Schaff's "History of the Christian Church" as a source, but reworded the quote to entirely change its meaning. When he was called out on that, Wade responded that Philip Schaff was a Trinitarian [and therefore his history was faulty.] The conversation got a bit confusing, but it appears that the CCG team was defeated in the challenge, yet refused to admit this or to pay up. They welched on their own bet. They promised to return with a study proving their claims, but before they did the group was whitewashed and all evidence destroyed. (All evidence except what we recorded for posterity, of course.)

But how did Wade get control of the group to do all of this, you ask? As luck would have it, we were just contacted by an anonymous source who sent us an email from Wade Cox addressed to one of the former Administrators of the aforementioned Facebook group that explains the whole matter. In this letter, several of the people engaged in the conversation described above were mentioned by name, disparagingly of course. But that's not all the letter contained.

As we understand it, from the letter and conversations with witnesses, Wade Cox threatened to sue the two Administrators of the group if they didn't delete any negative comments, delete the entire group, or turn over control of the group. Not wanting the hassle, they now former Administrators opted to back down and turned over control.

Wade Cox has long been seen as litigious. He has reportedly threatened to sue several people and groups who were critical of him. It is reported that Wade once tried to have the Painful Truth website shut down. Wade Cox is aware of his reputation. He admits as much in a message which he wrote to the members of the CCG dated August 10, 2010, which is posted on CCG.org as of 11-15-2010, titled "New Moon".
Of course, in that same letter, Wade Cox claims he will soon control and reorganize the world and Islam, and govern it under the laws of the Old Covenant. Wade may be bluffing or he may believe what he's saying, but in our opinion this is not the kind of thing that we expect from a person who is in complete touch with reality. These appear to be more the ravings of a delusional mind suffering from a touch of megalomania or some such thing.
It is our opinion that Wade Cox uses this reputation to scare people off. ...In a godly manner, of course!

In my estimation from what I read in the letter to the two former Administrators of the Facebook group, it appears Mr. Cox is not a genuine lawyer.

Judging from the content of the letter that we received - and this letter gives us no reason to doubt its authenticity - Wade threatened to sue the now former Administrators of the Facebook group for, and we quote, "Criminal Conspiracy".
According to the definition of Criminal Conspiracy in the United States (the country of residence of the parties Wade Cox allegedly accused and therefore the location where the alleged offense occurred), in order to convict a person or persons of Criminal Conspiracy it must be proven that two or more people willingly and knowingly agreed to commit a crime. That crime must be a legitimate crime in the city/county/state/nation where the parties reside. Forethought and intent to knowingly commit a specific crime must be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to a jury of their peers. Some half-baked accusation simply would not suffice.

Also in the letter we see an accusation of, and I quote, "Conspiracy to commit Criminal Defamation against CCG and its people". Now that's a hard one to prove.
Defamation by definition does not include truth. Truth is an absolute defense against accusations of Defamation. [Eg. To accuse someone of being an adulterer could be Defamation; to prove it out can never be Defamation.] There is sufficient case law to say that statements believed to be true at the time they were made are also most likely going to be protected speech. Opinion is also protected under free speech laws (An opinion cannot be defamatory according to the United States Supreme Court.  Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc., 418 U.S. 323, 1974). So Wade would have to prove to a court in the United States that the accused knowingly made false and damaging statements of fact [not opinion], that they knew to be false at the time, and that those statements were in fact not true. He would have to prove that the audience did not have reason to believe the statements were hyperbole. He would also have to prove actual damage occurred as a direct result of those statements. His likelihood of success? Almost zero. At the same time, he would have to defend against counter-suit, and the case against Wade Cox is more hefty, in my opinion, than his case against those he accuses.

From the wording in the letter, what Wade describes sounds a lot more like Breach of Contract. That would be next to impossible to prove. No court would entertain the notion. Here is the wording:

[What the accused] "deliberately encouraged and participated in, was a breach of an agreement and understanding. That was that we would participate and assist you on this site provided [certain names and parties mentioned] you allowed on this site ... were not permitted access. As I understand it now, you ... specifically went against our implicit understanding and actually invited them on and seemingly for the purpose of attacking CCG and me in particular."

Those are some big words there. Unfortunately they appear to be more for show and bluster than anything else. Was there ever any legally-binding contract or agreement? Was it finalized? Was it witnessed? Is there any proof? Is there any proof that certain people were invited in for the stated purpose of attacking CCG and/or Wade Cox? No? Well then all we have is a difference of opinion. Perhaps even a delusion. To accuse someone of a legitimate crime is a lot easier than to prove such a thing out. In fact, the parties involved may have a pretty good case against their accuser.
**Nothing on this As Bereans Did should be construed as legal advice. This is opinion only. For actual legal advice, please consult a licensed atourney.**

So, there you have it. We have given you the promised update to the last post. I expect this is going to be the last of it. Wade Cox has his little group now, and he's not going to share anymore or play nicely with others.
**UPDATE: See the comments for a couple humorous developments.

It gets tiresome to see this same fanatical and narcissistic pattern repeated over and over from the Armstrongist arena. So we say again, If you are someone who is attending the CCG or is thinking of attending the CCG, PLEASE consider carefully what you're doing. If you know someone who is attending, or is thinking of attending the CCG, PLEASE get them to this post. And please keep them in your prayers.

Now, just for fun, here are some activities that you can do with your children, courtesy of CCG.org:
Here is a "Bible study" cross-word puzzle.
Here is a coloring-book page.
Gee, don't those look like so much fun!? "Mommy, I colored Satan's Den! Can I color Cain murdering Abel next??"

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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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Wade Cox In His Own Words

Have you ever heard of Wade Cox and the Christian Churches of God (CCG)? Well, I think it's about time you did!

RedFox, of Living Armstrongism, wrote a post called "Letters To ESN on Wade Cox' Armstrongite Group, Christian Churches of God". In this post, he mentions a letter submitted to ESN, that was written by a lady who had recently left the CCG.
If you go to ESN and read this letter, dated September 29, 2010, titled "Abused and Slandered by Christian Churches of God", you will get an eyeball full. Here is a quote:
"I have written proof of these abuses and revealing mindset at work from the General Coordinator and founder of the church [Wade Cox] and his inner circle. ... If there was anything on the Internet that could show the true character of this group and its officials, it may be helpful in informing people of their actions before they are immersed in this cult."
[**ABD does not claim to know if these allegations are true; neither supporting or denying their veracity - God knows. We just report what we have seen on other sites for your consideration.]

To the abused and slandered author of that letter, you did the right thing in contacting ESN! We support you!

But this isn't all that we've seen from Wade Cox.
For the two years ABD has been around, we've pretty much ignored Wade Cox, dismissing his group because in our opinion they appeared to be yet another splinter aberration with yet another cult-leader in the tiresome line of cult-leaders who thinks he's more powerful and grand than all the other cult-leaders (while they are all thinking the same about themselves). We've known some of the unusual things that the CCG teaches, and we've said a word or two about it, but we haven't had the time nor inclination to follow up. We've been busy enough with the likes of the real master of the Armstrong universe - Ron Weinland.
I forget now precisely what we've written. Well, no matter. Things have recently come up that have caught our attention.

We've recently received an anonymous tip. This anonymous tipster told us to go and look on Facebook and we'll see all the Wade Cox we can stomach. They told us where to look, and even gave us some quotes from Wade. The hook was bated, and we bit.
Here's what we've found.

What I'm about to post are direct quotes copied word for word earlier this morning - November 4th, 2010 - from a public discussion board on Facebook where all content is public. (You do not need to join the group to see the content; you only need join to engage in the discussion.)
I am not going to edit any more than it takes to remove a few unimportant sentences here and there. These are direct quotes from Wade Cox. So, as far as we know at the time of this writing, all of these things are true. [Red highlighting mine throughout. Words in blue are my own editorial.]

Facebook
Group: Former Worldwide Church of God and Other COG Groups

Discussion: Antinomian Apostates

Date: Saturday, October 30, 2010

Wade Cox
"I see that the intellectual vacuums have come across to this site to reduce the levels of discussion to the same abysmal level that they enjoy on the WCG Survivors site."

Date: Monday, November 1, 2010

Wade Cox
"You will learn when Messiah returns.
If you believe as you say you now do you have an obligation to return to the Catholic faith and apologise to them.
You and all these Antomiansn who believe as you do or worse will find themselvwes in the Second Resurrection and if you do not keep the law of God you will die the Secodn death.
If you are alive at the Coming of ther Messiah you will keep the laws of God or you will die"

Discussion: Third Resurrection

Date: Monday, November 1, 2010
[**Note: the following comment was made to a person who recently decided to part company with the CCG and its teachings, preferring to step into the New Covenant.**]

Wade Cox
"If you cannot understand the basis of what is being posted and how it demonstrates that these people you now have allowed to ruin this site are operating through false claims and downright lies and false accusation then I am afraid there is no help for you or this site. You seem to have no committment to any intellectual integrity."

Discussion: Synagogue of Satan

Date: early September, 2010

Wade Cox
"Our worst persecution was within the WCG from among our own so-called brethren.
They will be made to bow down and worship us. They left the faith for Trinitarianism and Binitarian/Ditheism and they will be punished. They keep the wrong Calendar as do the Jews of modern Judaism and they will be brought to account before us soon."

Wade Cox
"The churches of God have those people who also fall into that category simply because, as you have said, they do not keep the correct calendar and their Holy Days are off due to their calendar and the postponements. They do not keep all the Sabbaths, New Moons and Holy Days on the correct days and they hold to the traditions of men. They says they are Jews but lie."

Wade Cox
"The Babylonian system has penetrated everything from Judaism and the Trinitarian system to the WCG and the Offshoots and the COG (SD) Denver and the sDAs and SDBs in the US and whatever. They all keep the Babylonian Calendar with its system of intercalations as set in the Hillel Calendar which many of the white churches of god keep. There is no excuse for it.
How can one keep a calendar which uses the Babylonian intercalations and the Babylonian date system with this year as 5711 and keep Atonement on Saturday a day late this year and the Holy Days a day late also and not be part of the synagogue of Satan.
The Sardis and Laodicean systems are part of the synagogue of Satan and they will bow down and worship the Phildelphian era but so will the others including rabbinical Judaism no matter what their lineage."

[Name Witheld #1]
1Ti 1:3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 1Ti 1:4 nor to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies which promote speculations rather than the divine training that is in faith; 1Ti 1:5 whereas the aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith. 1Ti 1:6 Certain persons by swerving from these have wandered away into vain discussion, 1Ti 1:7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions. 1Ti 1:8 Now we know that the law is good, if any one uses it lawfully, 1Ti 1:9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 1Ti 1:10 immoral persons, sodomites, kidnapers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 1Ti 1:11 in accordance with the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

[**Note-- Ms "Name Witheld #1" ONLY quoted scripture. Here comes Wade's response.**]

Wade Cox
Ms [Name Witheld #1]
You know nothing and I have no desire to comunicate with you.

[Name Witheld #2]
"You know nothing and I have no desire to comunicate with you." - IF she knows nothing Wade isn't she the one you should be trying to reach the most?

Wade Cox
I have no desire to discuss this matter [Name Witheld #2].

[Name Witheld #2]
Why not?

Wade Cox
it a legal matter.

[**Note: A "legal matter"?????? You can't preach to the needy because of a "legal matter"??? That's his take on Christ???**]

Discussion: Attacks On the Law of God

Date: Late October, 2010

Wade Cox
Antinomianism has been infliltrating the Churches of God for millennia.
You have a very short time to go. You views and corrupt beliefs will die very soon along with the people who believe it.
Every person on this planet by the Millennium under Christ will keep the Sabbaths and New Moons or they will die (Isa 66:23). They will also keep the Feasts and send their representatives to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles or they will die of starvation and thirst or the Plagues of Egypt (Zech. 14:16-19).
There is no negotiation and you will do as you are told or you will die."

Wade Cox
"This cry of: 'Oh God will guide me is bunk.'"

Wade Cox
"I will explain the 613 Mitzvot again as Wikipedia is written in these texts by Jews who don't understand what is meant by it all."

Wade Cox
"The Sunday worshipping Trinitarians assert this nonsese so as to eliminate the Sabbaths, New Moons and Feasts which they cannot do. As stated previously those who do not keep the Sabbaths and New Moons will die and those who do not keep the feasts and send their representatives to Jerusalem will also die"

Discussion: Agenda of the Idol Shepherds

Date: Late October, 2010

Wade Cox
"CCG is not an offshoot of WCG. It is far greater than WCG and the vast majority of its members have never seen the inside of WCG."

Discussion: New Moons

Date: Early September, 2010

Wade Cox
"The determination of the month has nothing to do with a clown standing in Jerusalem and an entire nation of people suspending judgment when they could and did calculate it precisely from before the flood.
These Karaites try to make God's calendar appear dependent upon a group of idiots grubbbing around the field of Jerusalem when God has devised the greatest time machine which is the universe itself.
Spare us this insanity."

Discussion: Hitler Was A Jew

Date: early Saptember, 2010

Wade Cox
"We have now the full facts that Hitler was a full blooded jew."

Discussion: Elijah and the boot lickers of the WCG system.

Date: early September, 2010

Wade Cox
"Many of the people of the WCG system are brainwashed and some are brain dead.
There are forums that believe and proclaim that Herbert Armstrong was Elijah and they kick you off their forum if you ask for a demonstration as to what he did that was required to be done by Elijah.
What did he do that Elijah was supposed to do. What prophecy did he ever get right. No one has ever successfully claimed our reward for a correct prophecy yet.
What justifies this brain dead behaviour on the part of the US people?"

Wade Cox
"When we say US people we mean mean those people in the WCG and offshoot system that are totally incapable of independent thought and of not following a man in the insane cult of the personality that permeates the US religious and political system."
"Let us hold these bootlickers up to the examination and criticism they all so richly deserve."

Wade Cox
"The Modrn Jewish Calendar was not in existence at the time of Christ.
The Calendar that the WCG and the offshoots keep did not come into existence until 358 CE and is based on the postpionementes."
"Show me one Holy Day other than Pentecost that the offshoots keep that is different to the Holy Days the Jews keep. I say and the facts are that they cannot do so because it is the same calendar and anyone who says it is not is a liar."

Wade Cox
"If you do not keep the Day of Atonement on the corrrect day your punishment is to be cut off from God's people."
[**Note: this "cut off" includes the Jews. He is saying the Jews are not God's people.**] 

Wade Cox
"I will repeat again that any person who claims that the calendar kept by the WCG offshoots is the calendar kept by Christ is an unmitigated liar and unfit to be a minister of God."

Wade Cox
"The rabbis themselves admit it did not come into use until 358 CE and that it is hoplessly inaccurate. They state they will have to wait for Messiah to come to fix it.
Messiah has already come and he did not keep this abomination. The church has never kept it until Armstrong. How can you postpone the Passover for heavens sake how can you postpone the Day of Atonement. You cannot do so. These people have no fear of God."

Discussion: Fear

Date: early September, 2010

Wade Cox
"When Messiah returns to take over the world, as we are told he will, the elect of the First Resurrection will take over from the demons in assisting Christ to rule the world."

Discussion: Why was WCG destroyed.

Date: August, 2010

Wade Cox
"The WCG had no chance of survival from the beginningn because thery did not understand the history of the churches of God and nor did they understand how the Second century churches were undermined. That was even though they were told what was to happen and what the doctrine of Antichrist was."
[**Note: this came right after telling someone that wanting to learn the Biblical truth was "not enough". So, Biblical truth plus second century history is key. Gotcha.**]

Discussion: Satan's Powers

Date: August, 2010

Wade Cox
"The elohim [**Note: by this Wade means angels, not God**] had the power of creation after the God created the world (Job. 38:4-7).
(Let us make man in our image etc)
God placed Satan in command of the world as the elohim or theos of this world (Isa. 14; Ezekiel 28; 2 Cor. 4:5)."

Discussion: WHO IS THE GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT?

Date: August, 2010

Wade Cox
"It is Armstrongite heresy to suggest that Christ was the God of the OT. What you are saying on this forum Ms. Petty is a lie.
The OT is abolutely clear that God the Father or Eloah was the singular one true God of the OT."

Wade Cox
"This is the One True God of the Bible. The name admits of NO plurality whatsoever and is used only of the One True God the Father of the entire Creation including Christ. Christ is the subordinate elohim of Israel whose father is Eloah, The Elyon or the Most High."
[**Note: Wade teaches Christ is a created being; an angel for all practical purposes.**]

We posted these quotes so that you could be more informed on what's going on in the greater sphere of Armstrongism and hopefully form your own opinion on this. But if you want our opinion.....

These quotes are, in our opinion, a shocking string of arrogant, heartless, demeaning, deceptive, and ungodly-vile filth. And, for a man who appears to want everyone to believe he's so very intelligent, he sure has some terrible spelling and grammar.
Wade appears to believe that HWA was an Apostle, but at the same time a false-prophet and a deceived liar (on the last two points, we are happy to agree with Wade). How can you mix Apostle and deceived false-prophet, though? He seems to say that the nature of God is wrong, the nature of Christ is wrong, the nature of Satan and the angels is wrong, the calendar is wrong, the holy days are kept wrong, the resurrections are wrong, the law is wrong, history is wrong, the Jews are wrong, and just about everything else under the sun is wrong ... EXCEPT (conveniently enough) what he believes on all of these matters. He appears to believe that is correct. What proof does he offer of all these things? We saw very, very little if any. [We'll come back to that.]
What we have witnessed appeared to us to be anti-Christ. What we witnessed appeared to us to be outright condemnation of Armstrongism. It appeared to us to be outright condemnation of the Jews. It appeared to us to be outright condemnation of all Catholics and all Protestants. Who is left? I don't know what you think "There is no negotiation and you will do as you are told or you will die" means, or what you think "You have a very short time to go. You [sic] views and corrupt beliefs will die very soon along with the people who believe it" means, but to us it means pretty much what it looks like it means - death!

I think you can see for yourself what kind of man this is and what quality this CCG must be to "elect" a leader who speaks like this. Unfortunately, the people we found in this discussion group who appeared to be members of the CCG were, in our opinion from what we read, almost as dismissive and cruel as Wade Cox.
They appeared, in our opinion from what we read, to be brainwashed - as there are manifold examples of long screeds, line after line of quotations from Wade Cox's writings, as if Wade Cox is the only source necessary to answer any matter under the sun. The people on this forum seemed to have several discussions back and forth over how Wade Cox even quotes himself as his reference material, so the group is obviously aware of it.
I took the initiative to check a few of Mr. Cox' links to his material for myself, and - whadda ya know - what I found contained even more links to his own material, but few if any references to what the world at large might call credible source material; just assertion after definitive assertion - all apparently based on his own writings.

One of the people on the forum asked if this abuse is what people are looking for in a church. Indeed!
Is this the kind of church you are looking for?? We sure aren't!! Caveat emptor!

Dear reader, we've heard many other additional allegations that we didn't post here. These other as of yet unconfirmed allegations are just as bad as the ones we did post, or worse! We have heard of alleged "stalking" of people who submit info and letters that are critical of Wade Cox to websites such ESN (like the letter we quoted above). [UPDATE: We have had some documents come in that appear to suggest that there is some stalking going on. No proof, though! Just some suspicious activity that might be harmless but could be confirmation. We'll keep you updated.] We have heard that Wade Cox once tried to sue the Painful Truth website to have it shut down after they posted information critical of Wade Cox. IF these allegations are true, they would be pretty damning, but without concrete evidence to prove those things we think what we have posted is going to have to be good enough for us to write about.
Perhaps if someone out there has some credible info, they could send it to us or put it in the comments.

If you are someone who is attending the CCG or is thinking of attending the CCG, PLEASE consider carefully what you're doing. If you know someone who is attending, or is thinking of attending the CCG, PLEASE get them to this post and have them read these quotes. And please keep them in your prayers.

RedFox, are you going to investigate and write more about this group? We sure hope so!

**UPDATE: We have done a follow-up post. You can read it here.**

We are thankful to see some have left the grip of Wade Cox, so they are living proof that it can be done! It seems that they face abuse and isolation, like we at ABD did when we left Armstrongism. It seems like they found it all worth it. Perhaps that will leave you, after such a disturbing post as this, with some encouragement and hope.