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What do you think of Greg Albrecht and Plain Truth Magazine?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Spinach, Mar 30, 2009.

  1. Spinach

    Spinach New Member

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    ptm.org.

    I like the idea of encouraging others to purge themselves of the spirit of legalism. It resonates with me.

    Your opinions?
     
  2. Beth

    Beth New Member

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    should have made a clean break

    In my opinion, as an ex-member of the Armstrong cult, Greg should have made a clean break from Worldwide Church of God. I would have started over, without using the old magazine. The Plain Truth was our magazine which we made available to the public....for me, I couldn't read any of his articles on the site.....tooooo much reminding of what I was saved out of.
     
  3. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    Beth, I'm so glad you got out of that cult!! :love2:

    I see your point about the idea of getting a new name for the magazine. I agree. It is good, however, he and others did repudiate the Armstrong heresies.
     
  4. Beth

    Beth New Member

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    Amen!

    Marcia, I agree....Greg was one of the church leaders who led WCG out of the Old Covenant.

    My husband and I always thought that WCG should have just disbanded and left the believers to then join local churches. For many of us, due to the "exclusivity" of WCG, we had hours to drive to where we would meet.... We left WCG after a year of being saved because we saw the need to fellowship locally...we found an independent Baptist church in town at that time.

    Beth
     
  5. Spinach

    Spinach New Member

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    Please explain. What was it before whatever it is now?
     
  6. Alive in Christ

    Alive in Christ New Member

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    Spinich...

    Originally they were pretty much a cult. All the marks were there. Legalistic. Way off on foundational doctrines.

    Then, something very rare happened back in the early 90's if I recall correctly.

    After Herbert W Armstrong passed, the winds of truth started to open the eyes of the new leader. Then, that truth spread and spread. All through the organization. Until finally...they became pretty much became a card carrying, truth proclaiming evangelical group. They publically reputiated the errors that they used to teach.

    A very refreshing thing to see.

    I believe they lost about 75% of their people, but they held firm.

    Some of the ones who left started another organisation, with a magazine that teaches the old teaching.


    :godisgood:
     
    #6 Alive in Christ, Apr 7, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 7, 2009
  7. Spinach

    Spinach New Member

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    I see. Thanks for the clarification.
     
  8. Beth

    Beth New Member

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    yes

    It was actually quite amazing. Joseph Tkach, Jr., was the head of the church then. One day, the church received a letter asking for clarification on the non-Trinitarian stand... Mr. Tkach, Jr. then had the board of elders examine this issue....when their study revealed to them that Jesus was, in fact, divine and pre-existed with the Father in the plural "Elohim", the cards so to speak came tumbling down.

    All it took was the recognition that Jesus was divine for people to be able to understand the New Covenant...it was really pretty amazing. Lots of people were unhappy, for they were emotionally attatched to the deceased Mr. Armstrong. for them, salvation by faith alone, apart from works, was in some way a betrayal of Mr. Armstrong.

    Many had forsaken much for WCG....family, money (three tithes), jobs (by refusing to work on the Sabbath)....it was difficult for them to realize that they had a zeal not based on knowledge.

    Romans 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
    :3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
    4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
    5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
    6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
    7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

    So, given the history, etc., I would have ditched the name "The Plain Truth" magazine, considering what that magazine did stand for in the past and the deception which was spread through it.

    Beth
     
  9. Spinach

    Spinach New Member

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    Very interesting. I would not have known that.

    Aside from holding on to the name, is the current magazine sound doctrinally?
     
  10. Alive in Christ

    Alive in Christ New Member

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    Spinach...

    The ones I have read were just fine doctrinally. I was blessed by them.


    :godisgood:
     
  11. Beth

    Beth New Member

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    yes

    Yes, it is, Spinach.

    By the way, I ordered a whole pound of spinach to put in my garden..hope it comes soon! :saint: :flower:

    Beth
     
  12. EdSutton

    EdSutton New Member

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    I really believe you meant Joseph W. Tkach, Sr. here, instead of Joseph W. Tkach, Jr. The WWCoG adopted an orthodox view of the Trinity, about a couple of years before the death of Joseph W. Tkach, Sr., and the subsequent succession of Joseph W. Tkach, Jr. as the leader of that group.

    The fuller realization of the New Covenant implications came to the WWCoG a bit later, and shortly after the time of the death of the father, and the succession of the son, I believe.

    Ed
     
  13. EdSutton

    EdSutton New Member

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    The actual green stuff, or the seed?? :D

    If it's seed, you must have a really big garden. :laugh:

    A pound of spinach seed is enough for .1 Acre or more than 4000 sq. ft.. ;)

    Ed
     
    #13 EdSutton, Apr 9, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 9, 2009
  14. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    Is it this topic, and only that, that resulted in that ad being posted for rcg.org with old Armstrong's pic and the question "Do you remember Herbert W. Armstrong?"
     
  15. EdSutton

    EdSutton New Member

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    Probably.

    Ed
     
  16. MB

    MB Well-Known Member

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    Can Good fruit grow on a rotten tree?
    MB
     
  17. Beth

    Beth New Member

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    True!

    I stand corrected, you are absolutely right! I think I was thinking primarily of the son, because he took the most heat about the change in doctrine.

    Beth
     
  18. Beth

    Beth New Member

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    I hear 'ya

    I really agree with you....I was thinking about this when I was walking my dog early one morning...what if the JWs came to a Biblical understanding of salvation. Would it be ok for them to retain their magazine "Watchtower"? Wouldn't that be a problem for folks?

    We thought the WCG congregations should have disbanded....with members seeking fellowship in sound churches. Keep in mind, all the pastors had been taught under Mr. Armstrong at the church's college, Ambassador College. How difficult it must have been for them to teach what they were really only coming to realize themselves!!!

    Beth
     
  19. Beth

    Beth New Member

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    seed

    Seed, my brother, seed! I am a wanna bee farmer! My garden is an ok size....I canned about 1 thousand cans last year. I only have chickens, would LOVE a milking cow...that would take a minor miracle to talk my husband into!

    Beth
     
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