WGC - More thoughts!

Before I could finish my tea and think about creeping of for a couple of hours sleep (yes, it is 5:00!) I received a mail with a link to http://shadowsofwcg.com/?p=30.

Entitled, More thoughts on the name change of the former Worldwide Organisation, it makes an interesting read. The problem with cults is that those who remain in them are convinced of their good and those who have left are damaged, negative and sometimes lacking in focus (which is understandable) and there is a need to see through the smoke on both sides and find the truth.

So, here it is. Make of it what you will:

"I wanted to write one more post on the name change of the Worldwide Church of God to Grace Communion International, and make a few points clear as crystal.

Why is it that the ex-COG bloggers have had less than positive reactions about the change of the Worldwide Church of God to Grace Communion International?

Before I get into answering that, let me make a few observations about the name “Grace Communion International”.

It’s awful! The name does not roll off the tongue, for one thing. For another “Grace Communion” just sounds odd, overall. And thirdly, WHY “International”? It just keeps following what other COG Churches have done – adding International to the end of their name. We have United Church of God, an “International” Association. We have “Church of God International”. And now we have “Grace Communion International”. Am I permitted to simply say “Who cares about the International”? So what! Honestly.

The above was simply my personal opinions to the Name Change. Joseph Tkach and Company gave their opinion. They say that grace lies at the heart of their values and mission as a “transformed church”. They say their spiritual unity with God and one another is vested in the word “Communion”. and the word “International”? Because they have members that span the globe. That’s their interpretation.

I want to talk a little bit about their statement that they are a “Transformed Church”.

Any transformation is purely cosmetic as long as they maintain the rigid power and government structure carried over from the old Worldwide Church of God. It is true that they have abandoned the core doctrines of Herbert Armstrong’s empire. They no longer enforce Sabbath and Holy Day observance, they embrace mainstream celebrations of faithful people, yet the crucial staple that ties the “Grace Communion International” Fellowship to the Old Worldwide Church of God is by NO means transformed. In fact, it holds GCI to WCG like superglue. The name change means nothing as long as the President holds totalitarian power over the organisation. The “transformation” is only in what they believe, not in how they do business. Has the financial accountability been transformed? No. Has the totalitarian power system been transformed? No. Is the President still the same one that was ordained by the former leader of the Old Worldwide Church of God who was ordained by the Cult Founder himself? Yes. Did this organisation authorize the book of horrible artwork of gloom and destruction and fear? Apparently yes, according to recent articles and statements. Thus, even though the people of Grace Communion International are transformed from hardcore armstrongism advocates to people of Historic Christian Faith, those whom are members of Grace Communion International are willingly joined to a system with the same government structure and leader with a direct tie to Armstrongism. For me, it would be morally and ethically wrong if I was to convert to mainstream Christianity to stay in an organization with even the slightest operating mode that resembles armstrongism, no matter how much chocolate frosting they put over the mildew.

All of this, however, though valid, is not getting to the root of why individuals are not reacting with joy and glee over this change. The root of it is summed up in this sentence: The Worldwide Church of God is attempting to distance itself from its past without removing itself from its past, it is attempting to make a dramatic separation of itself without separating itself totally from the system that made it what it is. As “Aggie” points out on Armstrong survivor, they continue to demand and collect money from their members while refusing to provide financial accountability.

Do they really think that people cannot see through this?

If they truly want to call themselves transformed, they must do what I outlined in a previous post. Joe must step down as President, the bylaws must be changed, finances must be publicly accounted for,and a new President must be voted in who is solid in the Christian Faith with no ties to Armstrongism (but is acutely aware and against the system of Armstrongism).

I will never believe they are transformed truly until these things occur. They must occur. They are the right thing to do, and it is the right time to do it.

Joseph Tkach calls his church transformed by the power and grace of God. Until Joe does the right things and proves to us and the world he isn’t in this game for the money and the paycheck by stepping down, we all have to wonder and make our own judgement as to whether Joe himself is transformed, or not. Until he makes the changes that really matter – not a cosmetic whitening , but a complete and total root canal, I will never believe that he is, and neither will anyone else, no matter what side of the fence you are on. He has never shown us the meaty changes that need to happen.

And until they do, all I have to say about the name change is this:

“Who cares!”

Bed :)