CHAPTER SEVEN:
Doctrines of Sacred Name Groups

The Sacred Name grouping of Sabbath-keeping organizations is noted for numerous factions and independents.  Realizing this, the largest Sacred Name Group, the Assemblies of Yahweh of Bethel, Pennsylvania, in its 1981 edition of "Assemblies of Yahweh Statement of Doctrine," says that their doctrinal statement was necessary to answer questions from interested inquirers, and form a base for unity.

We here summarize the twenty-four points given as the Bethel Group's "basis of our faith":

	1.	The New Testament must be interpreted in light of the Old Testament.
	2.	One Heavenly Father is above all.
	3.	The Messiah, his pre-existence, sinless human life, atoning death.
	4.It is necessary to our salvation to use the names YAHWEH and YAHSHUA. [COMMENT:  this is not true.  For a well-written pro and con study of the Sacred Name issue, we recommend the Sacred Name article published by Church of God, The Eternal, P.O. Box 775, Eugene, OR  97440.]
	5.Holy Spirit is the power of the Heavenly Father, and Messiah, not part of a Trinity.
	6.We must keep all the commandments, statutes and judgments given to Israel, except the ritual and animal sacrifice laws.
	7.	Sin is the transgression of Yahweh's law.
	8.Acceptance of Messiah's atonement and shed blood necessary to be free from sin.  Grace is not license to continue sinning.
	9.	Water baptism necessary following repentance.
	10.	Keeping Sabbaths and Holy Days is part of obedience.
	11.	Weekly Sabbath is affirmed in both Old and New Testaments. 
	12.Scriptural months determined by visible new moons, the first crescent visible from Jerusalem. [COMMENT:  Partially true.  It is the new moons observed from Jerusalem, subject to rules of the Sanhedrin, which are preserved by the modern Hebrew Calendar.  See our book, Biblical Holy Days, section 8.]
	13.	Passover to be observed annually, on Abib 14 soon after sundown.
	14.Footwashing precedes Passover emblems.  Unleavened bread symbolizes broken body of Savior, fruit of vine (grape juice) symbolizes Savior's shed blood.  [COMMENT: The "fruit of the vine" is fermented wine, not grape juice.  For proof, see Biblical Holy Days, section 3.3.]
	15.Feast of Unleavened Bread from Abib 15-21.  Unleavened bread is eaten, symbolizing cleansing our lives of sin and false doctrine.
	16.Pentecost always on a Sunday.  [COMMENT:  Wrong day!  Pentecost is always on a Monday.  See Biblical Holy Days, section 4.]
	17.Feast of Trumpets anticipates the Savior's return. [COMMENT:  Trumpets is not a "feast" like Unleavened Bread, Pentecost and Tabernacles.  It is an annual Sabbath.]
	18.The fast of Atonement is a memorial of our Savior's atonement for us. 
	19.The Feast of Tabernacles is to be observed as a preview of the Kingdom of Yahweh and the Millennium.  It lasts for seven days, followed by the Last Great Day.
	20.Yahshua will establish the Kingdom of Yahweh on this earth at His Second Coming, after which will be a new heaven and new earth.
	21.Wicked will be destroyed in lake of fire, not tormented in an ever-burning hell.  Satan is a literal being and will be destroyed at the end of the Millennium.
	22.We should adhere to the law of clean meats.
	23.Anointing the sick with oil should be practiced.
	24.First tithes should be paid for the work of the ministry, second tithes for the feasts, and the third year poor fund tithe for the needy.

Following the twenty-four points are sections on church government, spiritual life and qualifications for membership.  Government is from the top down, and everything is to be done decently and in order.  Point 24 mentioned that first tithes are to exclusively go to headquarters. Elders (ministers) are ordained for life, but may be removed for cause if they do not continue to qualify according to scriptural requirements.  Doctrinal unity is to be maintained through a ministerial Committee for Doctrinal Review.  Individual assemblies, where large enough, have a pastor, teaching elder and deacon as its local governing body, all under authority from headquarters.

Members are expected to be examples to the world, abstain from voting and military service. Women must have their heads covered for worship and witnessing. [COMMENT:  This group says the covering must be a veil, but the scriptures show the covering is the woman's hair, I Corinthians 11:1-16.]  To be a member, you must have been baptized into the name of Yahshua the Messiah, and be in agreement with the statement of doctrine.


YAIM Doctrines

Yahweh's Assembly in Messiah (YAIM), a Rocheport, Missouri group which broke away from the Bethel group in the early 1980s, published its doctrinal statement, "Foundation of Faith."  To save space, our comments will not be repeated unless to answer a different point.  This doctrinal statement likewise has twenty-four points, slightly different:

	1.	Old and New Testaments are inspired.
	2.	Heavenly Father's name is Yahweh.
	3.	Savior's name is Yahshua.
	4.	Holy Spirit is the mind of the Father and the Son.
	5.	Repentance and Baptism into Yahshua's Name necessary.
	6.	Plan of Salvation shown by Sabbaths and Feast Days.
	7.	Sabbath.
	8.	Annual Passover on beginning of Abib 14.
	9.	Feast of Unleavened Bread.
	10.	Pentecost on Sunday [sic.].
	11.	Trumpets.
	12.	Day of Atonement
	13.	Feast of Tabernacles.
	14.	Last Great Day.
	15.	New Moons.
	16.	Sin is the transgression of the Law.
	17.Redemption through repenting, accepting Messiah's sacrifice for our sins, changing to a life of obedience.
	18.	Clean meats.
	19.	Anointing sick by Elders.
	20.	Tithing is to be practiced: first, second and third tithes.
	21.Satan is a spirit being who was Lucifer, is adversary of Yahweh's people and will be destroyed.
	22.	Dead are unconscious until the resurrection.  No immortal souls.
	23.The body of believers are those who have accepted Messiah's sacrifice and are living changed lives, demonstrating spiritual fruits. Women should have their heads covered.  Men wearing beards is not mandatory, but a good practice based upon Biblical example.
	24.	Love is our way of life, in the home, Assembly, and community.

The basic difference between the Bethel, Pennsylvania and Rocheport, Missouri, Sacred Name groups appears to be ecclesiastical government, the former group being strictly regulated from headquarters, and the latter more loosely associated and governed. In 1988-89, there was a  split in the Rocheport group, as most members left it to form Yahweh's New Covenant Assembly, in nearby Kingdom City, Missouri.  Its doctrines are the same as the former group.


Other Sacred Name Group Doctrines

The "Doctrines of The House of Yahweh" of Odessa, Texas has 37 points. The following items from the Odessa group's doctrines are different from or not included in the above Sacred Name group doctrinal listings:

(5) The sign of the Messiah is that He was in the tomb exactly three days and three nights (Wednesday crucifixion, Sabbath resurrection).

(9) "At the end of the one thousand-year reign of Messiah and the Saints, the rest of the dead [not in the first resurrection of saints, point #8] will be resurrected.  Those who died not having had a chance will be given that chance in this resurrection.  Those who have had their chance will be thrown in the lake of fire."

(27) "Pure fermented wine is to be used at the Passover table as the symbol of the blood of the Messiah.  Grape juice cannot be used because it contains leavening or yeast.  Webster's Dictionary states -- 'Yeast:  a substance consisting of cells of minute one-celled fungi and appearing as a surface froth or a sediment in fruit juices and other saccharine liquids.'  Fruit of the vine as used by Yahshua is a Jewish term found in all Jewish Prayer Books.  It always means fermented wine.  To use grape juice at Passover would be sinning against the blood of the Passover.  Because no leavening can be used at Passover."

(28) In a variant of tithing belief, this group believes that the excess Second Tithe is to be given to help the poor attend the Feasts every third and sixth years between the Sabbath years. [COMMENT:  The Third Tithe is distinct from the Second Tithe.  Please see our article on Second Tithe in Biblical Holy Days, Section 2.4.]

(30) In addition to abstaining from unclean meats, this group believes that we are forbidden to eat milk and clean meat together.

(31), (32), (33) In keeping with the Jewish flavor of this group, all male members are required to wear the tallith and kepa, and wear beards, while all women are to wear veils in worship. [COMMENT: Future articles are planned to cover points 30-33.]  Not stated in this group's beliefs is their adherence to the Hebrew calendar, which distinguishes them from most other Sacred Name groups.ê



CHAPTER EIGHT:
Doctrines of Seventh-day Adventists 


In 1872, the Adventist press at Battle Creek, Michigan, published a "synopsis of our faith" with 25 points.  The 1889 Yearbook had a slightly revised 28 sections.  None of these early statements supported the doctrine of the Trinity, because the SDA's had not yet changed their beliefs on this issue.  In 1931, the Yearbook issued a revised 22 point fundamental beliefs statement, which supported the Trinity.

The 1980 General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists replaced the 22 points with a similar but more comprehensive summary in 27 paragraphs, entitled, "Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists."  A 392-page book, Seventh-day Adventists Believe . . .  (Washington, D.C.: Ministerial Association, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 1988), elaborates on these 27 fundamental doctrines, which I have summarized, as follows, with my comments in brackets:


The Doctrine of God

		1.	The Word of God.  The Bible is the Word of God.
		2.The Godhead.  God is said to be a unity of three co-eternal Persons.  [I totally disagree with them on the issue of the Trinity.]
		3.God the Father.
		4.God the Son.
		5.God the Holy Spirit.


The Doctrine of Man

		6.	The Creation was in six literal 24-hour days.
		7.The Nature of Man is a unity of body, soul and spirit, created in the image of God, and not by evolution.


The Doctrine of Salvation

		8.The Great Controversy.  This unique SDA phrase states that "All humanity is now involved in a great controversy between Christ and Satan regarding the character of God, His law, and His sovereignty over the universe.  This conflict originated in heaven when a created being, endowed with freedom of choice, in self-exaltation became Satan, God's adversary, and led into rebellion a portion of the angels.  He introduced the spirit of rebellion into this world when he led Adam and Eve into sin . . . . To assist His people  in this controversy, Christ sends the Holy Spirit and the loyal angels to guide, protect, and sustain them in the way of salvation."

		9.	The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ.

		10.The Experience of Salvation, means that "Through the Spirit we are born again and sanctified; the Spirit renews our minds, writes God's law of love in our hearts, and we are given the power to live a holy life . . . partakers of the divine nature and have the assurance of salvation now and in the judgment."  [The Protestant born-again doctrine contradicts Jesus' plain statements in John 3.]


The Doctrine of the Church

		11.The Church, defined as the community of believers, the body of Christ, who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who come out of the world for the purpose of worship, fellowship, celebration of the Lord's Supper, service to all mankind, and worldwide proclamation of the Gospel.

 		12.The Remnant and Its Mission.  In the last days, in a time of widespread apostasy, a remnant has been called out to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and to proclaim the three angels' messages of Revelation 14, every believer having a personal part in this worldwide witness.  Seventh-day Adventists identify themselves with Protestant Reformation.

 		13.Unity in the Body of Christ.  The Church should be united in its witness to the world, "This unity has its source in the oneness of the triune God, who has adopted us as His children."

 		14.Baptism  is a confession of our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and a testifying of our death to sin and our resolve to walk in newness of life.  Baptism is by immersion in water, contingent on a believer's affirmation of faith in Jesus and evidence of repentance of sin.

 		15.The Lord's Supper  belief is stated this way:  "The Lord's Supper is a participation in the emblems of the body and blood of Jesus as an expression of faith in Him, our Lord and Saviour . . . . Preparation for the Supper includes self-examination, repentance, and confession.  The Master ordained the service of foot washing to signify renewed cleansing, to express a willingness to serve one another in Christlike humility, and to unite our hearts in love.  The communion service is open to all believing Christians."  Unleavened bread and grape juice [instead of scriptural wine] is used for the Lord's Supper.

		16.Spiritual Gifts and Ministries are given by God to keep the church protected from the destructive influence of false doctrine.

		17.The Gift of Prophecy is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  "This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White.  As the Lord's messenger, her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction.  They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested."  [Here is the major difference of Seventh-day Adventists and other denominations.  One cannot be a real SDA without believing in Ellen G. White.  In spite of the fact of her failed prophecies and anti-scriptural positions, often self-contradictory statements (yet all claimed to be "inspired"), SDA's continue to revere this false prophetess.]


The Doctrine of Christian Life

		18.The Laws of God, as embodied in the Ten Commandments, express God's love, will and purposes concerning human conduct, are the standard of God's judgment and define sin.  The results of salvation is obedience to the Commandments, which develops Christian character, and is evidence of our love of God and our fellow men.  Obedience demonstrates the power of Christ to transform lives and strengthens Christian witness.

		19.The Sabbath is a perpetual sign of His eternal covenant between Him and His people.  "Joyful observance of this holy time from evening to evening, sunset to sunset, is a celebration of God's creative and redemptive acts."

		20.Stewardship is a recognition that we are entrusted by God to properly use our time, opportunities, abilities and possessions.  "We acknowledge God's ownership by faithful service to Him and our fellowmen, and by returning tithes and giving offerings for the proclamation of His gospel and the support and growth of His church."

		21.Christian Behavior means that we are called to exhibit Godly character in all that we do, including our amusement and entertainment.  Our dress is to be simple, modest and neat.  We must care for our bodies, the temples of the Holy Spirit, with adequate exercise, rest and the most healthful diet possible, abstaining from unclean foods, alcohol, tobacco, and harmful drugs and narcotics.  The Bible does not condemn eating of clean animals, but God's original diet for man did not include fleshfoods, and a balanced vegetarian diet is the best for health.  [Like the Church of God, 7th Day, SDA's ignore or twist many verses which support moderate consumption of alcohol.]

		22.Marriage and Family.  Like many organizations, the SDA doctrine of Marriage and Family is beautifully stated:  "Marriage was divinely established in Eden and affirmed by Jesus to be a lifelong union between a man and a woman in loving companionship.  For the Christian a marriage commitment is to God as well as to the spouse, and should be entered into only between partners who share a common faith.  Mutual love, honor, respect, and responsibility are the fabric of this relationship, which is to reflect the love, sanctity, closeness, and permanence of the relationship between Christ and His church.  Regarding divorce, Jesus taught that the person who divorces a spouse, except for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery . . . .  Parents are to bring up their children to love and obey the Lord.  By their example and their words they are to teach them that Christ is a loving disciplinarian, ever tender and caring, who wants them to become members of His body, the family of God.  Increasing family closeness is one of the earmarks of the final gospel message."

Seventh-day Adventists Believe . . . further states that the Bible condemns homosexuality and incest.  Yet, a SDA gay movement seems to be gaining ground, and the SDA position on abortion is not strongly against child murder in the womb.  Furthermore, SDA's believe that if one divorces for reasons other than sexual immorality, that remarriage is permissible if the other party remarries, thus one act of adultery makes another act of adultery O.K.  Although the doctrinal point is well-stated, in further elaboration and practice, the SDA position on Marriage and Family is far from what it should be.


The Doctrine of Last Things

		23.Christ's Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary.  This bizarre doctrine states that the atonement was not finished when Christ's sacrifice was accepted by God the Father on Wavesheaf Sunday.  Instead, SDA's believe that from Messiah's ascension to 1844 A.D. (after 2300 prophetic days, or years),  Christ officiated as our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary until the sanctuary was cleansed in 1844.  Thereafter, Christ began His work of "investigative judgment," deciding who will be in the first resurrection.  [As a contrived explanation for the failed prophecy of the return of Christ in 1844, the Investigative Judgment doctrine is a curious doctrine,  yet still stoutly held in spite of the lack of scriptural evidence.]

		24.The Second Coming of Christ is  "literal, personal, visible, and worldwide.  When He returns, the righteous dead will be resurrected, and together taken to heaven, but he unrighteous will die."  [SDA's falsely believe in going to Heaven.  See our article #78,  "Heaven is not the Reward of the Saved."]  SDA's believe Christ's return is imminent.  As proof, they cite numerous signs of His coming.  Natural signs are said to be the November 1, 1755 Lisbon earthquake, the eclipse of May 19, 1790, and the great meteoric shower of November 13, 1833.  These events were prominent in message of end of the world false prophets who predicted Christ's return in 1844, some of which became Sabbath-keeping Adventists after the Great Disappointment, when Christ failed to return.  [It is amazing SDA's still use these specific illustrations, which are without foundation.]  Other signs of the end times are said to be a great religious awakening, preaching of the Gospel, religious decline, resurgence of the Papacy, a decline of religious freedom, surge in world crime, a sexual revolution, wars, natural disasters, and famines.

		25.Death and Resurrection.  SDA's believe that the dead are unconscious until the resurrection. Thus, like most Sabbath-keepers, they deny the immortality of the soul.  "When Christ, who is our life, appears, the resurrected righteous and the living righteous will be glorified and caught up to meet their Lord.  The second resurrection, the resurrection of the unrighteous, will take place a thousand years later," as they are destroyed in the lake of fire.  [The SDA view of God's plan for mankind does not include a first chance for the unrighteous who have never understood God's Laws.  This appears to be a consequence of their lack of understanding of the Holy Days.  In reality, the Second Resurrection is a resurrection to judgment, not condemnation, with a full opportunity to accept or reject the Eternal's Commandments.]

		26.The Millennium and the End of Sin.   Point #26 of SDA doctrine states, "The millennium is the thousand-year reign of Christ  with His saints in heaven between the first and second resurrections.  During this time the wicked dead will be judged; the earth will be utterly desolate, without living human inhabitants, but occupied by Satan and his angels.  At its close Christ with His saints and the Holy City will descend from heaven to earth.  The unrighteous dead will then be resurrected, and with Satan and his angels will surround the city; but fire from God will consume them and cleanse the earth.  The universe will thus be freed of sin and sinners forever."  [Rather than the correct understanding of the Millennial Kingdom of God described in Isaiah 2 and elsewhere, Ellen G. White misquoted scripture to "prove" the earth will be desolate during the Millennium.  Adventists have the wrong goal, heaven, rather than the Kingdom of God.]

		27.The New Earth.  Adventists believe in the new earth, where righteousness dwells.  Finally, the Great Controversy will be ended, and sin will be no more.

Although there are many problems we have with SDA doctrine, there are many points we have in common with them.  For more information, please ask for our article, "We Are Sabbath-Keepers, Not Seventh-day Adventists."ê


CHAPTER NINE:
What Does It Mean, 
"Hold Fast to That Which You Were Taught"?

Many today are claiming to be "holding fast to that which they were taught."  What does the Bible say about "holding fast"?  Are you really holding fast?


A Stubbornness To Let Go of the Truth

Proverbs 4:13 states, "Take fast hold of instruction;  let her not go:  keep her; for she is thy life."  Once one comes to a truth revealed by the Eternal, he must never let go.

Job had this tenacity that we likewise must have.  He held fast his integrity, refusing to curse his Maker, Job 2:3, 9.  He said, "till I die, I will not remove mine integrity from me.  My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go . . . "  Job 27:5-6.  Job was righteous, but failed to ascribe his righteousness to his Maker.  Until the Eternal's revelation of Himself to Job, he held fast to what he knew, an example of tenacity for us today.  All too many in our time adopt ideas of Biblical teaching without real proof, and later discard them with equal speed.


Vigilance and Manly Strength

Some religious groups change with every wind of doctrine. Their followers timidly accept whatever is taught.  This is evidence of childishness, Ephesians 4:14.  Small children usually cannot keep their attention span for long.  However, mature faith in our heavenly Father must be steadfast.  I Corinthians 16:13, "Watch ye [be vigilant, on guard], stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."  Maturity means being sure you are right first, then watching that you do not slip and fall.  At times it means admitting you are wrong and correcting  error.  It takes courage to confess a mistake.  Are you a spiritual "man" or a "mouse"?


Refusing to Return to Former Ways of Bondage

"Holding fast" is an adamant refusal to return to former evil ways.  "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage," Galatians 5:1.

Some former brethren have renounced the faith, returning to Sunday worship,  and crass materialism.  Before, they would have given up their lives rather than break the Sabbath. They are like a dog returning to its own vomit, II Peter 2:22.  There is a time to give up former beliefs: when one is proven to be in error.  But until then, we, like Job, are to tenaciously cling to the liberty (truth) into which we are called.  This brings us to the next point.


Holding Fast To the Faithful Word

I Thessalonians 5:21 says, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."  We too often are gullible, following others instead of proving what the Eternal says, Ephesians 5:10, I John 4:1.  Some, in error, have concluded that since they have found the true body of believers, that everything this "true church" teaches is the Truth, and they must hold fast to it (the organization's teachings).  They forget that even the New Testament Church had to be corrected continually to get rid of sin which had insidiously crept in.  It is possible to spoil one's original purity.  The true believer grows in truth, holds fast to proven teachings, continually discards erroneous beliefs.  This is what it truly means to "hold fast."


False Holding Fast

II Timothy 1:13, "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus."  Paul taught sound words, never error.  He did not change back and forth in his doctrinal teachings.  Yet, today there are people who claim they are following a great religious leader, "holding fast" to what he taught.  But this religious leader changed his teachings back and forth.  At no time did he teach 100% truth, nor did he even at one time teach all that those who say they are "holding fast" unto!  These "holding fast" individuals are in reality picking and choosing what they want to "hold fast" to!

A true minister must be blameless, "holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince [convict] the gainsayers," Titus 1:9.  We must hold fast to the faithful word we have been taught.  The NT Church of the first century did not hold fast, but lapsed into error.  II Thessalonians 2:15, "Therefore, brethren, [because, verses 10-11, some didn't love the truth and believed a lie], stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."  Respect for right traditions, and refusal to depart from them, is an important part of "holding fast."


Holding Fast In the Unity of the Spirit

Holding fast is not an individual act, it must be done collectively:  " . . . stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel," Philippians 1:27.  Also, " . . . stand fast in the Lord . . . ," Philippians 4:1-2.

This certainly forbids individualizing what we are to hold fast unto.  Various ones who say they are holding fast are often diametrically in opposition among themselves as to what they are holding fast unto.  They cannot agree on the specific doctrines the church once taught, that they should hold fast to.

Those who are truly standing fast in one spirit may not always agree exactly on every issue.  But they have the same mind, are helping one another discard untruth, holding fast to revealed truth, growing together toward perfection.  Hold fast to the Truth, not contentiously, but harmoniously with your brethren.  Paul was so concerned for his brethren that he wrote, "For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord," I Thessalonians 3:8.


Holding Fast is a Lifelong Profession

How long will you hold fast?  We are the Almighty's house, "if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end," Hebrews 3:6, and "if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end,"  Hebrews 3:14.

Holding fast is a lifelong profession, Hebrews 4:14, and 10:23, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering."  Revelation 2:25-26, adds, "But that which ye have already hold fast till I come . . . . keepeth My works unto the end . . . ."


Not Leaving the Faith

The early believers "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine," Acts 2:42.  It wasn't long before they had to be admonished to "continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard," Colossians 1:23.  Some were commended for "steadfastness of your faith" in the Messiah, Colossians 2:5.

So we need to be sober, vigilant, on guard against losing the steadfastness of our faith, being wary of our adversary, "whom resist steadfast in the faith," I Peter 5:8-9.  Remember to "beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness," II Peter 3:17.

Revelation 2:13 tells us "thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith."  See also Revelation 14:1.  Holding fast to His name means continuing to honor the Almighty, by obeying what He says. 


Holding Fast Must Include Elimination of Error

Some say they are holding fast, but refuse to grow into more Truth.  Two passages seem, to support the erroneous no-growth viewpoint.  Revelation 2:24-25, "as many as have not this doctrine [of Jezebel], and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.  But that which ye have already hold fast till I come."  Revelation 3:11, "hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."

Does this mean that we are to hold fast, even to some "minor" errors?  No!  We are to hold fast only to the Truth!  We must purify our garments, get rid of errors, not hold fast to errors.  Sadly, there are those who are adamantly "holding fast" -- unto error!  To these, the Savior warns, "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard [through the blood of martyrs, those who held fast unto the end], and hold fast, and repent," Revelation 3:3.  Repentance must be a part of "holding fast."

Not growing in the Truth is being like the "wicked servant" who produced nothing.  He held fast to the one talent (pound), but did nothing to add thereunto.  As a result, he had the one taken from him and got no reward.  Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 19:11-27.  Unless you are a profitable servant, bringing increase with what you are given, you will lose what you have.  To hold fast to the truth, you must grow into more truth.

Let us "walk worthy of the Lord, unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God," Colossians 1:10.  Holding fast is being careful, "lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be glory both now and for ever.  Amen,"  II Peter 3:17-18.

Are you really holding fast?ê


CHAPTER TEN:
Tradition!


The movie, Fiddler on the Roof, portrays Russian Jewish life in the late 1800s.  One of the songs, "Tradition!" describes Jewish customs and their grip on Jews.  Sometimes we, like the Jews, keep traditions without knowing why we do the things we do.

"Tradition" according to the dictionary, means "the process of handing down information, opinions, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example . . . usage or custom rooted in the past . . . a body of doctrine and practice preserved by oral transmission;  a belief or practice . . . not derived directly from the Bible but arising and handed down within the Christian community . . . a teaching of or the body of an unwritten code of Jewish law believed to have been given by God to Moses on Sinai and later reduced to writing in the Mishnah."

What does the Bible say about tradition?  What is the difference between doctrine and tradition?  Should we seek to preserve the traditions we have been taught, as well as the doctrines?


Traditions of Men Can Be Against God's Laws

"Tradition" in the New Testament comes from the Greek word paradosis, Strong's #3862,  which means "a precept or ordinance transmitted or delivered."  It is derived from #3860, paradidomi, "to surrender, deliver, commit."

Mark 7:1-13 Then came together unto Him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.  For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders . . . . Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?  He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.  For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.  And He said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.  For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.  And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

See also Matthew 15:1-6, 9.

When men take human-devised traditions and equate them with doctrines and commandments, or elevate tradition above God's commandments, their traditions can conflict with the commandments of God.

Prior to his calling, the apostle Paul was steeped in the traditions of his fathers,

Galatians 1:13-14 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:  And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

Human traditions can cause us to lose our spiritual reward:

Colossians 2:6-8, 18-23 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ . . . Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.  Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

The Savior's shed blood, not vain tradition, is what redeems us:

I Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Hold Fast to the Right Traditions

Even though the Bible sternly warns us against human traditions, it commands us to hold fast to the right traditions delivered to us from His servants:

I Corinthians 11:1-2 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.  Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

I Corinthians 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread.

I Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.

II Thessalonians 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

II Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

Acts 6:14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

Acts 7:37-38 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear.  This is He, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us.

Romans 6:17-18 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

II Peter 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Jude 3 . . . ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.


 Biblical Customs

The New Testament word for "custom" is Strong's #1485, ethos, meaning "usage prescribed by habit or law, manner, be wont." A custom is similar to a tradition.

Here are some customs described in the New Testament:

(1)	The order of priestly service was determined by lot, Luke 1:9.

(2)	Going to Jerusalem for the entire time of the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread was a custom, Luke 2:42.

(3)	It was the Savior's custom to go into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, Luke 4:16, as it was Paul's custom, Acts 17:2.

(4)	Wrapping the dead body in linen and spices is a Jewish burial custom, John 19:40.

(5)	Circumcision was a custom, Acts 15:1, 21:21.

(6)	The whole body of Jewish teaching was referred to as "customs," Acts 6:14, 16:21, 26:3, 28:17.

(7)	It was the Savior's wont (custom) to teach the people by answering their difficult questions, Mark 10:1-2.

(8)	Some people have a wrong manner (custom) of not meeting with other brethren on Sabbaths and Holy Days, Hebrews 10:25.

(9)	The dedication of the baby Jesus was part of the custom of the law, Luke 2:27.

(10)	During the inter testament period, Jews ordained the Feast of Dedication (Lights, Hanukkah) in commemoration of a miracle of the Temple oil burning for eight days.  Jesus observed this custom, John 10:22.

(11)	It was the custom of the Jews for the governor to release a prisoner at Passover, John 18:39.

(12)	It was a custom of the New Testament church for the men to have short hair and the women to have long hair, I Corinthians 11:16. [Items 11 and 12 from the word sunethia, meaning "complete custom."]

Here are some Old Testament customs:

(1)	It was the priest's custom to have his servant use a 3-prong hook to bring up parts of the sacrifice for himself,  I Samuel 2:13.

(2)	It was a custom in Israel to lament for Jephthah's daughters, Judges 11:39-40.

(3)	In Israel there were customs relating to the sale and purchase of merchandise or property, Jeremiah 32:11.

(4)	Incest, homosexuality and bestiality were abominable customs of the heathen, Leviticus 18:29-30.

(5)	Worshipping idol trees (Christmas trees?) is a vain custom of heathen people, Jeremiah 10:2-4.

(6)	Jews ordained the Feast of Purim in commemoration of their deliverance from Haman, Esther 9:24-28.

(7)	Judah also ordained customary fasts in the fourth and fifth months, in commemoration of the destruction of Jerusalem, Zechariah 8:19.  There is certainly nothing wrong with observing Purim and these annual commemorative fasts.

Looking at the Bible examples of traditions and customs, we see there were some good ones, and some bad ones.  In some cases, there was a fine line between doctrine based solidly on the Bible, and tradition or custom which is based upon Bible interpretation.


A Few Modern Traditions and Customs

Since it is our purpose to preserve the true doctrines we were taught, we naturally need to discuss customs and traditions.  Tradition is based more upon interpretation and principle rather than a direct "thus saith the Lord."  Let us not give tradition equal weight with doctrine.  We must be careful not to turn our traditions into doctrines.  Proper traditions and customs must not be opposed to Scripture, even though they are not expressly commanded in scripture.

Here are some of our traditions:

(1)	We close the Passover service with a hymn, rather than a prayer, following Christ's example in Matthew 26:30.

(2)	We have an  evening meal and feast on the beginning of the 15th of Abib, called "The Night to Be Much Remembered," in commemoration of Israel's joyous departure from Egypt, Exodus 12:42.
(3)	We traditionally take up a Holy Day offering during the annual Holy Days, Deuteronomy 16:16-17.

(4)	Our religious services customarily begin with three hymns, followed by a prayer, then a short sermonette, a hymn, announcements and special music, followed by a sermon, then a hymn and closing prayer.  Sometimes, the sermonette has been eliminated.

(5)	We have a custom of having two religious services on annual Holy Days.

(6)	We customarily address ministers and elders with the title "Mister" to denote respect.

(7)	When elders cannot come to anoint and pray for one that is sick, it is a custom for the minister to send an anointed cloth by mail (based somewhat on the principle of Acts 19:11-12).

(8)	It is a custom to base the Sabbatical and Third Tithe year cycles beginning with the year of one's baptism.  The reasoning is that we cannot determine the correct Sabbatical cycle for the whole church to follow.

(9)	We have a custom of donating 10% of our second tithe (festival tithe) to cover the costs of festival buildings and facilities.  Some have purchased property used primarily to celebrate the Biblical Festivals.

(10)	The custom of "blessing of the children" is a Feast of Tabernacles ceremony.  Young children who have not previously been blessed are brought forward by their parents, and the ministers lay hands on them and pray for the Almighty's protection for them (based upon Mark 10:13-16).

(11)	It is a tradition based upon Deuteronomy 16:16 that the husband, as head of the household, should attend the feasts alone if he cannot afford to bring his entire family.  Those who have excess second tithe are encouraged to help those who do not have enough so that as many families can attend as possible.

(12)	Traditionally, ministers read verses such as Luke 14:25-35 and Luke 9:62 to baptismal candidates to help them understand the seriousness and permanence of the decision that they are making.

(13)	We customarily follow the Hebrew calendar, preserved by the Jews, to determine Holy Day times.  The Bible does not specify calendar rules nor tell us how to compute the sacred times.  The Jews have been faithful in preserving the Old Testament scriptures, and historical evidence indicates they likewise have been faithful in preserving calendar calculation.

With the Almighty's help, we will hold fast these traditions.ê

CHAPTER ELEVEN:
Doctrinal Changes and Liberalization 


Doctrinal Change is Not Spiritual Growth

The Bible indicates that often ones who receive the Truth of the Almighty, give it up under the guise of "doctrinal change," or supposed "new truth."

It is true that no called child of God is given all Truth at once.  The road to salvation, being born into the Kingdom of God, is a growth process.  The true believer must continually be growing in grace and knowledge of God, adding to revealed Truth, not throwing away initially understood truth.  Growth only comes from building on the foundation, not changing the foundation.

Unfortunately, many Sabbath keepers in recent years have instituted unwarranted "doctrinal changes" in their lives.  In reality, they have thrown away foundational truths and gone after error.  Jesus spoke of the "narrow way" that leads to eternal life.  We should not follow doctrinal changes and liberalization which opens wide the "strait gate."  Those who have changed doctrine have destroyed their foundation of faith and built a new and unscriptural footing of sand.


What the Bible Says About Doctrinal Change

II Peter 3:17-18  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Ancient Israel deviated from God's Truth:

Psalms 106:19-21 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image. Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;

Isaiah 9:10  The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.

Jeremiah 2:11, 35-36  Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but My people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. . . .Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely His anger shall turn from me.  Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.  Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

Jeremiah 13:23  Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

We need to stay away from those who change doctrine:

Proverbs 24:21  My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change.

The false church tries to change God's holy times:

Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Stephen was falsely accused of doctrinal change:

Acts 6:13-14  And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

God instituted a change.  This was not a doctrinal change, it was transferring to whom we tithe:

Hebrews 7:12  For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change [transfer to another recipient] also of the [tithing] law.

God doesn't change truth, neither should we:

Malachi 3:6  For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Hosea 4:6-7  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou has rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against Me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.

The results of doctrinal change:

Isaiah 24:4-6  The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.  The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

Ezekiel 5:6-8  And she hath changed My judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and My statutes more than the countries that are round about her: for they have refused My judgments and My statutes, they have not walked in them. Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept My judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you; Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations.

Romans 1:23-26  And [they] changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

The Eternal is looking for men and women who won't change:

Psalms 15:1-5  Lord, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord.  He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.  He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

The Hebrew word translated "change" in Malachi 3:6, Proverbs 24:21 and Jeremiah 2:36 is #8138, shanah.  It literally means "to duplicate, to do the second time".  God reveals His truth to an individual only once (Jude 3, "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints").  If that individual changes, goes from truth to non-truth, he is on very dangerous spiritual grounds!  In Proverbs 31:5, shanah is translated "pervert."


Doctrinal Change in the Worldwide Church of God

A classic example of the abuse of doctrinal changes under the guise of "new truth" has been the multitude of liberal, anti-Biblical doctrinal changes instituted by the Worldwide Church of God.  There have been a host of changes so numerous that we can only touch on the highlights.

In 1976, the church's "Systematic Theology Project," or STP, after years of study by the church's Doctrinal Committee, issued its initial statements of doctrinal positions.  This was expanded in 1978 by publication of a larger work.  The purpose of STP was to create an official handbook of the doctrinal teachings of the Worldwide Church of God, to unify the ministry and give confidence to the Church.

Here is a summary of the initial STP papers issued in 1976:

(1)	Sabbath Observance was relaxed, giving the approval to work on the Sabbath or send children to school on the Sabbath if the State requires it.

(2)	The statement on Faith and Financial Responsibility affirmed the church's long standing position on tithing as a Biblical statute.  However, the individual is left to himself to determine just what his "increase" is, whether before or after taxes.  On the negative side, the poor tithe, or "third tithe," saved every third and sixth years of a seven year cycle, was said to be optional, if a person could afford it.  It was stated that taxes paid for government welfare programs could be counted towards the third tithe obligation.  On the positive side, STP clearly stated that it is the individual's responsibility to fulfill his or her tithing obligation before the Eternal.

(3)	Healing was watered down considerably.  STP stated categorically that neither healing nor the lack of it (to those in the Church) are an indication of one's spirituality.  This is in direct contradiction to Jesus' statement: "according to your faith."  The church gave carte blanche approval of going to medical doctors for any and all reasons, stating that depending upon doctors does not prevent God from performing a miracle.

(4)	Birthdays were held to be a "non topic."  After years of condemning birthday celebrations, the church now said they had never taken a stand on birthdays, and that observation of birthdays should not be condemned.

(5)	Divorce and Remarriage in the 1976 STP statement reiterated the 1974 doctrinal change.  Divorce with right to remarry was explicitly granted for fraud of any kind, sexual license of any kind, both before and after marriage, and desertion (including when one mate becomes an unbeliever, even if they at one time held to the faith).  Members coming into the church were accepted regardless of their marital status.  They were free to divorce an unbelieving mate and remarry.   This liberal, un-Biblical,  anti-marriage doctrine places those who adhere to this false teaching at variance with a major doctrinal truth of the Bible:  faithfulness in human marriage is a type and training ground for faithfulness in the coming divine marriage to the Messiah.  The net result of such teaching, in practices documented time after time, is that divorce and remarriage is allowed for any reason at any time.  This is totally contrary to the Bible.  Please read our articles on Marriage, available free for the asking.

(6)	Marriages between Believers and Nonbelievers were expressly permitted, contrary to I Corinthians 7:39 and II Corinthians 6:14.

(7)	The statement on Race and Ethnic Relations in the Church clearly stated that the church would no longer teach against interracial marriage.

These seven STP statements, plus other papers, were the tip of the iceberg of doctrinal changes instituted by the Worldwide Church of God.


Musical Chairs of Change

In 1977, Joseph M. Hopkins wrote a series of articles in Christianity Today magazine entitled "Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God:  Musical Chairs of Change."   He notes that doctrinal change is the dominant theme of the church's history. He cataloged no less than thirty doctrinal changes in the church during this period [our comments are in brackets]:

(1)	The "spirit" in man teaching was developed in the late 1960s, which added to the teaching that man's nature was essentially no different than that of animals, but stopped short of the "immortal soul" concept.

(2)	The hundred year period of probationary judgment after the millennium, based upon Isaiah 65:20b was dropped.

(3)	Nineteen-year-time cycles, Petra and 1972 were dropped as prominent teachings when the tribulation did not begin in 1972 as was originally taught.  In later years, this teaching was revived. [See our article on  "Petra and the Place of Safety."]

(4)	The doctrine of the seven church eras, of which Armstrong claimed that his church was the sixth era, Philadelphia, was de-emphasized.  [Our research into church history tends to uphold the concept of seven historical church eras.]

(5)	Belief that the Jewish Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem was de-emphasized, although the church continued to hold that some sort of religious sacrifice would be set up in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount, so that the coming false prophet would defile it, causing the abomination of desolation.  [We agree that there will be sacrifices set up and taken away in Jerusalem.]

(6)	In order not to offend outsiders, the identification of the Roman Catholic Church as "Babylon" and the "whore" of Revelation has been de-emphasized.  [A spade is a spade.  We don't worry about offending people when we say that the Catholic Church and its harlot Protestant daughters are part of Mystery Babylon the Great.]

(7)	Lack of Openness to Non-members was relaxed in the 1970s, and later re-instituted.  Being admitted to Sabbath services depends upon approval by the minister.  [Sabbath services are not the proper forum for evangelism.  Public evangelism should be done to spread God's Truth to the unconverted.  A minister does have the responsibility to insure order in the church, and should put out heretics and troublemakers.  However, private and secret church meetings and deliberate turning away of interested persons is not the Christian way.]

(8)	Pentecost was changed from Monday to Sunday. [This is contrary to the Scriptures.  See our book,  Biblical Holy Days, section 4.]

(9)	Divorce and Remarriage was drastically changed [to a wide-open license to remarry for any reason].

(10)	Marriages between Believers and Nonbelievers, while discouraged, was given tacit approval.

(11)	First Tithe was relaxed from computing 10% of the gross income to permitting calculating 10% of the net income.

(12)	Second Tithe was no longer a law.  If one failed to save the second tithe for the festivals, he was robbing himself, not God.

(13)	Third Tithe was now held to be obligatory only on those able to pay it.

(14)	Healing had been watered down [as previously shown in the section on STP].

(15)	Racial Intermarriage was no longer condemned as a sin.

(16)	British Israel Identity, the British Commonwealth being Ephraim and United States being Manasseh, has been de-emphasized, particularly the warning of a coming national captivity for these nations.

(17)	The Sabbath has been watered down [as shown previously].

(18)	The role of Women has changed in the Church.  [Women have frequently written religious articles in the church's publications, which should not be done.  However, a Christian woman may assist her husband in writing a religious article.]

(19)	Makeup is an on again, off again, doctrine of the church.  [In the 1950s and 1960s, the church taught against it.  In the 1970s it was declared a non-issue.  Then in the 1980s, it was again taught against.  See our article, "Women's Adornment and Makeup."]

(20)	Clothing and Hair Style was previously strictly regulated by the church.  This gave way to general guidelines of "modesty and decorum."  [Clothing and hair style should not cloud the differences between the sexes.  It is up to the individual to use the proper judgment, and the ministers to point out blatant abuses if they occur.]

(21)	Rock Music was at one time forbidden, but gave way to general acceptance by the church's youth.  [No specific music style can be unanimously condemned, nor approved.  Much modern music is sexually licentious, filled with occultism and demonism, and must be avoided.]

(22)	Dating at Ambassador College was at one time strictly limited, but at this time restrictions were lifted.  [Dating leads to marriage.  As parents, we will strictly regulate the dating activity of our children,  gradually giving them more and more responsibility as they progress toward adulthood.]

(23)	Birthdays were declared a non-issue.

(24)	The teaching on the believer's involvement in Civil Government has been liberalized.  Voting has been removed from the forbidden list.  The church previously taught its young men to register as conscientious objectors and not come under the military, but now allows members to enter non-combatant military service without censure.  [This shows the descent of the church into the Babylonish society, and departure from the Almighty.]

(25)	Child Rearing was somewhat modified in that excessive,  harsh discipline of children, even tiny babies, was warned against.  However, firm discipline was still upheld. [Actually, in our observation, the pendulum in all-too-many cases, even in the families of ministers, went to the permissive extreme.]

(26)	The Land Sabbath, resting the land every seven years of a 50-year cycle according to Old Testament statutes, was lifted as a requirement.  [The New Testament did not change the statute regarding the Land Sabbath.  Our nation will again go into national captivity for failing to obey this law.]

(27)	Community Outreach, long taboo by the Church's teachings, gave way to public free clothing programs for the needy and recycling projects, as well as benefit concerts at the church's college auditorium.

(28)	Gambling, specifically taught as a violation of the eighth commandment in 1960s and 1969, was now held to be a non-issue never taught against.  [See our article on Gambling.]

(29)	Adoption was no longer forbidden.  [Except among relatives in cases of death or incapacity of the physical parents, adoption is not a good practice.]

(30)	Church Government, with doctrinal boards and a centralized, authoritarian headquarters, was originally taught against by Herbert W. Armstrong in 1939.  [However, by the early 1950s, he had established a rigidly authoritarian, centrally-controlled organization with himself as the undisputed ruler.  This is plainly contrary to New Testament teaching.  The Worldwide Church of God now teaches that those who refuse to go along with its doctrinal changes have no hope of eternal life!]


Doctrine Held to be Unimportant

How important is Bible doctrine to you?  The May 1976, Good News magazine states:  

A Christian is not converted to a set of doctrines!  He may embrace, accept and live by them.  Indeed, he should; but he is converted to God! . . .  We are saved through faith in Christ -- not through belief in this or that teaching . . . .  Each generation of true Christians is led into new avenues of spiritual insight and understanding . . . .  Since some idea or understanding about a specific point of doctrine is not the central anchor to the purpose of life, they [mature Christians] are not particularly disturbed by the positive process of growth which includes [doctrinal] change.

If doctrine is not important, then why not find a church that requires nothing except "belief" in Jesus Christ?  The truth is, belief in Jesus Christ demands belief in what He says for us to do.  This means obedience to every word of the Almighty.  The Savior said, "when the Son of man cometh, shall He find [the] faith on the earth?" Luke 18:8.  Just before the return of the conquering Messiah,  the Savior predicts that the true faith would be extremely rare.

If doctrine is not important, then how do you tell a real Christian from a professing Christian?  Why study the Bible to understand the will of the Almighty and learn to do His will?  If we are "gradually led into all truth," then at what point do we know that now we have it all?

Pity those poor deceived brethren in the past who endured hardships following "false" church teachings. (I speak as a fool.)  Now they are being told that tithing is optional, that they can divorce and remarry at will, etc.  "New truth"  contradictory to prior teaching is not spiritual growth.


God Never Lowers His Standards

Where in the Bible has God ever lowered His divine standards, laws, statutes?  Some point to the abolition of the necessity to perform animal sacrifices to say He did.  The opposite is the case.  The sacrifice of our Savior obviated the need to sacrifice bulls and heifers, but it required those converted under the New Covenant to conform to stricter, higher, more spiritual standards, outlined in Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7.  The Savior did not repudiate God's law; He magnified it. He did not institute "doctrinal changes."

We say with dogmatism that false churches are worshipping a false Christ (Galatians 1:1-12), and indeed they are.  What makes them false?  FALSE DOCTRINE!  Christianity is a way of life, not just a belief in the person and Messiahship of Jesus.

"Repent!" the Almighty thunders to us.  Repent of what?  Before one can repent, he must know what to repent of, and this comes from knowledge of correct doctrine.  Repentance, faith, baptism, and so on, are the foundation of the doctrine of Christ, Hebrews 6:1-2.  If anyone accepts Christ, and doesn't stay in the true doctrine of Christ, he is not a Christian!  "Any one who runs on ahead [of God] and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ -- who is not content with what He taught -- does not have God; but he who continues to live in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ -- does have God; he has both the Father and the Son," II John 9, Amplified Bible.

The basis for Christianity is understanding and obeying correct doctrine, in a loving spirit.

As we have seen, the Savior's doctrine was so forceful, it astonished people.   The early Church continued in it, Acts 2:42, obeyed it, Romans 6:17, and avoided those who were contrary to it, Romans 16:17.   Jesus warned His disciples to beware of false doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees, Matthew 16:12.  Paul told Timothy to stop teachers of false doctrine, take heed to the true doctrine, and preach and set a good example of true doctrine, I Timothy 1:3, 4:16, II Timothy 4:2, Titus 2:7.

How do we know if we have the true doctrine?

John 7:17 If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself.

True doctrine does not come from scholars.  It comes from revelation and obedience.


We Haven't Changed!

The swan song of those who have changed doctrine under the guise of "new truth" is that "we have not changed!" or "we have gained additional insights." However, "new" truth that contradicts old teaching cannot be called "new truth."  Either the old was a lie, or what is being taught now is a lie.

There are two key scriptures that show God's attitude toward today's changers and corruptors of doctrine.  Today's doctrinal liberals disclaim the real message of these verses, which show that God does not change His doctrines.

Malachi 3:6, "For I am the LORD, I change not," is set in the context of Malachi's warning against false ministers who caused many to stumble at God's law, 2:8; who supported divorce and remarriage contrary to God's Law, 2:11-16;  Levites who oppressed the poor, 3:3, 5; and the whole nation of Israel who were robbing God by not paying tithes and offerings, and Levites who were misusing tithes, 3:8-12.  Israel changed their understanding of God's true doctrines then, as the Church has today, and the Almighty reminded them that He did not change His truth and mercy!

Hebrews 13:8 says "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."  This statement is in the context of verse 4, that marriage is honorable but that God will judge whoremongers and adulterers, and verse 9, "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines."  The May 1976, Good News article says, "This verse has nothing to do with whether Christ changes doctrine or not!"  The truth is, that it does.  Men today are approving of divorce and remarriage, which is adultery, and changing church doctrines left and right.

Our Rock, the Messiah, does not change or conform to popular whims.  Today's changers of doctrine do not magnify, or expand, the meaning of God's Law as Christ did.  Instead, they give others the license to disobey God's Law.  Recent doctrinal changes in a number of Sabbath-keeping groups are rebellion against the Eternal, a departure from the Truth.  The Almighty says that it would have been better for us to have never known the Truth, than, once called to the Truth, we depart from it:

II Peter 2:20-22 For if after they [in the Church of God of our time] have escaped the pollutions of the world [Sabbath breaking, adultery, failing to tithe, etc.] through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them [the faithful doctrines once delivered].

The shocking truth is that those who have changed doctrine are adamant that they have not changed.  There are people today who have left one church organization because it changed and perverted major doctrinal beliefs, but nevertheless have gone asleep in another organization that has done the same thing, and they cannot see it!  May the Eternal help us to repent of the permissive way of life and obey Him totally!


Objectors to WWC Changes Are Themselves Changers

Ironically, sometimes splinter groups who have broke off from the Worldwide Church of God because of its doctrinal changes, have themselves changed doctrines, in ways as bad or worse than their parent church.

William Dankenbring, writer of a prophetic newsletter read by many ex-Worldwide members, advocates a Sivan 6 Pentecost, a 15th Passover, and disavows tithing.  While objecting to Worldwide changes, Dankenbring has instituted these unscriptural changes of his own.

Likewise, ex-WWC minister Gerald Flurry, leader of the Philadelphia Church of God, has made changes of his own.  His booklet, "Worldwide Church of God Doctrinal Changes and the Tragic Results," outlines thirty doctrinal changes instituted since the 1986 death of Herbert Armstrong.  Flurry makes a number of good points.  The WWC further watered down the doctrine of healing when they began teaching that the stripes Christ received prior to His impalement do not relate to our healing.  The Mystery of the Ages book, and The United States and British Commonwealth in Prophecy were discontinued.  It is likely that the Church will no longer teach the identity of modern Israel.  The WWC, since 1978, has taught that the Sabbath ends at dark, not at sunset which is what the Bible teaches.  The WWC changed its understanding on when the Old Testament Passover was kept.  Formerly, they taught, correctly, that it was on the beginning of the 14th of the first Hebrew month.  Now, they teach that it was at the very end of the 14th.  The Church does not condemn interracial marriages, as Armstrong did in Mystery of the Ages.  The Church accepted the Protestant "born gain" teaching, and edged closer to full acceptance of Trinity doctrine.  Mr. Flurry pointed out all these doctrinal perversions of the Worldwide Church of God.  Yet he himself made prophetic pronouncements that would even make Herbert Armstrong and blush.  Nobody is allowed to attend Philadelphia Church of God services who does not believe that Herbert Armstrong was the end time "Elijah."

And so it is, that those who protest doctrinal change, are often just as guilty themselves of even worse doctrinal changes.  There are many "fake conservatives."  Only through the mercy of the Heavenly Father will any of us escape from falling into similar pitfalls.


Doctrinal Changes in the Church of God (Seventh Day)

Doctrinal change is a dominant theme of the history of the Church of God throughout the ages.  The first century church largely apostatized when they threw out the Sabbath and instituted Sunday as the day of worship.  "Once the true church, always the true church," is definitely not always so.

An article by Robert Coulter in the January 1984, Bible Advocate entitled "Maturing Perspectives," describes the history of doctrinal beliefs in the Church of God, Seventh Day.  The first Church of God, Seventh Day doctrinal statement appeared in the original edition of The Hope of Israel, August 10, 1863:

(1)	The Bible alone contains the whole moral law, and its precepts are sufficient to govern God's people in every age.
(2)	Sin is known by the Ten Commandments.
(3)	Man,having sinned and the sentence of death having passed upon him, can have no hope of eternal life except through Christ.
(4)	The dead are unconscious, waiting in the grave for the resurrection.  Some will be resurrected to eternal life, others to extinction.
(5)	God is about to set up His Kingdom on the earth.  Christ, as King,  will sit upon the throne of His father David, and the final home of the righteous will be the new earth.

Debate and discussion in the Seventh Day Church of God  has involved these issues:

(1)	Time element of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The Wednesday crucifixion belief, while discussed earlier, was first given formal recognition in articles of belief published by William C. Long, editor of the Advocate, in 1893.

(2)	Return of the Jews to Palestine and reestablishment of an Israeli state was generally believed before 1900, but not formally included in a doctrinal statement until 1949.

(3)	Tithing was endorsed by regional conferences as early as 1891, but not officially put into doctrinal beliefs until 1949. In 1978, church doctrine was changed to repudiate the laws of tithing, but still upheld the "tithing principle."

(4)	Argument over the Godhead still rages.  In the 1800s, the church, while anti-trinitarian, debated over the origin of Jesus, whether He was created or has always existed, and whether or not He is fully divine.  The debate still goes on.

(5)	Born or begotten?  This is one point that the modern church has departed from the truth.  William C. Long in April 1893, wrote in the Advocate:  "We are begotten of God; we are born of the Spirit.  These two events do not occur at the same time.  We are begotten at conversion; we are born at the resurrection."  This is true, and was defended by the church for many years.  In 1955, the Denver Group Ministerial Council identified the new birth and conversion as synonymous terms.  The 1974 doctrinal statement finally adopted the position: "Conversion, also called the new birth, is the process by which one is changed from his old, sinful life into a new creature in Christ."

(6)	Clean and Unclean Meats have long been debated in the church.  In the nineteenth century, William C. Long and Jacob Brinkerhoff wrote that eating unclean meats was no sin, but abstinence promotes better health.  In 1929, the Stanberry Conference passed a resolution recommending ministers teach against unclean meats.  The 1933 Salem branch doctrine stated:  "The law of the clean and unclean is still to be observed in this age."  Subsequent statements of most of the Seventh Day Church of God groups omit the concept of Biblical law and gives members the choice to abstain for better health reasons.   As in tithing, the meats issue is an  example showing the poor understanding of Biblical Law among these Sabbath-keeping groups.

(7)	The Time of the "Lord's Supper."  Since the late 1800s, some in the Church of God have argued for the observance of the Memorial Supper on the 15th day of the first month of the Hebrew Calendar.   In the early 1900s, annual observance of the Passover, or Lord's Supper, on Nisan 14 became the predominant practice.  Sectarian groups such as the Salem, West Virginia, group, emphasized their differences with the Denver Group by not following the Hebrew Calendar.  Then, in 1988, the Denver Group liberalized its Lord's Supper practices.  They officially stated that "absolute dating of the service on the biblical Nisan 14 is neither commanded nor possible, and that those who may choose to celebrate the supper at additional times are not violating Scripture by so doing,"  November-December 1988,  Harvest Field Messenger.

The Church of God, Seventh day,  Denver Group,  freely admits  its doctrinal changes are part of a "maturing" growth process.  Its doctrinal statement today admits that it is not a closed creed, but that the church is open to spiritual growth and to new and better understanding of the Bible.  The Biblical concept of "holding fast" is totally absent.  Totally forgotten is the Bible prediction that mankind rejects initially revealed truths, and degenerates rather than progresses.


Catholic, Protestant Concepts of Change

It is a Protestant characteristic to be given to change.  On the contrary, Catholics have more character in the area of stedfastness.  It is a Catholic Church tendency never to change doctrine.

"It is most true that the Roman Catholics believe the doctrines of their church to be unchangeable; and that it is a tenet of their creed, that what their faith ever has been, such it was from the beginning, such it is now and such it ever will be,"  (Charles Butler, Book of the Roman Catholic Church, quoted by John Dowling, History of Romanism, p. 548).  Further, "it is a proverb even among Protestants that the Roman Church never changes," (Joseph Faa de Bruno, Catholic Belief, p. 174).

Such a resistance to change is an admirable character trait.  However,  first we had better  be sure we have the correct doctrines from which we won't change.


Results of Liberalism in the Church of God

"Liberal" and "conservative" are generally used as political terms.  However, these words can readily characterize segments of the Church of God today.

"Liberalism"  according to the dictionary means "lack of strictness or rigor, emphasizing intellectual liberty, belief in the progress, essential goodness of man, and the autonomy of the individual and standing for the tolerance and freedom for the individual from arbitrary authority in all spheres of life."   Liberals believe in progressive revelation, as the result of scholarship and intellectual "progress," rather than the "faith once delivered."

"Conservatism" means "a philosophy based on a strong sense of tradition and social stability, stressing the importance of established institutions (religion, property, family, class structure), and preferring gradual development with preservation of the best elements of the past to abrupt change; strong resistance to innovation, relative freedom from change."  Conservatives preserve the truth from the past, and take a dim view of snap changes.  They know not all change is for the better, because there are divinely revealed truths which never change.

Today, liberalism has become dominant in politics and religion.  Perhaps the most damaging aspect of this "paradigm shift" is the fact that "false conservatives" have advanced shockingly liberal changes.  Liberalism has had a devastating effect upon the Sabbath-keeping Churches of God of today.  Permissiveness, passed off under the guise of "doctrinal change" or "maturing perspectives," has a number of disastrous results.  A person or group who change doctrinal truths begin a rapid spiritual decline which they themselves probably will not even notice.  Forgiveness can be granted by the Eternal, IF such  wake up and repent, change, and once again profess and strive for the unchanging doctrinal truths from which they have departed.

Doctrinal changers are in danger of losing their eternal life!   The devil can, and often does, begin to afflict them in many ways.  An ungodly change or departure in just one basic doctrinal truth can and often does, lead to a total departure from all Truth.



Why Liberalism Is Evil

An article published by The Church of God, The Eternal, "What Liberalism Has Done to the Church of God,"  gives several characteristics of liberals:

First, liberals believe that there is no permanent truth.  Truth is merely knowledge which can be discovered by reason and science.  To a liberal, what isn't reasonable is not the truth.  Liberals look upon those who accept divine revelation as being mentally ill.  Religious ideas, they believe, should be altered to fit the needs of a changing society.  The October 25, 1975, Ministerial Bulletin of the Worldwide Church of God stated:  "Our basic understanding [on Pentecost and Divorce and Remarriage] depends on scholarship."  However, the Bible states that the Almighty's truth is revealed and unchanging,  and that scholars are fools!

Secondly, liberal thought emphasizes that man has vast unlimited human potential, and his nature is not fixed but changeable.  They falsely believe that man's ignorance can be overcome by man himself, through universal, rationally based education. Faulty social institutions, such as weak church government, can be corrected with  proper authoritarian, centralized leadership.  Central control and collectivization can eradicate problems between races and ethnic groups and mold a common body.  This belief results in no standards of human conduct.  Evil actions by members in high church offices are excused as being "normal."  The truth is, that human nature is basically evil, in opposition to the Almighty, Romans 8:7.  Even with God's Holy Spirit, the history of the true Church amply illustrates that mankind cannot bring about the Kingdom of God on this earth.  Only Jesus Christ can clean up the mess that God's people have made.

Thirdly, liberals believe that a dialogue, or politically motivated communication, is necessary to win the adversary to the liberal viewpoint.  Repetition and popular politics are used by liberals to convince others they are right.  Liberals have few if any new ideas.  Modern liberals in the area of divorce and remarriage are merely parroting licentious infidels of the past.  Liberals follow the Nazi maxim  that if you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe you.

Fourthly, since liberals choose not to repent before Jesus Christ, they have to "do something" to assuage their nagging guilt.  They have to be involved in all sorts of "do-gooder" social activities that treat the effect -- never the cause! The religious liberal thus lowers the standards, changing religion to fit his evil lifestyle.

Theological Liberalism, as discussed by the Encyclopaedia Britannica, has a profound influence on the Church of God today.  The basis for theological liberalism is a confidence in human reason (scholarship), the primacy of the person (the right to decide for yourself what is truth), and the belief that human nature is improvable and improving (as opposed to II Timothy 3:13).  Rather than a study of inexorable, unchanging truths of God, theological liberalism has transformed the study of Christian doctrine "into the psychological study of religious experience . . . ."  Liberalism has no real doctrinal code, for liberals shun dogma.  Their doctrinal beliefs are always shifting with time.  Liberalism is the rejection of moral absolutes, the permission or freedom to follow the way of human reason, which leads away from God's Law.  Like Laodiceans, religious liberals water down the Truth of God.

Liberal theology has deeply wounded the Church of God today.  The church has lost its sense of direction as the majority continue to water down doctrinal truths once revealed and understood.  "A little leaven leavens the whole lump."   The Eternal says to His people of today:  "Hold fast that which you have, that no man takes your crown!" and, "Be zealous therefore, and repent!"

Jesse Lyman Hurlbut in his 1954 classic, The Story of the Christian Church, wrote:

Doctrinal systems have dropped into comparative unimportance;  and practically all the denominations hold the same creed . . . .  Clergymen now pass from the ministry of one denomination to that of another with no change of belief.  Gradually the churches are coming to a unity of the faith.  (page 190)


What You Can Do

A few today believe Titus 1:9, and are "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince [convict] the gainsayers."

The conservative majority often does not act in concert, thereby allowing the liberal minority to have its way.  What can those concerned about today's predominance of liberal theology do?

1.Work toward the preservation of conservative literature of earlier years.  Instead of burning "old" literature,  re-publish or microfiche it to preserve truth for the next generation.

2.Recognize and support real conservatives who continue to speak out against the liberal religious tide.  However, those who continually beg their subscribers for financial contributions should NOT be supported.  The Eternal's way is expressed by  Matthew 10:8, "Freely ye have received, freely give."  That's the "giving and sharing" way!

3.Counter liberal false brethren directly.  Before this, however, you must be thoroughly prepared to answer false arguments, and to respond in the spirit of meekness and humbleness.   Pray for words from the Eternal.  Don't roll over and play dead when liberalism raises its ugly head in your congregation, as indeed it will or already has.

4.Live the truth you claim to support.  The biggest negative against conservative, true things we have been taught, is the hypocrisy of those who claim they are "holding fast" but really aren't.   Don't be a hypocrite.

5.Don't give up doing what is right.  Realize there are others "somewhere out there" who believe as you do.  True believers are doers and not talkers only. Remember Proverbs 14:23,  "In all labour there is profit:  but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury."  This is true regarding physical labor, even more so in spiritual labor.  If you claim to be "holding fast" to the truth and are against the common liberal tendencies in the church today, then you had better be doing something to counteract liberalism, NOW, before it is too late.ê


CHAPTER TWELVE:
Consequences of Our Doctrinal Beliefs
 
We can talk about our doctrinal beliefs, and prove them from the Bible. But, how often have considered the consequences, or results, of our doctrinal beliefs?  Israel did not comprehend the consequences of God's law, Hosea 8:12.  Let's take a look at some of our doctrinal beliefs and meditate on the end results of these beliefs.

1.	Sabbath.  Keeping the Sabbath teaches us that God wants us to depend upon Him for our livelihood.  The spiritual is more important than the physical.  Our time is not "ours," but God requires us to worship, praise and serve Him and His people.  Proper Sabbath observance produces a committed believer who become equipped to share the Truth of God with others, and who is refreshed and ready for the next six days of physical work.

2.	Holy Days.  We must act out God's Plan each year, to remind us of the Sacrifice of Christ for the remission of our sins, the necessity to rid our lives of sin, our need for God's Holy Spirit to change our lives to be more like Him, the need for the Messiah to return to destroy the works of the Devil and establish His Kingdom, and judge the living and the dead.  Those who keep God's Holy Days cannot be involved in this world's pagan-derived holidays.

3.	Healing.  We are dependant upon God for every breath of life.  We need more faith, which comes from God, to trust completely in Him.  The doctrine of healing makes us realize that physical, and eternal, life comes from the Almighty.

4.	Clean and Unclean Meats.  We are special to God, and must keep clean the temple of His Holy Spirit.  This doctrine puts us apart from many others.  We must keep our minds and bodies clean and undefiled so we can be servants of the Almighty.

5.	Marriage.  If we believe that marriage is for life, until death do us part, then we will love and cherish our spouse, love our children, teaching them to obey God, and with God's help, be committed to a wholesome, happy family life, which is a foretaste of the Kingdom of God.  There will be no marital problems that are too big to solve, and no sin too great to forgive, for we will have the commitment and love to see us through, faithful to the end.

6.	Bible.  If we believe that the Bible is the Word of God, then we will zealously study it, with God's Spirit, to understand and obey it.

7.	Born Again.  A result of the truth that we are begotten sons of God, not yet born into His Kingdom, is that we must make our calling and election sure.  We do not have it made into the Kingdom of God, and can become an abortion.
8.	Abortion.  If we really believe abortion is murder, then we will vigorously oppose it and attempt to save lives of the innocents.

9.	Mortality of Man.  Because we believe man is mortal, we are prevented from proud arrogance.  We know that immortality is conditional upon faith and obedience.  God is just and merciful, and will not allow unrepentant sinners to bring misery on themselves and others for all eternity.

10.	Trinity.  We oppose trinitarian dogma, and hence understand that the family of God is not limited to three persons, but that our Savior the Messiah is bringing many sons into glory, sons who will never usurp the roles of their Heavenly Father and elder Brother, but loyally support them for all eternity.

11.	Heaven.  If we believe Heaven is NOT the reward of the saved, then as a result, we look for the restoration of this earth to its Edenic purity, and know the saved will direct the rebuilding of this desolated earth under the King of Kings.  The Millennium will be the most productive, exciting period of history, the work that produces rest.

12.	Israel Identity.  Proper understanding that the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic peoples are descendants of the "lost" Ten Tribes of Israel prevents racism and makes Bible prophecy meaningful.  We are Israel, God's servant people, not because we are better than other races, but because we have a job to bring the gospel to the world.  Because we are Israel and are more responsible before God and have sinned so greatly, in spite of His abundant blessings due to Abraham's obedience, our nations will go into captivity and be delivered by the returning Messiah, to once again be the channel of blessing to all peoples in the Millennium.  If we did not understand the Truth about Israel, Bible prophecy would be incomprehensible, and we would not know why our nation has a divine calling to evangelize the world.  Israel is the focus of Bible prophecy, and God's vehicle for the salvation of mankind, through the Messiah, King of Israel.

12.	Satan.  The understanding that Satan is a personality, a fallen arch angel, makes us realize soberly that we too could fall from the grace of God.  On our own, we are defenseless to his attacks to rob us of eternal life, but with the power of our Savior and King, the Messiah, we can overcome Satan and his demons.  We face a real, not an imaginary, foe, who will be totally defeated.

13.	Tithing.  If we truly believe in Tithing, our deeds will match our beliefs, we will "put our money where our mouth is."  God's Work will be happily supported, His Feasts joyfully kept, and the poor lovingly sustained in their need.  Without Tithing, there is selfishness and greed.  With Tithing, there is giving and sharing, the Golden Rule.  If one is careful to save the tithe, he should also be just as careful to see that the tithes are properly used.

These are just some of the consequences of our doctrinal beliefs.ê


BIBLIOGRAPHY

Directory of Sabbath-Observing Groups, 1986 Edition, 1989 Supplement.  Lists addresses and information about scores of different Sabbath-keeping organizations. Available for $7.00 from:  The Bible Sabbath  Association, Route 1 Box 222, Fairview, OK  73737.

Handbook of Denominations in the United States,  Eighth Edition, by Frank S. Mead, revised by Samuel S. Hill.  (Abingdon Press, Nashville, 1985).  Surveys 225 religious bodies in the United States, their history and doctrines.

The Encyclopedia of American Religions:  Religious Creeds, First Edition, by J. Gordon Melton, editor.  Gale Research Company, Detroit, Michigan 48226.  A compilation of over 450 creeds, confessions and statements of faith and summaries of doctrine of both Christian and non-Christian religious bodies in America.  Available in the reference section of many public libraries, Dewey decimal classification R291.2097.


Material to Write For:

Biblical Holy DaysAn-depth study of Holy Days, Sabbath, New Moons, Sacred Calendar, over 450 pages.  Suggested donation is $10.00.  Summary and Outline is FREE.

Biblical LawAnalysis of laws, statutes and judgments from the first five books of the Bible.  Regular edition, 53 pages, FREE.  Deluxe Edition 162 pages, suggested donation $5.00.

Biblical Health &	Series of articles on Biblical Healing and Health.  Healing		Thorough explanation of Law of Clean and Unclean Meats, and much more.  138 pages, FREE.

Marriage & Family	Free articles relating to marriage and family.

Doing"What We Should Be Doing," free article explaining why it is every believer's responsibility to assist in the work of the Church.

Herbert W.  Armstrong:  1892-1986.  Contains little known information on the early ministry of Herbert Armstrong.  Suggested donation, $1.00.

The Remnant of Israel, 1915-1929.  Examines the teachings of G.G. Rupert, showing the amazing similarities between his movement and Herbert W. Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God.  Suggested donation, $1.00.

Giving & Sharing, PO Box 100, Neck City, MO   64849