Random Articles
First Love
by Arlan Weight (Bismarck, North Dakota)      Just where is the church today? It has been only 15 short years since the death of Herbert W. Armstrong and how many splits and factions are there? Oh sure, some folks split off from the Worldwide Church of God prior to 1986, but that was miniscule compared to today. But why all the groups? What is it that makes us split up? And why all the Armstrong bashing? It seems as though the church is in a confused state. Was Herbert Armstrong a false prophet?     All these questions and more deserve an […]
God’s Government
by Arlan Weight (Bismarck, North Dakota)       What kind of government does God use in ruling the universe? Is it democratic? Do angels vote? Does God have a cabinet of advisors? Is God’s government hierarchical, from the top down? Which is it, top-down or bottom-up … two choices?     Maybe we need to ask a different kind of question. Since it is God’s Government, it is God’s Government. It is not man’s government, and because it is God’s Government, could it be that it is neither of the choices offered above, at least not the way we understand the options? Could […]
Passover
by Arlan Weight (Bismarck, North Dakota)        When should we keep it? Should it be observed at the beginning of the 14th of Abib (Nisan), or at the end? Should we observe eight days of unleavened bread or seven. Is the Passover called a Feast? Many people of the churches of God are confused over these questions. Why?      Let’s face it. Most, if not all of the people in the ‘church’, have come to observe these days as a result of the preaching and teaching of Herbert W. Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God. The way and manner is […]
Is Disfellowshipping a Christian Practice?
by Arlan Weight (Bismarck, North Dakota)      Is disfellowshipping and suspension a Christian practice? If so when should it be done? Who should do it? Can we prove it from the Bible? Is the Bible specific enough for us to know? How does it square with the teaching of Jesus? Have many people become confused?     From my first encounter with the Worldwide Church of God in the late 60’s and early 70’s disfellowshipping was a common practice. Not being close enough to issues I never really knew the details of why certain people were put out of the church; I […]
Go To Your Brother…
by Arlan Weight (Bismarck, North Dakota)       From my first encounter with the Worldwide Church of God in the late 60’s and early 70’s ‘suspension’ and disfellowshipping’ were common practices. Prior to either one of these measures being taken, there was an effort to reconcile with the one involved in the infraction. From my perspective the effort usually involved the ministry, maybe not always, but usually.      Over the years I have always had this nagging thought that many people were never reconciled or encouraged in a right way such that they would return and consequently were disfellowshipped. Once disfellowshipped they […]