Discovering the Plain Truth: How the Worldwide Church of God Embraced the Gospel of Grace Rating :
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful.
A general overiew of a cult coming to Christ
By A Customer
This book provides a good look at the history and teachings of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) and how it was transformed from a cult to a Christian Evangelical Church. However, it is aimed at an audience not familiar with the WCG and does not get into much detail at all.
The book was disappointingly brief and somewhat academic in its approach. What could have been made to be an exciting narrative on events that lead to the dramatic turn around in the WCG is instead a short look at main points. Further, the book hinted a problems and concerns within the church but never explored them in any detail or gave any indication of sources.
Outline: 1) Present Situation (pg 15-17) 2) History of Herbert Armstrong (pg 19-40) -- drew heavily on Armstrong's autobiography and did not really go beyond the surface 3) Teachings (pg 41-59) -- good examination of WCG teachings 4) 1986 to now (pg 61-71) -- only ten pages are actually dedicated to the title of the book -- a disappointingly short, cursory explanation of what happened. 5) Reaction (pg 72-83) -- once again, too brief -- only six paragraphs are dedicated to "the dissenters." 6) Future (pg 83-89) -- offers only a number of "we hopes" but no informed expectations. Appendix (pg 90-132) is an examination of the new WCG teachings and transcripts of interview with WCG leadership.
Overall, I found the book accurate but a disappointing effort and not worth the price.
7 of 13 people found the following review helpful.
Usurping The Kingdom!
By William K Cox
Discovering the Plain Truth is a testimony of unbelievers coming into a system of faith with a premeditated plan for the destruction of that faith.
The disrespect for Mr Armstrong is evident from the outset.
In the 'real' Worldwide Church of God no one would be called 'Smith', 'Johnson', or 'Armstrong' !
The attempted disintegration step by step of every major belief of the 'real' WCG merely shows that these authors never believed those precepts to begin with. The authors present a 132
page account of guerilla warfare, a foray,if you will,of unbelievers into a territory strange to them with the sole intent of destroying the government of that territory!
To the Protestant world, those faithful folks who use the name of Christ to their own advantage, Mr Tkach is a hero! If a person
who has heard the truth (faith comes by hearing) has a shred of doubt and needs a club of cohorts to assure him that obedience (to the ten commandments) is not relevant, this is the source of comfort they need!
Mr Herbert W Armstrong was just a man, tempted just as we are!
Yes! He sinned! Just as we do! Jesus Christ was tempted just as we are! Yet without sin.... therein lies our only hope of salvation! Mr Armstrong was a man of faith, charachter assassination is only to his credit! It shows he was more correct in his understanding of the word of God than his detractors! He did not acheive his goals by trickery. He did not 'lie in wait' for someone to die then grasp an opportunity build his own ideals in the middle of someone elses' work then knock down the walls and present some bright shiny new thing to be accepted by a deceived world.
2 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
A great testiment to the power of God
By C. Vieux
I think that the book was a great story of how a cult came to full christian faith. It's an amazing tribute to the power of the word of God.
That is not, however why I am writing this review. I am writing it based on the comments above.
For on thing: OF COURSE THE AUTHORS FAVOR MARTIN LUTHER'S THEOLOGY! THEY ARE LUTHERAN PASTORS!!!!!!!!!!
On another note,please dont misquote what Luther Said about the book of James. He didn't call it a house of straw that should be removed from the bible, in fact he had this to say,
"Though this epistle of St.James was rejected by the acients, I praise it and concider it a good book, because it sets up no doctrines of men but vigorously promulgates the law of God" (LW 35:395).
If you want to quote, fine, but please quote directly and cite your sources to prove that you know what you are talking about and that you didn't just find your facts heresay from someone else.
Product Description
In this account of recent developments in the Worldwide Church of God, the authors tell the nearly unprecedented story of a religious body turning away from its unorthodox beliefs and toward historic Christianity.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #2501836 in Books
- Published on: 1997-10
- Original language:English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Paperback
- 141 pages
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