Philadelphia Church of God

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Led by Gerald Flurry, the Philadelphia Church of God (PCG) is one of the major churches to form in the wake of the Worldwide Church of God's major doctrinal revisions of the 1980s and 1990s. The PCG, headquartered in Edmond, Oklahoma, claims to be the only break-away church that is truly following in the footsteps of Herbert W. Armstrong, the founder of the Worldwide Church of God. This, however, mirrors similar claims made by other churches which have developed from Armstrong's teachings.

1 Doctrinal Divergences of Armstrongism
2 Doctrinal differences of PCG
3 Publications
4 Conflict with the Worldwide Church of God
5 Directive to cut off "Laodicean" Family Members
6 References
7 Notes
8 External links

[edit] Doctrinal Divergences of Armstrongism

The PCG, in line with the rest of mainstream Armstrongism, diverges from mainstream Christian beliefs on many doctrinal issues. They maintain that these distinctivities prove their identity as God's one and only true church. Orthodox Christians believe that they prove merely that the PCG is an heretical, non-Christian cult.

Key doctrinal distinctives include ^[1]

Denial of the Trinity
Denial of the doctrine of salvation by faith alone (Faith without works is dead, as it says so in the Bible.)
Belief that the human potential is to become God "as God is God"
Belief that the USA, United Kingdom and most nations of Western Europe are the physical descendants of ancient Israel
Belief that ancient Israelite dietary laws are binding on Christians today
Belief that ancient Israelite worship festivals are binding on Christians today and that traditional Christian celebrations (e.g. Christmas, Easter) are pagan
Belief that Saturday sabbath-keeping is required for salvation

[edit] Doctrinal differences of PCG

However the PCG has also added some doctrines which were not taught by Herbert Armstrong at the time of his death in 1986. These doctrinal additions include. ^[2]

Acceptance of Malachi's Message as the 'little book' of Revelation 10, a book condeming the doctrinal transformation of the Worldwide Church of God after H. W. Armstrong's death.
Belief that their leader, Gerald Flurry, is 'that prophet' mensioned in John 1

[edit] Publications

The PCG produces The Philadelphia Trumpet, a monthly magazine, and the Key of David, a weekly television program, both of which espouse the doctrines of the church and offer analysis of current events from their perspective. This analysis views many current events as portents of Jesus Christ's Second Coming. For example, from the Trumpet's April 2006 issue:

"Crises are developing...that will cause Europe to look to a newly strengthened Germany and end up bringing church and state together—from the weakening of the U.S. economy to danger brewing in the Middle East.

"And even though a united Europe and the rise of the Fourth Reich spell doom for 'many countries,' these gloomy events all lead to magnificent news...

"This fiery God is about to return and conquer the final Roman beast—which is rising powerfully on the world scene even as I write! It is dreadful and terrible, and Christ is about to return and destroy it forever!

"Get ready for the return of Jesus Christ. That greatest event ever to occur in the universe is almost here!"'[2]

[edit] Conflict with the Worldwide Church of God

The PCG was involved in a lengthy legal struggle with the Worldwide Church of God over the rights to publish several of Herbert Armstrong's works. The WCG, which had since refuted the controversial opinions of its founder, owned the copyright to the works but did not publish them. The PCG, believing the works to be an essential part of their religious practice, printed Mystery of the Ages without permission from the copyright holders. When they were sued by the WCG, they counter-sued, claiming that they had a constitutional right to publish the works.^[3] The legal battle dragged on for six years, at which point the WCG settled the issue by selling the rights of 19 of Armstrong's works to the PCG for $2 million.^[4]

[edit] Directive to cut off "Laodicean" Family Members

In December of 2005, a sermon was delivered by the PCG's leader, Gerald Flurry, directing the membership to cut off family members formerly baptized into the PCG or WCG, as a warning of the impending Great Tribulation and to pressure them into returning to the church.^[5] The term "Laodicean" in the context of groups formerly associated with the Worldwide Church of God is a pejorative term referring to the less faithful Christians referred to in the third chapter of the book of Revelation.

[edit] References

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