PCG: Pinocchio Church of God?

Flurrys Bear False Witness To Herbert Armstrong Copyright © 2012, Gun Lap

Gerald Flurry

Let The Horse Speak

There is an old saying, "get it from the horse's mouth," meaning, in order to know a person's position on some subject, it's better to hear it from them directly, rather than through some intermediary.

So anyone who wants to know what Armstrong taught should reference his own writings, not just what other people say he said. The Philadelphia Church of God, controlled by Gerald Flurry (pictured above), bought the copyright to 19 of Herbert Armstrong's works from the copyright holder (the Worldwide Church of God) after Armstrong died in 1986. One might think that reading Armstrong's books and booklets now publishlished by the PCG, which have Armstrong identified as the author, one would get Armstrong's own words. However, that would be a very erroneous assumption to make.

Fraudulent Flurrys

The Philadelphia Church of God claims to be holding fast to the teachings of Armstrong, but that simply isn't so. They have probably altered more of his doctrines, especially on prophecy, than any other sizeable church that came out of the breakup of the Worldwide Church of God. Perhaps the most disturbing changes are those made to Armstrong's own works. In other words, as we will show, they have deceitfully altered the words of Hebert Armstrong and passed the altered versions off as his original unadulterated writings. In doing so, the PCG deceives their readers and also bears false witness to Armstrong's words. They act like owning the legal copyright to his works gives them the moral right to put words in his mouth and take words out of his mouth. They also act like they have no responsibility to tell their readers what was changed! And these guys call themselves Christians! It's not the fact that they are changing doctrines, it's the fact that they do it while pretending they don't. This is a repugnant spiritual fraud. It's also a financial fraud against those who are misled by it into financially supporting Flurry's church. What they are doing might be legal (which could depend on the jurisdiction), but it's bearing false witness, and considering the consequences, for example, how they use this to hide from people Armstrong's views on prophets in the church, it's pure evil.

The PGR: Prevaricator General's Report?

The PCG has been forced to admit they edited Mystery of the Ages. In their October 21, 2004 Pastor General's Report (PGR), the deceitful son of the false prophet shamelessly tries to justify the PCG's deceit. In an article called Changes to Mystery of the Ages Stephen Flurry says:

A former member of the PCG has accused the Church of deceptively altering the text of Mystery of the Ages because of a sentence we omitted from page 245 of the book ... (PGR, Oct 21, 2004, viewable here).

Sounds like they only brought this to light because they were forced to by a former member!

Reading between the lines it sounds more like this: "Shucks, fellow ministers, we lied and we got caught. Sorry we didn't tell you sooner but we didn't want you to know we were lying to you and nobody knew it until this former member brought the truth to light. Now that the cat is out of the bag we'll imply the former member is a false accuser, and I guess we have to come up with some rubbish to save our butts, so here we go..."

These edits might help explain why the PCG told us (I was once a member) not to order Mystery of the Ages from them if we already had a copy. This was passed off as a cost saving measure, but I suspect the real reason was they didn't want people to start noticing the differences in the PCG version and the original version.

Stephen Flurry tries to pretend that altering Armstrong's words is not deceitful! That, of course, is not true. Then he yammers on about how the PCG supposedly is preserving Armstrong's doctrines (ignoring the many doctrinal changes the PCG has made) while misleading his own ministers into overlooking the critical ramifications of these edits!

Some readers might not be aware of Flurry's many doctrinal changes, so we listed a few of them in a footnote, along with information on where the reader can find out more about those changes.

Here are some of the ramifications of altering the words of the book. These are things that Stephen Flurry did not tell his ministers about!

1. The book no longer serves as an accurate historical record of Armstrong's teachings.
2. Armstrong might not like some of the edits they are making.
3. The PCG conceals from the reader the fact that they have disagreements with Armstrong (i.e. dissident views).
4. Even if the reader knows changes were made (which does not seem likely), he does not know what they were or how many, so the reader does not know how much of the book is what Armstrong actually said and how much is what the PCG says he said. Therefore the reader cannot read the book with confidence in anything he reads.
5. The PCG conceals from the reader what their disagreements with Armstrong are (i.e. after hearing the PCG is "holding fast" the reader would be misled into thinking any changes are minor—quite the opposite of the truth).
6. Armstrong's views are misrepresented, which means the PCG is bearing false witness, which is a sin.
7. The PCG claims to follow Armstrong but by altering his words is usurping his authority to set doctrine and establish church teachings.
8. The PCG is shown to have the audacity to alter the words of a man they say was an apostle.
9. The PCG is stealing time and tithes from those people who would leave the PCG if they knew what Armstrong taught against PCG doctrines.
10. The PCG is stealing time and tithes from those people who come into the PCG because they don't know what Armstrong taught against PCG doctrines.
11. Altering the meaning of a writer's words without his consent is not the proper role of an editor.
12. People could quote from the book and represent the quotes as Armstrong's views on doctrine when in fact they could have been altered. Without prior knowledge, neither the person taking the quote or the person reading it would know about the alteration.

The changes made by the PCG are not minor but pivotal.

One of the most fearsome quotes in the Bible might well be Romans 1:18 which says, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness." (NASB). Isn't that what the PCG is doing?

"If we fail to hold on to God’s past instructions, we will be easily deceived..." (Gerald Flurry, Malachi's Message).

The PCG likes to quote J.W. Tkach saying: "Mr. Armstrong did not underestimate the importance of this last work, for it contained vital keys to understanding the plan of God as revealed in the Bible. Mystery of the Ages in a very real sense was a last will and testament, to be passed on to those who would value it." (From the Web, here.)

So after Armstrong died, the PCG purchased the copyright to his last will and testament then altered it so that they can "inherit" the tithes that might have gone elsewhere if they left it the way it was. The nerve.

The PCG calls their alterations "edits" but an editor has NO right to change the meaning of what a writer writes. The editor's job is to correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation. The editor can also remove material to stay within space constraints, but not because he wants to change the meaning of what a writer said. If an editor does not like what the writer said he can either reject the entire work or discuss the issue with the writer and recommend that the writer make changes. If the two cannot agree, the writer is not obligated to make the recommended changes and the editor is not obligated to print the piece. Since Armstrong is dead nobody can discuss changes with him and nobody has the right to presume to speak for him and say what changes he would have wanted. If the PCG doesn't like what Armstrong said, that's their problem; they are stuck with it. I don't see how the PCG can honestly call the alterations "edits" when they are really distortions, i.e. changes in meaning. The changes were made because the PCG does not agree with what Mr. Armstrong wrote!

If the PCG does not agree with some of Armstrong's statements, they could have left the text intact and used footnotes to explain why they do not agree with Armstrong's words. They could put the "updates" in footnotes. Altering Armstrong's own words is totally unnecessary. There is no good reason for it.

The whole reason we fought for the book in court for six years is that we wanted to preserve the very message the Tkaches were bent on destroying! (Stephen Flurry, PGR, Oct 21, 2004).

Rubbish. The PCG constantly brags that they are preserving what they are actually destroying—Armstrong's legacy. Tkach was also destroying that legacy, but that's not the point. The key points are (i) both Tkach and Flurry made changes, and (ii) they did so while hiding those changes from the readers. Both have been quietly destroying Armstrong's legacy. Both have tried to hide that fact. Both would like to justify the changes by arguing that their alterations were better than the original, but that is a distraction. The Tkaches and Flurries both tried to make changes without those changes being noticed until they were forced to admit them.

What rubbish when they brag that they are preserving Armstrong's legacy. The changes made to Mystery of the Ages are designed to pave the way for the PCG to destroy that legacy. By rejecting Armstrong's doctrine on prophets in the NT they can pass Gerald Flurry off as a prophet which paves the way for destroying his prophetic legacy with numerous changes in the area of prophecy.

Furthermore, people can get more of Armstrong's literature free on the Web (including Mystery of the Ages) than they can get from the PCG, so the PCG hasn't preserved anything that others are not also preserving. And most copies on the Web are probably not altered—the PCG copy is!

Stephen Flurry is forced to admit they altered Armstrong's PIVOTAL teaching on prophets but he has the audacity to act like it's no big deal!

The sentence we removed from our 2003 version is found on page 245 of the older one, where it said, “No prophets are mentioned as having either administrative, executive or preaching functions in the New Testament Church.” (Stephen Flurry, PGR, Oct 21, 2004).

In other words, they are destroying what Armstrong taught about prophets so that they can continue the lie that they are following in Herbert Armstrong's footsteps while still claiming Gerald Flurry is a prophet. Hypocrites! What's worse, the ministers and their wives all receive this PGR and yet I never heard any of the ministers tell us the real truth about these edits!

When Flurry got arrested for driving under the influence they didn't tell us the full story about that either. Some of us would have left if they had.

Anyone who continues to support Flurry after learning about his misrepresentations is helping to promulgate deception on the public. We can't fix the evil Flurrys but we can walk away from them.

Stephen Flurry again...

In fact, the next time we print Mystery of the Ages, we will also cut a parenthetical phrase found on page 350—one that we overlooked last year. Again, in reference to the position of prophet, Mr. Armstrong wrote, “of which there are none in God’s Church today since the Bible for our time is complete.” Again, there is a prophet leading God’s Church today. (Stephen Flurry, PGR, Oct 21, 2004).

This single edit conceals two doctrinal changes: (i) that there are no prophets in the church in our time, and (ii) that the Bible for our time is complete. If the PCG wants to change doctrines they should be honest and admit that they have changed doctrines! If they want to believe there is a prophet in the church today, they have to explain whether they still think the Bible is complete. Armstrong said there is no prophet today because the Bible is complete. Is the PCG saying the Bible is not complete? What are they going to do next, start adding to the Bible?

PCG: The Pinocchio Church of God?

Notice how they make what they do sound good by calling it "updating" rather than "lying". Why is it lying? Because the book has Herbert W. Armstrong's name on the cover and the PCG does not tell the readers what edits they made and why. That is LYING; lying about what Armstrong said to the readers. That is bearing false witness to Herbert Armstrong's teachings. It is also a fraud perpetrated on the readers, presumably so the PCG can eventually get tithe money out of those readers they can delude into supporting their work.

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Prov 6:16-19).

What does this tell us about the character of Gerald and Stephen Flurry? "A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies." (Prov. 14:5). Those who believe the Bible must conclude that these men cannot be trusted—except that they can be relied on to utter lies.

This matter of bearing false witness is not a trivial thing. It was one of the ten great commandments of the law. The old Worldwide Church God booklet The Ten Commandments says:

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" (Ex. 20:16). It is only in seeking and bearing witness to the truth that man is associated with God. For, in literal fact, God is truth! Jesus said: "Thy word is truth" (John 17:17). And again: "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6) ...

The far-reaching spiritual applications of the ninth commandment are tremendous. ... a man who is honest, who is willing to speak the truth and acknowledge the truth when it is revealed, must eventually be converted to the true God and His ways! But a man whose word is no good, who is in the habit of lying to others and to himself--that man's very character and mental processes are so twisted and perverted that he can never come to understand even the truth of God until his mind is literally cleaned up! ...

If we are ever to build the character of God--and inherit eternal life--we must consider the ninth commandment in all of its ramifications--and learn to obey it. (The Ten Commandments, Worldwide Church of God, found on the Web, 1977 edition).

Note that even if we say good things about someone, it is still bearing false witness, if those things are not true: "Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not." (1 Cor. 15:15).

Other edits made in the 2003 version of Mystery of the Ages have updated certain statements. For example, on page 298, when Mr. Armstrong talked about what would happen in the latter days, we omitted the following line: “… actually within the next two decades—this last half of the twentieth century!” That, of course, has since passed. (Stephen Flurry, PGR, Oct 21, 2004).

Yes it passed—unfulfilled! So they alter his words—misrepresent them—to hide from the unsuspecting reader critical information that proves Armstrong was a false prophet who set dates that didn't work out (see our article The Delayed Prophecy Excuse Refuted).

And Stephen Flurry admits to still another deceitful edit that deceitfully hides from the unsuspecting reader what Armstrong was thinking.

On page 99, where Mr. Armstrong asked, “Can human life on earth survive even through the short remainder of this twentieth century?” we changed it to: “Can human life on earth survive past this present generation?” (Stephen Flurry, PGR, Oct 21, 2004).

Are readers so dumb they need the PCG to update that for them so they know the twentieth century is past? What is the PCG's motive for making that "update"? Was it to help the reader or was it to help hide date-setting errors that readers have a right to know about?

What would the PCG do if they had the copyright to the U.S. constitution? "Update" it so that it contains PCG doctrines and reprint it as the works of the original founders? What would they do if they had the copyright to the manuscripts of the Bible? Alter them as well? When John quotes Jesus as saying "lo I come quickly" (Rev 3:11) would they change that to "I'll get there when I get there," or would they just strike that out because it's a difficult scripture to explain? If God inspired the Bible the difficult scriptures are there for a reason and need to be explained, not struck out. Would they justify that "edit" by saying "we own the copyright" or "we are keeping it up to date" or "we don't want that to get in the way of someone coming to the truth," or whatever?

Conclusion:

Gerald Flurry considers Armstrong an apostle but he seems to have lost the fear of God. Flurry should reread 2 Peter 3:15-16, regarding those who wrest the words of an apostle or inspired works to their own destruction.

Note: The most thorough web site exposing the PCG can be found here and I highly recommend it to anyone who is in the PCG, is considering joining them, or knows someone who is. That is where we found the PGR that we have been quoting. Another site exposing the PCG is the Exit and Support Network found here.

Note: Here are some of the PCG's doctrinal changes away from what H.W. Armstrong taught.

1. Changed the meaning of the "very elect" (Armstrong said it was the same as the elect).
2. Changed the commission from preaching the gospel to prophecy.
3. Claims to be Philadelphian even though the PCG has no growth.
4. Changed the policy on reporting church attendance figures (to hide lack of PCG growth).
5. Seems to have changed how third tithe is spent.
6. Changed the doctrine on having contact with "Laodiceans".
7. Changed many prophecies, such as the teaching about the “man of sin” in 2 Thessalonians 2.
8. Changed what HWA said about the little book of Revelation 10.
9. Changed who the King of the South is (from Ethiopia to Iran).
10. Changed the meaning of "That Prophet" from Jesus Christ to Gerald Flurry.
11. Changed the doctrine on prophets in the NT church: HWA said none, Flurry says he's a prophet.
12. Also changed the role of prophets in the NT church (used to be non-preaching and non-administrative).
13. Changed who has the authority to establish church doctrine (from apostle to prophet).
14. HWA said there would be no Elisha to follow him (Elijah). Flurry says he is the Elisha.
15. Flurry now claims to be an apostle without the fruits of converting new people from the world.

For more information on PCG doctrinal changes we recommend the sites already mentioned as well as the site by Robert Thiel here.

Note: The God of the Bible must think a false witness is pretty evil because there are plenty of scriptures that deal with the issue, including the 9th of the ten great commandments of the law:

1. Exod. 20:16: "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."
2. Deut. 5:20: "Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour."
3. Pss. 27:12 "Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty."
4. Pss. 35:11 "False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not."
5. Prov. 6:19 "A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
6. Prov. 12:17 "He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit."
7. Prov. 14:5: "A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies."
8. Prov. 19:5 "A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape."
9. Prov. 19:9 "A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish."
10. Prov. 21:28 "A false witness shall perish ... "
11. Prov. 25:18 "A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow."
12. Matt. 15:19 "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:"
13. Matt. 19:18 "He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,"
14. Mark 10:19 "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother."
15. 1 Cor. 15:15 "Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not."

Note: The copyright page near the front of the PCG's version of Mystery of The Ages (available here) says:

Copyright © 1985, 2009 Philadelphia Church of God
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
Second Edition

Note that the Philadelphia Church of God is hiding the number of editions they have produced of this book. This is clearly deliberate since they do this in two ways.

First, it says "Second Edition." That is simply not true, and the PCG knows it is not true.

Second, they omit the other years the book was printed. The WCG had more than one edition (hard cover and soft cover which differed in some details) and the PCG has had more than one edition.

The PGR we referred to says "The sentence we removed from our 2003 version... " and "Other edits made in the 2003 version ...." These statements show there was a 2003 edition so the 2009 edition is not the second PCG edition. Clearly, the PCG does not want their readers to know about their other edition(s) so they are lying to cover them up.

Why do they hide how many times they have changed the book? Presumably because if the reader knew how many times the PCG has "edited" the book they would have a better sense of how many changes have been made, and therefore realize the PCG is not holding fast to Armstrong's teachings as they claim.

Note: When I was in the PCG they told us that they were going to use the same page numbers for their edition of the book as Herbert Armstrong used for his edition. This was so that they could quote from any given page in the book and readers could find the quote whether they had the WCG edition or the PCG edition. But if we compare the 1985 WCG edition to the 2009 PCG edition we see that they are no longer doing this (I think they did it in the very first PCG edition). Why did they change their mind? In my view it is another attempt to cover up the changes they have made. It used to be easier to show the PCG's changes by referring to the page where the change was made. Now it is harder because the reader has to track down the same quote in both versions to find the change.

Note: On page 99 of the 1985 Worldwide Church of God edition it says "Can human life on earth survive even through the short remainder of this twentieth century?" In the 2009 PCG version this is on page 76 but it was changed to "Can human life on earth survive past this present generation?" There is no footnote on that page indicating that anything was changed. There is no endnote at the end of the chapter indicating that anything was changed. There is nothing at the front of the book indicating what was changed. I see nothing at the end of the book indicating what was changed.

Page 298 of the WCG edition reads "... for us TODAY—what is to happen 'in the latter days'—actually within the next two decades—THIS LAST HALF OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY!" He was wrong but the PCG deceitfully covers that up, deleting this from their edition. This appears on page 230 of the 2009 PCG edition but it has been shortened to read "... for us TODAY—what is to happen 'in the latter days.'" Once again, I see no note on that page or at the end of the chapter indicating that a change was made.