It is with deepest disappointment that I regret that I am
forced, once again, by hostile actions by my son, Garner Ted, to
bring you up to date with the PLAIN TRUTH.
Diametrically contrary to what he has always said he would
never do, he has, not only "raised a hand against his father,"
in the public press, but as the Apostle Paul warned the elders
of the church at Ephesus, "For I know this that after my departing
...of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things,
to draw away disciples after themselves" (Acts 20:29,30).
Paul did not say or mean, to draw people closer to God, but
to draw away those already IN THE CHURCH, after themselves--to
follow a MAN instead of Jesus Christ!
It has happened before. Paul knew it would happen again--
and again--and again!
The Lord Jesus Christ, and the God after whom His Church is
named were, under Ted's leadership little by little, being subtly
pushed out of God's Church and of Ambassador College. It was
becoming apparent to several.
One of several such letters just recently received says,
"Thank God you are back where Christ wants you. Never before
have we been so inspired by sermons or Bible Studies. For the
past ten years, so many people, including myself, have noticed
that something was wrong.... We noticed that for some reason we
were not as inspired as we had been in the past. We felt there
was something missing.... In fact, all of the doctrines of God
were treated as if they were not important...we were sincere,
but did not accomplish much because we lacked so much of the
knowledge and faith that we once knew...we were spinning our
wheels and sliding backwards. To say the least, Mr. Armstrong,
...Christ has finally shown you plainly where we, the Church,
were heading.... I am glad that Christ has put you back in the
pulpit to teach us...we can actually understand it when you
expound on it."
In my very painfully written letter, notifying you of the
disfellowshipment of Garner Ted, I wrote you: "Now I come to
something I have felt I had to withhold from you, brethren.
During these past few years, when I sensed a CONSPIRACY to bring
about a complete takeover of the entire Church's work--virtually
to put JESUS CHRIST out...I attributed it entirely to Satan.
...to protect my son's name and reputation, I have 'covered up'
for him--because I have said to him I love him above all people
on earth.... When Garner Ted maneuvered to shut off communication
of what really was going on--when he shut off all authority above
him, he not only shut off God's Apostle, but also he shut off
CHRIST AND GOD ALMIGHTY.
"Finally, a year ago the men next in authority under Ted came
to me, begging me to TAKE ACTION. 'Your son, Mr. Armstrong,' they
said, 'has been trying to DESTROY everything Christ has built
through you, and build something for Garner Ted Armstrong.' "
His TV and radio programs were becoming secular, dealing in
worldly politics, with sponsorship announced, not as Worldwide
Church of God, who paid his salary, all production costs, and
the cost of air-time, but as that of "Garner Ted Armstrong
Productions." Everything was focused on featuring the name
Garner Ted Armstrong--instead of the name of the Church.
On follow-up outgoing mail to those responding to the programs,
he abolished the "WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD" letterhead--and instead,
the letterhead was printed, "GARNER TED ARMSTRONG." With his
picture beside it!
For more than a year those now in top administrative offices
have implored me to step in and once again take over complete
control, UNDER CHRIST--as it was until some ten years ago.
Again I repeat, as I wrote you then, "I say, this Church and
its work was built by the LIVING CHRIST! It was HIS SPIRIT that
inspired, motivated this entire work--but, He was being put out!"
Fellow ministers and brethren, Jesus Christ has been moving
dynamically, these past weeks, to once again ENTHRONE THE GREAT
MAJESTIC GOD within this Church and its Work!
Until recently all was CONFUSION at Pasadena Headquarters.
WHO was in charge--was it Garner Ted, or was it God's Apostle?
Well, I'll tell you emphatically who is in charge--JESUS CHRIST!!
It's time we all come to realize this is not the work of a man--or
of which man to follow--it is THE CHURCH AND WORK OF ALMIGHTY GOD,
with the living Jesus Christ at its HEAD, on His Father's throne!
A few years ago, one of the Church's ministers had inherited
some money. He left the Church to draw away our members after him
saying he and his wife were about the age of God's Apostle when
God started His Work through His Apostle. But this man was not
God's Apostle-- God was not IN what he tried to build for himself
--and his efforts failed completely!
In 1974, some 35 ministers left. They incorporated themselves
as the "Associated Churches of God." But GOD was not in it--and it
fell flat on its face! Tragically, a few thousand brethren followed
after these men, who were seeking to draw away those already in the
Church to follow them! Where are they today? I know many of those
former ministers have had to take jobs working with their hands
to earn a living. That is JUSTICE! But, the tragic part of it is
that those brethren, who followed them, as sheep without a shepherd,
going to the slaughter, have been probably lost from God!
And now Garner Ted has incorporated himself with his wife and
his brother-in-law--and this GARNER TED ARMSTRONG CHURCH has now
started a campaign to draw away both whatever sheep and shepherds
he can now entice to follow him--to follow a man instead of the
Living God!
I say to you, ministers and brethren, Christ is on GOD'S THRONE.
He did build His Church! No MAN built the Worldwide Church of God
of today--and Jesus Christ promised that the gates of the grave
shall never prevail against it! Human MEN, with selfish motives,
may try to start a church after a MAN! But it is those in the true
CHURCH OF GOD that shall inherit, IN GLORY, the soon-coming KINGDOM
OF GOD!
Satan is the real source of human nature. It is ever the same!
In the days of King David, whom God had selected as king, two of his
sons, one at a time, attempted to take over the throne, and make
themselves king, Absalom and Adonijah. But GOD PROTECTED His
people of that day, and David, whom HE had chosen!
God called MOSES to lead His people, long before David. Once
Moses' brother Aaron and sister Miriam, challenged Moses' leadership.
They claimed equal right to lead. God sternly rebuked them!
"Wherefore," said God, "were ye NOT AFRAID to speak against my
servant Moses?" "And the anger of the Eternal was kindled against
them" (Numbers 12:1-9). Miriam was seized with leprosy, for seven
days.
But, have we become so detached from God in His Church today,
that we think perhaps God has CHANGED?--are we today NOT AFRAID to
speak against God's anointed?
Then of another time Korah gathered a group against Moses'
leadership. Again God was stirred to ANGER! Korah and those with
him were simply swallowed up by the earth!
I simply plead with you, ministers and brethren, HELP ME as
I put myself in GOD'S HANDS, to follow Christ in His Church--that
we may carry on following Christ (not a man) in once again ENTHRONING
THE GREAT MAJESTIC GOD AT THE HELM OF HIS CHURCH!
With deep love, in Jesus' name,
Herbert W. Armstrong
