Is the UnitedChurch of God a cult?
One common definition of a cult is an authoritarian organization led by a charismatic personality who enforces obedience to his ideals and beliefs. By this definition, the United Church of God (UCG) is not a cult, because it is governed by a 12-man council of elders. However, the Church faithfully teaches the doctrines of the now deceased Herbert W. Armstrong, who was a very charismatic and controlling leader of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG), which was widely considered to be a cult. Armstrong believed that he was an end-time apostle proclaiming the soon-coming ‘Kingdom of God‘. WCG discontinued Armstrong’s teachings after his death, prompting members faithful to Armstrong doctrines to split and form their own organizations. The United Church of God is one of many of these offshoot organizations. These organizations vary from moderate to more extreme forms, the latter of which tend to have controlling leaders and exhibit clear characteristics of a cult. The more moderate groups, such as UCG, have departed from Armstrong’s more eccentric teachings such as a ban on birthdays and makeup. …The United Church of God teaches a unique form of Christianity derived from the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong, which is known by non-adherents as
‘Armstrongism‘.
Armstrongism teaches that groups of the same beliefs are the ‘only true church’, and that all other religions are false or satanic counterfeits.
‘Converted’ members are seen as an exclusive and select group of people specially chosen by God to become ‘first-fruits’ – a future group of ‘god-beings’ and ‘kings and priests’ in the literal earthly ‘Kingdom of God.’
God has specially ‘drawn’ his ‘elect’ and revealed the hidden knowledge of his ‘truth’ only to them, whereas the rest of the world is blinded by Satan to this special knowledge.
The ‘sign’ of God’s ‘chosen people’ is literal sabbath keeping and obedience to the Old Covenant (Mosaic) law, excluding temple and ritual laws.
Significant demands are placed on members, such as two tithes and Holy Day observances.
Members are not permitted to work from sunset to sunset on Holy-Days or the Sabbath (Saturday), even if they lose their employment as a result.
Armstrongist groups, such as UCG, consider themselves as being different and apart from ‘the world’, i.e. non-believers.
As an example, they will not celebrate Christmas in any form because Christmas is ‘extra-biblical’ and ‘pagan’ in origin. …Other key UCG beliefs that differ from traditional Christianity include the rejection of the Trinity, and their belief that Western white nations (predominantly England and the U.S.A.) are the direct lineal descendants of the northern tribes of Israel.
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