Good News 1955 (Vol v No 04) Sep_w

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VOL. V, NUMBER 4

T h eTHE

National Magazine ofCHURCH OF GOD

SEPTEMBER, 1955

Seven PROOFS of theChurch of God

Here is irrefutable evidence that identifies the ON E TRUECHURCH-the church Jesus said He WOULD build!

by Roderick C. Meredith

CAN YOU really prove to yourself,and to others who may be willingto learn, that you are in God'schurch? Call you show-step by s t ephow totally different God's church isfrom all others, and wh y it is different?God commands Christians to "earnestly contend for the faith which was oncedelivered unto th e saints" (Jude 3),

This church-Gad's church-is doingthat. Through God's calling you ha';;been led to realize that the message youhear on 'The 1Varid Tomorrow" broadcast, and the articles you read in Th ePLAIN TRUTH are the very work of Go d- that they are the direct instrermenis ofthe Almighty Creator of heaven andearth.

And noll', through the articles in Th eGOOD NEWS magazine, and perhaps afterattending some of the annual festivals,you have come to realize that this is no tonly God's w o r k - b u t also His Church-sTHE VERY CHURCH JESUS SAID HEWOULD BUILD (Mat. 16:18).But we know there are many churcheswhich claim to be the true church-thechurch Jesus built. In past articles, wehave already shown you ahsoltrte PROOFthat God's church began on the day ofPentecost, June 18, 31 A.D.-not onsome other date which groups of men

pretending to be God's church have concocted contrary to the scriptural revelation. And we have set forth the historicalevidence which reveals that God'schurch has continued from the time ofChri st un ti l now, and that it has alwaysremained faithful to the basic teachingsof Jesus and the apostles.

Vital KnowledgeNow you are about to read seven basictruslss which identify God's church andset it apart from all others. No other people on earth have ALL SEVEN-or, for

rhar matter, even three--Df these fundamental principles, except GOD'S CHURCH,our church.Some smaller churches and sects doseem to have more of the t ru th than thegreat denominations. But NONE hasmore than one or tw o of these sevenfundamentals correct-and even rbesepoints they usually twist or distort because they fail to understand their relation to God's plan as a whole.STUDY these seven principles carefully.They will help you recognize God's people wherever you may find them-inchurch history, or in different individualsor groups you may hear about or come incontact with.Most important, this knowledge

should cause you to understand as neverbefore the GREAT GULF tha t exists between God's church and all others-thatthis is not JUSt "another church" or a"new idea"-but tb e very cburcb [esusbuilt.'Knowing these principles will helpyou prove this to others who may be sincerely trying to find God's truth!Jesus said that in the end time, ourtime, "There shall arise false Christs, andfalse prophets, and sh8.11 show great signsand wonders; insomuch that, IF it werepossible, they shall deceive the veryelect" (Mat. 24:24).I t is the solemn duty of God's calledministers to feed His sheep, the "elect,"with the spiritual "meat" they need sothey may grow to spiritttal maturity, andcannot be deceived. And it is your responsibility to study, and prove thesetruths so that you may never be deceivedin this time when the Devil himself iss ti rred against God's people and is trying in every possible way to deceive ormislead them.SO STUDY these points carefully!

( 1) God Is RulerThe first point which God's churchrecognizes as no other is that God is su

preme RULER of the universe, the world,


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Page 2His church, and our individual liveshere and NOW.In Daniel's time, God abased thegreat king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar,by causing him to become insane and todwell with wild beasts, "till he knewthat the most high God RULED in thekingdom of men, and that he appointedover it whomsoever he will" (Dan.5:21).In Acts 17:16-31, we read the accountof how Paul spoke of God to the heathenphilosophers at Athens. He told themthat God: "Hath made of one blood allnations of men for to ' dwell on all theface of the earth, and hath determinedthe times before appointed and thebounds of their habitation" (verse 26).Here we find it is God who determinesthe times of a peoples greatness, and HEsets the BOUNDS of their territory.Throughout the Bible, it is revealedthat God's purpose stands-He aloneRULES supreme. And if man wishes tocontinue living, he mus t learn to OBEYthat rule!No matter what the atheists, thedoubters, the modernists, and those whofollow man's traditions think, we inGod's church must both learn and livethis truth first of all.

Rules ChurchThe ride of God also operates in Hischurch. While men have concoctedevery imaginable type of church government, the Bible sets forth the true formclearly.God's government is always from thetop down. Jesus Chris t is the LIVING

head of the church. Paul was inspired towrite that God, "gave h im (Christ ) tobe the head over all things to thechurch" (Eph. 1:22). And again, "Forthe husband is the head of the wife,even as Christ is the HEAD of the church"(Eph.5:23).In I Cor. 12:28 and Ephesians 4:11we find listed the offices God has set inHis church. In Ephesians, the account ismore complete in regard to the officesofauthority in the church.We read: "And he(Christ) gave some, apostles; and some,prophets; and some, evangelists; andsome, pastors and teachers; FOR the perfecting of the saints, for the work of thebody of Christ."We find in the New Testament examples that the prophets had no authorityto rule the church or direct the work ofothers in the ministry-unless they alsoheld an administrative office in thechurch.

Offices of AuthoritySo that means that the officers of authority in God's form of church governmenr are: First, apostles, whom we findare directly chosen of God for that officeand who are in author ity over all lesser

The GOOD NEWSoffices in God's church. They are responsible to Christ-the living, active HEADof the church-for instructing, correcting, and directing the church, and fororganizing and supervising the carryingout of the gospel ministry of the church.Secondly, there are evangelists, whoare appointed and trained by the apostles, whose authority they are under. Inthe New Testament church, they wereusually younger men such as Timothyand Titus, and would often accompanyand assist the apostles in their ministry-sometimes being sent on a missionalone or stat ioned in one place temporarily as a presiding pastor over othe rlocal pastors and elders.Third, there are pastors, who presideover and preach to local congregations.They are under the authority of theevangelists and may be appointed bythem.Fourth, there are teachers, who arenon-preaching elders under the authorityof the pastors, but who may preside overand direct and teach the local congregations if there is no preaching ministeravailable. These would usually be laymembers of the congregation, but arenevertheless in an office of authority inGod's church and have their share ofresponsibility in directing, edifying, andprotecting God's church-the "littleflock."The term "elder" is usually applied tothis last class of non-preaching ministers,but it is also a_general term applied toone in any of the four principal administrative offices mentioned above. Eventhe apostle Peter was "also an elder"( I Pet. 5: 1) .Beside these administrative officesthere are various "helps" and "governments" (o r governors) mentioned in ICor. 12. These would include deaconsand deaconesses, and many others whoserve in the work of the gospel-perhapswithout any specific title--but nonetheless laying up for themselves great"treasure" in heaven.As explained in previous articles inThe GOOD NEWS, the apostles, evangelists, and elders have been given authority by Christ to RULE His church. Theyare given authority to "bind" or "loose"-applying God's laws-NOT humanreason-to specific cases within thechurch. Occasionally, as in the councilmentioned in Acts 15, they must make abinding decision regarding some particular point which may not be clearly andspecifically explained in the Bible.In all these matters, they are to seekGod's guidance and seek His will. Christhas "set in office, and He is responsibleto guide them in ruling His church.This is God's government in Hischurch, and all who are truly convertedwill OBEY that government. But it is allto be administered in LOVE, and for the

September, 1955edification and spiritual perfection of allconcerned.Denominations of men have "congre-garional,' "episcopal," and many otherhttman devised forms of church government. But they will not have God's form.This thing of government and obedience is VITAL to God. It is the very basisof God's plan in preparing us for Hiskingdom. And He will guide us only ifwe do things His way.No other church on earth has God'sform of cburcb government ! No otherchurch is really RULED by God and belongs to Him!

God Rules Our LivesMany people acknowledge, at least intheory, that God is over-all Ruler of theworld and of His church. But they havenot yet fully learned that if we are ever

to be "saved"-born into God's kingdom, He must literally RULE our individual, personal lives.Jesus Christ said: "Man shall not liveby bread alone, bu t by every word ()fGod" (Luke 4:4). Jesus magnified thatWord and showed how we are to liveeven by the spirit or intent of God'sWord.

God 's chu rch is composed of thoseindividuals "which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimonyof Jesus Christ" (Rev. 12: 17).God repeats this same principle inRev. 14: 12: "Here is the patience of thesaints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith ofJesus."A real Christian will obey God's com

mandments and he will have the veryfaith of Jesus-he will have Christ livingHis life in him through the Holy Spirit.And remember: "Jesus Christ the SAMEyesterday, and today, and forever" (Heb,13:8) . So He will be keeping the sameweekly and annual Sabbaths, observingthe same kind of zealous, totally-surrendered life that He did nearly twothousand years ago when He trod thisearth in human flesh.A truly converted person will abe}'even the least of the commandments, foras Jesus said: "Whosoever thereforeshall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shallbe called the least in the kingdom ofheaven: but whosoever shall do andteach them, the same shall be called greatin the kingdom of heaven" (Mat. 5: 19) .Such a Chris tian will seek to glorifyGod in everything-in the way he walks,talks, dresses, in the manner he does hiswork, in the way he sits down, stands up,closes a door. In every thought, word, andaction he will seek to do it as Jesuswould-praying for His guidance constantly, and earnestly studying God'sWord to find more instruction, correc-(Please continue on page 4)


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Nazi Underground Plotsin Britain!

by Herman L. HoehHeidelberg, GermanyI HAVE just arrived from London withnews that ought to star tle you! InLondon I expected to hear the languages of many lands ut tered on streetcorners and in hotel lobbies. For thereare always travelers from India, Africa,Arabia and the European continentnot to mention the American wi th hisaccent!But the MOST IMPORTANT tongue Iheard was that of the German.It is astounding to realize the influenceof German traders and commercialagents abroad-in England as elsewhere.And to think tha t only ten years haveelapsed since World War II ended.

The "Forgotten" GermansIt seems that in Western dealings withthe German nation there are always the"forgotten" Germans. They are forgottenbecause of a peculiar blindness which afflicts our way of thinking. This blindnesshas produced two fundamental errors.Our first error developed during thepast World War. Almost everyone ended

up hating all Germans. It became a racialmatter quite different from our presentattitude toward Russia-which is to distinguish between the communist partyand the Russian people. Nearly everyonewanted to forget the minority of "good"Germans-those who did not agree withHitler-those who did not join the NaziParty even under duress. Those were the"forgotten" Germans!But everything is changed NOW-there is a new class of "forgotten" Germans-the Nazi businessmen abroad.And this leads us to our second error.Blind hatred breeds ignorance-ithreeds an unwillingness to face reality.Millions hated "good" Germans and"bad" Germans alike. Then the REALITYdawned! The millions became consciousthat they shouldn't have hated as theydid. How were they to rectify their mistake? By facing reality? Not at all!But by TRUSTING all Germans-the"bad" as well as the "good." This is oursecond error and it will prove our undoing!

"Ex-Nazis" Become BusinessmenAbroad

In Britain, as elsewhere, the people

have tried hard to forget the stern realities of the past. Almost universally thepeople are being swayed by American in-fluence into following the mistaken concept that the last war reformed the mindsand hearts of Germans everywhere.The die-hard Nazis are taking advantage of this attitude.The British equivalent of the American F.B.I.-Scotland Yard-and provincial detectives have uncovered mountainsof evidence of secret Nazi gatherings in

Great Britain. Many of these secret meetings have been held in such importantcities as Birmingham, Liverpool andManchester, according to published repOrts.Those in attendance are mainly German students, who have been grantedopportun it ie s to study in Britain, andGerman girls, who work in hospitals,p riva te homes, or as teachers. Thoughthese young people were too young tojoin the Nazi Party in the height of itspower, they provide excellent materialfor Nazi indoctrination.The leader of these Nazi cells nowbeing organized is a 40-year-old Germanwho poses as a commercial traveler.When questioned by newsmen he bluntlydenied that he was a Nazi-or tha t hespoke German or had ever been to Germany. He resided in England during thelast war-just in case Hitler would lose.His attempts to revive the defunct Naziregime arc obvious. He is in contact,through a woman companion, with OttoStrasser, former leader of the German"Strasser Party," a segment within theHitler Party, and with Wolfgang Sarg,present leader of the Nazi RevivalistParty.

When questioned hy William Blackley, of the Sunday Chronicle, about hisconnections, he said: "The Germans areour good friends. Britain has agreementswith Germeny that prove it. The Communists are the menace. Why should Idirect a Nazi Party in Britain while wehave such a bro therhood with the German nation?"German Efficiency ProvokesAdmiration

Together with Germany's "peace" offensive, German efficiency has inspiredmighty admiration abroad-from both

Brit ish and American onlookers. Andthe die-hard Nazis are taking advantageof this influence too. Rather than beingantagonized by competition, our peopleare being induced to expand Germaneconomy as a means of protectionagainst Communist aggression.As Mr. A. V. Sellwood recently wrote:"Let us face it, they"-by that he meantthe Germans-"they work far harderthan the average Briton. They are efficient too.. . . There can be no stoppingthe Germans in their MARCH TOWARDSPROSPERI'IY THROUGH SHEER DETERMINATION, SKILL, AND RESOURCEFULNESS.The whole world will feel their competition."And with this revival of German industrial might there may develop theold ambition to be a great military power once again."He continues: "I do know that thoseold enemies must now be treated asfriends-howevermuch doubt there maybe in our hearts of the wisdom of it.

"Whether we like it or nor: we haveto TRUST THE GERMANS. There is noalternative."This is the typical British and American attitude. It is a GRAVE MISTAKE.We never'really corrected our firstmistake-our failure to distinguish between good and bad. And so we are making the SAME mistake again-failing todistinguish between the bad and thegood, humanly speaking.We do not want to face the realitythat, underneath the surface, Nazism liessprouting in the hearts of millions: andthat many German businessmen are foreign agents.

The Hand of the Catholic Churchin PoliticsWhenever we speak of a Nazi revival,we do NOT mean the same kind ofNazism that was totally defeated tenyears ago. That form of fascism cannotbe revived again. Instead, we see theform of a different Nazism emerging, aform guided by the hand of the Papacy.For example, the German Secret Service is trailing the underground Nazi organizations and has dispersed several attempts at reviving the party politically.Behind this Secret Service move is the(Please continue on next page)


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Page 4 The GOOD NEWS September, 1955

Nazi UndergroundPlots

Address communications to the Editor,Box 111, Pasadena, California.Copyright, September, 1955By the Rad io Church of God

Herbert W. ArmstrongPublisher and EditorHerman L. HoehExecutive EditorRoderick C. MeredithAssociate Editor

Herbert W. Armst rong revea ls thestartling significance behind today'sworld tr oubles wi th the p rophecies ofThe WORLD TOMORROW!EVERY SUNDAYNEW YORK CITY, N. Y.WABC, Channel 7-11:30 P.M.CHICAGO, ILLINOISW'BKB, Channel 7-9:00 A.M.LOS ANGELES, CALIF.KTLA, Channel 5-10:30 P.M.PORTLAND, OREGONKLOR, Channel 12-9:30 P.M.DENVER, COLORADOKLZ, Channel 7-10:30 P.M.TYLER, TEXASKLTV, Channel 7-10:45 P.M.SAN FRANCISCOSTOCKTON,CALIF.KOVR, Channel 13-10:30 P.M.TEXARKANA, TEXASKCMC, Channel 6-10:30 P.M.SEAITLETACOMA, WASH.KTNT, Channel 11-10:30 P.M.HUTCHINSON, KANSASKTVH, Channel 12-2 :30 P.M.KANSAS CITYKMBC, Channel 9-10:30 P.M.HOUSTON, TEXASKPRC, Channel 2-11 :30 A.M.

TV LOG

After all, Jesus Christ actually createdthe Sabbath! For we read in John 1:3:"All things were made by him" (theWord who became Christ).When Christ, who was the "Lord" ofthe Old Testament (1 Cor. 10:4), calledIsrael to be His chosen people, He gavethem the Sabbath as an identifying SIGNto keep them in everlasting remembranceof Him as thei r Creator and God. ALthough Israel continually broke the Sabbath and most of the world in the socalled "Christian" era has refused to keepit, Jesus did keep it setting us an example (Luke 4:16). The apostles and theearly true church kept it, and it is nowan identifying sign for spiritual Israelites(Gal. 3:29 and 6:16).Some churches observe the Sabbathwho are not God's churches-even theorthodox, Christ-rejecting Jews still keepit. Bur we automatically know that anychurch which does 110t keep the SabbathCANNOT be God's chttrch! I t is rejectingthe principal identifying SIGN of God.The second sign is the keeping of the

a1Z1Z!tal Sabbaths or Holy Days of God.These began to be ins ti tuted before theOld Covenant was ever made with Israel(Exodus 12 and 13). They were la ter(Please continue on page 6)

"The WORLD TOMORROW"TO ALL OF EUROPE:RADIO LUXEMBOURG - 2:;:'10Mondays, Greenwich time.TO ASIA AND AFRICA:RADIO CEYLON

RAOlO LOURENCO MARQUESSaturday 10:0010:30 P.M.

Church of God

TO THE U.S. & CANADAWLS - Chicago - 890 on dial 10 :00 P.M., Mon. thru Fri.,8:30 Sunday night.W\'lVVA-Wheeling, W. Va.-1170on dial-Sundays, 11:05 P.M.Eastern time. 10: 15 P.M.,Mon. thru Fri.XEL0-800 on dial, every night,9:00 P.M. Central Standardtime. (8 :00 P.M. MountainStandard time.)XEG-1050 on dial, every night, 8:30P.M. Central Standard time.

(Continued from page 2)

RADIO LOG

tion, and reproof for ourselves.Yes, there arc religious bodies who observe the Sabbath, or who observe theproper mode of baptism, or who believein this or that other point of truth.But there is only one church whosereal members must be willing to go allthe way for God-who are will ing to doanything that God commands in HisWord-and who are willing to growcontinually in truth and obey it.Th is church is God's church, and-Ihope-your church. I t alone is totcillyRULED by God.

(2 ) The Three SignsThere are three identifying signs that

point to God's t rue church. Certain denominations may possess one, or in rarecases two, of these signs. But only God'schurch has them all. Taken together,they constitute the second proof of God'schurch.The bes t-known of these signs is theweekly Sabbath. In Mark 2:27-28, Jesussaid: "The sabbath was made for man"-a l l mankind-"and not man for thesabbath: Therefore the SOIl uf man isLord also of the sabbath." Then thesabbath IS the "Lord's day"-the day Heis Lord of. Jews said so!

Seven PROOFS of the

NUMBER 4OL. V

The national magazine ofTHE CHURCH OF GODministering to its membersscattered abroad, andreporting on campus happeningsat Ambassador College

(Comiiwed from page 3)influence of the Vatican. The Churchlearned through the last war not to let apolitical party master the State completely. The Church hereafter intends to remain SUPREME by balancing off the Stateand the common people. This struggle isNOW taking place in Argentina, wherethe Church does not intend to let Peronrun the country single-hul1l1e::d. The Vatican will force the Argentine dictator tocome to terms and sign a concordatgranting the Church special privileges.The Church intends to do the samewith the Nazi revivalists! Despite thethorough and extensive undergroundwork of secret Nazi leaders, the CatholicChurch will see to it that Nazism willnever again rise to power by itself. TheChurch is already tes ting its s trength inArgentina and when it wins it will haverooted out the last fascist dictator whohas stood in her path.Don't think the Nazis in Argentina areoblivious to wmtt is occurring in Argentina. They are watching to see whichway the wind is blowing. When they seethat the Church has the power to uproot dictators, they will know that theironly hope is through an ALLIANCE WITHTHE VATICAN on the Church's terms.This is what you must WATCH!The Nazi underground will employ itseconomic, military and political poweronly as the Catholic Church determines.What is comingmight be aptly describedas the last revival of political Catholicismwith its dreaded INQUISITION!


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Correct ME!by Garner Ted Armstrong

D o YOU like to be told you'reWRONG about something?Chances are, you don't. Most human beings do not l ike to be told they'rewrong! Possibly you've heard it said thatone of the most difficult things for ahuman being to do is to admit that he'sbeen wrong. A truer statement was never made!To the complacent "man on thestreet" with the self-satisfied "this is theway I look at it" idea, it never occursthat perhaps there is something terriblyWRONG with him! Has this thought eueroccurred to you? Most of us can READILYsee the mistakes of others, and that factis hardly necessary to repeat-becausewe all know it! We're anxious to criti-cize. We frequently voice our "opinions"about prices, about taxes, and wages. \'Vebecome annoyed with our Government,with our neighbor, with our friends andrelatives. Bur-HAvE WE EVER BECOMEANNOYED WITH OURSELVES?The barber-shop philosophers of theworld are AWARE that something iswrong somewhere. Most of them KNOWthere need to be some changes made.But to the "average" person engulfed inthe struggle of making ends meet, andof earning a wage, there has never occurred the thought that maybe he is terribly WRONG about something. Stop andthink! Have you EVER heard someonesay to a friend: "I'm terribly upset-Ibelieve I've been WRONG about my beliefs, and I think I've made a MISTAKEin most of my opinions." Have you? Idoubt it!

God's Word CorrectsMost of us are "uplifted" by the minister that will stand in front of the groupand tell us how WRONG the rest of theworld is. But are we willing to shake

the minister's hand that will stand in thepulpit and shout at us that WE'REWRONG?Many people express it this way:"Church should be an enjoyable periodof relaxation and rest from our daily existence-a change. We want the ministerto help us with our problems, to give ustha t feeling of 'goodness' that helps uscarry on through the week to come."But is that the BIBLE definition of aChurch service? Let's investigate openmindedly, and find out!In II Timothy 3: 16 we see that ALL

scripture is given by inspiration of God.We must all AGREE on that statement!But what of the rest of the verse? READIT! ''. . . and is profitable for doctrine,for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." YES, ALL scripture is PROFITABLE for correction andreproof!How many of us tuck our Bibles under our arms as a weapon against allhumanity EXCEPT OURSELVES? Howmany of us really know how to study ourBibles? Do you know there is a definite,clearly stated PLAN of Bible-study re-vealed in God's word? The Bible itselftells us HOW to study it!Be Willing to CHANGE

We all would like to be called "sons"by our Almighty Heavenly Father,wouldn' t we? God has revealed the waywhereby We may be His sons throughthe prophet Isaiah in Chapter 55, vs. 6,7 and 8, where the Almighty clearly tellsus that we must forsake our own waysand oe r own thoughts! Then, after forsaking our own ways, or, in other words,after REPENTING, or CHANGING fromthe old way, God will forgive us of ourpast sins, and through His own freelygiven GIFT will empower us with HisHoly Spir it , and begin dealing with usas His own SONS! ( I John 3:1) . Afterthis GIVING UP of our own selves andour own human thoughts, ideas andcustoms, God will begin t reat ing us asHis very own children.Sounds easy, doesn't it? All we haveto do is to forsake our own way! Butwhat then? Goal achieved?Listen!After this beget tal as a very child ofGod, we are told then ''. . . My son,despise not thou the chastening of theLord, nor faint when thou art rebuked ofHim" (Hebrews 12: 5 ). But what isthis? After we are made the very SONSOF GOD, He is go ing to CHASTISE US!This wonderful twelfth chapter of Hebrews continues to tell us: "For whomthe Lord loveth he chasteneth, andscourgeth every son whom he receiveth."Do you want this SCOURGING? Apparently not many today do---or admittingwe are wrong would be one of the EASI-EST things to do! To continue readingin Hebrews, "... I f ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons;for what son is he whom the father

chasteneth not?" How PLAIN! Read foryourself these meaningful words in yourown Bible, and see how God deals withHis own children! -"Now no chastening for the presentseemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable f ru it of righteousness unto themwhich are exercised thereby." Yes, EX-

ERCISED thereby! ( I remember it wasnot too many years ago that the kind ofchastening I received from my fleshlyfather was l iteral EXERCISE!) And soshould our chastisement from our Heav-enly Father become constant EXERCISE!Be Truly Wise

Consider the definition of a wise mangiven by Solomon in Provo 15:31. "The'ear that heareth the reproof of lifeabideth among the wise," So a personwith wisdom is one who accepts anddoes not reject-REPROOF. The greatwisdom of Solomon directed him byGod's divine inspiration to write: "Awise son heareth his father's instruction:but a scorner heareth not rebuke" (Prov,13: 1). However, JUDGMENTS are reserved for scorners (Prov. 19:29), andthe Bible defini tion of a scorner is "onewho will not hear reproof." So are wescorners, or the very children of God?God's command to His ministers is toCRY ALOUD, spare not, lift up your voiceand show my people their SINS' (Isa.58: 1) . The Apostle Paul, exhorting Timothy in the faith said: "Preach the word. . . reprove, rebuke, exhort with alllong-suffering and doctrine" (I I Tim.4: 2). And again, the Apostle Paul toldTitus to rebuke sharply, and to rebukewith authority! (Titus 1: 13; 2: 15).And if God's ministers are speaking withGod's authority, using His true word,which Paul described as being "sharperthan a two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12), their words will not comfort thepeople, and the word of God will be usedPROFITABLY!David was a man after God's ownheart. But God doesn't judge by the out-ward appearance, as does man, but Godlooks on the heart ( I Sam. 16:7). Davidsinned, as do all men, but his heart wasright , and he always repented bitterly.Surely if all scripture is written by directinspira tion of God and is profi table forinstruction, then we can find instructionfrom the manner in which David


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Seven PROOFS of theChurch of God

(Continued from page 4)commanded to be kept FOREVER (Lev. membership and work of the church in23: 21, 31, 41). our t ime is not primarily"at Corinth" orJesus kept the annual sabbaths, setting "at Pasadena" or "at Gladewater." Itsus an example. The New Testament membership is scattered and mostlychurch began on one of them-the day reached by radio-the principal mediumof Pentecost. And the early Christian used in getting out the gospel.rhnrch continued to ohserve rhern dur- So in our modern day of mechaniza-ing the apostles' lives (Acts 20:6, 16; tion, the church is more correctly desig-I Cor. 5:8) . nated by the medium it employs to reachThese seven annual sabbaths picture people than by any particular location.the great plal1 of God and keep us con- Also, there are several different churchestinually in remembrance of it. The which happen to know this particularchurches have lost s ight of tha t plan be- t ruth, and are called "church of God:' Socause they have REJECTED God's annual to prevent confusion, it is better that wesabbaths. But God's true church has al- are called "The Radio Church of God."ways kept these days-and they help The name of God is sometimes wrong-identify it as the very church of God. ly appropriated-just as is the name ofThe Correct Name Jesus Christ. Bur whether false churchesuse it or not, scripture shows that it

The third special sign which points to MUST be applied to God's true church-God's true church is the name. In Jesus' the church OF God.last prayer for His disciples, He said,"Holy Father, keep through thine ouni (3 ) Truth About Pagan DoctrinesNAME those whom thou hast given me" God's church has always understood(John 17: 11 ) . the truth about the many pagan doctrinesGod's people were to be kept in the that were injected into the professingname of God. All the way through the Christian church during the age of theNew Testament, the true church is so-called early church fathers and, later,called by God's name-"the church of during the middle ages.God." God's people know that man does notPaul told the Ephesian elders: "Feed have an "immortal soul"-that God toldthe church of God, which he hath pur- Adam: "Dust thou art, and unto das:chased with his own blood" (Acts 20: shalt thou return" (Gen. 3:19). They28). And the official title by which Paul know that God says: "The soul that sin-addressed the church was: "the church neth, it shal lDIE" (Eze.18:4and 18:20).of God which is at Corinth" (I Cor. The real people of God have never1: 2; II Cor. 1:1), or "the churches of believed in the nightmarish kind of "hell-God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus" fire" doctrine so often taught today. They(I Thes. 2: 14) . know that the soul WILL die-not beThus we see that the correct Bible tortured forever and ever. And that "thename is: "the church of' '-which be- wages"-or reward-"of sin is DEATH"longs to and is ruled by-"God." (Rom. 6:23),As Mr. Armstrong has explained, the Neither do the true children of Godpresent church has been incorporated as believe in "going to heavcn"-God's"The Radio Church of God" for very tbrone-where Jesus clearly stated: "Nogood and scriptural reasons. The present man hath ascended up to heaven, but he

Page 6prayed. David had the thing peopleseem to lack today! He actually ASKEDFOR RIGHTEOUS REPROOF! (Psalms 141:5). David considered it a kindness if hereceived correction. How utterly unlikeroday's "man on the street" David musthave been!The prophet Jeremiah actually askedGod for correction when he said: "0Lord, I know that the way of man isnot in himself: it is not in man thatwalketh to direct his steps. 0 Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not inthine anger, lest thou bring me to noth-

The GOOD NEWSing" (Jeremiah 10:23-24).Salvation is a personal thing! I t is between you and the Almighty CreatorRULER of this ent ire Universe! (Rom.14: 12). Have you heen 1Isingyour Bibleprofitably? Have you been on your kneesbefore God asking to be SHOWN YOU'REWRONG? Have you opened your Bible,eagerly searching for a mirror to evaluateyour MISTAKES? Could it be that youhave been WRONG about something?Why take chances? Let's all open ourBibles and say to God earnestly: "CorrectME!"

September, 1955which came down from heaven, even theSon of man" (John 3:13). And again:"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the EARTH" (Mat. 5:5).Tn the Bihle, and in the history ofGod's true church, we find that God'speople have always realized the paganidolatry and symbolism connected withthe observance of Christmas, New Year'sDay, Easter, Halloween, etc. His peoplehave obeyed God's command: "LearnNOT the way of the heathen" (Jer. 10:2) .As before mentioned, there are manychurches which have-at least in partone or two of these seven basic principlescorrect. This particular point about pagan doctrines is understood by severalwell-known denominations and sects.Yet even here we find the principle ofmisguided human reason at work. Theyhave taken-as did Adam and Eve-ofthe tree of the knowledge of good ANDevil-a bad mixture.So although understanding these pagan doctrines in principle, some of thesechurches try to "work things out" so thatthey can go to heaven--even if only fora while. Or they find some excuse to haveChristmas trees in their homes eventhough God says, "NO!"

The point to remember is tha t everychurch or religious body--even theheathen in the African jungles-hassome TRUTH in its teachings. But is invariably mixed with a greater proportionof ERROR.Only God's church has these sevenbasic principles really straight. Andthere are undoubtedly many minor details and technicalities which we stillneed to learn.But God's people are always dist inguished by their willingness to GROWinto new truth, and to OBEY it as soon asit is proved.

(4 ) God's PowerIn Mark 16: 17-18, Jesus Christ stated:"These signs SHALL follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out'devils (or demons); they shall speakwith new tongues; they shall take upserpents; and IF they drink any deadlything, it shall not burt them; they shalllay hands a ll the sick, and they SHALLrecover."The very POWER of the Creator is tofollow-and witness to--His truechurch.Throughout the book of ACts, thereis abundant testimony that these signsdid follow the early church of God. Andin church history, we find evidence thatthey continued to do so.Notice that these signs were not saidto follow every believer, but to followtbem-s-collecsioely-e-es a body. They areto follow the body of Christ-the trueCHURCH.


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September, 1955The Bible interprets the Bible. And inthe scriptural account of these signs, wefind that they were usually carried ourthrough the ministers-usually the aposrles, and sometimes evangelists, elders, ordeacons. Study this point in the book ofActs and you will soon see that God always worked through His MINISTERSnot the average lay member of the congregation.Of course God did use some women(Acts 21: 9) to prophesy, or foretell future events as did Agabus (verse 11).This of course does NOT contradic t thescriptures which forbid a woman topreach or lead in a public gathering (ICor. 14: 34-35). The gif t was to be handled in a more private way, as Agabusdid.Also, men and women alike may begiven the gift of speaking in foreigntongues or languages when this is necessary in dealing with peoples of a foreigntongue. This gift has not yet become necessary in our work, and we can see that

it was exercised only in certain situationsin the New Testament church.But the Bible accounts of healing, ofcasting out demons, and of accidentallyhandl ing a se rpen t ("Tboa shalt notTEMPT tho Lord thy God")-al l wereaccomplished through God's called MINISTERS.When among faithless people, JesusChrist himself "could there do no mightywork" (Mark 6:5). And speaking ofour day, Jesus asked doubtfully, "Whenthe Son of man cometh, shall he fwdFAITH on the earth?" (Luke 18:8).Bur even in this day of l it tle faith, the

signs Jesus mentioned ARE followingGod's trno church!Scores are being healed, and demonshave been cast out! Jesus didn't bragand boast about His miracles like someof the "fake healers" of our day. However, we do find that the apostles wouldsometimes inform the converted brethren of how mightily God was working- so that all might rejoice (Acts 14:27;15:12).So we plan to show you brethren infuture issues of the GOOD NEWS howMIGHTILY God is working in His churchtoday.There are many fakes and pretenders,but only the true church-the very bodyof Christ-has the very POWER of Almighty God working in and through it.And let us realize how much CLOSER toGod we need to get through diligentstudy and earnest prayer and fasting thatwe might be worthy of exercising thespiritual gifts of God in far greater measure than we are now.

(5 ) Health LawsThis world is SICK-through andthrough. The simple reason is that thepeople of the world are constantly

The GOOD NEWSbreaking the physical laws God has setin motion which govern our bodies.God's children, through His wordand the guidance of the Holy Spirit, canabove all other people have a really trueand balanced understanding of theselaws of health. And through God's power, they can have the WILL to obey them.And this true understanding and attitudeconstitute the fifth proof of God's truechurch, and its great difference from allothers.God 's church understands the law ofclean and unclean meats-and knowsthat this law was in existence at the verybeginning-and involves the very natureof the meat and of our stomachs. Remember that even back before the flood,God told Noah to take into the arkseven.pairs of the "clean" animals (theextra pairs undoubtedly for food) andonly one pair of the "unclean."Knowing that we are to "live by everyword of God," we can discern fromcountless Bible passages the correctprinciples involving our diet and health.With God's guidance, we will NOTbecome health food "fanatics" or go to awrong extreme in any health measure.But we WILL have an increased awareness of the value of our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. We will learnthe tremendous value of radiant healthin our Christian lives.We will learn to eat natnral foods asGod caused them to grow. We'll learnto exercise, to breathe, to sleep, to doEVERYTHING--etJen have our babyNATURALLY, the way God intendedwhen He set in motion His physicallaws.With God's It/'ord as the sound-minded basis of even our physical lives, wewill glorify God in our bodies.There are many uegetarians, exercise"fiends," health food "addicts," and others whose ideas are totally UNBALANCEDand contrary to scripture and in manycases contrary to the example of JesusChrist himself, but the sensible, balanced, and right approach to health isone which ONLY God's true church hasstraight,

(6 ) ProphecyYou have often heard it said that fullyone third of your Bible is prophetic,The sixth PROOF of God's church isthat it ALONE really understands Bible

NOTICEIDue to his many added burdens

of the TV production, Mr. Armstrong's article explaining the"make-up" problem will not appearunt il the next issue.

Page 7prophecy and the revealed futme .This may sound like a boastful statement! But hundreds of you brethrenwere first interested in the truth becauseyou hecame interested in Mr Armstrong's explanations of Bible prophecy.Many of you "checked-up" to see if whathe said was true.And you [onnd it was! I have me thundreds of our listeners from one endof this nation to the other-and manymore in Europe. They all say practicallythe same thing: "We have never in ourlives heard anyone make the propheciesas pt:!in and clear as Mr. Armstrongdoes.WHY is this?WHY don't the denominations acceptthat tremendous key to prophecy-thetruth of Israel's identity? Why can't theyunderstand the book of Revelation?WHY is it that no one else really :IIZ-derstands and can PROVE what Bibleprophecy says?The answer is simple.The Bible says: "A good understanding have all they that 00 his commandments" (Psalm 111 :10). And again:"The Holy Spirit, whom God hath givento them tha t OBEY him" (Acts 5:32).The churches of this Satan-deceivedworld have REJECTED the laws and commandments of God. Therefore , He will

not give them His Holy Spirit. Theyhave cut themselves off from a "goodunderstanding" and the spiri tual mindthat can come ONLY through God'sSpirit.The proof of PROPHECY is perhapsmore readily seen than any other. It isbecoming abtmdantly plain that thischurch-God's church-is the ONLY ins trument tha t God is using to warn thisworld of His coming judgments-andto show why and how.Every week God's church-throughMr. Armstrong's voice-is THUNDERINGthat warning around the world." He thathath an ear, let him hear."

(7 ) True SpiritualityThe seventh proof which sets God'strue church apart from all others is itsunderstanding and practice of-truespirituality.The reason is simple. The members ofGod's church are led by God's HolySpirit. The Holy Spirit is the very natureand character of God. It is Chris t livingHis life within us (Gal. 2: 20) . And Heis the same yesterday, today, and forever(Heb. 13:8).Jesus said: "Howbeit when he, the

Spirit of T1'IIth, is come, he 1t,ill guidl?you INTO all truth" (John 16:13).Again: "Blessed are they which do HUNGER and THIRST after righteousness: forrhey shall be filled" (Mar. 5:6) .The apostle Peter instructed us:"GROW in grace, and in the knowledge


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Page 8of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ"(I I Per. 3:18).God 's church is distinguished by itswillingness to admit error and CHANGE.God's people zealously seek new knowledge and understanding. They HUNGERand THIRST after righteousness.Such an att itude is almost unheard-ofin the churches of this world. Even thosechurches may understand some of theseven principles mentioned herein willREJIiCT the others.WHY?Is it because they just haven't hadopportunity to learn these truths?No! This work of God sends out magazines and booklets by the thousandswhich clearly explain these points. Andthese churches certainly know about ourwork and message--far more than mostof you brethren may realize.The ANSWER is that they are unwillingto change-ttnwilling to be corrected bythe Word of God. They will NOTpermit

the Holy Spirit to guide them. Therefore, they CANNOT be God 's churchescomposed of His begotten children."For as many as are LED BY the Spirit ofGod, they are the sons of God" (Rom.8: 14). And: "For if any man have notthe Spiri t of Christ, he is none of his"(Rom. 8:9).Also, God's church knows that truespirituality is a WAY OF LIFE.Throughout the book of Acts, Christianity is called "this way" or "that way"(Acts 18:25-26; 19:9,23; erc.), We areinst ructed: "Earnestly contend for thefaith which was once delivered unto thesaints" (Jude 3).God's church ALONE has demonstrated its willingness to recapture that faith- tha t way of life which involves thedays we observe, the food we eat, the way

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The GOOD NEWSwe dress, the way we walk, speak, wri te-EVERYTHING.Yes, everything must be totally surrendered to GOD'S will. That doesn'tmean following human "do's" and"don't's" and other ideas which may"seem" right to men (Pro. 14:12), butdiligently stlldying the Bible instructionsand living examples to prove whatGOD'S way really is and following it-whether it conflicts with denominationalteachings or not.Lastly, God's true church understandsthe purpose God has in giving us HisWord, His laws, His way of life. Forour members understand the great DES-TINY t ha t is our s if we overcome.God's people ALONE understand thereal PURPOSE being worked out here below-that God is reprodllcing Himself.We understand the literal meaning ofthe statement that Christ became "thefirstborn of MANY brethren" (Rom.8:29) . We know that we are to be literally BORN of God just as he was.Understanding Our CallingYes, above all people on earth, weknow that the great purpose in the trialsand rests of character building that GodputS us through is that Jesus' prayer

HOLT DAY CALENDARFall 1955

Festival of Trumpets, Saturday, September 17.Day of Atonement, fast day, Monday,September 26.Festival of Tabernacles, begins sunset,Friday, Sep tember 30 ; e nd s s un se tFriday, October 7.Last Great Day, Saturday, October 8.

September, 1955might be answered, when He prayed,"Holy Father, keep through thine ownname those whom thou hast given me,that they may be ONEaswe are. . . andthe GLORY which thou gavest me 1 bauegiven them; that they may be ONE, evenaswe (God and Christ) areONE" (John17:11,22).We are to be born into the very familyof God-and to be Goo-- just as JesusChrist!Understanding true sp-irituality and itstremendous PURPOSE should give all ofus a zeal for overcoming that no otherpeople have.And knowing these SEVEN PROOFS ofGod's true church should help us realizemore than ever the great GULF that liesbetween God's church and the manychurches of this world-with their inevitable mixture of good AND evil, truthAND error.We may be everlaJtinglythankflll thatGod has called us out of this deceivedworld and put us in His church, the verybody of Jesus Christ.We may well reflect on the incidentrecorded in John 6:66-68. Jesus hadbeen giving His followers some spiritual"meat"-and it was more than some ofthem wanted to obey. "From that t imemany of his disciples went back, andwalked no more with him. Then saidJesus unto the twelve, Will ye also goaway? Then Simon Peter answered him,Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hastthe words of eternal life."Christ is now working through Hisbody-His cburcb, It alone is fully yielded to the instruction and correction ofHis Word. I t alone is RULED by Him. Italone has His true MESSAGE-the wordsof eternal life.Where else might WE go?

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