Should Accusers Be Answered?

Do You Believe Obvious Lies?

Section III – Beware of “Grievous Wolves!”

BY DAVID C. PACK

God is harsh in His choice of descriptive terms for deceivers threatening His Church, using “wolves,” “dogs,” “seducers,” “evil men,” “vipers,” “enemies,” “his (meaning, Satan’s) ministers,” “false prophets,” and others. These are not to be taken lightly. Why are there so many warnings?—and why so varied—and so strong?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A Crucial Video Message (17:57)
SECTION III –
BEWARE OF “GRIEVOUS WOLVES!”

Author’s Note: At my request, a team of men wrote this article from material given them at a time when we had just been attacked from within. This is the reason it references my name, as well as certain elements of emails we received, and is not written as though it came from me.

The book of Acts records an admonition—and sobering warning—that the apostle Paul gave to the elders at Ephesus—one that applies in all eras of God’s Church: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He has purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears” (Acts 20:28-31).

Grasp what Paul was saying. He could foresee that vicious men, whom he labels “wolves,” would eventually “enter in” the congregation with the sole purpose of spiritually tearing God’s sheep to pieces—“not sparing” them. Even more remarkably, he knew that some of the very men standing before him would turn away from the truth, and also attempt to divide the Church and “draw away” members. How many still believe such basic, impossible to misunderstand warnings?

Paul then reminded the men that he had warned them for a full three years about the dangers that lie ahead. He did this because he understood the seductive power of the devil—his ability to ensnare human beings, and then employ them toward his own ends. Paul wrote this to Timothy: “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at [Greek: “to do”] his will” (II Tim. 2:25-26).

Paul may have been more right than he knew, as two men close to him—Clement and Linus—eventually became leaders of the counterfeit Church at Rome!

As has occurred time and again through the ages, wolves have arisen among God’s people—from among the elders, the ordained ministry!—intent on drawing away brethren after themselves.

At a certain juncture, many members of The Restored Church of God received emails from two former local church elders who left the Body of Christ (of course, they do not believe they have, but neither does any other “leader” who departs the Church). Within these letters, the writers air doctrinal differences, hurl accusations at both ministers and fellow brethren, grossly misrepresent recent sermons and other facts, reduce God’s true Church to a “corporate body,” label the Work of God as Satan-inspired “smoke and mirrors,” and declare their intent to join a liberalizing, Pentecostal-flavored splinter that has changed, watered down, suppressed and discarded literally scores of doctrines restored in the Philadelphian era.

Using cunning craftiness (Gen. 3:1-5) and hoping to pre-empt any response, one man wrote, “Satan will be the author of even the slightest hint of false accusations or damage control.” This is a vain attempt to place God’s leaders in a catch-22 position: Say nothing, and allow thieves to “steal, kill and destroy”—or protect the flock, and be charged with being led by Satan (remember, Christ Himself was accused of being demon-possessed).

Can you see that such a statement is actually its own attempt at “damage control”? Can you grasp that the writer is seeking to blur the heart of the matter—his desire for a following? And can you “smell” these things of yourself when under fire and no one near you to offer explanation or reassurance (Heb. 5:13-14)? Can you recognize what you are seeing when one of Satan’s agents pukes out a series of false accusations and then warns against false accusations?—when he warns of damage control through use of damage control?

Make no mistake: Christ’s ministers are duty bound to protect His flock from “damage” at the hand of thieves and destroyers: “The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” Christ calls a minister who does not defend the flock “a hireling… [who] sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep. The hireling flees, because he is a hireling, and cares not for the sheep” (John 10:10-13).

Paul wrote a host of warnings to virtually every one of the congregations that received his epistles. Were these warnings “damage control”—or was Paul expressing genuine concern for God’s people, as a shepherd cares for his flock?

In any trial, God’s people must listen for the voice of truth—Christ’s voice (John 10:3-5; 18:37). It is almost comical to watch one of these men attempt to “teach” those he preys upon about “Christ’s voice” when he was never in the Worldwide Church of God, and he never learned the truth until he heard a twisted version of it under an Oklahoma cult leader, at a point ten years after Mr. Armstrong died. This man knows nothing about Christ’s voice. One who in retrospect has apparently never understood Christ’s voice can hardly teach others how to recognize it. One who never learned the doctrines of God under Mr. Armstrong is hardly an authority on how to hold to them.

Discern the Spirit Behind the Man

We must never forget that God works through flesh—and so does Satan! It is the responsibility of all Christians to distinguish those God is using from others who show themselves to be agents of a different god (II Cor. 4:4). Paul spent all of II Corinthians 11 explaining how to discern one from the other.

We serve a frank—a sometimes painfully blunt—God. We must never be afraid to see men for what they are. Recall the way Scripture describes false leaders:

These men claim to be standing for the truth, asserting themselves to be representatives of Jesus Christ. Both have been ordained, and only to the lowest rank in the ministry, for less than a year. Where have been their fruits? What has been their record of suffering for the name of Jesus Christ? How many have they baptized? Has either man given even half a dozen sermons? Remember, Christ’s sheep know His voice (John 10:1-4). He states, “Every one that is of the truth hears My voice” (18:37), and that God’s “word is truth” (17:17). Yet these attackers, once among us, but who were clearly now never of us (I John 2:19-21), are joining an organization where heresy, doctrinal confusion and watered-down understanding abounds!

Christ’s sheep “flee” from such men, “for they know not the voice of strangers” (John 10:5) who do not hold fast to the pure word of truth. Read verses 7 through 9. Either the voice of Jesus Christ speaks through the RCG ministry or the men who leave us, and attack—there is no middle ground!

That men may have served faithfully (at least partially) for a time does not mitigate what they later do. (Carefully read Ezekiel 18:24-26.) A track record of faithfulness in a marriage only has value if adultery never enters the picture. Previous steadfastness in tithe-paying carries no weight once one begins to steal what belongs to God. Be sure to see the point in regard to how you may have once viewed a man who later went on to permit Satan to turn him.

Consider the fruit of their conduct and beliefs, and then ask yourself:

Again, think long and hard about just the timing of these and certain other attacks. These men did not even have the decency to give Mr. Pack and his family time to grieve! Could anyone believe that God’s true servants would use such “slash and burn” tactics? Brethren, even by the world’s standards such things would be considered reprehensible. We can be thankful that Satan left such obvious fingerprints on his work. (By contrast, and on a positive note at the time, messages of sympathy and condolence poured in from members from every corner of the globe, as well as even large numbers in the splinters and elsewhere.)

Cut Through Irrational Reasoning!

Though Satan is brilliant, his mind is twisted and ultimately irrational. Likewise, the thinking of his agents always evidences the same. God, who offers wisdom to those who ask for it (Jms. 1:5), instructs each of us to pick up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” and slice apart shallow, nonsensical arguments and assertions of “evil men and seducers” (II Tim. 3:13).

While we believe most (and maybe all) of God’s people will draw the obvious conclusions and see these men in the correct light, if any element within these letters troubles you, take time to ask yourself:

In response to being marked and disfellowshipped, one man wrote, “Yes, even Christ Himself was disfellowshipped for sowing division by the self-righteous Pharisees.” Think. Jesus was never part of the Pharisees or their manmade religion. Rather, they rejected Him and His message. It is impossible for Christ to have been disfellowshipped from a group He was never a part of! Take note of this man’s biblical ignorance and deceitful use of Scripture to justify himself. It is obvious he has succumbed to the “spirit of error.”

This man also claims to be upset because he did not receive a phone call begging him to come back (as if it was ever in his mind to reconsider). He dishonestly used Matthew 18:12-14 to conclude that Headquarters should have tried to “win him back.” Yet, he did not bother to engage us one-on-one when he attended the Conference! After he sent a divisive email to the brethren of his decision to leave, then he informed Headquarters of his intentions. He failed to give us a chance to work with him while he was still with us. He “pulled the rip cord,” “bailed out,” attacked us—and then wondered why we did not show “love.” He seems not to realize that his actions were those of a wolf, not a sheep in distress! According to his logic, Christ’s ministry is supposed to ignore the command found in Romans 16:17: “Mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”

Brethren, what we have here is a wolf feeling bad that we did not try to help him put his sheep’s clothing back on. He felt uncomfortably naked by his own willingness to expose himself.

Exit Theology

Keep it simple, brethren: The real reason a person leaves the Church—lay member or minister—is that he simply does not love the full truth (II Thes. 2:10). It is no more complicated than that! However, the one who leaves will never admit this, so he must create an “exit theology” in order to (1) soothe his own conscience and (2) portray himself instead as a “grassroots crusader” for God.

If such men cared so much about doctrine, then why did they speak up in this manner, with false accusations and scathing attacks? Why did they not “quit themselves like men” and talk to a Headquarters minister face-to-face when they had the opportunity? Why do they lack the courage to openly state they disagree with Mr. Armstrong, both in doctrine and in approach to doing the Work? This fits well with the tactics of their new “Presiding Evangelist.”

Those attending the Conference were informed of certain sensitive matters with the clear understanding that this was to be held in confidentiality. No one objected to this. However, these men did not keep their word. (Of course, since no one would expect this from the devil, would his human agents be any different?)

For example, from 1978 until Mr. Armstrong’s death, The Worldwide Church of God sold literature—The Incredible Human Potential, Mystery of the Ages and others—in bookstores throughout the English-speaking nations. Mr. Armstrong did this to reach an audience that would not otherwise request free literature, yet was willing to purchase it (and this was clearly explained at the Conference, as well as in The Work of God – Its Final Chapter! book; no one voiced concerns). Again, this was done from 1978 to 1986, during the “back on track” years, which was also the zenith of the Philadelphian age. The Restored Church of God plans to follow Mr. Armstrong’s pattern. Of course, just as under Mr. Armstrong, all of this literature would always continue to be provided free of charge. Brethren, Mr. Pack would have carefully explained this to the Church at the right time, and how it was part of the grand pattern we inherited.

In fact, this new frontier for the Work was intended to be an inspiring surprise for God’s people, to be announced when the plan was nearing launch. Instead, the Church came to learn about it through the criticism of dissidents, and received a terribly skewed impression of the facts. One man belittled this incredible opportunity to advance God’s Work as “merchandising the truth.”

Interestingly, both men failed to quote Mr. Armstrong’s words stating why selling literature in bookstores does not contradict Christ’s instruction in Matthew 10:8. If they agree with Mr. Armstrong, why was it fine for WCG to have done this but not RCG? But the author of confusion would always seek to preempt what is good with a twisted version making it appear bad.

Again, rather than dealing with the situation as men—approaching the ministry with their “concerns” during the Conference—as soon as they left Headquarters they chose the cowardly path of sending unsolicited blind carbon copy emails to unsuspecting brethren.

Of the two men who left, one appears to be the primary perpetrator, while the other appears to have been “sucked in.” Just days before leaving, the latter man showed enthusiasm for the Work of RCG. He seemed to be “on fire” for years—and yet it only took the influence of one “rotten apple” to lead him astray!

Brethren, learn from this tragic example! Humanity will experience 1,000 years of universal joy, peace and prosperity under Christ’s divine rule on the earth. Yet, a sizeable number will freely give up everything as soon as Satan is “loosed for a little season.” Many millions will fall under his sway, quickly deceived into believing that the devil’s way is right and God’s Way is wrong and unjust! Satan is so effective at his craft of deception that he will be able to temporarily pull this off despite centuries of prior warning.

Learn From the Test

Brethren, though trials are grievous at the time they are being experienced, we should actually rejoice whenever venomous attacks occur, just as the apostles did (Acts 5:41). Such trials remind us that Satan desires to sift us like wheat (Luke 22:31). He already has the whole world deceived (Rev. 12:9), and is looking for ways to deceive those who are holding to the truth. (Mr. Pack has said he regularly reads and rejoices in the spirit of Matthew 5:11-12. So should all of us.)

This is one of many tests foretold to come upon the Church in the end time. Just as the ministry of God’s 20th-century servant was continuously attacked, escalating over his 52-year ministry, so will the ministry of God’s 21st-century servant.

Most of you are aware of the tumultuous early years of RCG, as a number of staff members turned hostile and blew themselves up like spiritual “homicide bombers,” doing all they could to hinder the Church. Satan attempted to destroy this “short Work” (Rom. 9:27-29) before it even began.

Now recall what Mr. Armstrong had to endure during the Philadelphian age: The 1974 rebellion, in which thousands of brethren and many ministers defected. The 1979 receivership, in which the state of California attempted to commandeer God’s tithes. And then, after Mr. Armstrong’s death, the apostasy, in which ministers he believed to be loyal threw away everything he taught—and tens of thousands of members walked wholesale back into pagan traditions.

The first-century Church also experienced continual assaults—forged letters, counterfeit offshoots, true ministers being opposed by false ministers like Diotrephes (III John 9-10).

God, through the apostle Jude, called such deceiving imposters “spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withers, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame” (Jude 12-13).

Notice that attacks always escalate over time. While this current trial is small by comparison, we can expect the same pattern to hold true: “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (II Tim. 3:13).

Remember—our tribulation is now (Acts 14:22)! And realize that there will probably be another attempt to “answer” this article. (There was, in fact, and almost immediately. Additional ones came later from this duo.)

God will continue to allow those with poisonous attitudes to be purged from among His people: “They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us” (I John 2:19).

But what does God expect of us in light of the storms ahead? “But continue you in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them” (vs. 14). Only those who stay close to God, flee from seducers and resist the Laodicean tendency toward “itching ears” will endure to the end.

Attacks Come Before Leaps Forward

For some time, perhaps about six months, or so, Mr. Pack spoke a number of times to the staff in the office about major leaps forward that must be just over the horizon for the Work of God. This was because we were suffering a series of defections, difficulties, persecution and trials, including the death of his wife and the near death of one of his sons (who works in the office)—severe trials for both the Church, collectively, and Mr. Pack, personally—among other things.

In fact, the Work did soon after witness far and away the greatest leaps (plural) forward we have seen. Very, very dramatic advancements came on the heels of these trials. Nothing that we have previously experienced compared to the kinds of announcements we went on to make and are still making.

Just as Mr. Armstrong endured intense trials prior to each breakthrough in preaching the gospel, during this final gun lap we saw the same—and will probably remain under greater or lesser attacks for the rest of the age.

The Church always used to understand that severe trials winnowed out trouble-makers—that they caused, as Mr. Armstrong put it, “all the rotten apples to fall from the tree.”

Satan Understands

Satan can read the Bible. He knows this mighty Work is prophesied to be the most powerful in history, and he will stop at nothing to impede, cripple, hamper, oppose and obstruct it. The devil knows who we are, and what we represent—the kingdom of God in embryo, destined to replace him and his demons in ruling the earth. He hates the message we announce! And he always attacks most fiercely just before God is about to propel the Work forward in a profound way.

Satan thought he had murdered God’s Church in the wake of the apostasy—but Christ kept His promise to protect it from destruction. The devil is furious!—enraged over the great progress of The Restored Church of God. He desperately wants to shut down the Pastor Training Program, the Hardcopy Literature Campaign and the Ambassador Youth Camp, among so many other plans, announced and unannounced. Satan wants to put an end to the ever-increasing millions learning God’s truth within our “web traffic” and Internet rankings. His goal is to bring confusion among our growing congregations and scatter the flock.

Exciting developments are just around the corner. The more intense the attacks, the more God has in store for His people.

Be Sobered!

Brethren, beware! This event should sober you. No one is immune! All of us must constantly be on guard and take to heart the apostle Peter’s warning: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Pet. 5:8).

In closing, Christ commands, “love your enemies” (Matt. 5:44). But He knew that one cannot love his enemies unless he knows who ARE his enemies! Never forget the predicate within His instruction. Let’s pray for those who persecute and spitefully use us, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us—and love our enemies.

Continue to: Section IV – WHY ATTACKS MUST INCREASE AND INTENSIFY!

080211
A