Since you believe that Mr Herbert W Armstrong had the ministerial rank of “apostle,” what is your response to those who believe that there is to be no further understanding or change after he died on January 16th 1986? (Part 1)
It is true that there are those who believe that understanding can only come through an apostle and since there are no apostles alive today, everything that was understood at the time of Mr Armstrong’s death is to remain so and any further understanding is not to be countenanced. Of course, some have declared themselves to be apostles (and prophets) but self-declaration is not tantamount to unchallenged approval.
We have covered a number of matters via Q&A’s, editorials and member letters and it is worth mentioning these before we start looking at this overall question.
Q&A – Some state that the Church of God must not change any of the teachings established by Herbert W Armstrong prior to his death in 1986. It is further stated that his doctrinal understanding has the weight of uncanonised Biblical truth. As a basis for this position, 1 Corinthians 11:1-2 is quoted. Our answer to this belief is set forth in the following response. (10th March 2006)
Q&A – Does the Church of the Eternal God and its corporate affiliates believe in and practice hierarchical government?
Editorial – Why Are We Not All Together?
Editorial – The Mission of the End-Time Elijah
Editorial – Beware of Apostasy in God’s Church
Editorial – Herbert Armstrong and his Legacy
Editorial -New Truth or New Understanding?
One of the misunderstandings that is commonly made by some is when talking about “new knowledge”. As the editorial above (“New Truth or New Understanding”) clearly shows, it is not new truth but new understanding, as the truth has always been there and it is God who gives understanding of His Word and His Way.
It is also appropriate at this stage to quote from our “Statement of Beliefs” under “Doctrinal Foundation” as follows:
“The major doctrines of the Church are those, which were taught by Herbert W. Armstrong, derived from the Biblical teachings as followed by God’s faithful servants, and originally established by Jesus Christ through the founding of His Church in the time of His chosen early apostles. Since we are to increase in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, we are committed to review and alter any of our teachings, if and when proven to be wrong by the Bible.”
The first Q&A listed should be re-read as it contains a number of explanations which are vital in understanding this whole question. However, there are a number of other matters which we will now address.
We read in Ephesians 2:19-22 the following: “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
It is clear that the household of God is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. But the apostles we are reading about are the very ones whom Jesus Christ Himself chose whilst He was on earth. The apostles’ doctrine is now part of the Bible and any apostles since the canonisation of the Bible cannot alter the original doctrine and understanding. For more information on the issue of canonisation, please read our free booklet, “The Authority of the Bible.”
Because of the understanding in Ephesians 2:20, the Bible gives us a flawless foundation because Christ was perfect and the New Testament writings by the apostles is truth because only the truth has been preserved. (Please note that Paul wrote additional letters which have not been preserved in the Bible.)
The original apostles were handpicked by Christ for a very special role, not least of which was to record the acts and teachings of Jesus whilst He was here on earth, plus other information about church administration etc., and to make sure that these things were added to the Hebrew Scriptures to deliver to us God’s complete and perfect revelation to mankind. In 2 Peter 1:13-15, we read: “Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.”
We know that the Roman Catholic church feels that they have the authority to change biblical teachings wherever they deem it necessary to do so. They have “changed” the 7th day Sabbath to the 1st day of the week (Sunday); they ignore God’s Holy Days and keep paganised holidays (Christmas, Easter etc.) and have long been involved in syncretism to build their membership. However, the true Church of God keeps rigidly and faithfully to the Scriptures. We read in Jude verse 3: “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
Mr Herbert Armstrong taught the truth from the Bible; truth that may have been hidden or not understood for centuries, but it was always there in the Bible and God revealed it to Mr Armstrong who taught according to Biblical injunction. He has not added to it nor taken away from it in the sense that he did not proclaim as godly truth “new doctrines” which were not contained in Scripture, and that he did not delete doctrinal truth which was clearly revealed in the Bible. Otherwise he would have been guilty of adding or taking away Scriptures which is condemned (see Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:5-6 and Revelation 22:18-19).
Was Mr Armstrong an apostle in the same way that the 1st century apostles were? The answer is that he was clearly not.
The original apostles were special because they were eye witnesses as we read in 2 Peter 1:16: “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.”
The original apostles were also given power to work miracles.
God put doctrine into His Church through THE apostle (Jesus Christ). See the Q & A on the term “Apostle”. Also see Hebrews 3:1-4 where we read: “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.”
All theology must confirm to what the original apostles taught. This was “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
The apostleship of the original apostles is unique because of all of these points. But even they were not infallible—they were human beings who made mistakes. However, their writings, as preserved in the Bible, are infallible. Any writings of subsequent apostles since the book of Revelation and the close of the apostolic era have not been infallible – only God’s Word is – and we must, therefore, always be true only to the Word of God. We need to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18) and not be stuck in a time warp where nothing can be changed after 16th January 1986, otherwise any such growth is stunted.
How many times did we hear Mr Armstrong say: “Don’t believe me. Believe your Bible”? Did anyone ever hear him repudiate that statement?
Mr Armstrong changed the Church’s understanding on divorce and remarriage when he came more fully to understand this matter. However, there are some who cling to the old understanding and they don’t believe that that should have been changed. Pentecost was changed from a Monday to a Sunday when Mr Armstrong came to understand this more fully.
The authority of the apostles enabled their writings, as appropriate, to become part of the written Word of God. These original apostles were unique in their work and ministry and their written contribution is included as part of the Bible. Any “apostle” since then does not have the same authority and any of their writings are not part of the Word of God. One proponent of the “frozen in time” concept has written that “Mystery of the Ages” and other material by Mr Armstrong from that period of time (1978-1985) should be recognised for what they actually are – un-canonised apostolic writings. We are not quite sure what this means; if it means that the writings of Mr Armstrong may be without any error then they could be on dangerous ground.
(To Be Continued)
Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)
