Answer: Hello Sheila,

First the topic of cults. There are two generally accepted ideas here – first, a sociological cult (where adherents simply follow leadership because of the leader’s charisma, unbiblical teaching is not necessarily a part of a sociological cult. Sociological cults can demand bizarre and dysfunctional lifestyles for their followers).

The second kind of a cult involves cultic teaching based upon misunderstanding of the Bible – that is, a theological cult. Most experts agree that Herbert W. Armstrong fit into this category. In addition, many believe that he did not knowingly deceive or mislead people, but his unbiblical teaching was primarily due to the fact that he was not trained as a minister and that he was not accountable to the larger body of Christ – not listening to those who told him he was wrong.

Among other things he taught:

• That the Trinity was a pagan teaching – the Godhead is "composed" of two Gods, one being the Father, and one being the Son.
• That many portions of the old covenant are binding and required for Christians today – including worshipping on the seventh day, strict observance of old covenant holy days, adherence to Jewish dietary laws, etc.
• That traditional Christian holidays such as Easter and Christmas are pagan.
• That the destiny of humans is to be God, just as God is God.
• That there is only one true church, the church that he was led by God to restore and that no Christians had existed, at least in the form and shape that most Christians read about in history, from 100 AD until 1934 (when Herbert Armstrong started his ministry). Mr. Armstrong often spoke of the "one and only true church of God."
• That the "lost" ten tribes of Israel are actually the modern nations of the United States and the British Commonwealth (Armstrong’s version of an old mythological teaching called British Israelism).
• That the calling for a Christian is to build character, and that character building is the primary criteria used to grant salvation – and that salvation is a combination of grace plus works.
• That God revealed many special, unique teachings to Mr. Armstrong, and that God wanted Mr. Armstrong to preach and publish these to the world before the second coming of Jesus Christ.
• In brief, Herbert W. Armstrong did not publish or preach any new heretical teachings – he simply revised, revived, and rehashed "proven" challenges to the historic, orthodox Christian church (you can find them in church history by such names as "Gnosticism, Arianism, Pelagianism).

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht