Herbert W. Armstrong used to say, “Never take your eyes off the GOAL.” All top athletes understand the slogan, “Keep your eyes on the ball.” Brethren, nearly all of us in the Living Church of God have already been tried and tested and “sifted” in a number of ways. Most of us older members were called out of a Catholic or Protestant background into the Worldwide Church of God. Then, when it apostatized, we left and came to Global. Then, when three men in Global were able to use the By-laws to seize control from the leader—obviously having in mind to cut back on the preaching of the Gospel—we all came together to found the Living Church of God.
From the beginning, Herbert W. Armstrong emphasized that preaching the Gospel to the world was the “first” commission. Secondly, and certainly very important, was the commission to “feed the flock.” For Jesus Christ said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20).
Jesus also said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15–16). And again, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).
After His resurrection, Jesus directly addressed the leader of the 12 apostles, Peter, and told him, “Feed My lambs… Tend My sheep… Feed My sheep” (John 21:15–17).
Clearly, the preaching of the Gospel was to be the primary job of the Church. But those few whom God now calls to repentance must be “fed.” They must be taught, encouraged and also directed as a “team” so that, together, they can in turn help reach out to others in performing the first commission. For our involvement in the Work of the Living Christ is of itself a great part of our teaching and training in preparation for the Kingdom of God. For we do learn to work together as a team—the very “body” of Jesus Christ on earth today. We do learn to cooper-ate, to submit to one another, to encourage and uphold one another in the fulfillment of the CRUSADE to proclaim Christ’s message to a dying world.
We all need to be intensely involved in a cause BIGGER than ourselves. This is good and uplifting for every human being. It helps us get our own personal priorities in life straight. And, daily, it helps us focus on the soon-coming Kingdom of God! For we are the active agents preparing for that Kingdom. In a larger sense, we are all “ambassadors” representing that coming GOVERNMENT—the very real government which Jesus Christwill soon set up here on earth with Headquarters at Jerusalem!
We should gain deep satisfaction from helping others under-stand the LAWS of that coming Kingdom—and of the entire WAY of LIFE which God wants us to live. And we should seek with all our hearts to live that way our-selves—and so prepare ourselves tohave a significant role in teaching and ruling the untold millions of human beings who will need our help as Christ’s rule is soon established over a confused, traumatized, war-torn world.
Also, we should profoundly appreciate our opportunity to “cry aloud” the warning of the house of Israel’s coming PUNISHMENT in the Great Tribulation. Often, we should think and meditate on pas-sages in the Bible that tell us about the need for our deep concern and compassion regarding those about to go into that Tribulation: “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, ‘Surely we did not know this,’ does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?” (Proverbs 24:10–12).
Truly, the GREATEST time of suffering in human history will soon be upon us: “For then there will be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21–22). If we persevere as “Philadelphians”—as those who are willing to work and sacrifice in order that the “open door” for preaching the Gospel may be effectively utilized—then we will be protected from the horrors of this coming holocaust: “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown” (Revelation 3:10–11).
Brethren, I know that the vast majority of you are “Philadelphians” in your attitude and approach. But I want you to realize that—IF we are to proclaim Christ’s Message POWERFULLY to the world—it may be necessary for many of you in the field to temporarily do without a nearby local pastor or nearby place to meet. We are NOT planning to cut back any of our present pastors or churches. But we may not be able to add any more for quite some time. It may be necessary for you to deeply appreciate and to UTILIZE the taped sermons, the telecasts, the booklets and articles we will be sending you INSTEAD OF having all of the accoutrements of local churches, local Bible studies, Spokesman Clubs and other fine activities we all enjoyed during the later years in our former association. For a few years, at least, we may need to emphasize the first commission in the expenditures of our limited financial resources and manpower.
Please think and pray about this!
The above approach is what Christ led even Mr. Armstrong to do in the early years of the Work. The majority of the income in those days went directly into the preaching of the Gospel. Even 18 years after the founding of the Radio Church of God in 1934, there were only THREE local congregations! I know. I preached in them. And then, after my graduation, Christ used me to establish the fourth and fifth local congregations of the Worldwide Church here in San Diego, California, and in Tacoma, Washington, respectively. Later, I was used to establish quite a number of other congregations in the United States and Britain.
The point is that I deeply feel we must focus on the first commission and do all we can to “CRY ALOUD” (Isaiah 58:1) the warning message to Israel while there is time, and to heartfeltly preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and the true name of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:12; 28:31) to all the world. If we properly emphasize this powerful outreach to the blinded and confused people out there in this deceived world, we will be laying a strong base for future BIG growth in the Work as a whole—including, obviously, more field ministry, more churches, clubs and other activities.
In the meantime, each of us should try to personally “walk with God”—to study fervently, pray earnestly, meditate and fast regularly and “feed on Christ” so that we may, in fact, grow spiritually just as much as if we were surrounded by more church people, more activities, etc. Remember, brethren, it was long after all these local churches and activities had been underway that the GREAT APOSTASY of our time got underway!
Then, many of the “older” members—including many of you—held fast to the TRUTH.
Why? Perhaps because you hadcome into the Church through deep personal commitment and prayer, zealous Bible study and meditation, and you simply didn’t “need” a local minister or church to tell you what to do when the chips were down! Through your personal contact with God and with Christ, you perceived where the Truth was being preached and where the Work was being done.
In the weeks and months to come, many of us in the leadership of the Work will be thinking, fasting and praying about how to get the right balance between the two greatcommissions given by Jesus Christ. Please pray with us about this vital matter. And please write me person-ally about this matter, for we value your thoughts and prayers.