Is It Wrong To Be a "DISSIDENT"?

Joseph Tkach, one-time leader of the Worldwide Church of God, had a way of changing and convoluting the meanings of words in the English language. To him, "qualify" was a bad word and should be avoided altogether. He claimed we should not speak of "qualifying" for salvation. He said qualify means "earn." Any dictionary of the English language will quickly prove him wrong, of course, but he was "on a roll," and God forbid that anybody disagree with him -- they became branded as "dissidents"!

In Joe Tkach's eyes, of course, there was nothing worse than a "dissident." But what is a "dissident," according to the dictionary? According to Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, "dissident" means, literally, "to sit apart, disagree." The definition is, "differing with an opinion or a group." But, of course, Joe Tkach wanted everybody to think just like he did -- to be unoriginal "yellow pencils," all neatly packed in a box, all identical with each other. Yet he kept on changing doctrines like a chameleon changes colors and expected everybody to follow right along with him without question!

How did his attitude square with the words of the apostle Paul who said "PROVE all things; hold fast that which is good" (I Thess. 5:21)? How did it compare with the instructions of the apostle John who wrote, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but TRY [TEST, EXAMINE] the spirits whether they are of God: because MANY FALSE PROPHETS are gone out into the world" (I John 4:1). Unless we check up, and prove all things, how do we know Joe Tkach himself wasn't a "false prophet"?

Some might object, "Oh, but he was appointed by Herbert Armstrong. So we can have faith in him!" Oh, is that right? Many of the kings of Israel started out good, after they were coronated, but them went bad and descended into evil. Just because Joseph Tkach may have received the reins of leadership from Herbert Armstrong proves nothing as to his own character, ability or spiritual condition, today! The plain fact is that Herbert Armstrong was HUMAN. He could have made a serious mistake in appointing Tkach as his successor! He himself often admitted that he was no judge of character -- or was a very poor judge of human character! This was one of his lamentable shortcomings which he freely confessed.

But even if Joseph Tkach started out after the death of Herbert Armstrong, promising to "walk in his footsteps," and honored his predecessor, that does not prove that he would continue to do so! Many kings of ancient Israel started out all right, but succumbed to temptation and turned to an evil path. Notice the example of Solomon.

King Solomon start out as a beloved follower of YEHOVAH God, and walked in the footsteps of his father David. In the beginning of his reign, he even received visions from YEHOVAH God. We read, "And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father" (I Kings 3:3). YEHOVAH appeared to him in a dream (I Kgs. 3:5-15). But as the years passed, Solomon went astray -- he sunk into idolatry and enflamed the anger of YEHOVAH God Almighty! YEHOVAH's Word says, ". . . and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon DID EVIL in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father" (I Kings 11:4-5). "And the LORD was ANGRY with Solomon, because his heart was TURNED from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: But he kept not that which the LORD commanded" (verses 9-10).

Because of Solomon's sins, YEHOVAH rent ten tribes away from his governmental rule, in the days of his successor, Rehoboam. He allowed the descendants of Solomon to rule over two tribes, but only for the sake of the promises He had made to David. Solomon had proven himself to be totally apostate and unworthy!

Because of his rebellion against the LORD, YEHOVAH God stirred up adversaries to Solomon, to put him in his place. YEHOVAH took His blessings away from Solomon, and from all Israel who followed him. In the days of Rehoboam, his son, Judah was invaded by the Egyptians, and Jerusalem itself was saked and looted, and the Temple of YEHOVAH God was pillaged. But the greatest opponent YEHOVAH raised up was Jeroboam, a mighty man of valor whom Solomon had seen was industrious and had made captain over the house of Joseph. After YEHOVAH had anointed Jeroboam to rule over the ten tribes, Solomon became furious and tried to kill Jeroboam, who fled to Egypt until Solomon died (I Kings 11:26-40).

In the days of Solomon's son Rehoboam, Jeroboam led the Israelites to confront the new king, asking that taxes be lightened. But Rehoboam, following the bad advice of his YOUNG advisers, and neglecting the advice of the older, more experienced men, threatened to increase taxes and exercise government by force, with harsh and dictatorial rule. At this, the tribes of Israel rebelled. "So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, 'What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: TO YOUR TENTS, O ISRAEL: now see to thine own house, David.' So Israel departed unto their tents. . . . So Israel REBELLED against the house of David unto this day" (II Kings 12:16-19).

Now these people were the original "dissidents"! They "dissented" with the government of Rehoboam, son of Solomon. Was this WRONG of them to do? Was this a SIN?

According to Joseph Tkach, "dissent" is about the worst thing anybody can do -- it is worse than adultery, homosexuality, or any of the sins of the flesh -- judging by how much he wrote against "dissenters," and how little time he spent condemning these sins which YEHOVAH God Himself condemns and forbids. But is "dissent" of itself WRONG?

When Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem, he assembled his army to go fight against the rebelling house of Israel. But notice what happened. "But the WORD OF GOD came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 'Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying, "Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; FOR THIS THING IS FROM ME."' They hearkened therefore to the WORD OF THE LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD" (II Kings 12:22-24).

YEHOVAH God Himself was behind this "rebellion." His hand was in it. Don't we see? Rebellion against apostasy is not rebellion in the sight of YEHOVAH God! Meekly surrendering to apostasy IS "rebellion" against YEHOVAH, however. Going along with evil IS evil. Fighting against evil is NOT evil. Dissent against evil-doing and apostasy is NOT "dissent." It is remaining TRUE to YEHOVAH God, even when men pervert, twist, distort, and malign the truth of YEHOVAH.

When Yeshua, our Messiah and our example, walked upon this earth, he was a "dissident." He "dissented" from the errors and spiritual false teachings of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, the religious "elders" of the Church or congregation of Israel of that time. The nation of Israel had become YEHOVAH's people, His "church" (Acts 7:37-38). The "ministers" over that Church were the scribes and Pharisees, who sat in "Moses' seat" (Matt. 23:2-30). But they had departed from the truth of YEHOVAH God in many respects, and were teaching many traditions of men contrary to the pure word of YEHOVAH (Matt. 15:1-9). Yeshua warned his disciples, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees" (Matt. 16:6). By this statement he meant the DOCTRINE of these religious leaders (verses 11-12).

Yeshua "dissented" from these church leaders of his day. He brought them new truth, which they rejected. He also brought them old truth, which they rejected. Instead, they clung to their own traditions, and rejected the laws of YEHOVAH God properly interpreted, and the Messiah whom YEHOVAH sent. Yeshua said of the society of his day, "Well hath Esaias prophesied of you HYPOCRITES, as it is written, 'This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men . . ." (Mark 7:6-8).

Yeshua the Messiah was a true "dissident." He disagreed with the Sadducees and Pharisees, and he publicly taught the truth of YEHOVAH God, which they hated and opposed. They were so enraged at his bold teaching that they had him put to death -- crucified on the tree!

The apostle John writes, "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:10-12). Yeshua was misunderstood, rejected, looked upon as an "unknown."

His message flew in the face of the elders of Israel who wanted nothing to do with him. They rejected his new "truth" about the laws of YEHOVAH God, and the gospel of the kingdom of YEHOVAH God. His message "dissented" from that which they were accustomed to hearing preached!

The apostles of Yeshua the Messiah, after the New Testament Church began, preached the new truth about Yeshua being the Messiah, and became at one leap the new "dissidents" in Jerusalem, who differed with standard teaching. They disagreed with the Pharisees and Sadducess, who labeled them the new "dissidents" on the block.

In fact, the Pharisees and Sadducees hated the new message so much, that they were "grieved" at the new truth being taught by the apostles, so they laid hands on them and put them in jail (Acts 4:1-3). They brought them before the Sanhedrin, the high court of that day, and demanded an explanation for their healing a man and their teaching. After conferring among themselves, they determined to forbid the apostles to preach, threatened them, and finally let them go (Acts 4:6-22).

The apostles were the "dissenters" of their day. They kept on preaching the truth of YEHOVAH God, incurring the wrath of the religious establishment, and once again the high priest and the Sadducees "were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison" (Acts 5:17-18). YEHOVAH freed them by an angel however, and they returned to the temple where they resumed teaching the people (vs. 19-25). Once again they were brought before the council, and were threatened. Peter and the other apostles responded to their threats, saying, "

These "dissenters" of their time were bold men and women. They were fearless, filled with the power of the Spirit of YEHOVAH God (Acts 4:24-31). In the eyes of the Pharisees and Sadducees they were "dissenters," rebels, heretics. But in the eyes of YEHOVAH, they were stalwart and strong men of truth, who STOOD UP for the truth of YEHOVAH God, despite persecution, name-calling, reproach, and revilings of the Church leaders of that day.

The council was so enraged at their boldness, that they took counsel to kill the apostles. But one in their midst, a wise man and renown Pharisee named Gamaliel, stood up and said to them:

The council agreed to the words of Gamaliel, took his advice, but insisted on beating the apostles and commanding them once again to refrain from preaching in the name of Yeshua the Messiah. Then they let them go. "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted WORTHY TO SUFFER SHAME for his name" (Acts 5:40-41).

The apostles were the original "dissenters"! They, like the Messiah, "dissented" with the wrong teachings and spiritual errors of the established "church of God" of that day and time -- and were even willing to PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE for the new truth which they brought and confessed and preached!

Stephen, a Christian "full of faith and power" (Acts 6:8), was one of the early "dissenters." Because of his bold stand and unconventional wisdom, he was falsely accused by false witnesses, and compelled to stand trial for blasphemy (vs. 11-15). Stephen did not lack in boldness in testifying before the court. He was no coward. At the end of his testimony, he looked at the judges arrayed against him, and said, "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit, as your fathers did, so do ye. Whic of the fathers have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers. Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it" (Acts 7:51-53).

This "dissenter" was put to death for his strong dissent!

All through the ages, YEHOVAH's true people have always been "dissenters." They have never been the friends of this evil world, and the world has always persecuted them for their "dissent."

Are YOU willing to be a "dissenter" for the Messiah? Are you willing to follow in his footsteps, and the footsteps of the apostles, and the man of faith and power, Stephen?

Things are not always the way they seem on the surface. People who read Joseph Tkach's scathing remarks against certain alleged "dissenters" may have tended to take for granted that he was YEHOVAH's servant and could do no wrong, and that those so-called "dissenters" must have been very evil men indeed. But wise Solomon wrote, "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin" (Prov. 21:2-4).

What Joseph Tkach said makes no difference. YEHOVAH God Himself ponders our hearts, and minds, and He will decide who is right and who is wrong! YEHOVAH God Himself will judge between those who claim to serve Him, and the "dissidents" whom they condemn!

Solomon went on, "The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding SHALL REMAIN IN THE CONGREGATION OF THE DEAD" (Prov. 21:16). Those who reject new truth or old truth alike have departed from the way of understanding, and have become spiritual zombies or corpses in the "congregation of the DEAD." Those are graphic words, very picturesque language, and are meant to tell us something important. Is YOU congregation becoming, or has it already become, "the congregation of the dead"?

Solomon went on, under divine inspiration, "Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath" (verse 24). "A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way" (verse 29). Are you carefully considering and directing your way?

Solomon goes on: "My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and MEDDLE NOT with them that are GIVEN TO CHANGE: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?" (Prov. 24:21-22). Consider all the drastic and subtle changes occurring now in the Worldwide Church of God -- and take this Scriptural warning to HEART! Do you want to end up in calamity and dire ruin? Do you want to lose your spiritual crown of life, and your salvation? Are you going to let some man "steal" your crown?

How "safe" and "secure" is your crown, that is laid up for you at the coming of the Messiah? Are you sure it is still safe? Are you sure you haven't let some man meddle with it, borrow it, or make off with it? Are you sure it hasn't been STOLEN by a doctrinal "thief"?

Joseph Tkach seemed to pride himself on the rapidity and enormity of the changes he had introduced with the young new "scholars" and writers who were ghost-writers for most of his Personals and articles. One of his top aides and writers was enrolled at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena seeking a doctorate! Fuller is a well know Christian educational institution of "high" learning. Years ago, Fuller would not even allow Ambassador trained men to take classes!

But later a top assistant of Joseph Tkach was taking classes toward earning a 'doctorate' at Fuller Theological Seminary! I remember when Herbert W. Armstrong used to joke about Fuller and other "seminaries," calling them "cemeteries" of the truth!

Could the attendence of Tkach's assistant at Fuller perhaps explain the real motivation and basic underlying CHANGES that occurred, and are still occurring in Worldwide Church of God DOCTRINE, today? So much of the "NEW THEOLOGY" of Joseph Tkach and the Worldwide Church of God sounds just like what I would expect to hear from Fuller Theological Seminary!

Incredible, isn't it?

Day by day, the Worldwide Church of God leaders are creeping more closely to the common fundamental Protestant doctrines and their reasoning on basic doctrines, and departing diametrically from the truths and teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong. In their pell-mell mad rush to change, they have thrown the baby out with the bath water -- yet they claim they have done nothing wrong!

The Word of YEHOVAH God thunders, "Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, 'I have done no wickedness'" (Prov. 30:20). An "adulterous woman" is a spiritual TYPE of a whoring, harlot CHURCH which is plunging into APOSTASY! YEHOVAH God calls a Church making friends of the world and the world's churches a HARLOT OR A PROSTITUTE! (See Rev. 17:4-5).

Should the people of YEHOVAH God just "go along" with such changes and doctrinal about-faces? Should they accept these things without protest, without "dissent"?

YEHOVAH God says, "It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. He that saith unto the wicked, 'Thou art righteous;' him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: But TO THEM THAT REBUKE HIM shall be a delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them" (Prov. 24:23-25).

Solomon gives us another key Proverb that applies to those who condemn "dissenters." He wrote, "A righteous man FALLING DOWN BEFORE THE WICKED is as a troubled fountain, and a CORRUPT spring" (Pro. 25:26). I have seen men like that. They have no intestinal fortitude. They may even be "evangelists," but they have no backbone, no spine. As Teddy Roosevelt used to say, "They have the backbone of a chocolate eclair." Or, as Tommy Lasorda, one-time manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers might say, "They have the backbone of a spaghetti noodle!"

Such men seem to have lost their boldness and courage; they are like cowering, whimpering, fearful dogs, afraid of their masters, fearful of being beaten, whipped, or humiliated. So they go along with the evil wickedness in high places, and say nothing. One such man told me he is in complete agreement and on the best of terms with Joseph Tkach and Joe Jr., even though he is a "pastured" evangelist with no real work, never preaches or gives sermons, never has anything printed in the church publications. But he refuses to STAND UP, afraid, I suppose, of loss of salary and prestige (what little he may have left!).

What does the Bible really teach about "dissenters"? Solomon wrote, "OPEN REBUKE is better than secret love. Faithful are the WOUNDS of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Pro. 27:5-6). "He that REBUKETH a man afterwards shall find more favor than he that flattereth with the tongue" (Pro. 28:23). Those who are willing to STAND UP and rebuke error when they find it, are much better in YEHOVAH's sight than those who fearfully quail in sheer terror. So what if your job or salary or lease car may be at stake! Have no you faith in YEHOVAH GOD?

"For the just shall live by FAITH," YEHOVAH says (Rom. 1:17). "For we walk by FAITH, not by sight" (II Cor. 5:7). So many ministers of YEHOVAH God seem to have RUN OUT OF FAITH -- their "gas tank" of faith is ON EMPTY! They need to study the Word of YEHOVAH God, and pour over the Scriptures, so they can "FUEL UP" ON FAITH, for "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). Many ministers are afraid to step out on faith. Their faith has become blind; they walk by the sight of their human eyes. They have forgotten the words of the Messiah, who said, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33).

Let's understand this matter. There is nothing wrong with "dissent," of itself. Our forefathers "dissented" with the British monarch and established the United States of America -- and YEHOVAH God blessed our nation. This action was from Him. But even more, YEHOVAH expects His true people to rise up in dissent and rebellion whenever their leaders begin to go astray, and to rebel against YEHOVAH God, and to plunge into apostasy!

Should you follow your leaders, right or wrong, and just assume that they are "right"? YEHOVAH says, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man" (Psalms 118:8). He adds, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes [ministers or leaders!]" (verse 9).

In fact, the Word of YEHOVAH God thunders, "PUT NOT your trust in PRINCES [ministers, so-called 'apostles' or leaders], nor in the son of man, IN WHOM THERE IS NO HELP. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God" (Psalm 146:3-5).

The word "dissident" itself is actually morally "neutral." That is, it is neither good nor bad, but neutral. Being a "dissident" itself is neither right nor wrong. What makes it right or wrong is what kind of "dissident" you are -- whether you are a "dissident" to error, lies, hypocrisy and apostasy -- or whether you are a "dissident" to truth, the word of YEHOVAH God, the way of YEHOVAH God, and true doctrines of YEHOVAH God!

I am a "dissident" to the errors, half-truths, distortions, and perversions of the truth done by such leaders as Joseph Tkach and the present leadership of the Worldwide Church of God. I am also a "dissident" to the errors of other "break-away" groups, cults, sects, and "churches" which deny the truth of YEHOVAH God and cling to out-moded errors and doctrinal mistakes of the past or new innovative errors of their own! In his own way, Joseph Tkach was also a "dissident" -- that is, like king Saul of ancient Israel, he rebelled against the commandments of YEHOVAH God and the truth of YEHOVAH God -- so he is a "dissident" against the truth of YEHOVAH. He was a bad "dissident," like his father, Satan the devil, who was the original "evil dissident" who rebelled against the government of YEHOVAH GOD Himself (Isa. 14:12).

I thank YEHOVAH GOD that I am a true "dissident, following the example of Yeshua the Messiah, my Lord and Saviour, himself! And I thank YEHOVAH God for all the "dissenters" and "dissidents" whom He has called to His Truth! And I know that there are many others who also thank YEHOVAH God for me, that I have dissented, and stood up for the TRUTH of YEHOVAH God!

Righteous Abel dissented with Cain, and so Cain rose up and slew him (Gen. 4:3-12). Noah dissented with the whole wicked world, and only he and his family were spared destruction in the Flood (Gen. 6:5-9). Abraham dissented with the evil of Babylon and left that wicked land at YEHOVAH's behest (Gen. 12:1-4). He also dissented with the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:19-33). Moses dissented with the leaders of Egypt who enslaved his people (Ex. 2:11-15). Joshua dissented with the Canaanites and had no small dispute with them over the "Promised Land."

David dissented with the government of king Saul, who had rebelled against YEHOVAH God (I Sam. 15:10-23). Because Saul was the "LORD's anointed," David did not fight against him, but fled for his own safety, leaving Saul's fate in the hands of YEHOVAH God (I Sam. 18:10-30; 19:18-24; 24:1-22; 26:1-25).

The prophets of YEHOVAH God were all "dissenters" who rebuked and excoriated a nation that had turned away from the laws of YEHOVAH. Elijah "dissented" from the wicked Ahab and his wife Jezebel and the prophets of Baal; he strove to turn the nation back to the ways of YEHOVAH (II Kings 18:17-40). He cried out to the people, "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him" (verse 21).

The Messiah "dissented" from the Pharisees and Sadducees, and they were so angry that the killed the Messiah. The apostles also "dissented" from the Sadducees and the Pharisees -- the church leaders of their time. And they were beaten, whipped, imprisoned, and many of them killed.

What about you? Will you join this long and illustrious pageant of true "dissidents"? Will you be one of us? Will you join the ranks of the true dissenters, who fight for the truth of YEHOVAH God, who stand up for TRUTH, who love the truth above all things, even their own lives?

Thank YEHOVAH God, I am a true "dissident." May YEHOVAH God Almighty help YOU to become a true "dissident," also -- a dissident after His own heart!