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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, July 11, 1980
Page 2
SHALL WE ALL LEAVE THE CHURCH OF GOD
AND JOIN "THE CHURCH OF PEOPLE"?
by Herbert W. Armstrong
Some already have done that. Let's think about it for a moment.
I had a vivid example of this a couple of mornings ago, awakening
from a dream. In the dream it seemed to be several years ago when the
Church was smaller. There was a young man across the street who looked
like a possible one of our leaders. He was about age 30, with out
standing personality and appearance, and was an articulate extrovert.
Then two other young men of about 30, well dressed, of somewhat impressive
appearance and manner, were seen walking over and talking to him. They
took pains to avoid me, and I seemed to know they were opposed to me per
sonally.
In the dream I determined to speak immediately with the man they
were trying to influence adversely. I told him frankly I knew they were
"lobbying" against the Church and against me.
"Yes," he replied, "but I have to tell you, Mr. Armstrong, I think
these men have something worth listening to. They say you arrogate to
yourself too much power. You make yourself the leader of the Church.
They say the people ought to have all the 'say so.' The people ought to
vote on who they want to be their leader, and on what they want to be
lieve and accept as Church doctrine. That sounds like a good idea to me.
I think we need more DEMOCRACY."
I awoke at that point, thinking about the dream which had stuck in
my mind.
But before awakening, I remember I had said to this man in the dream,
"Well, the REAL QUESTION is whether this is GOD'S Church, or the PEOPLE'S
Church! If it is GOD'S Church, then GOD is running it, and revealing what
we shall believe and teach. GOD has the 'say so.' God runs it through
Jesus Christ, who is the HEAD of the Church. And Jesus Christ runs it
through His chosen Apostle, whom HE, not men, chose, prepared, and no�
guides and leads. Those men are gett'Ing your eyes off of GOD--you are
leaving GOD out of the picture--out of the Church. You are looking only
at people!! If you want to put GOD out of His Church, then you will have
to be excommunicated!"
I awakened considerably impressed with the dream. Was God revealing
to me that TOO MANY within the Church membership are leaving GOD out of
the picture?--in their own minds putting GOD out of the Church? Do they
think that the kind of men the people would vote for ought to be made the
LEADERS in the Church?--that the people should say to GOD, "This is OUR
Church, God, we want you to GET OUT of the Church and leave us alone. WE
will run this Church OUR way!"
I awakened impressed that TOO MANY of our people are LEAVING GOD AND
CHRIST OUT OF HIS CHURCH, and trying to make it OUR Church--the church of
the PEOPLE, and NOT The CHURCH OF GOD!