Source: Internet search and organization websites, magazines, and booklets.
Bottom line: Use their resources as a incentive to do Scripture study on the topics. Read all references and extend your personal Scripture study to the whole Bible study on each topic presented.Do NOT just accept their representation of Scripture saying what they say it says — RESEARCH YOURSSELF THE SCRIPTURES.
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BEYOND TODAY MINISTRY, MAGAZINE, AND BOOKLETS CONS
[My response: Christian holidays as Christmas and Easter are NOW [by true Christians] a worship of God in remembrance of those events. It does not matter what it was or how it originated. It IS what is is NOW believed to represent. Thus, celebrating Christmas [no matter when the date actually was] is NOW a celebration to Christians a celebration of Jesus’s birth, significance, and following events regarding Jesus and God. The celebrating of Easter is NOW a celebration of the remembrance of Jesus’s sacrifice, significance, and following results. – See below con.]
Theological Differences: The group is known for holding beliefs that differ from mainstream Christianity, such as a denial of the Trinity and of the full deity of Christ.
- Sabbath and Holiday Conflicts: The organization teaches that traditional Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter are not biblical and should not be celebrated. Instead, they advocate for the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath and Old Testament Holy Days, which can lead to social isolation or conflict for members living in mainstream society.
- Soul Sleep: Unlike most mainstream Christian denominations, they teach that people are not conscious in heaven or hell after death but are in a state of “soul sleep” awaiting a future resurrection.
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TOMORROW’S WORLD beliefs CONS
[My Response: they skip the Rapture and upon death going to Heaven/Paradise and mix scripture regarding it with the 2nd coming, leaving dead spirit and soul in ground until 2nd coming with alive Christians going through the tribulation. However, there will be a Rapture, 2nd Coming, and while waiting for such, the saved dead go directly to Heaven/Paradise until the Rapture to get their glorified bodies and then return to Heaven/Paradise until the 2nd Coming. Unsaved but those saved during the Tribulation and Millennium go at death directly to Heaven/Paradise without glorified body until the end of the Millennium where they then receive their glorified body. ]
Tomorrow’s World is the media outreach of the Living Church of God (LCG), a denomination that follows the “Armstrongite” tradition. While they present themselves as restoring “original Christianity,” critics and former members often highlight several “cons” regarding their specific beliefs and practices.
Key Doctrinal and Social Concerns
- Exclusivity: The organization teaches that it is the “one true Church” and that mainstream Christianity is largely “counterfeit” or deceived by “pagan” influences. This can lead to social isolation and a “we vs. them” mentality.
- Legalism: Their theology emphasizes strict adherence to Old Testament laws, including the seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday worship), dietary restrictions, and annual holy days. Critics argue this prioritizes “law-keeping” over the traditional Christian focus on grace.
- Failed Prophetic Track Record: The group’s roots (through Herbert W. Armstrong) are tied to numerous specific, failed predictions about the end of the world. Tomorrow’s World continues to focus heavily on “End Times” prophecy, which some find alarmist or speculative.
- Rejection of Common Traditions: They strictly forbid celebrating popular holidays like Christmas and Easter, labeling them as “pagan”. This often causes significant friction between members and their non-member family or friends.
- Authoritarian Governance: Like many offshoots of the original Worldwide Church of God, the LCG (the sponsor of Tomorrow’s World) has been criticized for a top-down, hierarchical leadership style that can discourage questioning or dissent.
Practical and Lifestyle “Cons”
- Financial Commitment: While they offer their magazine for free, the underlying church (LCG) expects members to practice “tithing” (giving 10% or more of their income), which supports their global media reach.
- Social Limitations: Their strict beliefs on Sabbath-keeping and avoiding “worldly” entertainment can limit a member’s career choices and social life.
- Stance on Modern Issues: Their literalist and conservative interpretation of the Bible leads to a firm rejection of modern social shifts, which they often characterize as “evil” or “satanic deception”.