I have a question, especially for COG detractors.
Over and over again, I have read about how HWA “borrowed” a doctrine from so-and-so, or how he “stole” a doctrine from thus-and-such. How is that even possible? Does the doctrine disappear once it is part of one’s theology? Does that mean that the doctrine of substitution was pilfered from another and cannot be re-used?
Early in my Christian walk, I learned that God can and does speak to us and our consciences through our interactions around us. I was especially flabbergasted that early on He used a pagan to convict me of something!
I am pretty skeptical about claims of where HWA might or might not have obtained certain doctrines when they are presented without any proof. It pretty much boils down to so much speculation.
Every religious group has to have some amount of truth in what they teach, or no one would follow them. Even in cases like Judah’s Scepter, there are some pretty important sections that were not assimilated into his theology simply because they did not fit the framework of beliefs. Does it even matter that HWA did not come up with the doctrine originally? Could it simply be that he recognized it as the truth and so began to teach it? Could it be that he reached the same conclusions indpendently?
“HWA never had an original doctrinal thought.”
Well, if what he presented was original, then by definition that would mean he made it up, wouldn’t it? If he made it up, then it probably isn’t true!
So, my question essentially boils down to, “All of these groups, including Catholic and Protestant, have similarities in what they teach. There is overlap in their doctrines. Why do you expect something different in the COG organizations?”