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But now, for the past two years, PLAIN TRUTH readers have
been reading all this history of my early business training, my
conversion, and induction into Christ's ministry, in the AUTO-
BIOGRAPHY running serially in The PLAIN TRUTH. I won't repeat
those details here.
I had to be willing to give up EVERYTHING. It was not
easy. It took suffering. The decision came only after a terrific
struggle. But when I gave my life to CHRIST, I meant it! And he
took it, and has used it these past 32 years!
Being shocked TO LEARN THAT WHAT IS POPULARLY ACCEPTED AS
THE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL is actually a different Gospel--one ABOUT
Christ, yet not HIS VERY MESSAGE WHICH HE PREACHED, I buried myself
in Bible study. And so, as I have written before, as the apostle
Paul wrote, so also I certify to you, that the Gospel which is
preached by me is NOT AFTER MAN, for I neither received it of man,
neither was I taught it but BY THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. He
revealed it to me IN HIS WRITTEN WORD! Then when it pleased God,
who called me by His GRACE, to reveal His Son in me, that I might
preach Him to the world, immediately I conferred not with flesh and
blood (men), neither went I to any sect or denomination or human
theologian, but I went directly to the WORD OF GOD, on my knees,
surrendered, willing to be taught, corrected, reproved and
instructed in God's righteousness and TRUTH. (Compare Galatians
1:11-18).
This great world-wide WORK OF GOD started the very
smallest. But it was directed by CHRIST, empowered by the SPIRIT
OF GOD, and it has grown phenomenally! It has never been backed,
financed, sponsored, endowed or controlled in any way by any
denomination or organization of MEN!
You will read of my ordination, in 1931, in the December
PLAIN TRUTH. In 1933, I gave up a salary of $3 per week, when the
MEN who paid me that salary demanded that I preach and act contrary
to plain BIBLE teaching. Mrs. Armstrong and I then promised God we
would look to HIM ALONE for our financial need. I learned that if
MEN paid me, I had to preach what MEN demanded. If I was to preach
what CHRIST commanded, I also had to let HIM be my employer, and
look to HIM, in faith, for every need.
NO MAN OR ORGANIZATION OF MEN HAS, THEREFORE, EVER MUZZLED
ME! In this WORK OF GOD we have been kept FREE to SERVE GOD--to
work for CHRIST, who is the living HEAD of this work! I know of
nothing else on earth like it!
And so, "WHAT DENOMINATION?" This work is NOT
denominational! Christ joined no sects nor denominations! Yet
there were several in Palestine then. He did build His Church--as
HIS INSTRUMENT, empowered with GOD'S SPIRIT, to DO THE WORK OF GOD!
This work DOES GOD'S WORK--the commission to carry His GOSPEL to
all the world, for a witness unto ALL NATIONS! We do not yet reach
all nations--but every continent, with more and more nations being
reached each year!