The importance of doctrine in shaping belief and conduct cannot be overstated. In the first century church, dangerous doctrines emerged that continue to persist in modern Christianity, appealing to the carnal nature and threatening salvation. Adopting even a single major false doctrine can lead one astray, setting off a chain reaction of further deviations, much like a row of dominoes falling. This was evident in 1987 when the Tkach group made a significant doctrinal change, which inevitably led to further alterations because the original framework no longer meshed with the new belief. Such changes caused the doctrinal picture to collapse, resulting in organizational fragmentation. The lesson is clear: a single alteration in doctrine can derail the path to the Kingdom of God, emphasizing the critical need to adhere to sound teaching as a foundation for spiritual nourishment and alignment with God's truth.

Doctrinal changes have played a significant role in the challenges faced by the Church of God, as seen in the devastation of the Worldwide Church of God. When God removed His protection, the church quickly fragmented into numerous factions due to doctrinal disagreements. The leadership's interactions with Evangelicals, who convinced them that Church of God doctrines were incorrect, mirrored the deception of Adam and Eve by the serpent, leading to the church's breakup. This pattern of deviation from God's Word is not new; it impacted the first-century church and continues today, as many in the Church of God either ignore or deliberately disbelieve clear teachings, reaching wrong conclusions on matters like Passover and Pentecost. The simplicity and directness of God's Word, as described by Paul, are often undermined by those who produce convoluted explanations to bypass plain statements. Such distortions, evident in the first century and in modern times, echo the serpent's tactics with Eve, splitting hairs to create lies. False teachings, even if they appear minor, are deviations that must be guarded against, as Paul urged Timothy to hold fast to the true teachings received from Christ without allowing any deviation. The Church of God is not immune to the careless deterioration of faith seen in broader Christianity, where individuals pick and choose doctrines, disregarding God's warnings against adding to or taking away from His Word. This unbelief in God's Word, rooted in the same presumptuousness warned against in Revelation regarding Laodiceanism, continues to be a pervasive problem that believers must overcome.

In the 20th century, the Worldwide Church of God faced massive doctrinal changes, many of which echoed Gnostic origins, striking a pleasant chord in the hearts of many who then followed these doctrines out of the church fellowship. These changes, rooted in historical patterns of rejecting truth, mirrored the early church's struggle with Gnostic influences that infiltrated through converted Jews from the Jerusalem area, who had been immersed in Greek philosophy for around 200 years before Christ's death. Despite their conversion, they did not fully abandon Greek thought, continuing their studies and urging it upon other converts to extend their influence. This persistence of Gnosticism, evident from the 1st century, ultimately contributed to the destruction of the Worldwide Church of God, as tracing the origins of the doctrines that led people astray reveals their Gnostic roots. The danger remains for us today, as the flood of deceptive words from the serpent's mouth—through various media and subjects—continues to target those who know the truth, aiming to sweep Christians away from the eternal truths of God's Word.

The church of God is a dynamic, living organism, ever growing into greater understanding through the guidance of the Holy Spirit as God leads us into all truth. Doctrine may change from time to time in light of new insight, but mature Christians remain unshaken by carefully researched doctrinal development. However, satan has worked diligently to water down and adjust the doctrines of God, influencing ministers to preach that growth in grace and knowledge means abandoning traditional teachings for new, diluted ideas. In a short time, the devil introduced the concept of evolutionary change in doctrinal understanding, leading the church to reject many foundational beliefs. True growth in grace and knowledge is not about gaining new doctrine but about firmly understanding and practicing the truth of Scripture as it has been delivered. The Bible does not teach that the church should evolve in doctrine or develop new teachings for changing circumstances. Instead, Scripture encourages us to obey the doctrine delivered, to continue in it, and to beware of teachings contrary to what we have learned. God does not change, and neither do His teachings, which reflect the way He lives and desires us to live.

God's people have endured a decade of philosophy, human reasoning, and convoluted arguments designed to prove that the clear, pure doctrines once held by the church were wrong, insupportable, or foolish. Cunning explanations of various beliefs, marked by their complexity, appealed to vanity, spiritual laziness, or emotions. Many weaker members accepted these doctrinal changes without question, while some, driven by intellectual superiority, fell in line after attempting to follow the arguments. A few, however, recognized that these complicated, philosophic reasonings were not the voice of their Shepherd. The teachings of Jesus Christ are elegantly simple, easily understood even by children, and do not need to be complex to be true. The problem arises when worldly wisdom and fallible human ideas are blended with God's truth, as they do not mix. We must return to the simplicity of God's Word, remembering that His wisdom is revealed through His Spirit, not through the spirit of the world.

Doctrinal changes within the church began almost immediately after Herbert W. Armstrong's death, starting with subtle shifts introduced through the Pastor General's Report or implemented quietly as counsel in individual cases. Initial changes included a retreat from the teaching that married women, particularly those with children, should be homemakers, alongside reversals on applauding special music and women wearing makeup. Many of Armstrong's booklets were edited, demoted, or replaced entirely, and the teaching from The United States and Britain in Prophecy was questioned, ridiculed, and ultimately abandoned. A significant doctrinal shift concerning faith, Christ's sacrifice, and healing emerged in early 1987, disconnecting faith from healing and diminishing its relevance to other aspects of belief. Following this, other teachings began to crumble like dominoes, with relaxed Sabbath observances, emerging hints of Trinitarianism from headquarters, and a downgrading of the gospel of the Kingdom of God in favor of the gospel of grace and the gospel of Jesus. Within a relatively short period, the foundational work built over sixty years by Armstrong was dismantled, rendering the church unrecognizable as the one God had raised through him.

The largest body of the true church of God is being swept away by damnable heresies, departing from the faith once delivered. False doctrines, inspired by satan, are brought into the church through deceptive ministers who subtly twist the intent of Scripture for wrong applications or understandings. These heresies are not always easily detected, as satan camouflages lies with a large measure of truth, inducing people to wander from the true path of God's Word. Satan's plan of attack on the church involves a steady stream of small doctrinal changes, termed adjustments, clarifications, or refinements. These may initially go unnoticed, but their cumulative effect casts doubt on previously held beliefs, causing uncertainty about what is right. At critical junctures, satan's ministers may adjust significant doctrines to test the reaction of the membership, potentially shedding light on the deceptive process. Further, satan inspires alterations to the overall message of Jesus Christ and the apostles, redirecting the church toward teachings essential to salvation but not the ultimate goal. Additionally, satan moves to obscure the nature of God, combining this with changes to God's purpose, leading members into deep confusion about how to conduct their lives. This distortion mirrors the Israelites' redefinition of God with a golden calf, rejecting the truth that we are created in His image. If such heresies are accepted, satan then teaches that some of God's laws no longer need to be kept, appealing to members' desires for control over time, money, and destiny, and presenting these changes as granting more freedom under the guise of devotion to God. The Bible warns of such departures from truth within the church, emphasizing that apostasy means departing from truth, not necessarily leaving an organization. Members of God's church are being led back to the world, away from keeping His commandments. Our responsibility is clear: we must prove all things, hold fast to what is good, and keep all of God's Ten Commandments to avoid sinking into the spiritual vortex that has already ensnared many.