Church of God info

[dover91]

It is nice to have someone from the church of God post.
I was trying to find a church of God…but could not because there are so many, I don’t know what your Church of God looks like so I could easily walk into the wrong one.

Since you are a member would you care to coment on why so many DIFFERENT churches came from this movement?

Well, as far as I know, the only churches that have come from the Church of God (Clev. TN) are the Church of God of Prophecy and Zion Assemblies Church of God…

the differences being that the Church of God of Prophecy left over the issue of divorce and remarriage … but as of last year, there is basically no difference now in the Church of God and the Church of God of Prophecy…

Zion Assemblies Church of God resulted from the COGOP allowing remarried couples to join the church…

All the other “church of god” s out there are seperated from the Church of God (Clev. Tn)… and many have vastly different doctrines from the Church of God…

But as I believe I stated earlier, It’s not as much on the denomination as it is the individual congregation…

there are certain Church of God congregations that I personally would darken the door of…

but this reminds me of an old Gospel Song:

*It’s not what’s over the door, of the church that you attend,
that makes you a child of God and a heavenly citizen,

As the eyes of the Lord go to and fro, there’s just one thing He’s looking for,

Can’t you see that it’s what’s in your heart and not what’s over the door…*

 

[DaveBj]

snip

the differences being that the Church of God of Prophecy left over the issue of divorce and remarriage … but as of last year, there is basically no difference now in the Church of God and the Church of God of Prophecy…

snip

Actually, the split happened when then CoG General Overseer A.J. Tomlinson was accused of mis-handling church funds. Nothing was ever proved, but when he was pressed to provide an accounting, he refused and left to form his own denomination, the CoGoP.

I had an aunt, a sister of my mother, long since deceased, who was working as a linotype operator at the CoG’s Pathway Press and was a boarder in the Tomlinson home about this time. The details can also be found in Charles G. Conn’s history of the CoG, Like a Mighty Army.

 

[dover91]

but this reminds me of an old Gospel Song:

*It’s not what’s over the door, of the church that you attend,
that makes you a child of God and a heavenly citizen,

As the eyes of the Lord go to and fro, there’s just one thing He’s looking for,

Can’t you see that it’s what’s in your heart and not what’s over the door…*

some more of the song…

…Does Jesus live in your heart,
have you been born again,
has the Blood of Calvary’s Lamb
washed away all your sin?
Are you fully trusting in,
The Crucified - Risen Lord,
Can’t you see that it’s whats in your Heart, and not whats over the door…

 

[SerenaHC]

Well, as far as I know, the only churches that have come from the Church of God (Clev. TN) are the Church of God of Prophecy and Zion Assemblies Church of God…

the differences being that the Church of God of Prophecy left over the issue of divorce and remarriage … but as of last year, there is basically no difference now in the Church of God and the Church of God of Prophecy…

…

As I stated before, my ex-husband is CoG of Prophecy and he said that, after the split, they were called “of Prophecy” because of the speaking in tongues. He said that the CoG wasn’t as big on speaking in tongues. When he joined the CoGoP, he HAD to speak in tongues to prove he had the baptism by the Holy Ghost before he was allowed to be a member. He said it was a requirement for membership. Also, as a member, he occasionally had to speak in tongues in the congregation to maintain his standing. He told me that his preacher took him outside and taught him how to do it, saying “see my tie, see my toe” and to repeat that quickly, so that he could be a member in good standing. According to him, he always faked it and never actually had the charism of tongues. Of course, I know there are even some charismatic Catholics today who genuinely speak in tongues.

 

[DaveBj]

As I stated before, my ex-husband is CoG of Prophecy and he said that, after the split, they were called “of Prophecy” because of the speaking in tongues. He said that the CoG wasn’t as big on speaking in tongues. When he joined the CoGoP, he HAD to speak in tongues to prove he had the baptism by the Holy Ghost before he was allowed to be a member. He said it was a requirement for membership. Also, as a member, he occasionally had to speak in tongues in the congregation to maintain his standing. He told me that his preacher took him outside and taught him how to do it, saying “see my tie, see my toe” and to repeat that quickly, so that he could be a member in good standing. According to him, he always faked it and never actually had the charism of tongues. Of course, I know there are even some charismatic Catholics today who genuinely speak in tongues.

He was misinformed. The CoG was very big on speaking in tongues from 1896, which was when they had their first pentecostal experience (it had been formed 10 years earlier under the name of Christian Union). It was very big on speaking in tongues in the '50s and early '60s, which was when I was growing up in it.

Here is a quote from the CoG’s Declaration of Faith, which was originally adopted in the early 1900s:

[We believe] In the baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart.
[We believe] In speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

The entire Declaration of Faith can be found here:

churchofgod.org/about/declaration_of_faith.cfm

 

[SerenaHC]

He was misinformed. The CoG was very big on speaking in tongues from 1896, which was when they had their first pentecostal experience (it had been formed 10 years earlier under the name of Christian Union). It was very big on speaking in tongues in the '50s and early '60s, which was when I was growing up in it.

churchofgod.org/about/declaration_of_faith.cfm

I looked up CoGoP on Wikipedia and here’s a little snippet:

“In 1952 a judge in Bradley County, Tennessee ordered that the church add ‘of Prophecy’ to the name ‘Church of God’ for use in secular and business affairs, but allowed the use of Church of God for internal use.”

My ex- thought the judge ordered this name change because CoGoP did more of the “prophecying” but it looks like it was just an ownership dispute over the name.

 

[DaveBj]

I looked up CoGoP on Wikipedia and here’s a little snippet:

“In 1952 a judge in Bradley County, Tennessee ordered that the church add ‘of Prophecy’ to the name ‘Church of God’ for use in secular and business affairs, but allowed the use of Church of God for internal use.”

My ex- thought the judge ordered this name change because CoGoP did more of the “prophecying” but it looks like it was just an ownership dispute over the name.

Unfortunately, I don’t have enough information at my immediate disposal to speak to this one way or the other. I long ago lost my copy of Like a Mighty Army.

I do know that, while the two denominations have not recombined, at least in Bradley County there is a lot of cooperation.

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

Hi excaliber, May I suggest you read Decide for Yourself: A Theological Workbook, and Confronting the Cults by Gordon Lewis. Basically, in CtC book lists a list of questions to ask people in other religions for the purpose of witnessing. Most likely these will be questions at the back of your Fathers mind. The DfY book raises theological issues, and simply lists the scriptures related to such issues. This book will give you insight into his thinking. If you start with a set of questions that he is not affraid of, that may be a way to open discussion with him.

Dr. Gordon Lewis, one of the founders and the first president of EMNR, now serves as Board Member Emeritus. Dr. Lewis was born and reared in Johnson City, New York and earned degrees from Gordon College (BA), Faith Theological Seminary (MDiv) and Syracuse University (MA and Ph.D. in Philosophy). The Senior Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Denver Seminary, he has been visiting professor at Union Biblical Seminary, India, and other schools. Dr. Lewis was President of the Evangelical Theological Society (1992) and of the Evangelical Philosophical Society (1978). Dr. Lewis has authored several books, including Testing Christianity’s Truth Claims: Approaches to Apologetics, Decide for Yourself: A Theological Workbook, Confronting the Cults and is co-author of the 3 volume Integrative Theology. He contributed chapters to 14 other books, published many articles and has produced a recorded course on apologetics. Further information about his “Resources for Principled Living and Serving” is available from him upon request.

emnr.org/our_board.html

 

[thequeen]

I to was raised in the church of god of prophecy I became catholic whenI was 28 years old at my particular church Iended up being the only young person there I was disfellowshipped when I was around 20 years old because I went into a restuarant with a couple of friendsthat sold alchololic beverages My church did not keep very good records because when I went through private instructions with a priest He had to baptise me conditionally because there was no record of my baptism or at least that is what the preacher said he wasnt to happy with me becoming catholic

 

[SAHMof3]

I have been reading this topic with interest, but do not see the answer for my question. I have a friend, a great lady, so gracious and good, who says she is a member of the Church of God. But, she says they are “sabbatherians” and the true sabbath is Saturday. Also, she is explaining to me that they only use the old testament, not the new, since they follow only “God’s Feasts” of the Old T.

I am so confused, and I want to reach out and try to teach her some things, but any scripture I would use to back up what I say would be New Testament, which they don’t subscribe to.

She says they are not Jews, but “spiritual Israelites”, trying to make successful the work that was failure for the Israelites. I don’t know if they believe in Baptism or not, and certainly not accepting the New Testament of the bible is denying Christs Resurrection? Also, they do not celebrate Christmas, or Easter, or Halloween as these are “man’s holidays”.

Can anybody help, I’d like to understand her, maybe say something to get her thinking…

I am concerned for her and her family. Thanks.

 

[Nine_Two]

I have been reading this topic with interest, but do not see the answer for my question. I have a friend, a great lady, so gracious and good, who says she is a member of the Church of God. But, she says they are “sabbatherians” and the true sabbath is Saturday. Also, she is explaining to me that they only use the old testament, not the new, since they follow only “God’s Feasts” of the Old T.

I am so confused, and I want to reach out and try to teach her some things, but any scripture I would use to back up what I say would be New Testament, which they don’t subscribe to.

She says they are not Jews, but “spiritual Israelites”, trying to make successful the work that was failure for the Israelites. I don’t know if they believe in Baptism or not, and certainly not accepting the New Testament of the bible is denying Christs Resurrection? Also, they do not celebrate Christmas, or Easter, or Halloween as these are “man’s holidays”.

Can anybody help, I’d like to understand her, maybe say something to get her thinking…

I am concerned for her and her family. Thanks.

First off, as far as the Christian East is concerned, and I’m pretty sure Catholics have the same outlook, Saturday is still the Sabbath, Sunday is the Lord’s Day, when we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection. If they don’t accept the NT, then explaining that to her will be next to impossible. Indeed it sounds like they are protestants who have rejected Christianity but believe so strongly that Jews must be physical descendents of Abraham they will not convert to Judaism.

But I’ve never dealt with this group before myself.