What is the future of the Church of God reformation movement?
We believe that the Church of God will have an increased and significant
ministry in the twenty-first century. Consultations and conferences
are taking place on national, international, local, and district
levels, challenging Christians to consider the current and future
nature of our world, and how best to share the gospel and call persons
to discipleship. We are aware that the coming decades will be a
time of crisis for the earth and its people. We are giving attention
to a range of needs and issues that include the environment, peace
and reconciliation, poverty and hunger, population trends, evangelism
and church growth needs, and unity and interdependence in a society
and world marked by cultural diversity. We feel God has called us
to be involved in ministering to the needs of people everywhere
and to live responsibly in the whole universe. We seek to be a redemptive,
reconciling force for peace in the years to come.
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How big is the Church of God?
In the United States and Canada, we have about 2,300 congregations
and more than 250,000 persons who attend the worship services of
those local churches on a typical Sunday. Though many congregations
do retain a list of Christians who are a part of their fellowship,
you will remember that we do not keep formal membership lists, and
so precise figures are more difficult to determine than in many
groups. An interesting fact: The number of persons who are associated
with the Church of God in other countries surpassed the number of
those in the United States and Canada in 1983. The church is growing
at a vigorous pace in the southern Africa and Asia/Pacific regions
and in Latin America. In addition, strong evangelistic programs
are resulting in new congregations being planted in strategic locations
throughout North America and in a variety of international locations.
By the year 2025, the Church of God plans to more than double the
number of its congregations and constituents within the United States,
Canada, and around the world. [Back
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What restrictions do you place on your members in the Church of
God?
Diversity, within the scope of the teachings of Jesus Christ, is
expected. Conformity in all matters of doctrine and practice is
not the goal of the Church of God for its people. We are mutually
committed to God in Christ, to the leadership of the Holy Spirit,
and to local, national, and international fellowship with Christians.
Some congregations and some individual Christians may tend toward
a major involvement with social causes as an expression of their
personal faith. Others may concern themselves principally with an
individual expression of piety and often focus on personal religious
lifestyles. There is room for both types of witness and concern.
Our relatedness to each other in the church does not depend on
a strict and uniform doctrinal stance but on our commitment to Jesus
Christ, bringing his spirit to bear on our personal lives and society.
We see our bodies as "temples of the Holy Spirit" and
therefore urge abstinence from some specific behaviors such as sexual
immorality and the use of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and drugs
for pleasure or psychological escape (1 Corinthians 6:15, 19--20).
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Theologically, how do you stand in relationship to other church
groups?
Without getting involved in detailed definitions, we like to think
of ourselves as conservative, rooted in Wesleyan-Arminian theological
heritage, a part of the Anabaptist free-church tradition, a part
of the Holiness Movement that came to mid-America in the nineteenth
and first part of the twentieth centuries, and a participant in
the Protestant tradition. We value the insights of those who espouse
fundamentalist, liberal, neoorthodox, liberation, and process theologies,
but we have some serious questions about some of the methods and
conclusions of these schools of thought. [Back
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Are you charismatic? Are you Pentecostal?
Yes! and No! We are charismatic if by that you mean that persons
and churches are empowered by the Spirit for the edification of
the church on mission in the world. Yes, we are Pentecostal if by
the term you mean that the Holy Spirit was given to the early church
and continues to come, empower, and call the church to servant ministries
No, if you mean by charismatic or Pentecostal an emphasis on speaking
in tongues as the sign of a spirit-filled life or the freedom for
persons to speak in tongues at their own discretion in public worship.
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Are you a member of the National Council or World Council of Churches?
No. We are ecumenical in spirit and in practice but have not felt
participation in either of these organizations is the best way to
give witness to the unity of Christians or the most effective way
to expand our world ministries. We cannot honor some actions and
programs of these organizations. On the other hand, some programs,
literature, and opportunities for service initiated by them are
obviously Spirit-inspired. We have occasionally taken the opportunity
to cooperate with our Christian brothers and sisters in these organizations
as the most effective way of doing some tasks and as an expression
of Christian unity. A few congregations participate in the activities
of the National Association of Evangelicals and the Christian Holiness
Association. Most pastors actively participate in community ministerial
and church organizations. [Back
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Do you believe persons have to be baptized in the Church of God
in order to go to heaven?
No. Baptism is a first step in the life of the Christian convert.
When a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior, it is expected that
the person will take the first step of following Jesus Christ in
baptism (Mark 1); however, believers who have been baptized in other
church groups will find their baptisms honored. Persons who have
been baptized as infants are encouraged to appreciate the act of
faith on the part of their parents and to witness to their own decision
for Christ through believer's baptism. We rejoice in the provision
of God for the salvation and eternal life of persons whom we shall
never know, persons who are active in hundreds of other Christian
groups. It will be a joy to get acquainted with all those persons
in heaven! [Back to Top]
What do you mean by stewardship?
Stewardship is the responsible use of all of our resources, recognizing
that all good gifts come from God. It has implications for the use
of our abilities, the use of time, and the way we earn and spend
our money. Christian stewardship includes the practice of giving
the first 10 percent of one's income directly to the church for
missions and ministries--the tithe. We believe tithing is taught
in the Old Testament (Malachi 3:8--10) and the principle and practice
is sustained in New Testament teachings (Matthew 23:23; 1 Corinthians
16:2; and 2 Corinthians 8:1--5). It is the foundation for a more
complete financial stewardship.
While many persons of the Church of God are tithers, tithing itself
is not looked upon as a means by which one manipulates God in order
to obtain material success. It is a spiritual discipline which is
a reward in itself. Many Christians not only give the first 10 percent
of their income (tithe) to the church but also give additional offerings
to help build church facilities and make faith promise commitments
to missions causes. [Back
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Do you believe in divine healing?
Yes. We believe that, in a broader sense, all healing is divine.
Thus we encourage consultation with medical professionals in matters
of physical health and with other professionals in matters of emotional
and relational problems. We believe these professionals can be used
by God to bring health to ill and injured persons.
In addition to the healing that comes through natural processes
and the informed use of medication and surgery, we believe that
at times God directly intervenes in the life of individuals to initiate
and complete healing. We put into practice James' instructions to
the young church: "Is any one of you sick? He should call the
elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in
the name of the Lord" (James 5:14, niv).
In many congregations, persons come forward following the sermon
and request that the pastor anoint and pray for them. In some congregations,
people are given an opportunity to come forward before the pastoral
prayer, to inform the pastor of an individual need (whether it be
for physical, emotional, or relational healing), and to be anointed
for prayer.
We do not demand of God or arrogantly instruct him about the way
healing should take place. We submit our petition and await his
gracious action in our lives and in the lives of those whom we love.
We do not believe that everyone is healed in the way that we would
expect and hope, or even that it is best for everyone to be healed.
In praying for healing, we enter into a trust relationship with
God; we trust that he will do the best thing for his kingdom and
our lives. We believe he knows what is best, even though, for the
moment, we may not be able to comprehend it (Job 9:10; Psalm 145:3).
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What do you teach about Jesus' second coming?
We believe that Jesus will come again, but we have no idea about
the date and time (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32--37). Our eschatology
(knowledge or study of last things) emphasizes that when Jesus comes
to receive his bride, the church, all things of this world will
end, and those who have believed on Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord
will go with him to live eternally. Our view of the kingdom of God
is that it is a present reality. We believe that when Jesus came
to earth, he launched his kingdom (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; 10:7; Luke
17:20--26), and his kingdom is in the hearts of men and women who
give him their allegiance.
We are aware of the diligent study by many premillennial scholars
and the optimism of postmillennial Christians; however, we are amillennial.
In our study of the Bible, we do not discover any teaching about
an earthly reign of Christ in a governmental or military sense.
Scriptures speak of last things in figurative language (Revelation
20), and we believe they often refer to spiritual rather than temporal
realities. We, for the most part, find little doctrinal compatibility
with groups who see the establishment and success of the nation
of Israel as essential to God's plan (Romans 2:28--29; Galatians
3:26--28). Teachings which give attention to repeatedly setting
dates for the expected return of Christ, to observing natural and
other phenomena as indications of the imminent appearance of Christ,
and to identifying contemporary historical personages as embodiments
of the anti-Christ are likewise foreign to our understanding of
Scripture. With persons who feel strongly about these points of
view, we agree to disagree and explore other ways of experiencing
and expressing our oneness in Christ.
We work and pray for Christ's coming (Revelation 22:20--21). The
principal task of Christians, we feel, is to be involved in God's
redemptive plan--sharing the gospel rather than speculating about
the nature and timing of last things. Most Church of God congregations
accept a range of opinions and beliefs on last things.
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What is the nature of your worship services?
Our congregations rather closely follow the biblical injunction
to do all things in "a fitting and orderly way" (1 Corinthians
14:40, NIV). Scripture is read with a sense of profound respect.
The gospel message is preached with enthusiasm, usually as an exposition
of a scriptural passage, relating it to the contemporary situation
of the worshipers. Spontaneity marks many of our services. In some
congregations, persons will affirm the message of the pastor or
a song with an "Amen!" Occasionally, persons may respond
to a well-sung song, greet special guests, or receive an important
announcement with applause. Laypersons are often enlisted for leadership
in services.
Church of God worship services are characterized by good singing.
We sing hymns, gospel songs, choruses, and spirituals. Many excellent
volunteer choirs sing a wide range of music, from simple gospel
songs to the most challenging anthems A time to greet each other
and get acquainted is often included during or immediately following
the worship experience. [Back to Top]
Who speaks for the Church of God on social issues?
The General Assembly in its annual June session often considers
and sometimes adopts resolutions that speak to social issues such
as alcoholism, abortion, war and peace, divorce, and sexual relationships
Sometimes these resolutions are presented by interest or geographical
groups represented in the Assembly. These resolutions usually express
the attitude of many within the Church of God but are not necessarily
binding on congregations or individual Christians within the body.
The resolutions often are worded so as to provoke thoughtful discussion
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Are you a missions-minded church?
Definitely! The Church of God emphatically asserts
that all Christians are called to world and local missions and that
some individuals are particularly gifted for special assignments
in the missions tasks. North American and international missions
efforts are facilitated and resourced as a result of the partnership
between local congregations and Church of God Ministries, the organization
entrusted with coordination of the united ministry and outreach
efforts of the movement. Though the focus of missions is often on
those who are called and sent, we believe that the total church
is responsible for taking Christ to men, women, and children everywhere.
Our churches voluntarily pool their prayers and financial support
to accomplish together what none could do alone.
Information on this page is excerpted
from Oral and Laura Withrow,
Meet Us at the Cross (Anderson, IN: Warner Press, 1999), 25--31.
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