WILL THE REAL CHURCH OF GOD PLEASE STAND UP. (A bit lengthy, but I feel it is important to this Open Forum.) Back in 1986, most conservative (holiness) CoG ministers & people did not know what was planned for CoG (Cleveland, TN) General Assembly. Holiness people were taken with total surprise by the liberals within the Church. While as a student at Lee, I thought everyone in the CoG were true-blue CoG. However, during that time, I had a difficult time understanding what our General Overseer, Rev. R. Leonard Carroll was writing in the CoG Evangel in the “From the General Overseer’s Office.” Brother Carroll wrote articles stating that “men were coming into the CoG for the sole purpose of changing the CoG. These men were not CoG in their doctrine or belief.” (I still have many of these CoG Evangels when Carroll was GO.) Those articles confused me because, as I have previously stated, I thought everybody in the CoG was CoG and believed in the CoG Teachings. You see, to become a minister in the CoG of that day, a minister had to state that (1) “he agreed with all the teachings of the CoG” and then he was asked a second question (2) “Are there were any teachings that he could not subscribe to?” The minister had to state that he believed in ALL THE TEACHINGS OF THE CoG and that THERE WAS NO TEACHING THAT HE DID NOT AGREE WITH in order to become a minister in the CoG. I am unsure if this remains today or not. (BY THE WAY, I feel that if a minister of that era, and I know there are many yet in the CoG from that time, are basically living a total lie. Evidentally, they lied when they initially took credentials with the CoG prior 1986 because one can see today that many of these ministers do not adhere to what they stated they believed in and the oath they took. JUST A REMINDER, everyone will stand before a just God and give an account unto God.) At the 86 GA, a great number of Ordained Ministers (today’s Ordained Bishop) literally walked off the main floor. Microphones were ordered to be turned off if a member spoke against the proposed change. I will never forget the number of men who dropped to their knees that morning, praying and crying out to God. One minister’s voice carried these words just as his microphone was order to be turned off by the Moderator, “IN THE NAME OF JESUSSSSSSS. But the name of Jesus did not prevent his microphone from being turned off. It was truly a sad event. The Moderator, beating his gavel on the podium kept repeating, “I AM THE GENERAL OVERSEER OF THE ENTIRE CoG, AND NOT JUST A FEW.” But no one seemed to pay any attention because at least over one-third still walked out. A vote was taken again when these holiness men and women vacated the large room, and of course, the new measure was passed. Now that was the morning session. After lunch, when the body returned to the GA floor, what a difference. I could not believe it. That afternoon session looked like a total different group than what was there just a few hours earlier that morning. It appeared the “Baptist people” had taken over the CoG. (Not meaning to be crude in stating BAPTIST.) It was a site to behold. I seem to feel that God had revealed to me that I had made the right decision a few months earlier when I decided to resign from the CoG organization. I had remembered that I preached a sermon just a short while before, that I was committed to God and His Word and that I was CoG from the top of my head to the soles of my feet because I believed in all of the CoG Teachings, and that if the CoG ever change its holiness teachings, which I believe were the closest to the Bible than any other church, that I would stand with God’s Word and leave the CoG, something which I did soon after. I noticed one former General Overseer, who was thought to be a holiness preacher (at least he preached holiness sermons throughout his ministry) did not participate in speaking or voting that particular morning. With many CoG holiness preachers looking to him, it could easily be seen that he was more so interested in chatting and shaking hands with those standing on the main floor while he was standing on the side of the platform. As with every other holiness CoG preacher, I too was greatly disappointed with this former GO. Later, I met with Dr. Ray H. Hughes, Sr. at General Headquarters. He had heard that I had resigned, and he called me, asking me if I would come to Cleveland and meet with him in his office. He offered me money to cover my expenses. He was a good and gracious man of God. When I asked him about what had just occurred at the GA, he said that most members wanted the change, and who was he to go against it? (Humm, that reminded me of someone else in the Bible.) Brother Hughes stated that we must all adhere to the CoG Minutes Book. I said that I agreed; however, I pointed something out to him that he must have forgotten. NOW THIS IS MY POINT, WHETHER A PERSON AGREES OR NOT. I said, “Bro Hughes, the CoG Minutes Book says that “THE WEARING OF JEWELRY SHALL BE MADE A TEST OF MEMBERSHIP.” He responded that that statement was no longer in the CoG Minutes Book. Now, there was no way that I was going to tell him he was a liar. He was a good friend, a great preacher, and I held up-most respect for Bro Hughes. But I was prepared and had everything marked. I took my CoG Minutes Book (which I had brought with me) and opened it to two separate places and showed it to him. REMEMBER, he had just informed me that everyone must adhere to the CoG Minutes Book. He read it, and simply stated, “Well, we will have to see that this gets changed at the next GA.” Now, again, my point is, ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO RETURNED TO THAT AFTERNOON SESSION OF THE 1986 GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THEY WERE NO LONGER MEMBERS OF THE CoG because the wearing of their jewelry now disqualified them from membership in the CoG because that statement, at that time, was still in the CoG Minutes Book, and as Bro Hughes so graciously brought to my attention, the CoG Minutes Book must be adhered to at all times. And furthermore, then their vote would have to be nullified and means nothing since they were no longer members of the CoG. SO MY STATEMENT REMAINS, “WILL THE REAL CHURCH OF GOD PEOPLE PLEASE STAND UP.” I want to point one other thing out to the reader, these people did not go out immediately and spend their lunch hour purchasing their ear rings, finger rings, necklaces and bracelets, (By the way, even Ordained Ministers were now wearing large rings on their fingers). No, my friend. They had already purchased such items prior to that day’s session. I must add that later, while voting at the final meeting, a woman noticed I voted against the change. Boy, did she demand my name and information. She said she was going to turn me in. All I can say is, WHAT A MESS !
Discussion
26 comments
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So it was Jewlery change that happen in 1986. Was there anything else?
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Scotty Searan, it included much more than the wearing of jewelry. All of the existing CoG Practical Teachings were dissolved and replaced with general summary statements which basically stated nothing. Just to name a few: The CoG statement regarding women having long hair and men with short hair – GONE. The CoG Teachings total abstinence against Alcohol – GONE. Belonging to lodges and secret orders – GONE. Against Dancing – GONE. Against going to Movies, and the selectivity of television programs – GONE. Against Swimming with opposite sex that were not your immediate family – GONE. There were many more. Look at an old CoG Minutes Book (those up to 1986) and you can read them all. I know you would have loved the CoG during that era of time.
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I was attending a COG at that time, but our pastor never mentioned to me about the minutes being revised. I attended in 94& 95 a COG and it was good. I have been AG & COG all my life. Contemporary Worship has ruin our churches. I am a singer also. And I have sung in the are all my life. I am Southern Gospel mainl. I sing some country gospel also. I play guitar. I don’t use soundtrack. Some churches that I used to sing at, won’t let me sing because I don’t use soundtracks. To tell you the truth that is hurtful Churich is nothing but a entertainment show. Anymore. I need a church where I can fellowship with fellow believer, but there ain’t none that I have found within a reasonable driving distance. When I go I have to endur, Churches don’t preach against sin anymore. I do get my soul fed watching The Dallas Church of God in Dallas, NC. They have church the the way it was. I don’t know if you have watched it, but you ought to
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Yes Dallas CoG in NC is a very good church.
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I for one am glad it changed I would never have been part of a group that cared more about rings than souls! And none of the restrictions even in the Bible. However the same thing is happening again with women trying to usurp the way into Bishop and CoG leadership. It was wrong then it’s wrong now!
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Glad we have changed and evolved over the years. We majored in the minor things way too long…
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I am glad the cog minutes are not in the Bible
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Oh, but Link Hudson, they are. Each teaching had several verses of scripture in support of them.
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Why does someone have to commit to follow 100 years of minutes decided by man? Why not just agree to follow the teachings of the New Testament?
Do COG preachers actually have to swear an oath to follow the minutes? That would guarantee preachers would join who either take the Bible’s warnings about oaths lightly, or preachers who take oaths lightly. If followed, it would also prevent the GA from steering the organization closer to the Bible. I suppose some preachers could get sworn in, and then change their beliefs over time after they’d agreed to the terms, then change the minutes.
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Link Hudson, but what if those Teachings, not man made, but were directly from the scripture and each teaching had supported scriptural references? To deny, or turn aside, would it actually be a denial of the Word of God itself? The pre-1986 CoG Teachings were brought about through much prayer, intense study and research of the Holy Bible, as well as a sincere desire to live as close to God as possible. It was that very concept that brought about the inception and continual existence of the CoG.
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Where does the Bible forbid all wearing of rings? Where are opal or stainless steel rings, or gold rings for men, commented on negatively? Is it right to bind ministers to keep rules that do not come from the Bible?
Drinkings is a very clear example, since Jesus said, “Drink ye all of it” to HIs disciples. Tee-totalerism is not Biblical, and requiring it of all believers in the church or of all ministers is not a good thing.
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How did Jesus like the man-made rules the Pharisees put on the Jews, the ‘hedge around the Torah’? He told the scribes and Pharisees that they bound heavy burdens and put them upon men’s shoulders. Can you see the similarity between that and some of the detailed rules that Holiness and other Pentecostal groups had?
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Link Hudson, the issue is the fact that you are not a holiness believer nor a CoG man.
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I’ve been involved with GBI and speak at GBIs from time to time. I am church of God in the Biblical sense. But I’m concerned with following the word of God, not lining up with particular beliefs from the historical holiness movement. I can appreciate different movements and learn from truths they embraced, but I’m for Bible over church tradition.
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No issues are you subscribe to long voted out beliefs that the CoG no longer believes in.
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Melvin Harter, do you believe that the COG denomination is THE church of God the Bible talks about? Did you let go of the original beliefs of the denomination? And before that, it was more of a Christian unity focused church, where people believed in the Bible as the rule of faith and practice rather than minutes.
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Does COGOP hold to the old rules?
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Let me ask Jackson Vaughn Plant and Link Hudson a question. Tell me what the difference is between the Assemblies of God and “today’s” Church of God in 2016?
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I haven’t been around the US COG that much, or Indonesian A/G, so it’s hard to say. COG in Indonesia seems to have a lot of prosperity preachers of their own particular versions of it. But a lot of souls have been won, too. I don’t know much about A/G in Indonesia these days.
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Church government is part of the difference. CoG is more ‘southern’ culturally in the US, or much of it is.
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Not much at all, woman have no restrictions on ordination in the AoG and own their own property locally.
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Local ownership is a big difference in the US. I don’t think the denomination has any claim over property in Indonesia, but it is hard for GBI churches to own land in a lot of parts depending on who is in the government. They rent in malls and storefronts or set up non-profits that own land to get around the lack of permits.
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What about their doctrine?
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Doctrine? Prayer language is one thing. COG has a vague statement that is supposed to convey ‘old fashioned Holiness’ doctrine on sanctification, but it is so vague that it could be interpreted the same way as the A/G, especially for someone not entrenched in Holiness movement terminology.
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The clarity in the COG Declaration of Faith is “subsequent” as in sanctification subsequent to the new birth.
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