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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Link Hudson, the issue is the fact that you are not a holiness believer nor a CoG man.
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.
No issues are you subscribe to long voted out beliefs that the CoG no longer believes in.
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.
Does COGOP hold to the old rules?
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?
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.
Church government is part of the difference. CoG is more ‘southern’ culturally in the US, or much of it is.
Not much at all, woman have no restrictions on ordination in the AoG and own their own property locally.
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.