…then praise God that means you definitely are saved! We have heard and perhaps even used such enthusiastic rhetoric many times before. Some questions I have about this:What if it is actually your own guilty conscience that is telling you you’re not saved?What if it is the conviction of the Holy Spirit telling you you’re not saved (either never were or have backslidden) but need to truly repent and be converted? The way the rhetoric is typically used, it would tell people who ought to be convicted and converted to actually deny the conviction of the Holy Spirit and claim they are definitely saved regardless of what ANYONE tells them. Paul told the Corinthians to Examine yourselves, and see whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves… But the way the salvation rhetoric is typically used, one should NEVER doubt whether one is saved or not, and to do so is to ‘listen to the Devil instead of God.’
The clarity in the COG Declaration of Faith is “subsequent” as in sanctification subsequent to the new birth.
Larry, do you embrace the New Apostolic Renewal? I am of the opinion that Tim Hill does and that many of the COG bishops do also.
The General Executive Council seem more interested in investing in new Church strategies.
About 45 years ago I attended an COG and the pastor, of he was good. He was also the district pastor. One thing he did and I was very satisfied with. He never used another pastor to run a revival, He always used an evangelist. They would have monthly rallies and he always used an evangelist or some district official. The only way he used a pastor was like when another church had a homecoming and did not have a Sunday night service, he would invite them to speak on Sunday night. Back then you still had a full week or maybe two weeks of revival. Not a three night or weekend revival. Some churches now that have done away with Sunday night service now will have a Sunday night revival, not even three nights. We do need the five fold ministry in the churches. I believe because they are operating is one of the increase in worldliness in the churches.
No I believe in rebuilding the altars that have fallen down and to follow the old paths that our forefathers have trodden. The major emphasis on new revelations from the prophets is unbiblical. The small cell groups replacing the church is unbiblical. The prophets demand of total submission to them is unbiblical. Its more about control than anything else. They call it discipleship but it’s about control. I believe when the church of god takes that road we r in trouble. I read a book recently that said pastors should quit preaching from the pulpit, pick a couple of families get totally into their lives, and change them. Can you imagine adopting a family then totally controlling their lives? But this is what the new apostolic reformation is teaching.
Prophets are not welcome in the church anymore..people dont want visions told…tongues that rebuke or bring forth things they dont want to hear
Why would you think evangelism must be done in a church building or in a crusade sponsored by a local church. Can you show me in the BIble where the apostles did it that way? Peter and John went to the temple. Paul went to the synagogues. These places were full of Jews who had not yet believed in Jesus. Paul also preached in the marketplace and in the local Athenian ampitheater. Philip preached in a Samaritan city. He also evangelized a man one-on-one as he was directed to do.
Brother don’t worry,everybody will give account to God in the last days,our job is to intercede ,however productivity and end results speaks of who you are and performing according to your calling as a greater impact.Today many are operating in the upon assumption basis and in the confusion world and the melting quality is missing where leads to stagnant of spiritual progress and development..
You have just made a VERY relevant observation, AND a sad commentary on the fact of the situation that exists today!! God Bless You for having your eyes wide open!!!
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Please everyone share
Hello my friend
Garland Griffis was our pastor at McMinnville, TN in the early 60’s
Yes know all of them.
if you were a Tenn youth camper in the 50’s you knew Cecil Giles!
And if you attended TN Campmeeting you knew John Nichols