This August, it will be 30 years since the CoG changed its Practical Teachings, teachings that were part of the church basically since its inception. There is now a generation that knows nothing of the pre-1986 CoG. Therefore, I think it is best not to speak negative of today’s CoG. However, when things did change nearly 30 years ago, the CoG Minutes Book continued to state in two separate places, “The wearing of jewelry shall be made a test of membership.” So the question could be asked, “Did this particular statement nullify numerous CoG members that immediately wore their jewelry during that afternoon General Assembly session?” I had brought that to the attention of Dr. Ray H. Hughes at that time. Well, it really does not matter today does it?
Really, what changes occurred?
Have these changes hurt COG?
Have these changes helped COG?
Let’s look at every change individually and its effect on Church of God.
In our church an older lady wore some expensive jewelry ( someone told me it had a value of over 30K ) her husband was a top executive at a local company and she seemed to have been caught in a dilemma. To please and honor her husband or to please her church. Another lady in a COG near us drives a Mercedes convertible, wears $ 300 boots but also goes on and supports COG missions. As the song says ” life gets complicated after you turn 18″
Back then if I saw a lady dressed plain with hair in a bun, no make up and very modestly dressed I would think “Holiness woman” and sometime would ask her and usually with pride she held her chin up and said “Yes”
Today when I see that I think “oneness, Jesus only, independent baptist or maybe free holiness” I don’t approach them now cause I already know they are not CoG.
You have to have discernment of spirits today to know who is holiness. I am not that spiritual.
Do I look holy?
I was published in 1966, sent to Fort Polk, La and after several weeks we earned overnight passes on the weekend. Most went to Lake Charles for some fun. I went with them – they went clubbing and I went searching for a CoG. I found one and attended sat thru the whole service without anyone speaking to me at all (most churches didn’t want servicemen)
The women were decked out in jewelry and makeup, 1966! The sign said Church of God but when leaving I discovered it was Anderson Church of God. I had no idea what Anderson CoG was.
Needless at a critical point in my life (I mean critical) I was now devastated!
Almost a year later I met Robert R Seyda in Germany. I was back on track!
I was blessed to be chosen byGod to be part of Charles’ life. I can say one thing, I don’t remember meeting anyone more enthusiastic and on fire for God than Charles.
Dachau Army chapel!!!
The Bible does not tell us that makeup jewelry or particular haircuts will make us more holy.
1 Timothy 2:9-10 tells us, “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” Paul did not forbid women from wearing jewelry, makeup, or braided hair—rather he tells women to not let their outward appearance become more important than their inner beauty.
Peter reminds us of this spiritual fact: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:3-5). There is nothing wrong with wearing jewelry, makeup, or braided hair as long as it is done in a modest manner. A woman should not be so focused on her outward appearance that she neglects her inner spiritual life. The Bible focuses on the heart. If a woman is spending too much time and money on her appearance, the problem is that the woman’s priorities are wrong. Expensive jewelry and clothing are the results of the problem, not the problem itself.
Post it in KJV because it is the closest to the original text.
if this next assembly decides to allow the members to smoke weed will there already be members high on weed before the assembly is over?
AS I recall since In was away in Europe during the 86 GA that the teaching was going to say moderate becoming attire instead of the line item rules. I thought that was good, initially, but how do you enforce moderation for membership. That idea failed!
Sad to say that it seems churches never learn. It is always on their 100th anniversary that church denominations change what they stood for and return to the very thing that they came out of. Read your Church History and you will discover what I said to be the truth. Look at the Methodist Church and all the others. Church History also tells us that not one time has God ever revived a church denomination once they make their change. See if you can find one. I can tell you that you won’t. What happens? God just starts new churches. That is why we have so many different denominations.
I have found that every 40, or so, years changes are made. SBC Baptist Faith and Message, 1925, 1963, 2000 each was a major shift.
Church of God 1906, 1922, 1948, 1986, (2002 Prophet Conference at Westmore) due for a drastic change now…
Melvin Harter, your OP said it was 30 years ago – by my observation a big change is coming. What do you think it is?
Timothy Carter, you are a CoG pastor and educator. I encourage you to read a booklet written by the CoG Executive Council in the early to middle 1980s entitled, “Worldly Dress and Adornment.” It will answer many of the questions that you asked. As you will notice, we are not speaking of a document written in the 1920s, 1940s or even the 1960s. It was a document written just a few years before the replacement of the Practical Teachings. Also, as a CoG preacher, why don’t you read the CoG Teachings from the older CoG Minutes Book (pre-1986)? There were scriptural references for each teaching, including the wearing of jewelry, etc. See what the CoG preached for some 100 years. Perhaps at that point you will discover what made the CoG great.
I remember that booklet! Surely PTS has that in the library racks!!!
At least stored away in vaults for future references.
I thought the 1986 GA was terrible. If you spoke against the change, your mic was turned off. I recall many a minister saying, “In the name of Jesussss” as though commanding the mic to remain on, only to see these fellow brethren fall upon their knees, crying out to God. No one teaching could be discussed. It was ALL or NOTHING. Of course the ALLs won out. Over 1/3 of the Ordained Ministers literally got up from their seats and walked out of the auditorium. Raymond Crowley pounded his gavel on the podium, stating that he was the GO of the entire CoG and not just a few. Charles Page , you would have had a heyday if you had only been there. This all occurred during the morning session. When the afternoon session started, I never seen so many Jezebels in all my life. The majority of the people were wearing jewelry. Women wore ear rings, necklaces, and rings. Men wore good size rings on their fingers. During the vote, the holiness people thought Dr. Ray H. Hughes, Sr was their champion. However, during the voting, Bro Hughes was standing on the stage, near its side, shaking hands and not voting or speaking up for the holiness people. Of course the holiness preachers felt betrayed. My personal thought at the time was, “How did all these people purchased all that jewelry between the time 11:30 and 2 pm?” Of course I came to the conclusion that they didn’t go out immediately and buy it. They had already purchased it prior to their coming to the GA.
Bro. Harter tell it like it is….
You think nakedness and flesh hanging out is bad at the beach, just go to a CoG campmeeting now a days and you’ll see pretty much the same thing. And its mostly my generation… I’m not really a clothesline preacher, but I do think modesty and respect should play a role in the life of a true Christian.
Brody Pope, quit bashing COG! Our campmeeting is no such thing! Name your state! Maybe that’s the problem. Texas is BIG! None here!
I am addressing the historical aspect of the CoG; nothing more and nothing less. I would trust that I am not misunderstood in my posts. The CoG (Cleveland, TN) denomination is what it is. Scream all you want, it doesn’t really matter because what is done is done. If anyone does not like the CoG, then get out. I don’t believe it proper to get on a CoG page and speak improperly about them. I am sure God is still using them for His glory.