An Introduction to the Church of God
With its formation in 1881, the Church of God movement set out
to restore unity and holiness to the church. The aim was not to
establish another denomination, but to promote primary allegiance
to Jesus Christ and to transcend denominations, bringing unity the
God's church.
Out of its concern for unity among all Christians, the Church of
God does not call for those who come into its fellowship to go through
the ceremony of joining the church. It is felt that when a person
becomes a Christian he is, at that moment, made a member of God's
church.
Thus, there are no formal membership rolls in Church of God congregations.
Church of God people say, "We regard any Christian anywhere
as a member of God's one church."
Common Values/Core Beliefs
The Church of God movement holds the firm conviction that the Bible
is the inspired Word of God. In this context we accept all that
is central and enduring in the faith of historic, orthodox Christianity
as these essentials often have been stated in widely accepted faith
affirmation.
In declaring our present understandings of Christian faith, experience,
discipline, and fellowship, we gratefully acknowledge our particular
indebtedness at many points to the Protestant Reformation, to the
Anabaptist free-church tradition, to the Puritan-Pietist movements,
to Arminian-Wesleyan evangelicalism, and to the Holiness movement
in the United States.
The Church of God believes in a cluster of biblical teachings which
form a vision of the church. Specifically:
- God's church is the community of redeemed persons.
- God's church is a community of divine-human partnership with
Christ as Head.
- God's church is a holy community.
- God's church is intended to be a unified community.
The Church of God believes that God calls his people to mission.
All Christians are mandated to bear witness to God's saving activity
in Jesus Christ and to "make disciples of all nations."
The Church of God believes in the principle of openness to all
affirmations of the Christian faith which are expressions of the
biblical revelation. The intended unity among Christians is not
based on the achievement of full agreement on all theological questions.
Rather, it is based on a common membership in the church through
the grace of God and is anchored by a common commitment to the centrality
of Christ and the authority of the Word of God.
(Resource for this narrative ... National
Church of God Web Site)
|
