THE
CHURCHES OF GOD (headquarters Morrow, Georgia) in many parts of the world form
a unique segment of the religious world with which you as a seeker for truth
should be familiar. While small in size, its contribution to Bible
understanding has been great. In many ways its leaders have pioneered a
reawakening in the understanding of Bible truths that were long hidden in the
darkness of human traditions and philosophy.
________________
THE
CHURCH OF GOD
What It
Is Not
The
Church of God is not a "Reformation Church." It does not trace its
origin to the Reformation nor to Reformation leaders. The Church of God has
its taproots in the Word of God and not in the revolt of the church.
The
Church of God is not a "founded" church; that is, it was not
established by any one leader. It does not trace itself back to any individual
other than Christ. It has no prophet or prophetess, nor a single founder. It
has had outstanding leaders in its past history, but it did not radiate out
from any one person.
The
Church of God is not a "splinter church"; that is, it did not break
off from any older, established denomination. While the family tree of many
churches shows them as branches of other denominations and those denominations
as branches from others, etc., the Church of God was never so affiliated.
Where
It Began
The
Church of God as it is known today came into being as small groups of
individuals in England and North America who, through personal Bible study,
became convinced of the doctrinal truths that are set forth as the Statement
of Faith. In most cases, these groups and their leaders did not even know of
the existence of the others.
In
the mid-1800s, however, some of the leaders, Joseph Marsh in Rochester, New
York, the Wilson family who had migrated from England to Geneva, Illinois, and
other leaders in Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, and Pennsylvania, began to publish
papers which gained wide circulation. Through these publications the small
groups of Bible students and individuals became aware of one another and began
to exchange correspondence. Circuit preachers visited back and forth among
these various local groups, and new churches soon grew up in other places.
Over
a period of years, groups of churches formed state conferences and eventually
a General Conference was organized in 1921.
What
It Is
Churches
of God are congregational in government. They maintain complete local
independence. There is close cooperation, however, in the maintaining of
publishing facilities, the operation of Atlanta Bible College, and the mission
programs of the Church of God. There are established standards for the
ministry, cooperation in the work of the Sunday schools and the Berean youth
fellowships, and close fellowship between the scattered members of the Church
of God.
The
Church of God places great emphasis upon the Word of God, and Bible preaching
and teaching are prominent. Bible classes and Bible study groups are the
backbone of its work.
