Church of God (Anderson)

Infobox Christian denomination
name = Church of God


imagewidth =
caption =
main_classification = Non-denominational
orientation = Holiness
polity = Congregational
founder = Daniel Sidney Warner and several others
founded_date = 1881
founded_place =
separated_from =
parent = General Eldership of the Church of God
merger =
separations = Church of God (Guthrie, Oklahoma)
Church of God (Restoration)
associations = Christian Churches Together
Christian Holiness Partnership
area = North America, Europe, Africa
congregations = 2,248 (US & Canada)
7,478 (International)
members = 252,905 (US & Canada)
859,589 (International)
footnotes = The Church of God (Anderson) is a non-denominational, Holiness movement believing group of Christians with roots in Wesleyan pietism and also in the restorationist and anabaptist traditions. [ [http://www.elcristianismoprimitivo.com/Church_of_God_Restoration.pdf An Inside Look at the Church of God] ] One of its more distinctive features is that there is no formal membership, since the movement believes that true biblical salvation, which will result in a life free from sin, makes one a member. Similarly, there is no formal creed other than the Bible. Accordingly, there is much official room for diversity and theological dialog, even though the movement's culture is strongly rooted in Wesleyan holiness theology.

It was started in 1881 by Daniel Sidney Warner and several others. [http://churchofgod.chog.org/ME2/Audiences/dirsect.asp?sid=D6384FB8CD884976BB7825A9F1B49078&nm=Our+History History of the Church of God] ] Warner had been a member of the "General Eldership of the Church of God". He differed with the Winebrennerians on the doctrine of sanctification [http://www.dswarnerlibrary.com/Warner%20Entire%20Sanctification.docx] , which he held to be a second definite work of grace, and on the nature of the church. The desire of Warner and the others was to forsake denominationalism and creeds. To this end, they determined to trust in the Holy Spirit as their guide and the Bible as their creed. This church movement is not historically related to other "Church of God" bodies such as the Church of God (Cleveland) or Church of God (Charleston, Tennessee). Though these bodies are also holiness in outlook, the "Church of God (Anderson)" does not share their Pentecostal practices. Warner's vision was that the Church of God would "extend our hand in fellowship to every blood-washed one," rather than align themselves with a movement.

There are 2,248 congregations in the United States and Canada which are affiliated with the Church of God (Anderson), with an average attendance of 252,905 (2008 Yearbook of the Church of God, p. 365). Worldwide adherents number more than 859,589 in 7,478 congregations spread over nearly ninety countries. Personal conversion and Christian conduct, coupled with attendance, are sufficient for participation in a local "Church of God" congregation.

The church observes baptism [http://www.dswarnerlibrary.com/The%20ordinances%20of%20the%20Bible%20Schell.doc] by total immersion, the Lord's supper (commonly known as communion), and feet washing as symbolic acts, recognizing them as the ordinances (commandments) of God. According to the church's official web site, "None of these practices, termed ordinances, are considered mandatory conditions of Christian experience or fellowship." Church polity is autonomous and congregational, with various state and regional assemblies offering some basic support for pastors and congregations. In North America cooperative work is coordinated through Church of God Ministries with offices in Anderson, Indiana. Currently the General Director is Ronald V. Duncan."For other Christian denominations in the Holiness/Pietist tradition, see Church of God".

Pacifism in the Church of God

In the beginnings of the Church of God there was a commitment to pacifism. In the late 1800s the Church of God used their journal the "Gospel Trumpet" as a means to disseminate their interest in pacifism. In April 1898 the "Gospel Trumpet" answered a question about the Church of God’s stance on a Christian going to war. The answer printed was "We answer no. Emphatically no. There is no place in the New Testament herein Christ gave instruction to his followers to take the life of a fellow-man"("Should We Go to War?" "Gospel Trumpet", April 14th, 1898, p. 4.) As time went on the Church of God was able to maintain their stance on pacifism, but as World War I was erupting across Europe the church’s stance began to soften. As German Church of God congregants were drafted into the army the "Gospel Trumpet" began running letters submitted about the conditions of training camps and on the battlefields. While encouraging their readers to pray for the German soldiers the "Gospel Trumpet" made no reference to the apparent contrast between supporting the war effort and encouraging pacifism (see Merle D. Strege “The Demise [?] of a Peace Church: The Church of God (Anderson), Pacifism and Civil Religion, The Mennonite Quarterly Review, Vol. LXV April 1991, No. 2 pgs. 128-140).

As the United States entered World War I the "Gospel Trumpet" restated the church’s official stance of pacifism, but also reminded their congregants that they supported the authority of the state and should comply with local laws concerning the draft. There were articles run to help a pacifist request non-combat duty if they were drafted. For those who decided to volunteer the church reported that the volunteer would not lose their salvation, but would have to answer to God concerning their actions during the war. Strege writes as the war waged on, “there occurs in print no condemnation of those who entered the army-whether German or American-and there is no questioning of their religious commitment” (Strege p. 137).

By the time World War II came there was very little pacifistic sentiment left in the church, even though the official stance never changed. There was always a conflict between the church’s stance that they should submit to the leadership of the government, and their position of pacifism.

Divine Physical Healing

The Church of God places an emphasis on what they call divine physical healing. [http://www.dswarnerlibrary.com/Faith%20Healing.doc] This sees that God created the human body to be able to heal itself. When we have a cut or a cold the body is able to “fix” or heal itself. To go along with that the church sees the work of doctors and medicines as ways to help the body do something it was created to do. John Smith writes, “The term divine healing is not used in a technical sense to describe the obviously natural healing of disease, injury or dysfunction” (John Smith, I Will Build My Church, Warner Press Anderson, IN p. 137). To be called a divine healing one has to be healed by means that is not able to be accounted for under normal natural circumstances. It is “healing that results solely from prayer and the exercise of faith without resort to any human aids or remedies” (Smith).

ome Biblical support for the churches stance on divine physical Healing.

Throughout the four gospels (the books Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) there is a great amount of time spent reporting Jesus’ activity and proficiency with healing. On a couple occasions Jesus even revives people who were pronounced dead (John 11:1-44, Luke 7:11-17). Healing in the gospels was not limited to Jesus. Jesus instructed his apostles to go and heal people. Mark 6:12-13 gives a report of the apostles healing the sick.

In 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28-30 the gift of healing is listed among the gifts given out by the Holy Spirit. As spoke of in Corinthians the gift of healing is not a natural occurrence. It is given to a believer in Christ for the benefit of the Church. It is also the Church of God’s belief that while some people may have a gift for healing prayers, healing is not limited to just those few. God is the one doing the healing and any follower of God can pray to Him with healing requests.

Changes in Doctrine of the Movement that Followed

The majority of the Movement of the Church of God (Anderson) no longer espouses the teachings of the Ministry that began the Movement in 1880. Warner believed that every group of organized churches who had an earthly Headquarters and an earthly creed other than the Holy Bible, was a part of Babylon. They taught that God had restored the light of Unity in 1880. The Evening Light ministry became known as "come outers" because they traveled from town to town preaching that all of the saved need to worship together in one place rather than being separated by creeds, dogmas and doctrines of men. The Reformation Ministry believed that Babylon was the Harlot Woman in the book of Revelation. This view has changed over the past seventy years. Today, the Anderson Church of God will fellowship with churches of different beliefs. This is a major difference between the teachings of Warner and the current beliefs of Anderson today. The Movement as a whole does not call people out of "Babylon" anymore. The slogan of the paper, "One Voice", almost became "On Becoming the Church". The Evening Light Ministry of 1880-1915 believed that they taught all of the truth and that they were the Church. The Church of God Ministry now does not hold this standard as it once was held. These statements are generalized and cannot state the actual condition of each individual but as the group as a whole. As with most changes in large groups, these changes took about 40 years to notice the major differences between the original beliefs and the current beliefs of the Church of God (Anderson). The changes began in 1912, with the change of wearing of the neck tie; to by 1950 the movement no longer taught against the immodesty of mixed bathing (swimming) between the sexes, outward adornment of worldly fashions, makeup and jewelry, and the addition of the television into the home.

Below is a list of things that the Church of God (Anderson) no longer prohibits:

* Outward adornment: wedding rings, ear rings, lipstick on women, following "worldly fashions"
* Entertainment such as movies, books with written material that contained writing such as was against Holiness, holy living and God
* Fellowship with teachings that they viewed as Babylonian, or false Christianity
* Women who wear clothing that pertains to men, or women who now wear pants
* The belief that God will heal only those who love him
* Paying ministers a salary
* The use of musical instruments (such as a piano or organ) in the worship service
* Divorce

Church of God affiliated schools

The church's seminary is Anderson School of Theology in Anderson, Indiana. It is also affiliated with several colleges across North America, including Anderson University, Azusa Pacific University, Bay Ridge Christian College, Gardner College, Mid-America Christian University, Warner Pacific College and Warner Southern College.

Notable members

*Charles M. Schulz, 20th-century American cartoonist best known worldwide for his "Peanuts" comic strip, drew the cartoons titled "Young Pillars" for the Church of God's teen magazine "Youth", mostly about church-related themes. They are reprinted as "Schulz's Youth" (May 2007: ISBN 0975395890).
*Jon Tester, junior U.S. Senator from the state of Montana, and former President of the Montana State Senate.
*Mary Fallin, Congresswoman for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district

ee also

References

External links

* [http://www.chog.org/ Church of God Ministries, Inc.] - official Web Site
* [http://www.geocities.com/chogrefmov Church of God Reformation Movement] - Unofficial Web Site
* [http://www.fbgg.de Freikirchlicher Bund Gemeinde Gottes (Germany)] - official Web Site

Media and Communications

* [http://www.cbhviewpoint.org/ CBH Viewpoint] - (Christians Broadcasting Hope, formerly The Christian Brotherhood Hour) a weekly radio program
* [http://www.thegospeltrumpet.com The Gospel Trumpet] - a bi-monthly publication that follows in the footsteps of the Gospel Trumpet that was printed in the early days of the Reformation movement

Reference and Theology

* [http://www.biblicalelders.com New Testament Biblical Eldership] - Church Government, as was practiced by D. S. Warner and other early church of God pioneers
* [http://www.dswarnerlibrary.com/prod03.htm The Church of God Library] - A library of books and articles that were written by the Ministry of the Reformation. These writings clearly show the teachings of D.S.Warner and the Reformation Ministry. Read the original teachings of D.S. Warner, H.M Riggle, C.E. Orr, F.G.Smith, Do. O Teasley, Willis M Brown, C. E. Orr, Mother Sarah Smith, E.E. Byrum, R.R. Byrum,

Member Congregations

* [http://www.frikirken-b20.dk/ Church of God in Denmark] - Congregation in Århus, Denmark - a member of "Church of God (Anderson)" and "Danmarks Missionsforbund"