Charismatic Church of God

The Charismatic Church of God was a relatively short-lived Pentecostal/Charismatic Christian denomination, with headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico. [ [http://charismatic.org/newmexic.htm Directory of Charismatic and Pentecostal Churches and Ministries in New Mexico] . Retrieved on 15 July 08.] At the time of its founding, it operated one of only thirty such churches in the state; [PDF| [http://www.nmchurchofgod.com/pdf/novdec.pdf February, 2007 Newsletter of the Church of God in New Mexico] |2591.9 KiB . Retrieved on 15 July 08.] and is notable in that it was the first denomination to blend the four "conservative" traditions (the Evangelical, the Charismatic, the Contemplative, and the Sacramental) togetherFact|date=July 2008. It disbanded in November 2007Fact|date=July 2008.

Name

The religious body's legal name was "The Charismatic Church of God, Incorporated" as it also operated a seminary to train ministers within the denomination. It was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in the state of New Mexico on July 24, 2007.Fact|date=June 2008

History

The church itself was founded by Jay Forrest, who has been a Pentecostal/Charismatic minister for over twenty years. Rev. Forrest claims to have had a dream on July 7, 2007 in which he saw the church and was led to start itFact|date=July 2008. It disbanded in November 2007.

Theology

Theologically, the Charismatic Church of God is Evangelical in that they hold to the core beliefs of Evangelicalism (inspired Scriptures, being born again, emphasis on evangelism). They are Charismatic in that they believe and practice living a life full of the Spirit. This life begins with the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, the receiving of spiritual gifts, and the surrender to the Spirit's leading. They claim to be Charismatic rather than Pentecostal; historically a Pentecostal believed that tongues was a required evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Charismatics, on the other hand, believed that speaking in tongues was not required but that the persons inner experience witness to the reality of the event. They are contemplative in that they believe that union and communion with God is the privilege of every born again believer. Contemplation simply means the loving gaze of the soul upon God, it could be called Christian mysticism. And they are sacramental in that they believe that the sacraments are meant to be more than mere rituals. They are the means of grace when they are received by faith. The belief in the Real Presence really distinguishes this church from other Pentecostal/Charismatic churches, which usually look upon the Lord's Supper as a mere memorial.

Mission

The Charismatic Church of God sees itself as a local church with a global ministry. Their mission is to bring people into a living and growing relationship with God; they do this globally by training, credentialing, encouraging, and sending forth ministers to pastor, evangelize, and plan churches; they do this locally by gathering together to worship, learn, take communion, and minister to peoples needs, and by going out to pray, edify, evangelize, and fight evil.

Basic Beliefs

The Charismatic Church of God subscribes to the following foundational Christian doctrines:
#That the Bible is the inspired word of God
#The Trinity - one in essence, three in person
#Moral Law, which is binding upon all mankind as the rule of life.
#Salvation through the universal atonement of Jesus Christ.
#The need of repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ.
#Sanctification, which is the voluntarily consecrate one's will to the highest good of God and His kingdom.
#Progressive sanctification which grows and increases as one's knowledge grows and increases.
#Christian perfection which means that one can be completely delivered from slavery to sin.
#The Baptism in the Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts.
#Divine Healing
#Christian Spirituality, which is spiritual union and communion with God.
#That the devil is the ruler of this world and the god of this age, but God has given us power and authority over him.
#Conditional eternal security, meaning that though one can lose their salvation, the great majority of true believers will persevere.
#The spiritual unity of the universal Church.
#The sacraments of Water Baptism and Holy Communion, including the Real Presence in the Bread and Wine.
#The pre-millennium second coming of Jesus Christ

Related bodies

*Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) (org. 1886)
*Church of God (Charleston, Tennessee) (org. 1993)
*Church of God, House of Prayer (org. 1939)
*Church of God (Huntsville, Alabama) (org. 1943)
*Church of God of Prophecy (org. 1923)
*Church of God with Signs Following (org. circa 1922)
*(Original) Church of God (Chattanooga) (org. 1917)
*The Church of God for All Nations (org. 1981)
*The Church of God of All Nations (org. 1957)
*Bethel Hispanic Church of God (org. 1985)
*Pentecostal Church of God (org. 1914)

References

External links

* [http://www.nmchurchofgod.com/index.php New Mexico Church of God State Executive Offices]
* [http://www.mysticsecretsofthebible.com/index.php/category/weblog/ Mystic Secrets of the Bible Weblog] . Audio devotional commentary on the Holy Scriptures, authored by Rev. Forrest.
* [http://www.pcghomemissions.com/abe01.mp3 Featured sermon] from the Pentecostal Church of God's [http://www.pcg.org/s_39.asp National Home Missions department] . Linked file is an audio recording of a lecture by [http://www.pcghomemissions.com/rababyabe.html Abe Rababy] on Charismatism within the Evangelical Missions of Pentecostalism.