Assembly of God/Church of God

[Reazzurro90]

I've always wondered - what's the difference between these two denominations? They are both pentecostal and believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but they're separate. Is there any doctrinal divide between them, or did they just form simultaneously?

 

[irenemcg]

The Church of God seem to me to have less of a Pentecostal slant than say Assemblies of God or Elim Pentecostal Churches.

http://www.wcg.org/lit/aboutus/beliefs/default.htm

Check it out here.

As for the above two I see little differences, having worshiped in both.

 

[BillynJennifer]

I have noticed that in a lot of denominal Charismatic/Pentecostal churches, they only differ in name. I'm not talking about the older "oneness" congregations, but for the most part--nondenominational, AoG, and CoG churches can be interfaith.

BillynJennifer

 

[GodisGreat79]

I go to a Church of God never been to a Assembly of God, but I really like the spirit filled Churches.

 

[TwistrAndy]

The Church of God is the oldest Pentecostal Denomination in the world, that came out of a holiness revival in the North Carolina Mountains in the late 1800's. They tend to be more conservative, and old-fashioned in doctrine (I know there are many up-beat COG's, but what I'm saying is that there is more old timey COGs than AOG's, at least in the South) The two differ on the doctrine of Sanctification. AOG believes it's a lifelong process, COG believes that it's an instanteneous experience. AOG came out of the Azusa Street Revival about 30 years after the COG organized under the Christian Union at Barney Creek Meeting House in Camp Creek, NC.

 

[BillynJennifer]

I completely forgot about the doctrine of sanctification. I guess that is the one doctrine that they differ on.

TwistrAndy, I was once told that the Church of God believed that the Father and the Spirit were one in the same. Am I mistaken on this?

BillynJennifer

 

[BarbB]

I completely forgot about the doctrine of sanctification. I guess that is the one doctrine that they differ on.

TwistrAndy, I was once told that the Church of God believed that the Father and the Spirit were one in the same. Am I mistaken on this?

BillynJennifer

I'm COG (and just repped Andy for telling me what our official doctrine is ) and I've not heard that God the Father and the Holy Spirit are the same.

 

[TGBTG]

Here were I live there is not a legit COG church, I have seen a few COG pastors hold services in rented building. I do not understand, but the other churches will run these COG pastors out of town, honestly. I have an uncle that pastors and two other friends that pastor two other churches, all three of them told me to stay as far as possible from these traveling COG preachers. They claim these people are thieves, and the COG is not regulated and the church is full of false teachings. I know about two years the local police shut a traveling COG service down, but I they did not state any facts.

Could someone please tell me some facts about the COG?

 

[BillynJennifer]

Newlamb, I'm glad you cleared that up as it had been a misconception that I've had for some time.

BillynJennifer

 

[Reazzurro90]

The Church of God is the oldest Pentecostal Denomination in the world, that came out of a holiness revival in the North Carolina Mountains in the late 1800's. They tend to be more conservative, and old-fashioned in doctrine (I know there are many up-beat COG's, but what I'm saying is that there is more old timey COGs than AOG's, at least in the South) The two differ on the doctrine of Sanctification. AOG believes it's a lifelong process, COG believes that it's an instanteneous experience. AOG came out of the Azusa Street Revival about 30 years after the COG organized under the Christian Union at Barney Creek Meeting House in Camp Creek, NC.

Well, thank you for the information! It's very interesting, though I wish these two pentecostal denominations would join together. There's too much splintering within the Christian church already.

 

[Father Rick]

Actually, the CoG formally changed it stance on the doctrine of sanctification as a seperate work of grace quite some time back. As to doctrine the AoG and the CoG are now virtually identically, although the CoG does tend to be a little more 'old-fashioned' in style in certain parts of the country. The 2 do differ, however, in their view of church structure, with the AoG being extremely congregational (independent congregations choosing their own pastors) while the CoG is more presbyterian (district overseers appointing pastors for churches).

 

[BarbaraJean]

I grew up from birth in the AoG. I love it! I'm been a CoG pastor's wife for 18 years. I also love the CoG. There really is not difference in our beliefs.

And the CoG is definitely not "less pentecostal" than AoG.

Father Rick is correct in that our main difference is in our government.

The CoG is very structured, more so than the AoG.

I'm very impressed Father Rick with your knowledge!

Church of God site: http://www.chofgod.org/

 

[TwistrAndy]

Father Rick,

I always thought that was what sanctification was, a work of grace, different from salvation, and necessary for the baptism in the holy ghost. I though that was what the COG always believed, because thats the way it' always been taught around me, and I have been under pastors and members of the CoG from the 1920's. So I've only heard about the traditional COG doctrines, instead of all this new stuff taking place in the COG. Yes, government is very different. The churches are divided up into districts and have a district overseer, the state is divided up or one (depending on the state) and has a state overseer, which makes decisions with the state council, which are COG pastors. (Also the overseers don't appoint pastors, but when a pastor leaves or retires the overseer will make sure there is a replacement, and usually send around 2 to 4 prospective pastors to the church, let them take turns preaching and sharing a little about themselves, and then the church votes on the pastor they want)

To the person who talked about the traveling COG preachers. I would find out if they are genuinly connected with the COG. As for their comments on the COG. They are all wrong. The COG started out with much persecution. Other churches would burn down the places of worship (which was usually someone's home back then), throw tomatoes at them, through stones, and try to run them out of town, but they perservered, and took the persecution, and it's because of people like them that the COG is where it's at today. You need to try it out and make up your own opinion, before you go with what someone who doesn't understand a thing about it.

 

[Father Rick]

Father Rick,

I always thought that was what sanctification was, a work of grace, different from salvation, and necessary for the baptism in the holy ghost. I though that was what the COG always believed, because thats the way it' always been taught around me, and I have been under pastors and members of the CoG from the 1920's. So I've only heard about the traditional COG doctrines, instead of all this new stuff taking place in the COG.

Actually, this 'new stuff' has been the CoG's official stand for many years now.

Sanctification, as held by both the AoG and the CoG, is not a one-time event that happens to you and then you are 'sanctified' but rather an ongoing process of continuously being changed more and more into the image of Christ.

 

[EmeraldLily]

If it helps.....
Sanctification-(from my AoG Church Constitution and Bylaws)
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God. Scriptures teach a life of "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord"Heb12:14. By the power of the Holy Ghost we are able to obey the command:"Be ye Holy for I am Holy"1Peter1:15-16. Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit.

 

[TwistrAndy]

All I can say is that every church of god that I've been to here in North Carolina, sanctification is where God takes the worldly desires, and wordliness out of us and separates us for him. I never heard 1 COG preacher tell that sanctification was a lifelong process, what you're saying about it being a lifelong process, I've never heard it preached in the COG, ever. I do believe in getting deeper and closer to the Lord through our journey with him, but I wouldn't call it getting more and more sanctified. Sanctification is a one time thing, the experience that God gives you, the takes away the desire for worldliness from your life. You have to initially get sanctified, and instead of it contiually sanctified, we call it growing in the Lord, and that initial sanctification is the only one I've ever heard preached, and accepted in the COG.That's the only thing I've ever heard COG preacher's preach on. If they changed that stance after the year 1990 then I wouldn't know about it, because after 1988-90, the COG changed alot of things, and now some are wanting to take away the doctrine of initial evidence, so I quit keeping up with changes after 1990, and just stick to the old paths of the COG.

 

[PastorMikeJ]

I love them both....I attend the AoG in the morning and CoG in the afternoon....the CoG is a Spanish church...But there are not very many Spanish speaking peoples here in Southern Vermont...

 

[HumbleMan]

The Church of God seem to me to have less of a Pentecostal slant than say Assemblies of God or Elim Pentecostal Churches.

http://www.wcg.org/lit/aboutus/beliefs/default.htm

Check it out here.

As for the above two I see little differences, having worshiped in both.

That is the Worldwide Church of God. They were founded by Garner Ted Armstrong, and have had some bizarre beliefs through the years, including British Isrealism. But they reformed in the late 80's, I believe, and are much more mainstream now.

The largest Pentecostal Church of God, and the only one officially known as the "Church of God", is the Church of God, Cleveland, TN. Andy provided a good history on it. Many devout Christians came out of the Methodist and Baptist churches in the mid 1800's due to those churches embracing worldly things. The church has evolved over the years, especially on it's stance of pacifism.

The AoG and the Cog usually recognize each others accreditations and licensure, also. My former church's (CoG) youth pastor was raised AoG, went through the AoG's ministerial program, and was ordained an AoG youth pastor.

The last preacher we had didn't preach much on sanctification, but when he did, it was closer to the traditional AoG stance.