Whats the diference between The CoG and AoG ?

[Beniamin]

I know that in the world are different Pentecostal movements , but I don't understand what's the difference between the Church of God and Assemblies of God ? I'm a Pentecostal member of The Free Church of Jesus ( AoG ) in Romania I was part of CoG , I se no difference

 

[HOLYTHUNDER3]

Assembly of God is more of a Charismatic movement with less noise and less of the slaying in the spirit and speaking in tongues, depending on where you go, though it has a lot of Pentecostal beliefs. In a Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) it is all out Pentecostal and they run the aisles, speak in tongues, slay in the spirit and other things. Don't get the Church of God's mixed up though if you are looking for one. I am a member of the Anderson Church of God and it is evangelical with liturgy. Though they typically believe in the gifts of the spirit, they don't practice them much if at all.

 

[ltwin]

Assembly of God is more of a Charismatic movement with less noise and less of the slaying in the spirit and speaking in tongues, depending on where you go, though it has a lot of Pentecostal beliefs. In a Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) it is all out Pentecostal and they run the aisles, speak in tongues, slay in the spirit and other things. Don't get the Church of God's mixed up though if you are looking for one. I am a member of the Anderson Church of God and it is evangelical with liturgy. Though they typically believe in the gifts of the spirit, they don't practice them much if at all.

Both the AG and the COG (Cleveland) are classical Pentecostal. Both denominations have their fair share of PINO congregations (Pentecostal in Name Only).

I know that in the world are different Pentecostal movements , but I don't understand what's the difference between the Church of God and Assemblies of God ? I'm a Pentecostal member of The Free Church of Jesus ( AoG ) in Romania I was part of CoG , I se no difference

I live in the USA, so my answer reflects American realities. I make no claim as to what things are like in other parts of the world.

The difference is cultural, theological, and organizational.

Culturally, the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) originated within the Southern United States (particularly the Appalachian regions). The Assemblies of God from it's beginnings has always been more spread out geographically. Therefore, the AG never was dominated by one cultural orientation like the COG was for many decades.

Theologically, the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) is Wesleyan-holiness. It has traditionally believed in 3 major "crisis" moments in the Christian life: the new birth, entire sanctification, and the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

The AG is non-Wesleyan in its theology. This is called Finished Work Pentecostalism. Essentially, the AG denies that there is such an experience of entire sanctification. It believes that sanctification is a process.

Organizationally, the two denominations are different. In the Church of God, authority is heavily centralized in the hands of national and international bureaucracies. Local churches are clearly subordinate to the national and international church bodies.

The AG has national bureaucracies as well, but pastors tend to be more independent than COG pastors. Local churches are said to be "sovereign" and affiliation with the General Council is said to be "voluntary" (however in recent years the national AG leadership has tried to keep churches from taking their property with them when they leave the General Council).

 

[bushinoki]

The differences are minor doctrinal and polity points. If you are comfortable, nothing to concern yourself over.

 

[Beniamin]

I saw al this things in the CoG , I've left CoG because before 1989 many of the CoG pastors have sold AoG members to the Comunist Regime , one of the biggest traitors Stays now in Portland " , We are between the Charismatic Church and between living the Pentecostal Church , personally I'm against the Charismatic Church , hand clapping and dancing has nothing to do in a church , but many American theologians comes to Romania and build charismatic Churches dividing the almost 90 years old Romanian Pentecostal Church . I believe that God is the same like 6000 years ago , we don't need a new age teologie . I hear so oft people saying that the Romanians are Gypsies or something like that , My dad is Jew and my mom is of Romanian ancestry .

 

[phydaux]

Thanks for your post, Itwin. I always appreciate it when someone can offer an historical perspective.

AoG tends to be Trinitarian. Does CoG also tend to be Trinitarian, or are they more Oneness? Many churches that have their roots in the 19th century Holiness movement tend to be Oneness.

And bushinoki, personally I do not see Trinitarian vs Oneness as a minor issue.

 

[phydaux]

I saw al this things in the CoG , I've left CoG because before 1989 many of the CoG pastors have sold AoG members to the Comunist Regime , one of the biggest traitors Stays now in Portland " , We are between the Charismatic Church and between living the Pentecostal Church , personally I'm against the Charismatic Church , hand clapping and dancing has nothing to do in a church , but many American theologians comes to Romania and build charismatic Churches dividing the almost 90 years old Romanian Pentecostal Church . I believe that God is the same like 6000 years ago , we don't need a new age teologie . I hear so oft people saying that the Romanians are Gypsies or something like that , My dad is Jew and my mom is of Romanian ancestry .

Wow, churches in America are just so sheltered.

"before 1989 many of the CoG pastors have sold AoG members to the Comunist Regime"

Again, just wow.

"hand clapping and dancing has nothing to do in a church"

I guess I'm what Itwin would call a PINO. But I've fellowshiped at many "ultra-pentacostal" churches and have been blessed by the worship & teaching. Just like I've fellowshiped at liturgical churches and have been blessed. I see it as mostly just a stylistic difference and not a substantive difference.

I learned many years ago not to "major in the minors" (see my sig ).

 

[Jethro99]

.......

Organizationally, the two denominations are different. In the Church of God, authority is heavily centralized in the hands of national and international bureaucracies. Local churches are clearly subordinate to the national and international church bodies.

The AG has national bureaucracies as well, but pastors tend to be more independent than COG pastors. Local churches are said to be "sovereign" and affiliation with the General Council is said to be "voluntary" (however in recent years the national AG leadership has tried to keep churches from taking their property with them when they leave the General Council).

Just to add a little bit to what Itwin said above on structure. Likewise, this is from USA stance. I don't know if it applies internationally or not.

In CoG many of the churches themselves are actually owned by the denomination. Churches were also expected to pay "tithe on tithe". In other words, if the church took in $100 of collections for the week a % of that was supposed to be sent back to the denomination HQ.

All of that being said, down at the local church level there may not be much difference between the two that a person would notice. Also, even within denomination the experience at one church may not be the same at another church as others have said.

 

[Beniamin]

The CoG Church that i was atending in Romania is not owned by the CoG , but many churches are owned by the CoG .

 

[bushinoki]

Phydeux, orthodoxy is obviously not a trivial matter. If orthodoxy were at stake I wouldn't be sitting under a former CoG pastor right now. Polity and a minor difference on the doctrine of sanctification are, however, minor issues. If I disagreed that much more, there's a baptist church on Vickers here in town I'd be more interested in attending.

 

[phydaux]

Polity and a minor difference on the doctrine of sanctification are, however, minor issues.

Yes, I agree.

I've known so many brother who feel that "We either 100% agree, or you are 100% WRONG." I've never understood that. We're going to spend eternity together in Heaven with these people. We should at least learn how to get along with them while we're here on Earth.

I even had a close friend refuse to go to the wedding of two other close friends, people we had fellowshipped together with for years, because the wedding was held in an "apostate" Word Faith church.

Again, American Christianity at its finest.

 

[ltwin]

Thanks for your post, Itwin. I always appreciate it when someone can offer an historical perspective.

You're welcome.

AoG tends to be Trinitarian. Does CoG also tend to be Trinitarian, or are they more Oneness?

Both the Assemblies of God and the Church of God (Cleveland, TN) are solidly Trinitarian. I would expect anyone teaching Oneness in these denominations would face heresy charges.

Many churches that have their roots in the 19th century Holiness movement tend to be Oneness.

Well, ultimately, all Pentecostal denominations have roots in the Holiness Movement, whether they are Trinitarian or Oneness. However, the Oneness Movement actually originates from within the Finished Work sectors of Pentecostalism.

In fact, the United Pentecostal Church and Pentecostal Assemblies of the World both have origins in a schism in the AG when the Oneness members were kicked out. This was the original reason the AG wrote its Statement of Fundamental Truths. Prior to the emergence of the "New Issue" (as the Oneness Controversy was called), the AG adamantly refused to issue any official confession of faith.

 

[bushinoki]

phydaux, I do have some doctrinal issues with Word Faith, and they aren't minor to me. However, I don't consider them outright apostates either. Some Word Faith churches are decent churches, and don't go too far into the prosperity "gospel". I can work with them on important things when I need to.

 

[Beniamin]

I saw al the posts , I know that between CoG and AoG are some differences , but I'm now part of the AoG only because my church has no pastors , we have some elderly people we don't accept a pastor , I believe according to the Bible that a member of a church has the same power like the other member of that church , Yes I agree a church has teachers and Apostles and we respect this people as they respect us , because we are brothers in Jesus , I don't see the meaning of a pastor in a church , and I don't understand how a megachurch can work , this kind of things are hurting my and make me suffer .
I love all my Brothers and Sisters in Jesus and I believe that we truly ned a true living according to the Bible .


God Bless U All

 

[bushinoki]

Jethro, I just saw what you said about "tithe on tithe", and that was one of the reasons my current pastor left CoG, because even though it was something like 2.5%, it was hurting his church. We're currently about twelve strong on weekly attendance. 2.5% may not seem like a lot to a larger church, but if we had to pay denominational dues, it would cut into the rent and light bill. He's not even really getting paid for his time right now.

 

[phydaux]

I had a friend who was, I think, AoG in her youth and who really disagreed with the whole idea of local congregations paying tithes to the denomination.

 

[Jethro99]

Jethro, I just saw what you said about "tithe on tithe", and that was one of the reasons my current pastor left CoG, because even though it was something like 2.5%, it was hurting his church. We're currently about twelve strong on weekly attendance. 2.5% may not seem like a lot to a larger church, but if we had to pay denominational dues, it would cut into the rent and light bill. He's not even really getting paid for his time right now.

I've posted before about the CoG church I was in and how things went there that I didn't fully agree with. But, I do firmly believe in giving credit where credit is due. The pastor there was a good man who loved God and his flock. He also loved the CoG.

But, the church found itself in a similar situation to what you describe. The thing that I guess bugged me the most about it was that there were times when the church could have used help, advice, guidance, etc. from home office - but didn't get any. The surest way to get the attention of HQ was to not pay your tithe on tithe - and that wasn't the kind of attention anyone wanted.

So, we always payed the tithe on tithe. Right up until the church doors shut.

We thought about leaving the CoG as well. But, despite the local congregation paying off the mortgage some years back the CoG was the one that actually owned the building. It was one of those viscous circles. If we left we wouldn't have to pay tithe on tithe, but we wouldn't have a place to meet.

 

[HOLYTHUNDER3]

I am now going to attend a Assembly of God.. I just decided this because I feel the thirst for the spirit.