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Corey Forsyth | PentecostalTheology.com
I have spent the majority of my life in the CoG. In fact, I rebelled against my parents as a teen by joining a CoG while they refused to attend a church at all. I am currently member of one of the largest CoG in NW GA but serving as interim Pastor of a small Baptist Church.
Having followed several posts here, I see verbiage used that indicates that some view the CoG as the only “right” denomination. I have even seen reference to Paul addressing”the CoG in Ephesus.” Having lived and been active in the CoG for so many years, I have been growing more disturbed at this attitude overall. What makes this mentality okay? Doesn’t this create division within the body of Christ? Why do so many CoG act superior to other denominations?
I can understand loyalty but when it crosses into arrogance and condescension towards other brothers and sisters in Christ, it’s wrong. I guess I should expect to be crucified but I am tired of seeing this. It causes others looking at the CoG to be turned off towards us. In my area, the CoG has even been mocked harshly because of this overall problem. Anyone have an explanation?
Mary Ellen Nissley
I grew up Mennonite. This attitude exists within all denominations… more within some than in others.
Fact is, within any congregation, there is a mixed multitude. Just as some who came up out of Egypt were not all of Abraham, even so not all on the church membership rolls are truly walking with God.
When one has been raised in a denomination, it becomes the comfort zone, so it becomes very easy to walk in the flesh, even while claiming sanctification.
Jimmy Humphrey
It’s as old as the problems Paul had in 1 Corinthians 1. I have found though, at least in my personal experience with the CoG compared to several other denominations I’ve been affiliated with, that there is a very “authoritarian bent” in this denomination.
If you disagree with some of its leaders, they are quickly and more than happy to show you the door and refer you to the church down the street.
I never experienced this in the Assemblies of God or Foursquare Pentecostal churches. Maybe it was just luck of the draw, but they definitely seem to have a different “culture” than many others.
And in all fairness, I’ve experienced some heavy handed authoritarianism in a southern Baptist church. Which is ironic considering their congregational polity. 🙂
Brody Pope
I’ve been in the CoG my whole life. I’m going to get ordained in the CoG. But I get calls to preach in other denominations. I’ve preached mainly in independent churches and in IPHC churches. God never called me to be a CoG only preacher. He just called me to preach
Kerry Collins
If churches lift up Jesus Christ and preach the gospel from the Bible, they are my brother’s and si in Christ.
Bryan Davis
Corey Forsyth, I’m with you a 100%! The truth is no denomination is superior and none of them are 100% right . Only the Bible is 100% right . However , the COG & AG appear to be the closest doctrinally to the scriptures
Odette Del Rio
In heaven, there are no denominations, only children of God worshiping Him in spirit & in truth. There won’t be any fences with gates for the United Methodists, the Presbyterians, the Pentecostals, the Lutherans, etcetera. Only those who repented sincerely will be before His Holy throne.
Mary Ellen Nissley
What just goes against my “Mennonite” grain is the culture of pushing others down, to lift up the self.
It’s the culture of the COG, and it infects our homes and our churches.
We seem to think that being lords over God’s heritage is a good thing… men put women down so much, even in normal conversation. I’m just not used to this.
Pastors are supposed to be “priests” over their congregations.
Husbands are expected to be “priests” of the home… never mind that isn’t found ANYWHERE in scripture!
A priest is one who offers sacrifices. That is the ONLY THING that distinguishes a priest from any other type of leadership.
Protestants believe in the priesthood of ALL believers!
We are ALL filled with the Holy Ghost, since Pentecost.
We EACH are a temple of the Holy Ghost.
And EVERY ONE of us is to offer sacrifices of praise to God in our temples, daily.
Only ONE High Priest stands between each believer and God.
And EACH of us is required to lean upon the Holy Ghost individually, even when taught by another in the church, to study and see “if these things be so.”
The Episcopalians believe in a catholic-style priesthood. And here is where I think we got mixed up. By styling ourselves after an Episcopalian church polity, we have mixed catholic ideas with Protestantism.
Mary Ellen Nissley
And yet, I have to remind myself of why I am with the COG.
I prayed and prayed for God to lead me to a church where I can operate in the Spirit, and where I can be all He intended for me to be. And he led me to this little country church.
So here I stand, and here I do battle against Satan.
And here I throw my shoulder to the wheel of God’s kingdom.
That’s why I’m a licensed minister in the COG.
No denomination is perfect.
No church is perfect.
But I have purposed to press into God as hard as I can, and to bring as many with me as I can.
I don’t want any authority. All I want is the freedom to do everything God has called me to do.
Let the denomination fight over who’s the boss.
I will have nothing to do with that.
My boss is Jesus Christ.
JR Hall
AMEN Thank You Jesus
James Craig
I have been in the ministry for over 30 years now,, and my roots runs deep in the COG from my Grandmothers family we were all taught the bible,, but lately they have come up with the women being bishops,, We are not God we don’t call them and we can’t tell them no. That’s between them and God,,