Expert: Dr Don Howe - 2/6/2009

Question
I myself am a non-denomination Christian and a girl I am currently talking to is Church of God religion. She thinks that this would conflict later in if we were to have a relationship. I do not know much about that religion so my question is are there differences in the religion, what are they and would they really conflict.

Answer
  Anthony, thanks for your question. You did not say what kind of non-denominational Christian church you are now attending. Some “non-denominational” church are nothing but cults, some are very doctrinal in their teachings, some are do not believe in the doctrines of the Bible, and others are very charismatic and have a Pentecostal flavor. So I hope your church is doctrinally sound. Most Protestant churches believe in some doctrines that are basic which make them Protestant, and then they get way off base on what the Bible teaches. So is it with some of the doctrines of the Church of God.
  You stated “a girl I am currently talking to is Church of God religion. She thinks that this would conflict later in if we were to have a relationship.” This is girl is telling you the truth. The Church of God is a Pentecostal Church that has the following beliefs, which comes right off their website www.churchofgod.org. Their belief statements states:

We Believe:
1. In the verbal inspiration of the Bible.
In one God eternally existing in three persons; namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
2. That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the Intercessor.
3. That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins.
4. That justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
5. In sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ; through the Word, and by the Holy Ghost.
6. Holiness to be God's standard of living for His people.
7. In the baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart.
8. In speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
9. In water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
10. Divine healing is provided for all in the atonement.
In the Lord's Supper and washing of the saints' feet.
11. In the premillennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years.
12. In the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous, and eternal punishment for the wicked.

   Anthony most Protestant would not have too much discussion about the first five beliefs of the Church of God. Number 6 is a standard belief also.
   But number 7 where it states “baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart” is basically false doctrine. When one accepts Christ as his Savior we are baptized by the Holy Spirit the moment we are saved. Regeneration, indwelling, sealing, and baptism of the Holy Spirit take place at the same time. There is no subsequence or second filling of the Holy Spirit after you are saved. 1 Cor. 12:13 states “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” Anthony see the word “we all” this refers to all Christians, as Lewis Chafer states “the “we all” refers to all Christians, to all men, and it should not be limited to some particular group of Christians.” There is not second filling of the Holy Spirit and no such thing as subsequent baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Church of God, as all Pentecostal churches, believe in the Doctrine of Subsequence or second filling.
    Number 8 is considered by many Pentecostals as  a manifestation of the Holy
Spirit and one has to speak in tongues to show he is truly saved. Again, this is false doctrine. Some preachers of all denominations somewhere have said they believe in speaking in tongues. Some Baptist, Catholics, etc are very charismatic and believe in speaking in tongues. God does not bless us by simple emotionalism such as getting all psyched out by very loud and moving Christian music that takes place in Worship. Then you have people “slaying in the spirit” etc. This is nonsense. God blesses us by His Word and sound doctrine (2 Tim. 4:3). Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 13:8 “Love never fails; but if {there are gifts of} prophecy, they will be done away; if {there are} tongues, they will cease; if {there is} knowledge, it will be done away.” Paul is saying that tongues will stop. All this speaking on tv that you see on TBN is nothing but gibberish. In Acts 2, the people were speaking in known languages that others could knew and recognized and it was not gibberish as you have in the Church of God.
     You will have trouble relating to this girl on this false doctrine. Church of God people will go to war over this false doctrine.
    Number 9 is true and false. The Church of God is not completely truthful in their belief about this one. True, people should be baptized by immersion as another Ordinance of the Church. It is an outward expression of one’s faith of being saved to the Body of Christ in their church. It is not a requirement of being born again. The Church of God believe that you have to baptized by immersion to be saved. This is nothing but work salvation. It is by God’s grace are you saved and not water baptism. For a denomination to say that you have to be baptized by immersion to be saved is a show of arrogance that they know more about the Word of God then God of Himself, and they propagate their own false doctrine as gospel. This is Baloney.
   Number 10 is true. Divine healing is available to all by God’s grace and exhibited in ways based on the situation of a prayerful believer. God does not exhibit divine healing based on such theatrics of such people like Benny Hinn. Pentecostals believe in miraculous healings that are suppose to take place on a stage.
   But God does his healings in individuals lives. This girl may differ with you on this one. Read the book “The Crazy World of Benny Hinn” and you can tell how all this is staged.
   Number 11 and 12 are rock solid teaching of the Bible of the Second Coming of Jesus.
   The Church of God also believe you have to participate in foot washing as being another ordinance of their Church. This is nonsense again.
  
   So Anthony, this is some of the core doctrines of the Church of God, and she is right you will probably have trouble over these. Seek God discernment prayerfully in how He would want you to pursue this issue.
   I hope this helps.


Blessings.

Dr. Don Howe, RN, PhD, ThD.