CHURCH OF GOD TEACHINGS CHURCH OF GOD
BY DAVID G. ROEBUCK O
NE HUNDRED years ago, readers of the Church of God Evangel opened their August 15, 1910, issue to read an
arresting page-one headline: “Warnings and Advice: Divers and Strange Doctrines to Be Avoided.”
Situated immediately following this lead article, and before the customary news of camp meetings and evangelistic cam- paigns, was the report of a committee commis- sioned to prepare materi- als for ministerial candi- dates. That report became the first publication of what has been known for a century as the “Church of God Teachings.” The early Church of God eschewed creeds of all kinds. At best, they considered creeds inferior attempts at presenting
scriptural truth. At worst, creeds were primary culprits in centuries of divisions among God’s people—divisions in which war and persecution too often substituted for the great commandments to love God and neighbor.
Opposition to creeds did not mean the church avoided teaching biblical doctrine. The General Assembly clarified points of theology, leaders wrote tracts and pam- phlets, and the Evangel published doc- trinal articles. Indeed, the lead article in the August 15 issue proclaimed, “This is a time that requires special watchfulness on
the part of the true servants and saints of God,” and readers should shun those that “neither obey Christ’s commands nor teach His doctrine.”
Just eight months earlier, the General Assembly had appointed M. S. Lemons, R. G. Spurling, T. L. McLain, and A. J. Tomlinson to prepare examination ques- tions and biblical references for ministe- rial candidates. This committee reported to the Assembly two days later, but the
The fifth General Assembly in 1910 appointed and approved the report of the committee that prepared the “Church of God Teachings” as an aid for ministerial candidates.
These statements were not intended to serve as a creed or as an exhaustive list, but were identified as “some of the teach- ing that is being made prominent.” Delegates at the next General Assem- bly discussed the report and agreed to have these teachings reprinted with some modification. Later Assemblies have further modified the teachings as important mat- ters emerged in the life of the church. The 1988 Assembly made the most comprehen- sive changes by replacing the growing list of “Prac- tical Commitments” with declarations affirming spiritual example, moral purity, personal integrity, family responsibility, behavioral temperance, modest appearance, and social obligation. Foundational to the teachings in 1910 was the preface state- ment that “The Church of God stands for the whole Bible rightly
August 15 issue of the Evangel contained the first publication of their work. Their report included 10 questions such as these: “Have you spoken in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance?”; “Have you any unpaid debt?”; “How long have you lived a sanctified life?” The largest part of the report was a list of “teachings” with scriptural references. These included 21 doctrines such as “Repentance: Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19,” and four lifestyle statements such as “Meats and drinks: Romans 14:2, 3-17; 1 Corinthians 8:8; 1 Timothy 4:1-5.”
divided” with the “New Testament as the only rule for government and discipline.” This commitment to biblical truth and the New Testament as our “only rule” reminded delegates of the call to Chris- tian Union (the original name of the Church of God) when the movement was born in 1886, and it continues to guide the church today.
Dr. David G. Roebuck directs the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center in Cleveland, Tennessee.
EVANGEL • AUG 2010 23
CHRONICLES A Century of the
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