Macedonia Church of God in Christ 14600 Bethune Drive Miami, FL 33176 t. 305 238-4013 (Office) f. 305 238-4394 (Fax).
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Question: 'Is the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) a good, biblical church?' Answer:The Church of God in Christ (COGIC) is an historically African-American Holiness-Pentecostal church. The church has congregations in nearly 60 countries around the world. With a membership of over 5 million in 2007, it is the largest African-American and largest Pentecostal church in the United States. The Church of God in Christ (COGIC) was formed in 1897 by a group of Baptists, most notably Charles Price Jones (1865–1949) and Charles Harrison Mason (1866–1961), who broke fellowship with the Baptists over the doctrine of Holiness.
Mason became associated with a group of men who would become the early African-American leaders of the Holiness movement in the late 19th century.An examination of the statement of faith from COGIC’s official homepage reveals that the group holds to many of the traditional doctrines of Christianity such as the inspiration and infallibility of Scripture, the triune nature of God, repentance and faith in Christ for the remission of sins, the rapture of the church, and regeneration of the Spirit necessary for salvation. However, other doctrines held by COGIC are at odds with traditional, biblical Christianity: of the body in answer to believing prayer; the in response to prayer separate from salvation; and the ability to live a in the present world. We contend that these beliefs are unbiblical, as explained in the articles on the Got Questions site linked above.There is no doubt the COGIC churches and headquarters are involved in many wonderful ministries, to the African-American community in particular, including global outreach, prison ministry, urban outreach and health/wellness.
But, as with all groups in the Holiness and Pentecostal movements, they adhere to some teachings which depart from Scripture. We do not question the faith of COGIC members, nor do we doubt the sincerity of their love for Jesus Christ. Due to some important doctrinal differences, though, we cannot endorse COGIC churches.Recommended Resource.
Contents.1955 ArticleThe Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, is the result of a spiritual awakening through the instrumentality of in 1859. John Holdeman was born 31 January 1832 near,.
His parents, Amos and Nancy (Yoder) Holdeman, were members of the, in which faith John Holdeman was brought up. He was a thoughtful and impressionable youth, and at the age of 12 years he had a definite religious experience of the new birth and forgiveness of sins.
He reconsecrated his life at the age of 21 and was at that time baptized and received into the Mennonite Church (MC) by Bishop Abraham Rohrer in October 1853. For several years he was connected with the above-named church and in consequence of being a member of this church, he was brought to perceive more fully and clearly the decay and the errors into which he believed the church had drifted, which wrought within him much prayerful concern and travail of soul. His understanding of the condition of the church was, he believed, revealed to him by the Lord. He stressed the absolute necessity of the new birth and being baptized with the Holy Ghost, as well as a return to the faith of the fathers in practicing a more spiritual child training, disciplining unfaithful members, Scriptural avoidance of apostates, avoiding of worldly minded churches, associations, etc.Being of a zealous mind and of energetic convictions, though endeavoring to follow peace with all men, he nevertheless, as he says, soon discovered opposition on the part of those who were not willing to yield to his pleas for a return to the primitive Gospel way of life and doctrine. This was the primary and fundamental cause of the cleavage which, six years after his admission into the Mennonite Church, resulted in his separation from that brotherhood, after all efforts to work in fellowship on the old ground and foundation failed, which he had sought with much concern, prayer, supplication, and pleadings with the elders of the church.In 1859 John Holdeman with a number of others began to hold separate meetings. Not long after, others joined with John Holdeman laboring and preaching as they believed in the old-time Gospel. He soon established a separate organization which was named 'The Church of God in Christ, Mennonite.'
The newly organized church struggled with and weathered many difficult trials, and for a time progressed slowly until other brethren united in the labors with him so that the faith was carried to different states and Canada, where congregations were formed. The first brethren to be ordained into the ministry were Frank Seidner and Mark Seiler, both of Ohio, men of spiritual gifts and power. Soon others followed, including and of, of, of, and of. Church of God in Christ, Mennonite Congregations, 1953 (with key).Source: Mennonite Encyclopedia, v. 599When the immigration of Mennonites from took place in 1874 and later, quite a few of their number joined the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, both in and in. Many of the Mennonites of the, under the leadership of Elder Peter Toews and Wilhelm Giesbrecht, were united to the faith.
And in Kansas, Tobias A. Unruh (a former minister from the ) and Benjamin Schmidt were active in bringing many into the church; also David Holdeman of Hesston, Kansas, formerly of Indiana, did much in promoting the new congregations. The church began to increase and to spread to different states in the and to different provinces in Canada, until in 1949 there were 41 congregations in the United States and Canada, with a baptized membership of about 4,500, including 88 ministers and 62 deacons. The church had mission stations in and with three ordained Spanish ministers, and an Indian mission station in Canada.Elder John Holdeman believed in a true lineage of the church of God, and stressed that to claim this lineage the church must believe and practice the same confession of faith through the centuries from the time of the apostles to the end of the world.
He taught that the church was established on the day of Pentecost and continued through the centuries until this present time, having like faith and practice, emphasizing that '. Upon this rock Christ I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it' (Matthew 16:18). John Holdeman believed and taught and the church believes and teaches likewise that the Holy Scripture is the inspired Word of God and the infallible guide whereby all doctrine and teaching must be governed.
It accepts the Eighteen Articles of Faith as drawn up at a peace convention at Dordrecht, Holland, 21 April 1632, as a true evangelical confession. These articles are taught and practiced throughout all the churches. This denomination also accepts doctrines not so clearly set forth in the Eighteen Articles, such as to the world in dress, bodily adornment, worldly sports and amusements.The church holds to a twofold ministry, viz., elders or bishops (ministers), and deacons. While elders may differ in gifts and hence in responsibility, officially they are all equal. Baptism is administered by pouring to those that have been born again, having received remission of sins through the atoning blood of Christ, and are willing to conform their life to the faith and practice of the church. The church accepts as obligatory the great commission, 'Go ye therefore, and teach all nations ' in obedience to our Lord and Master as well as the constraint of the love of Christ and the responsibility toward our fellow men.