The Church of God in Name Only

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Recommended: sin and its consequences

I must first begin by saying I do believe that God has one, universal church, the church of God. “The Church of God in Name Only,” is an effort to criticize those who profess a high claim, yet fall very short in living to that claim. In my estimation many who profess to be God's holy people are not, because the scripture deems such individuals unholy. Such people are not the Church of God.

In order to comprehend the reasoning behind such a subject one must already have a general idea of the Church of God's standard. I will not go into great detail concerning the following topics. The Church of God teaches justification, sanctification, unity, divine healing eternity, modesty, the trinity, and various doctrines. However, this same institution fails to live in accordance to their own claim concerning a few of the core doctrines. Holiness simply means freedom from sin and sinful affections. Sanctification is the act of consecrating or of setting apart for a sacred purpose. Unity is the state of being one. Evidence will show that the lives of many professed Christians are falling short of their own taught standard.

It is easy for the Church of God to condemn the religious world. The majority of denominations outwardly teach a standard that is not biblical. For instance, many ministers, from various affiliations, teach one cannot have power over sin or the flesh. So as a result, Church of God attendees feel justified because they understand such a teaching is erroneous. However, if the Church of God were to be judged based solely upon her claims, disregarding the religious world, what would be found? Is the message of the Church of God producing a people who are holy and manifest the power of God through signs by faith?

As stat...

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...e of the Church of God ought, and must, lay judgment on all sin, commit to a zero-tolerance policy on worldliness, move souls to complete consecration, and strongly emphasize what being a Christian truly means.

In order for the Church of God to make these necessary adjustments someone must possess a burden. In these last days God needs men and women to seek God with a weighted burden. In the words of E. Faith Stewart, “if we get down to where we need to be, then the glory of the morning time will be ours.” It is my sincere hope that God will find a few willing vessels to get down where they need to be. God has a people, but they may need to forsake their groups, their ideas, and their followings, so God can have a beautiful Church of God that is one and complete in Him. The Church of God cannot be God's church in name only, but it must be God's church in reality.

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