Bishops Tim Hill, Raymond Culpepper, J. David Stephens, David Ramirez, and John Childers have been nominated to lead us as our Executive Committee for the next 4 years. David Blair and Rob Bailey have been nominated as our International Youth leaders and David Griffis and just yesterday, Thomas Propes replaced Mitch Maloney as nominees for our World Missions leaders. Their confirmation plus other business and resolutions that come from the completed agenda must also be ratified by the General Assembly on Friday afternoon. Any person who thinks a trip to the General Assembly is a vacation simply means you've never been. There's a lot of work involved for every credentialed minister and delegate who attends the GA that does the job they're supposed to do. If you have watched any of this Assembly by Live Stream then you understand what I'm talking about. Now if we can move to the next step and have internet voting so more of our Bishops, ministers, and laity could express their opinions it would be much appreciated.
Our denomination is faced with some critical situations these days that need guidelines that help us adhere to what we believe. We are to operate our churches and ministries by God's Word, our COG Book of Minutes, and our Declaration of Faith regarding the structure and doctrine of our churches. However, several of our churches don't do this anymore. Apparently some think our GA Book of Minutes and our Declaration of Faith aren't true guidelines any more to direct our churches, just suggestions. We also have those that feel our GA Book of Minutes legislates holiness through legalism rather than relationship. They have replaced the Declaration of Faith with their own ministry statement rather than stand united upon our principles. Just look at some of our leading church's websites and you will see what I'm writing about. I believe each church should have a ministry statement, but nothing should replace our Declaration of Faith.
The COG is a HOLINESS as well as PENTECOSTAL church. I agree that at one time we did emphasize some things outwardly to the point we became legalistic, but then we've pushed the pendulum so far to the other side it seems anything and everything goes today. In a world that is filled with this mentality we are still a PENTECOSTAL church, but to be Pentecostal means we must also be HOLY in lifestyle and practice.. Not holiness according to man's ideas, but according to God' Word. The Bible lists the sins that we must avoid and the lifestyle change we must adapt to after accepting Jesus. Some things we should preach about we don't because they make people uncomfortable. Are we so afraid of losing people that we don't preach about maintaining a holy lifestyle? If we don't emphasize the heart change needed to make us desire to be different then we will never fulfill our last days mission. The lack of conviction in our altar services is beginning to have it's affect on every area of ministry in the church today and we are seeing the results in the lack of evangelism here in America. There's a lot of shouting, dancing, and jumping, but if your heart's not right when that ends the enemy will take over.
Our denomination stands for transformed lives just as the Bible teaches. We're not perfect, but we're striving for holiness before the Lord. We mess up, but if we admit it, God forgives us and restores us. The Word of God has not changed and I understand our GA Book of Minutes is not perfect, but it gives us a solid foundation to help guide our churches forward. If we're to be ONE as a church then we must come to the agreement that our teachings are important and are not just a bunch of guidelines that promote legalism. That is why I pray that our new leadership and future generations of the COG will never forget where we've come from or where we are going and continue to remind us that we are Pentecostal as well Holiness and a mighty army for the Lord.
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