The Church of God has always sought to faithfully proclaim and live the Gospel of God’s kingdom. These dual commitments express a holistic spirituality that is demonstrated in personal holiness and social holiness. The first “teaching that is made prominent” of the Church of God were published in The Evening Light and Church of God Evangel (15 August 1910), adopted by the General Assembly in 1911, and published in the Minutes of the General Assembly in 1912. The “teachings” were reaffirmed and amended by the General Assembly periodically. The 68th General Assembly revised the practical commitments in 1988.
A member of the executive committee once told me that the revised practical commitments were not expected to be affirmed by the general assembly. Therefore, there was no plan to introduce them to the constituency of the church. He lamented that in effect we had no long term discipleship plan. The result is that through the years most of our ministry and lay constituency are unfamiliar with the practical commitments.
If we will take time to read these statements again, we will discover the foundation for a biblical practice of our faith. For example, I once received a phone call from a colleague who is an African-American pastor. He asked me to help him find the official position of the Church of God on racism. I read to him the following words:
Love for others and the recognition of the equal worth of all men in the sight of God (Acts 10:34; 17:26) should compel us to take steps to improve the situation of those who are underprivileged, neglected, hungry, homeless and victimized by prejudice, persecution and oppression (Matthew 22:39; Romans 13:8-10; 1 John 3:17). In all of our dealings, we must be sensitive to human needs (Luke 10:30-37; James 1:27) and guard against racial and economic discrimination. Every person should have freedom to worship and participate in the life of the church regardless of race, color, sex, social class or nationality.
When I concluded, he exclaimed, “Wow, that’s great! Where did you find that?” In the practical commitments under the heading of “social obligation.” In this present political environment we need to remember that the Church of God has long held to a biblical vision of social justice.
Are you concerned about the issue of abortion? Or maybe you’re concerned about environmental stewardship? The Church of God practical commitments addresses these issues:
God alone confers life (Genesis 1:1-31); therefore, we are responsible to God to care for our physical life and that of others. If the circumstances require, we must be prepared to risk our life in the service of our neighbor (John 15:13); but the general rule is that we must respect our physical life and employ every worthy means to maintain it. Since God alone confers life, God alone must decide when it is to be ended (Psalm 31:14, 15). Because a human fetus is sacred and blessed of God, we believe that we have the responsibility to protect the life of the unborn (Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:41). It is our firm conviction that abortion and euthanasia of aged, mentally incompetent, terminally ill and otherwise handicapped, for reasons of personal convenience, social adjustment or economic advantage, are morally wrong. Furthermore, we believe it is our Christian responsibility to care for the earth and its resources. In the beginning God gave man dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26-30). This does not, however, give us license to pollute our natural environment or to waste the resources of the earth.
The Sunday after the United States Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, I read these words of the practical commitments from the pulpit of the church I was pastoring:
Marriage is ordained of God and is a spiritual union in which a man and a woman are joined by God to live together as one (Genesis 2:24; Mark 10:7). Because of the divine character of marriage, it is a lifelong commitment with the only clear biblical allowance for divorce being fornication (Matthew 5:32; 19:9). Sexual involvement, either before marriage or with someone other than the marriage partner, is strictly forbidden in Scripture (Exodus 20:14; 1 Corinthians 6:15-18). Understanding the sanctity of marriage, partners should strive to maintain a happy, harmonious and holy relationship. Should divorce occur, the church should be quick to provide love, understanding and counsel to those involved. The remarriage of divorced persons should be undertaken only after a thorough understanding of and submission to the scriptural instructions concerning this issue (Matthew 19:7-9; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:2, 3; 1 Corinthians 7:2, 10, 11). Should a Christian desire to remain single, this decision should be respected and should be seen as a viable scriptural alternative (1 Corinthians 7:8, 32-34).
Are you concerned that the present LGBTQI movement to redefine human sexuality might find a foothold in the Church of God? Consider this statement:
When God created man, He created them male and female (Genesis 1:27). He gave them distinctly different characteristics (1 Corinthians 11: 14, 15; 1 Peter 3:7) as well as different responsibilities (Genesis 3:16-19; 1 Peter 3:1-7). In God’s order, the husband is head of the home (Ephesians 5:22-31; Colossians 3:18, 19), parents are to nurture and admonish their children (Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:21), and children are to obey and honor their parents (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20). In order for harmony to exist in the home, God’s order of responsibility must be observed.
A few years ago someone published a post on social media that suggested it’s just a matter of time before the Church of God capitulates to the gay agenda. In my own view, the lake of fire will become an ice-skating rink before that happens. Our church has consistently held to a biblical foundation on these important issues. Maybe it’s time to read and proclaim our church’s teaching with renewed enthusiasm.
Click here for the full text of the Church of God practical commitments.
