That title probably means little to people who have never heard of the “Church of God” before, but many people have mistakenly thought we are all the same.   In some ways we are.  We are very much like other Church of God groups in stressing the Bible, the commandments and the testimony of Jesus.

In some ways we are not.  I was personally there at our first feast conference and most of the nearly 1,000 people were there because of doctrinal reasons.   This is something that others don’t want to admit because it implies that WCG had doctrinal problems.  This is the main reason we are not like many other Church of God organizations.

Almost all of the other Church of God organizations:

• Living Church of God,
• Philadelphia Church of God,
• Etc

want to carry on “the work of Herbert W Armstrong”.    Many people, (and some leaders in these organizations), talk about Herbert Armstrong in an idolatrous fashion.   Most people who attend CGI are thankful for the work that HWA did in teaching the authority of the Bible, the law of God and the appreciation of God’s Sabbaths… but we do not hold him up as “the Pope” or as a Biblical Prophet of God.

Additionally, the people who came out from the Worldwide Church of God to begin the CGI, sincerely believed that there were some policies or teachings that NEEDED to be corrected.    This is why 1,000 people came quickly together in forming the CGI.

We have never agreed with the following theories:

• one true church,
• one apostle – or primacy of peter,
• rigid authoritarian church government,
• church eras, or
• a physical place of safety.

We have also never agreed to the approach of:

• hyper-judgment of others outside the church or
• judging others in the church to be “clean or unclean” with man’s rules  (For example, if a man’s hair was “an inch too long” in the estimation of the minister, the man would be told to “NOT COME BACK” if its not cut!)

These rules were being hypocritical since the Worldwide Church of God would make fun of “other man made rules” (like denominations that teach “no dancing” is allowed) but enforce many of the same type of strict rules themselves.

Over the next several articles I expect to complete a simple series to highlight the teachings of the Church of God International that are different from the teachings that were held by the WCG and HWA.  We believe these CGI policies and teachings are balanced, scriptural, and a better path for the Church of God, rather than holding onto “old error” as a maudlin display of loyalty to the memory of Herbert Armstrong.    HWA taught us to Follow Christ (and the leading of the Holy Spirit) – Not a man -  and he oft spoke of Paul’s admonition to “Prove all things”.   The CGI has more detailed responses in booklets that will be listed in each section for additional reading on any subject that interests you.

We are not seeking to erode anyone’s faith …  Read on, to see for yourself if there is a better way forward to a more balanced, and more “spiritually mature” Church of God, containing members who Read & Think and Grow as God reveals and as He leads ALL who are His.