UCG Writer Teaches COGs are Not Evangelical

Ancient Laodicea

John D. Carnack, a member of UCG posted the following:

Why the COG is not “Evangelical”

When there was the tragic shooting and death in a congregation of LCG, some news reports said that LCG was an evangelical organization. However, that is not true in the strictest sense. Let us look at a definition first.

Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian theological stream which began in Great Britain in the 1730s…

The first thing you note is that Evangelicalism is one of the three legs of Protestantism. The COGs were never part of the Church of Rome, and, therefore, never protested against or broke away from them in the first place. This alone distinguishes the COG from Evangelicalism.

You might also note the “born again” designation. Most in the COG, even in UCG, do not truly believe you have completed the “born again” process until you become a spirit being. You are literally “born” as a spirit and become a permanent member of the Family of God. Some in UCG might quibble about details, but in effect that is what most still teach.

Another feature of Evangelicalism that distinguishes them and all other Protestants from the COG is the teaching on the trinity. Most Evangelicals would not consider the COG as Evangelical because we do not believe in some hypostasis called God, but rather we believe that God the Father and Jesus the Son are united in love and unity as a family.

Therefore, you can only really conclude that the COGs are NOT Evangelical. http://cogperspective.blogspot.com/2010/01/comparison-of-cog-to-evangelicals-part.html

Now LCG is definitely not evangelical in the modern sense. We did not come out of the Protestant movement and our history predates the establishment of Rome.

Other COGs, if they are true ones, also are not Protestant. (It probably should be pointed out that UCG documents suggest that UCG does have a position on “born again” similar to the evangelicals, however.)

Now John D. Carnack pointed out that many evangelicals do have a zeal and a certain respect for scripture, and while that is a good first step, most seem to accept many non-biblical doctrines as few evangelicals seem to understand what original Christians actually believed and taught.

Those interested in learning more about the COGs and the history of Christianity may wish to study the following:

The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3 from 31 A.D. to present: information on all of the seven churches of Revelation 2 & 3.
1. The Ephesus Church Era was predominant from 31 A.D. to circa 135 A.D. The Church of James, Peter, Paul, and John, etc.
2. The Smyrna Church Era was predominant circa 135 A.D. to circa 450 A.D. The Church led by Polycarp, Melito, Polycrates, etc.
3. The Pergamos Church Era was predominant circa 450 A.D. to circa 1050 A.D. An especially persecuted Church.
4. The Thyatira Church Era was predominant circa 1050 A.D. to circa 1600 A.D. The Church during the Inquisition.
5. The Sardis Church Era was predominant circa 1600 A.D. to circa 1933 A.D. Discusses early history of the Seventh Day Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and COG-7th Day.
6. The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now basically the Living Church of God.
7. The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. These are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Should Christians be Nazarenes today? What were the practices of the Nazarenes.
Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome What actually happened to the primitive Church? And did the Bible tell about this in advance?
Did the True Church Ever Teach a Trinity? Most act like this is so, but is it?
Differences between the Living Church of God and United Church of God This article provides quotes information from the two largest groups which had their origins in WCG as well as commentary.
There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to more easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG/GCI members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.