What CG7 Needs

Rebuilt Gymnasium in Sardis

In the latest edition of CG7-Denver’s Bible Advocate was the following:

BA asked dozens of CoG7 ministers two questions to help us shape the magazine for 2010 and beyond. Read their answers here.

What are the great challenges this church faces in the next decade?

• One overlooked factor is the peculiar effects of our nation killing off our next generation, while the Muslim world and a few others procreate at full speed…

• Our greatest need will be to use resources wisely to minister among our two primary cultures: Hispanic and Anglo. Should these groups be blended into an integrated whole, or should they be served differently? If so, how?

• The Church needs to recognize how permissive we’ve become, how seduced by the world. Our children and we live in compromise.

• We need to be relevant and realistic in an increasingly anti-Christian society…

• Focus on preaching the gospel. Jesus is coming soon, and we’d better be ready. Understanding
prophecies is secondary…

• Elevate preaching. Programs are packed with other activities before the preacher gets his lim-
ited “filler” time. God’s Word is not emphasized enough…

How can BA help address those needs and challenges in every congregation?…

• By printing articles that call Christians to be the biblically defi ned children of God and bride of Christ, creatures of both grace and law, faith and works, sentiment and substance, properly tensioned between the sovereignty of God and the appropriate free-will response of humanity; realizing salvation by what God has done, is doing, and will do; growing spiritually by applying what God has entrusted to us all.

• By bringing to mind the importance of Church and by staying the course, thus producing unity and identity.

• By providing Scripture-based content that can be integrated into our weekly and special gatherings. Such material, carefully written and edited, can help preachers andteachers illustrate their points and nourish listeners with sound insights.

The comment about being “seduced by the world” is consistent, in my view, with what Jesus warned Sardis. As well as the hint that CG7 may not be highly relevant and that it does not emphasize God’s Word enough. Here is what Jesus seemed to see as the primary needs for the group that represent the remnant of the Sardis era in the end times:

3:1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you (Revelation 3:1-3).

Historically, we in the Living Church of God have felt that this was a prophecy that CG7-Denver tended to fit. Amongst other things, it seems to teach against watching as it de-emphasizes Bible prophecy.

In recent years, CG7 has given people like me more reason to conclude this.

CG7 needs to better teach what the Bible teaches. It needs to change its views on prophecy (nearly 1/3 of the Bible is prophecy), which often are in error (e.g. see CG7 Does Not Understand the Book of Revelation and CG7 on Daniel). CG7 needs to heed Jesus’ warnings. Those in CG7 should realize that it is NOT faithful and study their Bibles to realize that the Living Church of God is the most biblically faithful group currently on earth.

Again teaching against understanding prophecy in CG7-Denver’s Bible Advocate is sad. It is not that prophecy is the only subject of importance, but downplaying it and teaching wrong concepts about it is not what Jesus wanted.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Church of God, Seventh Day: History and Teachings Nearly all COG’s I am aware of trace their history through this group. Whaid Rose is the president of the largest CG7 group (Denver). Do you know much about them?
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.
Why Prophecy? Because the World Will Not End Next Week Some question or downplay the role of prophecy. This article gives some of the biblical reasons what it is important and explains why the world cannot end for at least 3 1/2 years from now.
Attending the Church of Choice This article discusses whose choice is important to worship God; should you attend the church of your choice or the church of God’s choice?
Unity: Which COG for You? Why so many groups? Why is there lack of unity in the Churches of God? Has it always been this way? What can/should be done about it?
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.