Brief History of the Living Church of God

By COGwriter

The Living Church of God (LCG) has over 290 churches and small groups located around the globe (in 40 countries). It strives to preach the full gospel which includes teaching salvation through Jesus Christ as well as proclaiming the good news concerning the Kingdom of God. It believes that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto good works" (2 Timothy 3:16-17); it believes all scripture includes both the Old and New Testaments (2 Timothy 3:15-16). "I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth" (I Timothy 3:15).

Where did the Living Church of God come from?

The Church traces its Christian history from the Day of Pentecost mentioned in the first book of Acts (details of the first and second century Church can be found in the article Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome). Actually the name is "Church of God" is clearly stated in both singular and plural form in twelve different places in the New Testament—including Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 10:32; 11:16,22; ;15:9; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Timothy 3:5,15. And is often found in writings by second century leaders such as Ignatius (Ignatius' Letter to the Philadelphians 0:0, 10:1; Letter to the Trallians 2:2; Letter to the Smyrnaeans 0:0) and Polycarp.

The Church of God strives to be a continuance of the original Jerusalem Church, which some refer to as "primitive Christianity". It believes (and biblical and secular history supports this belief) that as Christianity spread, major doctrinal compromise occurred ("I hate the work of those who fall away" Psalm 101:3) and that true Christianity has only been observed by an exceedingly small percentage of professing Christians. The beliefs, people, and much history of the true church can be found at the Early Christianity page. As LCG predates Protestantism, LCG did not come out the Protestant Reformation, it is NOT Protestant.

Throughout much of its history, the Church is most often only found to exist through the writings of its detractors. Information can be found on parts of it throughout history can be found in the following articles:

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 earl;y 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 is best represented in these last days by the Living Church of God.
7. The Laodicean Church Era was predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. Non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old Worldwide Church of God.

For purposes of this brief history, perhaps it should be stated that in the 1800s, certain individuals gained power in the Church of God (not yet incorporated with this name, but usually referring to itself by that name), changed doctrines, accepted new "prophecies", and even changed the name. This group is now known as Seventh Day Adventists. Most of those who did not accept the changes either left or were put out and continued to be known as the Church of God. The name officially became the Church of God, Seventh Day in 1884.

In the 1930s, one of their ministers (Herbert W. Armstrong) found that there were some biblical teachings the Church was not embracing (primarily the biblical holy days, the identity of lost tribes of Israel as well as their impact on prophecy, and more actively preaching the Gospel). When some of the Church of God leadership admitted these teachings were biblically correct, but that they would not be taught, he felt he had no choice but to disassociate himself from them. He founded what became known as the Radio Church of God, which in the 1960s was renamed the Worldwide Church of God (WCG). Immediately after World War II, he warned the world that Germany would rise again and that there would be a coming "United States of Europe". Under his leadership, the true Gospel of the Kingdom was preached to those of all nations.

After his death in 1986, the new leadership did not remain faithful to the Church's teachings. In December 1992, one of the old-time leaders (Roderick C. Meredith) was put out of the Church for not accepting these "changes". Rather than accept payments to go away quietly, he felt he had no choice but to preach the Gospel and the faith once delivered and founded the Global Church of God (GCG). He and a few others quickly put together a publication to get the Gospel out and was preaching the Gospel over the radio within a few months of this occurrence. Television came in 1995. After some power-minded people decided to take control of GCG from Dr. Meredith, he then helped form the Living Church of God, URL www.lcg.org. For the Goals of the Living Church of God, click here. Also, you can click here for more history of the Living Church of God. Most who came to Living from GCG came because of their beliefs regarding governance and the priority of proclaiming of the Gospel (approximately 80% of the membership of GCG went into Living). Literature can be requested free from the Church by calling (in the U.S. and Canada) 1-800-934-5582.

Since the doctrinal changes in the Worldwide Church of God (which is a COG in name only now), many other groups have formed; you can click here for news of various Churches of God or here for news of those once affiliated with Global or here for news of the Living Church of God.

LCG and COGwriter believe that LCG is the main remnant of the Philadelphia portion of the Church as mentioned in Revelation 3. The group that Christ claimed that He set before it an open door (and Paul taught that the doors were opened to proclaim the word, e.g. 1 Corinthians 16:9; Colossians 4:3). And that LCG is the COG most faithful to the teachings and practices of the Bible and those of Herbert W. Armstrong. LCG also seems to be the main COG that places its top priority on proclaiming the Gospel.

Although LCG is a small, but international, church, it needs to be understood that not only do we NOT teach that we are the only ones who will be saved, we believe that the Bible clearly teaches that God will save the vast majority of humankind (this is documented in the article Hope of Salvation: How the COG Differs From Protestantism).

An article of possibly further interest, that briefly explains how LCG is similar and different from the major groups that profess Christ (as well as many COGs) is There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God?

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COGwriter 2005/2006/2007