Why is The Church of God (Seventh Day) sooo successful and the Armstrongites splinters ARE NOT!
Comments from Bill Lussenheide on Gavin’s blog discussing the Denver, Colorado based Church of God (Seventh Day)
The CoG7 has upwards of 200,000 globally. It is growing in some third world areas so rapidly that there are congregations and new ministers that even HQ Denver has no idea about.
The “White/Anglo” COG7 is in decline. Perhaps 5 or 6k members. In fact, many if not most of the USA congregations are Spanish speaking, and these are the ones that are growing.
I believe that we can take some important lessons from this group as to why it has had “staying power”…
* Its lack of embracing of the US/BC theory has allowed it to be more proactive in areas like Mexico, South America, Africa etc., which are much more receptive to a religious message. The wealthier and more educated a country is, the less open they are to God.
* Its means of growing was not based on an expensive “media campaign” via money based marketing. Word of mouth is extremely cheap, and is very effective in poorer societies where communal communication happens with greater frequency.
* It never revolved around a falable “personna” as its dominating identity. Thus church leadership could die or leave and it did not create a “crisis of faith” or “identity crisis” for the org as a whole.
* The church allows for diversity of belief. Some COG7 folks keep the annual holy days for instance. Although the church teaches against it, if one celebrates Xmas, it is not grounds for a tribunal.
* Congregations are very self directed and Denver HQ is only a service organization aiding a confederacy of churches without a centralized tyrant.
* Individuals are free to explore their own personal ministries , projects etc, without permission asking or overmanagement.
* They do not claim an exclusivity or “we are the only ones” nonsense.
* They dont use the Purple Hymnal!
The Armstongist COGs count conversions in the third world, similar to what slaves were counted as in the original US Constitution for census purposes, 3/5ths of a person. When you are a money based operation, a conversion in a third world country is not an “asset”,( a tithing member who will end up giving more to the org, over and above his maintenance and acquisition cost,) but rather is viewed as an “expense”. Hence the reluctance for Armstrong spinoffs to invest in the ripest and most receptive markets for souls… Non English speaking , non white , poor second and third world nations.
I guess some souls are worth more than others.
Editor’s note: Gavin has noted that the CG7 has been around for nearly a 150 years and wishes the next 150 years to be just as kind to them. I agree. With the dynamic leader Whaid Rose they are in the right direction!
5 comments February 25, 2008
