Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)
The Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) emerged in 1881 from the holiness movement under Daniel S. Warner, who rejected denominationalism and ecclesiastical creeds in favor of direct spiritual unity among believers. It holds to Wesleyan-holiness theology, emphasizing entire sanctification, the Spirit-led church, and unity of all regenerate Christians. It has no formal creed beyond Scripture and rejects organizational distinction between clergy and laity in principle, though it has developed voluntary cooperative structures. Women have been ordained throughout most of its history.
Theology
Christology
Soteriology
Salvation
Affirms
New birth through faith; entire sanctification; salvation forfeitable through apostasy
Atonement & Ransom
Affirms
Penal substitution and moral influence; Christ reconciles all to God in offer
Predestination
Nuanced
Conditional election; God foreknows free response; universal prevenient grace
Original Sin
Affirms
Inherited sinful tendency; not inherited guilt; entire sanctification cleanses nature
Eschatology
Soul & Afterlife
Affirms
Immortal soul; conscious intermediate state; bodily resurrection at Christ's return
Hell
Affirms
Eternal consequence of rejecting God; conscious suffering; eternal separation
Heaven
Affirms
Eternal life; bodily resurrection; new creation; fellowship with redeemed
Second Coming
Affirms
Personal return of Christ; future; brings bodily resurrection and final judgment
Millennium
Nuanced
Amillennial/Kingdom-now common; no binding eschatological position; Scripture emphasis
Ecclesiology
Church Authority
Nuanced
No formal creed; Scripture alone; voluntary cooperation; Spirit-led unity of all believers
Clergy & Priesthood
Nuanced
No formal clergy/laity distinction in principle; practical ordination exists; women ordained
Sacraments & Ordinances
Nuanced
Two/three ordinances: baptism, Lord's Supper, foot-washing in some; mode varies
Scripture
Biblical Canon
Affirms
66-book Protestant canon; Old and New Testament; closed canon; Scripture alone
Biblical Inerrancy
Nuanced
Scripture is Word of God and authoritative; inerrancy in originals affirmed by many; no creedal formula
Extra-biblical Revelation
Nuanced
Scripture primary; Spirit guidance continues; inner witness affirmed; no new doctrinal revelation
Scripture Interpretation
John 1:1 — "The Word Was God"
Affirms
Word (Logos) is fully divine; eternal nature of Jesus affirmed
Isaiah 7:14 — "Virgin or Young Woman"
Affirms
Virgin birth affirmed; Isaiah 7:14 prophesies Messiah's miraculous birth
Matthew 16:18 — "Upon This Rock"
Nuanced
Rock = Peter's faith-confession; Church built on Christ; no papal authority
Romans 9:18-21 — "God's Sovereign Choice"
Nuanced
God's election mysterious; human response and divine grace in dynamic tension
James 2:24 — "Justified by Works"
Affirms
Faith and works inseparable; sanctification produces evidence of genuine faith
Matthew 28:19 — "Baptize in the Name"
Affirms
Believer's baptism; trinitarian invocation; sign of discipleship to Christ
Hebrews 1:8 — "Your Throne, O God"
Affirms
Father addresses Son as God; affirms Christ's full deity and eternal kingship
Revelation 20:1-6 — "The Thousand Years"
Nuanced
Future kingdom of Christ; literal or symbolic debate; all affirm Christ's return
Genesis 1:1-2 — "In the Beginning"
Affirms
God created all things; timeline flexible; emphasis on God as Creator
Mark 16:9-20 — "The Longer Ending"
Nuanced
Textual status disputed; apostolic content affirmed; used in ministry carefully
John 7:53–8:11 — "The Woman Caught in Adultery"
Nuanced
Textually uncertain; principle of grace and redemption aligns with Church of God
1 John 5:7-8 — "The Comma Johanneum"
Denies
Comma Johanneum absent earliest MSS; not original; Trinity affirmed elsewhere
Deuterocanonical Books — "Tobit, Wisdom, Sirach, Maccabees"
Denies
Deuterocanonical books not canonical; follow 39-book OT canon
Shepherd of Hermas — "Early Christian Text"
Denies
Shepherd of Hermas not canonical; 2nd-century document; not apostolic
Ethics & Practice
Sabbath
Nuanced
Sunday worship; no Sabbatarian requirement; Lord's Day as resurrection celebration
Blood Transfusions
Affirms
Blood transfusions permitted; medical necessity recognized; no doctrinal prohibition
Military Service
Nuanced
Just war tradition affirmed; significant pacifist wing; individual conscience determines service
Holidays
Affirms
Christmas and Easter observed; liturgical flexibility; no binding requirement