Church of God (7th day)

For other uses, see Church of God (disambiguation).

Part of a series on
Adventism
William Miller
Background and history
Christianity · Protestantism Anabaptists · Restorationism Pietism · Millerites Great Disappointment
Biographies
William Miller Nelson H. Barbour · Joseph Bates Sylvester Bliss · Jonathan Cummings Elon Galusha · Apollos Hale Joshua V. Himes · Charles F. Hudson Josiah Litch · Rachel O. Preston T. M. Preble · George Storrs John T. Walsh · Jonas Wendell Ellen G. White · James White John Thomas
Theology
Annihilationism Conditional immortality Historicism · Intermediate state Premillennialism
Denominations
Advent Christian Church Christadelphians Seventh-day Adventist Church Church of God (Seventh-Day) Church of God General Conference Church of the Blessed Hope Seventh Day Adventist Reform Mov't Davidian SDA (Shepherd's Rod) United Seventh-Day Brethren Branch Davidian Primitive Advent Christian Church
v · d · e

The Church of God (7th Day) – Salem Conference is a seventh-day Sabbath-keeping Christian denomination. The Church of God (7th Day) observes the seventh-day Sabbath, which is (according to Genesis 2:2-3Exodus 20:8)) the Biblical Sabbath for the Judeo-Christian tradition.

History

The Church of God (7th Day) represents a line of Adventist Christians that rejected the visions and teachings of Ellen G. White before the formation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 1858, five years before the founding of the SDA Church, a group led by Gilbert Cranmer (1814–1903) of Michigan separated from the Adventists that followed White. Another independent Sabbatarian Adventist body formed in Iowa in 1860, and joined with the Church of God (7th Day) in 1863.

A publication called The Hope of Israel, then The Bible Advocate and now The Advocate of Truth, was started in 1863, and this publication extended the influence of the body into other areas. Through this publication, the doctrines of the Second Advent and seventh-day Sabbath were promoted, and other Christians were invited to gather for meetings. This extended the movement into Missouri, Nebraska and other places, and in 1884 the General Conference of the Church of God was organized. They incorporated in 1899, and "(Seventh Day)" was added to the name in 1923. Offices were established in Stanberry, Missouri.

The Church of God (7th Day) split at their conference meeting on November 4, 1933, creating another body headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

In the work of A. Dugger and C.O. Dodd (1935)^[1] the church traced its history back to the Apostles through various medieval groups which they believed were Sabbath-keeping.

Membership

The Church of God (7th Day) has congregations in the United States, Canada, Philippines, India, Mexico, Ukraine, Caribbean, Africa, etc. Headquarters are located in Salem, West Virginia.

Doctrine and practices

The Church is organized in respect for the apostolic teachings^[2]. According to the Church of God (7th Day), salvation is by grace, received by faith in Jesus Christ, apart from good works. The Church believe in one true God who is the creator of all. He is omnipotent, omnicient, and omnipresent. He sent his son to Earth to be a sacrifice for our sins. He is a separate being from his son, Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the power of God and not a separate being with a separate consciousness^[3].The church observes two ordinances - baptism by immersion and an annual Lord's supper (which is accompanied by feet washing), observed annually on Passover, the day of Jesus' death. The eating of unclean meats such as pork and shellfish is forbidden. The church discourages its members from the use of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs (see Christianity and alcohol). The church also opposes the observance of traditional holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and Good Friday because of their pagan roots^[4][5]and does not practice the Jewish Feast Days. Conscientious objection is the official position of this group.

See also

• Adventist
• Sabbath in Christianity
• Sabbath in seventh-day churches

References

1. ^ A history of the True Religion Traced From 33 A.D. to Date, A. Dugger and C.O. Dodd Bible Advocate 1935
2. ^ http://www.churchofgod-7thday.org/Publications/New%20Constitution.pdf
3. ^ http://www.churchofgod-7thday.org/FAQs.html#Trinity
4. ^ http://www.churchofgod-7thday.org/Publications/Tracts/Christmas.pdf
5. ^ http://www.churchofgod-7thday.org/FAQs.html#Christmas

External links

• Church of God (7th Day)
• Iglesia de Dios Apostólica del 7º Día
• Церковь Бога (Седьмого Дня)