Anyway, they claim that these were the teachings of the early Christians, and it seems that they base their views on all of this (see the site for specifics, if you care to):
- Baptism of Christians was by immersion and did not include infants.
- The complete Bible with the proper Old Testament and New Testament was relied on by the true Church in Asia Minor.
- A Binitarian view, that acknowledged the Holy Spirit, was held by the apostolic and post-apostolic true Christian leaders.
- Birthdays were not celebrated by early Christians.
- Born-Again meant being born at the resurrection, not at the time of conversion.
- Celibacy for Bishops/Presbyters/Elders was not a requirement.
- Church Governance was hierarchical.
- Christmas was not observed by any professing Christ prior to the third century, or ever by those holding to early teachings.
- Circumcision, though not required, was long practiced by original Nazarene Christians.
- Confession of sins were not made to priests and did not require penance.
- Deification of Christians (which begins after the first resurrection) was taught by the early leaders of the Church.
- Duties of Elders/Pastors were pastoral and theological, not predominantly sacramental–nor did they dress as many now do.
- Easter per se was not observed by the apostolic church.
- The Fall (and Spring) Holy Days were observed by true early Christians.
- The Father was considered to be God by all early professing Christians.
- The True Gospel included the kingdom of God and obedience to the law of God and was so understood by the faithful.
- Heaven was not taught to be the reward of Christians.
- Holy Spirit was not referred to as God or as a person by any early true Christians.
- Hymns were mainly psalms, not praises to Christ.
- Idols were taught against, including adoration of the cross.
- Immortality of the soul or humans was not taught.
- Jesus was considered to be God by the true Christians.
- The Kingdom of God was preached.
- Leavened Bread was removed from the homes of early Christians when the Jews did the same.
- Lent was not observed by the primitive church.
- Limbo was not taught by the original church.
- Military Service was not allowed for true early Christians.
- Millenarianism (a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth, often called the millennium) was taught by the early Christians.
- Monasticism was unheard of in the early Christian church.
- Passover was kept on the 14th of Nisan by apostolic and second century Christians in Asia Minor.
- Pentecost was kept on Sunday by certain Jews and was observed then by professing Christians.
- Purgatory was not taught by the original apostolic church.
- The Resurrection of the dead was taught by all early Christians
- The Sabbath was observed on Saturday by the apostolic and post-apostolic Church.
- Salvation was believed to be offered to the chosen now by the early Church, with others being called later, though not all that taught that (or other doctrines) practiced “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
- God’s Six Thousand Year Plan for humankind to rule itself was believed by early professors of Christ.
- Sunday was not observed by the apostolic and original post-apostolic Christians.
- The Ten Commandments were observed by the apostolic and true post-apostolic Christians–and in the order that the Church of God claims they are in.
- Tithes and Offerings were given to support the ministry, the churches, the needy, and evangelical travels and proclamation.
- Tradition had some impact on the second century Christians, but was never supposed to supercede the Bible.
- The Trinity was not a word used to describe the Godhead by the apostolic or second century Christians, though a certain threeness was acknowledged.
- Unclean Meats were eaten by the early allegorists, but not by true Christians.
- The Virgin Birth was acknowledged by all true ante-Nicene Christians.
Anybody know anything about the CCOG? Any thoughts on all this? The Dr. Bob Thiel, one of the prominent writers apparently, was "cited by MSNBC and The Washington Post" in some way. Don't know what that means.
Like most of these types of groups, they seem to have some good stuff that probably draws people in, but on the whole, it seems a bit cult-like, I'm sorry to say.