What are the differences between churches like the Church of God and the Assembly of God, and why might someone choose one over the other?
As with the majority of churches in the world, there are always a large body of truths they agree on. What makes them distinct are the secondary issues, and the fact that some groups make out what is secondary to be primary.
For all of true Christianity, the primary issues are codified in the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed. There are very few groups who accept only one without the other. And those who reject both are, by definition, not Christian – regardless of what they call themselves.
When it comes to distinctions such as you’re asking, it can only be defined by their origin story.
Church of God (CoG) is what is often called a “Wesleyan” denomination. Meaning that they have derived their doctrines and practices from the teachings and practices of John and Charles Wesley, the 18th Century English Evangelist and his brother who was his worship leader, song (hymn) writer. Wesley came up in England during an era when Biblical Christianity was mostly lost, culturally. John was driven mad by the unholy practices of the majority of Englishmen when drunkenness, fornication, robbery, treachery, and lying were as common as eating bread. John had seen Englishmen drinking themselves blind on homemade gin. He began preaching against these sins – with a fervor few have ever seen. He led a major abstinence movement (from alcohol and fornication) that caught on from his passionate preaching – which resulted in the Methodist church and many spin-off churches. However, John’s faith was more of a works-focused effort than true faith in the salvation of Jesus, until he traveled to America. His trip put him in peril several times and during that trip he met several Christian groups who understood both biblical faith in Jesus, and they lived by the power of God’s word and spirit. Until then, those were not hallmarks of Wesley’s preaching. So, in John’s case, legalism led him to Faith in Jesus when he realized that works alone gave no hope. He later incorporated a “method” for ministry which he called Prayer, Praise, Proclamation (of the Bible), from which John taught that people ought to produce works of righteousness for God (Wesley’s four P’s of ministry).
In the case of the Assemblies of God, the origin is almost backwards of that. The Assemblies of God (AoG) grew out of the 1906 Azusa Street Revival, a Pentecostal movement that began in Los Angeles, led by William J. Seymour. The revival was a revival of Holy Spirit, which broke down barriers of race, class/wealth, gender, denominations, and cultural backgrounds. The revival focused on open and expressive worship, impassioned prayers, and the proclamation of the word of God. What made this revival entirely unique, especially for its time, is that Seymour was a Black preacher and the people attending the revival were of many ethnic and national backgrounds, but more often white. Seymour believed in prayer and worship and Bible preaching from the outset and he became passionate about spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Healings, manifestations of deliverance from demons, speaking in tongues, and especially that large groups of people received Jesus for salvation, were the hallmark of this revival. This was the beginning of the AoG, but it also had a distinct impact on the Christian culture in Los Angeles and the US and eventually across the world. It was a pivotal moment for the nation, for a renewal of faith across the spectrum of Christianity in America, and especially Los Angeles. It is directly traceable that many seminaries and churches in Southern California sprung up after this and for the subsequent 115 years + Southern California has been a beacon of Christian ministry training through those various seminaries and from the pulpits of the many prominent ministers who preach in that area. Some would say that many of those seminaries and churches grew up in contrast to the Azuza revival, but it’s undeniable that they came in response to that event and the AoG’s growth in the area.
So, while AoG is no longer recognized today as much of a major source of revival as it once was, it’s origin was very influential and can still be felt today.
The two denominations are both rooted in revival, and they hold many of the same practices and priorities of ministry. Yet the difference in origin makes the culture of the two churches different. CoG remains focused on a “method” type of focus and typically calls their members to acts of service (works) in obedience to God for a holy life. They tend to preach against Sins as much as preach for the Gospel. While AoG tends to focus on bringing people into an awareness of the Holy Spirit, by leading with a preaching of Christ that leads to worship, prayers, and Bible as their hallmark – from which they teach (and expect) their members to live a holy life. AoG will likewise preach against sin and for the Gospel, but the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit are typically more a central part of their ministry.
Of course, all of these are generalizations that will vary from one church and one region to another.
As far as ‘choosing’, my experience is that the best way to choose a church is to pray to the Lord. Each believer is given gifts and callings for the edification of the church. There’s no point in going to a church where the gifts and callings are the same as you have. That’s like having a body with 3 hands and no feet; Or four eyes and no ears. If you are new to the faith, you ought to pray that God leads you to a church where you will be discipled well. But, expect that He may move you to a church where you are then able to minister to others with the gifting you have, once you are rooted and grounded in the faith.
For more information on becoming a disciple, my book can help: “The Jesus Adventure – Journey to Spiritual Freedom”. Available at online stores.