THE ARISE, SHINE Inasmuch as the Dark Ages were foretold in prophecy, so was the arise and restoration of The Church of God revealed in Isaiah 60:1-5.

With the restoration of justification by faith, the cleansing of sanctification, the indwelling of the Spirit, and the practice of divine healing being widely taught, there was a renewed interest in finding the Bible church which would believe and practice these precepts amongst the field of denominationalism.

By the providence of God, a few people in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina formed a group which became known as the “Christian Union” on August 19, 1886. This group emphasizes four vital points: freedom from man-made creeds and traditions, willingness to take the New Testament as the only rule of faith and practice, giving one another equal rights and privileges to read and interpret the Bible according to the dictates of conscience, and willingness to sit together as the Church to transact business. This group experienced minimal growth, but formed a nucleus for the fulfillment of the purpose of God.

The prophecies of Isaiah 60 were realized on June 13, 1903 in Cherokee County, North Carolina. Those who sought God’s church gathered to study the Word of God in hopes that God would reveal Her to them. In this historic meeting, one among the group, A.J. Tomlinson made the following statement after he had gone to the top of a nearby mountain for an extended session of prayer:

“I came back down the mountain and entered the meeting. Questions were asked. Bible answers were given. They said they took the whole Bible rightly divided as their only rule of faith and practice. I said, Well if you take the whole Bible rightly divided, that makes it The Church of God…Then I said, You have agreed that this that I have said makes it The Church of God, and will you be willing to take it and keep it The Church of God? They said they were willing. I then asked if they were willing to take me in with the understanding that It is The Church of God – not going to be, but is The Church of God. They were willing…Brother Spurling…took the Bible and gave it to me. He handed it to me and said, ‘Will you take this [Bible] as the word of God, believe and practice it, obey its precepts and walk in the light as God is in the light?’ Right there I gave my hand to Brother Spurling…I took the obligation with deep sincerity and extreme sacredness, never to be forgotten.” (Upon this Rock, Vol. 3, p. 64, C.T. Davidson, White Wing Publishing House and Press, Cleveland, Tennessee, 1976).

Following this momentous occasion, the Church began to grow as God began to reveal to Christians that His Church had been restored. The Church held its first Assembly since the Dark Ages in 1906, and they adopted a critical piece of God’s government: “We do not consider ourselves a legislative or executive body, but judicial [interpretive] only.”

Besides the “judicial only” declaration, the Sunday School was recommended and became the Church’s first auxiliary.

The official name “Church of God” was adopted at the second Assembly in 1907. The fourth Assembly in 1909 adopted a resolution to select a General Moderator (later becoming General Overseer) to serve full time.

The First Continuation

As the church continued to grow, there was a failure to settle several matters of doctrine and business. With each year that passed, additional contention gathered on these matters which included divorce and remarriage, church government and authority, and the system of governance and theocracy.

The governmental issues finally led to the adoption of a constitution in 1921, which, upon further evaluation, was clearly a departure from biblical theocratic principles. This resolution made the government of the Church more legislative and executive and allowed the General Overseer and council of elders to make decisions that should have been in the hands of the General Assembly.

Upon realizing the unfortunate departure, A.J. Tomlinson sought, in the Assembly of 1922, to eliminate the constitution and return to theocracy. Unfortunately, the damage had been done and the organization continued on the path which it had chosen.

With a remnant of those who wanted to continue with the theocratic process, on July 24, 1923, A.J. Tomlinson made a declaration of separation from the errant faction to continue on with The Church of God as originally revealed by the Holy Ghost through the Word of God.

A.J. Tomlinson who served the Church of God for 40 years, an archetype of Moses in the Bible. Moses was a pivotal figure in the Bible, leading the Israelites out of Egypt and guiding them through the wilderness. A.J. Tomlinson served The Church of God in a same way, it a profound spiritual leader, guiding and shepherding the community through challenges and helping establish or nurture a strong faith tradition.

A.J. Tomlinson was an important figure in the early history of The Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee), particularly in the Pentecostal movement. He was involved in the establishment of the church's doctrines and leadership structure. His leadership was instrumental in the church's growth and development.

 

 

A New Era – The Church of Prophecy

Following the death of A.J. Tomlinson, he previously appointed a successor, and Homer A. Tomlinson was selected to serve as General Overseer through the next Assembly. That Assembly selected H.A. Tomlinson by overwhelming acclamation to continue by divine appointment. In one sense a new era had begun for The Church of God. Yet, the transition of leadership kept the Church on the course of great growth in the ministry.

H.A. Tomlinson served the Church honorably as the General Overseer for over for 25 years in the archetype of Joshua. Those who knew him spoke highly of him as a man of remarkable wisdom and humility. Like his father, he put God’s will first and did his best to know and do God’s bidding.

The Second Continuation

As H.A. Tomlinson grew older and became less able to work under the load and responsibility of the office, he, in the year of 1968, called the State and National Overseers together to “pray and seek God’s will for the future of the Church and the office of General Overseer relative to his physical condition” (Overseers’ Meeting for the Selection of Interim General Overseer, 1968, The meeting’s minutes continue, “Since we have no precedent set for the leadership crisis we now face, [I’m] asking you brethren to search the Scriptures and seek the face of God in prevailing prayer before making my declaration… to your interim selection, I will then pass the mantle of this sacred office.”

While it appears that it was Brother Tomlinson’s intent to moderate the meeting through the selection of the Interim Overseer, a group of vocal Overseers pressed that it was necessary for Brother Tomlinson to tender his resignation and retirement (thus declaring the office vacant) before the selection process could begin. Reluctantly, after much discussion, Brother Tomlinson obliged their request.

The Overseers’ Meeting of 1968 concluded with the selection of Bishop Voy Bullen by something of a vague unanimity. Under this new leadership the Church began to be led away from its original revelation of Church government and doctrine.

It should be noted that H.A, Tomlinson tried to reverse the selection knowing that a mistake was mad, but it was to late and allready done legally.

(Prophecy fulfilled Bullen brought the church into a time of judges with harsh leadership.)