This writer has had a long-term interest in the history of the Church of God and Sabbatarian movement. Of particular interest has been the period around 1820-1880; the supposed ‘missing link’ in Sabbatarian history; how the doctrines of the Church were assembled; how they were sourced; and the mysterious ways God works to bring this about.
When I was still investigating the Truth in the mid-1970s, I did notice some similarities between the Churches of God to other groups such as the Jehovah Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventists, Second Adventists, British-Israelites etc. Further investigation proved enlightening. As time progressed, I began to find out the doctrines and influences of men such as George Storrs and George Stetson which I found fascinating, and they will be discussed in this article. Storrs, for me, stood out as one whose teachings should be further investigated.
Though not Sabbatarians, these and others were connected with or influenced by a grouping known as the Christian Connexion or Christian Church. But where did that Church discover some of its doctrines outside of their own sphere? This article seeks to explore these connections. It was certainly no shame to them to seek and find truth from various sources, to cleanse it and absorb such into their doctrinal superstructure. This took time, effort and humility. Herbert W Armstrong operated in a similar sifting fashion. For God works in mysterious ways and all we have to do is accept the means doctrinal discovery may be facilitated via the instruments He chooses to use (I am sure we will find out more about how and why at the resurrection!). Finally, this research demonstrates that the Church of God’s long-held position that it was only in America that the Work could go out in power due to its economic might, technology, media output and religious freedoms, has been proven correct by the means of religious freedom and thus doctrinal advancement.
This 76 page booklet is free and can be downloaded here: The Doctrinal Heritage of the Church of God in the Nineteenth Century
