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Over 1900 years ago Jesus built His church. The centuries have witnessed
its division. Now there are hundreds of denominations in the U.S. alone.
The world is tired of such endless division. Homes are torn by it. Fine people
are discouraged by it. And Bible study is neglected because of it. But there
is a thrilling movement back to the unity of Jesus' church.
Churches of Christ are demonstrating that the simplicity of original Christianity
can be restored.
This movement has had periods of rapid growth in America and the rest of
the world. During one decade, the church doubled in size and during one period
of 20 years, mushroomed at the astonishing rate of 580 percent.
In recent years the growth rate has been considerably less. The growth and
the doctrinal positions taken by those who make up the churches of Christ,
have stirred the thinking of thousands, and there have been many questions.
Perhaps you would like more information about the church of Christ. If so,
the following questions and remarks should prove helpful.
What Is Its Plea?
It is to end division by turning away from denominational error and to be
the one church of the Bible. The original church was a united church. (Acts
2:42f & 4:32). The church of Christ pleads for the unity of all believers
in that church. Experience and the Bible teach that division is sinful. (I
Cor. 1:10 & John 17:20). The need of the hour is not for a new church
but the original church with its unity. The need is for those who will lay
aside party names, creeds and ties and be Christians only. Jesus' church
can be restored if men will but do Bible things in Bible ways and call Bible
things by Bible names. The early disciples were just Christians (Acts 11:26);
neither Protestants nor Catholics. Protestantism and Catholicism were unheard
of until centuries later. Thus the restoration of the Biblical church will
lead us once again to be just Christians; neither Protestants nor Catholics.
Early Christians were not denominationalist. Paul was not a member of a
denomination, Peter another, and James and John members of a third. Instead,
they condemned division and the wearing of additional names as carnal
(unspiritual). (I Cor. 1:10-13 & 3:3-4). Churches of Christ are pleading
that all should be Christians only, members of the Lord's church. This is
not a plea for a new church but for the restoration of Jesus' church in its
unity and simplicity. It is a plea for undenominational Christianity and
the abandonment of all denominational names, creeds and ways in favor of
Biblical names, teachings and ways. This basic plea by the church of Christ
is one of the reasons for its growth.
Who Is Its
Founder?
Jesus alone is recognized as the founder of the church. (Mt. 16:18). Early
leaders of this restoration movement are appreciated but are not viewed as
founders of the church. If football should disappear for a century and then
be revived, the new players would not have founded a new game. Neither should
those leading in the revival of New Testament Christianity be regarded as
founders of a new church unless they abandon the true pattern. (Heb. 8:5).
Examine the Bible with us! Let's restore the church as Jesus would want it!
When Did It Begin?
Acts 2:1-47, describes the birthday of Christ's church in Jerusalem, (c.
30 A.D.). The church of Christ, therefore, views this date and place as the
time of its beginning. To claim another date or place of origin is to forfeit
any claim to being the church that Jesus built it.
Who Controls
It?
Jesus is the only head of the church. (Eph. 1:22 & Col. 1:18). Elders
and deacons are appointed in keeping with I Tim. 3:1-13 & Tit. 1:5-9
. These elders oversee the congregation of which they are members. (Acts
20:28). Since a hierarchy, synod, or policy making convention is unauthorized
by the Bible, churches of Christ have no earthly headquarters. Instead each
church is free to determine its own policies under the direction of its heavenly
head -Jesus.
What Does It Believe About The Godhead?
The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are personal beings in the Godhead.
(Col. 2:9). They are one in purpose, doctrine and attitude, but are still
separate persons. (2 John 9 & Lk. 3:21f). In like manner we speak of
some as being of "one heart", (Acts 4:32), but understand that they are separate
persons. Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God. He was born of Mary, a virgin.
(Mt. l:20f). He died for our sins, was buried, and was raised from the dead.
(I Cor. 15:3f). He now reigns over His kingdom. (I Cor. 15:24f).
What Does It Believe About The
Bible?
The Old and New Testaments are the Word of God. They are sufficient unto
every good work.(2 Tim. 3:16f). Creeds, manuals, catechisms, and disciplines
possess no authority from God. Often they divide believers and help maintain
existing divisions. They, therefore, should be abandoned, and the Bible alone
should be exalted as the rule of faith. (Mk. 7:8-9). What God demands in
the Bible, men should preach. What he has not demanded, they have no right
to demand!
Moses' law guided the Jews until the death of Christ. It is not binding today.
(Gal. 3:23f & Heb. 8:6f, and Rom. 7:6). Instead, Christians are under
the law of Christ which is contained in the New Testament. (I Cot. 9:21).
Men who add to this law are accursed! (Gal. l:Sf).
What Does It Believe About Heaven and
Hell?
The good and the evil will be resurrected. (John 5:28f). The righteous are
to enjoy eternal life with God. (Mt. 25:34, 46). The wicked are to be condemned
to eternal torment. (Mt. 13:41f & Rev. 20:10). Purgatory is not taught
by the Bible. Instead, the evil and righteous are to be separated by a gulf
that cannot be crossed. (Lk. 16:26). There will be no second chance for salvation
after death, for men will be judged by their deeds in this life. (2 Cor.
5:10).
What Does It Believe About Miraculous Gifts?
The nine miraculous gifts of I Cor. 12:4-1, ceased at the completion of God's
perfect law. (I Cot. 13:8f & Jas. 1:25). Since that time, God has not
given to anyone these gifts of miraculous knowledge; the ability to prophesy,
to speak in an unknown language, to heal or to raise the dead.
What Does It Believe About Inheriting
Sin?
Sin is an action. (I John 3:4 & Jas. 4:17). The actions of others cannot
be inherited. Children do not inherit or bear the sins or righteousness of
their fathers. (Ezek. 18:20). Hence, the sin of Adam is not inherited. Infants
are without sin. Therefore, if they die, they are not lost! Instead, the
kingdom of heaven belongs to such little ones. (Mt. 19:14).
What Does It Believe About The Church?
Jesus died for the church! (Acts 20:28). He has promised to save it. (Eph.5:23).
As men are saved, God adds them to it. (Acts 2:47). The saved then are not
outside the church but are in it. No, the church does not save! But God adds
the saved to the church! (Acts 2:47). God teaches that the church is the
body. (Eph. 1:22-23 & Col. 1:18). There is but one body as there is but
one God. (Eph. 4:4-7). And Jesus prayed for the unity of all believers in
this one body. (John 17:20-21).
What Is Its Worship
Like?
True worship must be in spirit, (from the heart) and in truth, (authorized
by the Bible). (John 4:24). God is not honored by insincere, ignorant worship,
(Mt. 15:9 & John 4:22); or vain repetitions, (Mt. 6:7); or worshippers
seeking to be seen of men. (Mt. 6:5-6). Worship in the early church consisted
of prayers, (Acts 2:42); communion on every Sunday, (Acts 20:7); and
contributions according to prosperity. (I Cot. 16:1-2). The church of Christ
worships in the same manner today. To the early church communion was a memorial
- not a sacrament. (I Cor. 11:23f). Prayers to saints, masses, rosaries,
images, instrumental music, and liturgies were not employed in its worship.
Neither were cake sales, gambling, raffles or the like used in financing
Christian work. Such unauthorized practices have crept in over the centuries.
God is not their author. (Mk. 7:6-9).
How Can One Enter
It?
Neither a vote by the church nor completion of a study course were necessary
to entering the early church. (Acts 8:36f & 16:25-34). God did not require
such then nor now! To be saved and thus added to the church, one must believe,
(Acts 16:31); repent of his sins, (Acts 2:38); confess Jesus, (Rom. 10:9-10);
and be baptized to obtain the forgiveness of his sins, (Acts 2:38 & 22:16),
and to enter the one body. (I Cor. 12:13). Everyone doing these things from
the heart is saved and added by the Lord to the church. (Acts 2:47).
What Mode of Baptism Is Used?
In Bible times the preacher and the one to be baptized went down into and
came up out of the water. (Acts 8:38 & Mk. 1:10). Baptism involved a
burial and a resurrection (Col. 2:12 & Rom. 6:4), and a washing of the
body. (Heb. 10:22). Jesus spoke of it as being "born of water". (John 3:5).
These references indicate that immersion and not sprinkling was the practice
of the early church. The church of Christ, therefore, only recognizes immersion
as baptism.
Why Is Baptism So
Important?
Baptism is in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Mt. 28:19).
This alone indicates it is important. Baptism unites us with Christ and His
death. (Gal. 3:27 & Rom. 6:3). Salvation, (I Pet. 3:21); cleansing, Eph.
5:26); forgiveness, (Acts 2:38); and the washing away of sins, (Acts 22:16);
are received in baptism. Being "born of water and the spirit" is essential
to entering the kingdom of God. (John 3:5). Obviously, water itself cannot
remit sins. But God can! And he has conditioned salvation on this act of
faith. (Col. 2:12 & Mk. 16:16). Baptism, then is not to show that we
are already saved. Instead, it is to obtain the forgiveness of sins. (Acts
2:38).
Who Should Be Baptized?
In Bible times baptism was preceded by teaching, (Mt. 28:19); belief, (Mk.
16:16); repentance, (Acts 2:38); and confession of Christ. (Acts 8:36-37).
Infants are unable to obey these commands and, therefore, are not to be baptized.
Thus, the Bible does not record a single case of infant baptism under Christ's
law. Infants are without sin! (See section on inheriting sin). Hence, they
are not lost and thus have no need of baptism for the remission of their
sins. (Acts 2:38). This is why the Bible only speaks of believers being baptized.
(Acts 8:12f & 18:8).
What About Those Already
Baptized?
Everyone baptized in keeping with the Bible is a Christian. He does not have
to be baptized again to enter the church of Christ but is already a member
of it. (Acts 2:47). Anyone whose former baptism is not according to the Bible
must be baptized again to please the Lord. (Acts 19:1-5). Those merely sprinkled
as infants need to be baptized, for baptism is immersion, (Col. 2:12), and
is only for believers, (Mk. 16:16). Likewise, those immersed without a desire
to obtain the forgiveness of sins, (Acts 2:38 & 22:16), or to enter the
one body, (I Cot. 12:13), must be baptized again to please the Lord and be
added to His church. The church has no right to demand more than God has
demanded in this matter. Neither should it condone less than He has demanded.
If a person's baptism is Scriptural, he has no need of rebaptism to enter
the church. He is already a member of it.
Closing
Remarks
The Bible only makes "Christians only"! It takes something more than or less
than the Bible to make one a "type" of Christian. Anyone reading the Bible
alone would never conceive of being a member of any denomination. For the
Bible only encourages us to be Christians and members of Christ's church.
(Rom. 16:16). Churches of Christ do not claim perfection. Neither was the
church perfect in Biblical times. However, the principles upon which it stands
are perfect. And they are the same principles upon which the first century
church stood. Hence, members do claim to be an example of what the New Testament
church would look like in the 20th century. Weigh the evidence! We only ask
that you be fair to yourself, your family and to God. Search the Scriptures
concerning these vital truths. Compare the Biblical church with the church
of Christ as it is today. Ask yourself if they aren't the same. Our plea
is that you will "ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk
therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." (Jer. 6:16). "Ask, and it
shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened."
(Mt. 7:7).
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