What is the
distinctive plea of the church of Christ?
It
is primarily a plea for religious unity based upon the Bible. In a
divided religious world it is believed that the Bible is the only
possible common denominator upon which most, if not all, of the
God-fearing people of the land can unite. This is an appeal to go
back to the Bible. It is a plea to speak where the Bible speak and
to remain silent where the Bible is silent in all matters that
pertain to religion. It further emphasizes that in everything
religious there must be a "Thus saith the Lord" for all
that is done. The objective is religious unity of all believers in
Christ. The basis is the New Testament. The method is the
restoration of New Testament Christianity.
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The Historical
background of the Restoration Movement.
One
of the earliest advocates of the return to New Testament
Christianity, as a means of achieving unity of all believers in
Christ, was James O'Kelly of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1793
he withdrew from the Baltimore conference of his church and called
upon others to join him in taking the Bible as the only creed. His
influence was largely felt in Virginia and North Carolina where
history records that some seven thousand communicants followed his
leadership toward a return to primitive New Testament Christianity.
In 1802 a similar movement among the Baptists in New England was led
by Abner Jones and Elias Smith. They were concerned about
"denominational names and creeds" and decided to wear only
the name Christian, taking Bible as their only guide. In 1804, in
the western frontier state of Kentucky, Barton W. Stone and several
other Presbyterian preachers took similar action declaring that they
would take the Bible as the "only sure guide to heaven."
Thomas Campbell, and his illustrious son, Alexander Campbell, took
similar steps in the year 1809 in what is now the state of West
Virginia. They contended that nothing should be bound upon
Christians as a matter of doctrine which is not as old as the New
Testament. Although these four movements were completely independent
in their beginnings eventually they became one strong restoration
movement because of their common purpose and plea. These men did not
advocate the starting of a new church, but rather a return to
Christ's church as described in the Bible.
Members of the church of Christ do not conceive of themselves as a
new church started near the beginning of the 19th century. Rather,
the whole movement is designed to reproduce in contemporary times
the church originally established on Pentecost, A.D. 30. The
strength of the appeal lies in the restoration of Christ's original
church.
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How many churches
of Christ are there?
The
most recent dependable estimate lists more than 15,000 individual
churches of Christ. The "Christian Herald," a general
religious publication which presents statistics concerning all the
churches, estimates that the total membership of the churches of
Christ is now 2,000,000. There are more than 7000 men who preach
publicly. Membership of the church is heaviest in the southern
states of the United States, particularly Tennessee and Texas,
though congregations exist in each of the fifty states and in more
than eighty foreign countries. Missionary expansion has been most
extensive since the second World War in Europe, Asia and Africa.
More than 450 full time workers are supported in foreign countries.
The churches of Christ now have five times as many members as were
reported in the U.S. Religious Census of 1936.
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How are the
churches organizationally connected?
Following
the plan of organization found in the New Testament, churches of
Christ are autonomous. Their common faith in the Bible and adherence
to its teachings are the chief ties which bind them together. There
is no central headquarters of the church and no organization
superior to the elders of each local congregation. Congregations do
cooperate voluntarily in supporting the orphans and the aged, in
preaching the gospel in new fields, and in other similar works.
Members of the church of Christ conduct forty colleges and secondary
schools, as well as seventy-five orphanages and homes for the aged.
There are approximately 40 magazines and other periodicals published
by individual members of the church. A nationwide radio and
television program, known as "The Herald of Truth" is
sponsored by the Highland Avenue church in Abilene, Texas. Much of
its annual budget of $1,200,000 is contributed on a free-will basis
by other churches of Christ. The radio program is currently heard on
more than 800 radio stations, while the television program is now
appearing on more than 150 stations. Another extensive radio effort
known as "World Radio" owns a network of 28 stations in
Brazil alone, and is operating effectively in the United States and
a number of other foreign countries, and is being produced in 14
languages. An extensive advertising program in leading national
magazines began in November 1955.
There are no conventions, annual meetings, or official publications.
The "tie that binds" is a common loyalty to the principles
of the restoration of New Testament Christianity.
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How are the
churches of Christ governed?
In
each congregation, which has existed long enough to become fully
organized, there is a plurality of elders or presbyters who serve as
the governing body. These men are selected by the local
congregations on the basis of qualifications set down in the
scriptures (1 Timothy 3:1-8). Serving under the elders are deacons,
teachers, and evangelists or ministers. The latter do not have the
authority equal to or superior to the elders. The elders are
shepherds or overseers who serve under the headship of Christ
according to the New Testament, which is a kind of constitution.
There is no earthly authority superior to the elders of the local
church.
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What does the
church of Christ believe about the Bible?
The
original autographs of the sixty six books which make up the Bible
are considered to have been divinely inspired, by which it is meant
that they are infallible and authoritative. Reference to the
scriptures is made in settling every religious question. A
pronouncement from the scripture is considered the final word. The
basic textbook of the church and the basis for all preaching is the
Bible.
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Do members of the
churches of Christ believe in the virgin birth?
Yes.
The statement in Isaiah 7:14 is taken as a prophecy of the virgin
birth of Christ. New Testament passages such as Matthew 1:20, 25,
are accepted at face value as declarations of the virgin birth.
Christ is accepted as the only begotten Son of God, uniting in his
person perfect divinity and perfect manhood.
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Does the church of
Christ believe in predestination?
Only
in the sense that God predestines the righteous to be eternally
saved and the unrighteous to be eternally lost. The statement of the
apostle Peter, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter
of persons, but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh
righteousness is acceptable unto him"(Acts 10:34-35.) is taken
as an evidence that God did not predestine individuals to be
eternally saved or lost, but that each man determines his own
destiny.
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Why does the
church of Christ baptize only by immersion?
The
word baptize comes from the Greek word "baptizo" and
literally means, "to dip, to immerse, to plunge." In
addition to the literal meaning of the word, immersion is practiced
because it was the practice of the church in apostolic times. Still
further, only immersion conforms to the description of baptisms as
given by the apostle Paul in Romans 6:3-5 where he speaks of it as a
burial and resurrection.
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Is infant baptism
practiced?
No.
Only those who have reached the "age of accountability"
are accepted for baptisms. It is pointed out that the examples given
in the New Testament are always of those who have heard the gospel
preached and have believed it. Faith must always precede baptism, so
only those old enough to understand and believe the gospel are
considered fit subjects for baptism.
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Do ministers of
the church hear confession?
No.
Ministers or evangelists of the church have no special prerogatives.
They do not wear the title of Reverend or Father, but are addressed
simply by the term Brother as are all other men of the church. Along
with elders and others they do counsel and advise those seeking
help.
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Are prayers
addressed to the saints?
No.
God the Father is considered the only one to whom the prayers may be
addressed. It is further understood that Christ stands in a
mediatorial position between God and man (Hebrews 7:25). All prayers
are therefore offered through Christ, or in the name of Christ (John
16:23-26).
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How often is the
Lord's supper eaten?
It
is expected that every member of the church will assemble for
worship on each Lord's day. A central part of the worship is the
eating of the Lord's supper (Acts 20:7). Unless providentially
hindered, each member considers this weekly appointment as binding.
In many instances, as in the case of illness, the Lord's supper is
carried to those who are hindered from attending the worship.
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What kind of music
is used in the worship?
As
a result of the distinctive plea of the church - a return to New
Testament Faith and practice - acapella singing is the only music
used in the worship. This singing, unaccompanied by mechanical
instruments of music, conforms to the music used in the apostolic
church and for several centuries thereafter (Ephesians 5:19). It is
felt that there is no authority for engaging in acts of worship not
found in the New Testament. This principle eliminates the use of
instrumental music, along with the use of candles, incense, and
other similar elements.
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Does the church of
Christ believe in heaven and hell?
Yes.
The statement of Christ in Matthew 25, and elsewhere, are taken at
face value. It is believed that after death each man must come
before God in judgement and that he will be judged according to the
deeds done while he lived (Hebrews 9:27). After judgement is
pronounced he will spend eternity either in heaven or hell.
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Does the church of
Christ believe in purgatory?
No.
The absence of any reference in the scriptures to the temporary
place of punishment from which the soul will eventually be released
into heaven prevents the acceptance of the doctrine of purgatory.
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By what means does
the church secure financial support?
Each
first day of the week the members of the church "lay by in
store as they have been prospered" (1 Corinthians 16:2). The
amount of any individual gift is generally known only to the one who
gave it and to the Lord. This free-will offering is the only call
which the church makes. NO assessments or other levies are made. No
money-making activities, such as bazaars or suppers, are engaged in.
A total of approximately $200,000,000 is given on this basis each
year.
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Does the church of
Christ have a creed?
No.
At least, there is no creed in the usual sense of the word. The
belief of the church is stated fully and completely in the Bible.
There is no other manual or discipline to which the members of the
church of Christ give their allegiance. The Bible is considered as
the only infallible guide to heaven.
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How does one
become a member of the church of Christ?
In
the salvation of man's soul there are 2 necessary parts: God's part
and man's part. God's part is the big part, "For by grace you
have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the
gift if God; not of works, that no man should glory" (Ephesians
2:8-9). The love which God felt for man led him to send Christ into
the world to redeem man. The life and teaching of Jesus, the
sacrifice on the cross, and the proclaiming of the gospel to men
constitute God's part in salvation.
Though God's part is the big part, man's part is also necessary if
man is to reach heaven. Man must comply with the conditions of
pardon which the Lord has announced. Man's part can clearly set
forth in the following steps:
-
Hear
the Gospel.
"How shall they call on him whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe him whom they have not heard? and
how shall they hear without a preacher?"(Romans 10:14).
-
Believe.
"And without faith it is impossible to be wellpleasing
unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him"
(Hebrews 11:6).
-
Repent
of past sins.
"The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now
he commandeth men that they should all everywhere
repent."(Acts 17:30).
-
Confess
Jesus as Lord.
"Behold here is water; What doth hinder me to be baptized
? And Philip said, if thou believeth with all thy heart thou
mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ
is the Son of God" (Acts 8:36-37).
-
Be
baptized for the remission of sins.
"And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized
everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission
of your sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit."(Acts 2:38).
-
Live
a Christian life.
"Ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the
excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his
marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).
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OPEN INVITATION
Now
that you are aware of a church in the 21st century which is built
according to the blue prints of Christ's original church, why not
become a member of it? In becoming a member of it, you will be
called upon to do nothing which you cannot read in the New
Testament. You will then live and worship just as the
apostle-guided Christians of the first century did.
Not only is this return to New Testament Christianity a wonderful
basis upon which all believers in Christ can unite, it is
absolutely solid ground. If we do just what our Lord commanded we
know that our salvation is certain. Come with us as we go back to
the Bible, back to Christ and his church.
Back to the Bible and Let The Bible Speak
History of the Restoration Movement
This website Link Above is dedicated to the many men and women who have struggled in the Restoration Of New Testament Christianity,
to take us back to the Bible, and to let it be our only standard of faith and practice.
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