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What We Believe
Who are the Churches of Christ and
what do they believe in?
By Batsell Barrett
Baxter
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 speaks 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.
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 the 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, AD 30. The strength of the appeal
lies in the restoration of Christ's original church.
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 congregation 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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 judgment and that he will be judged according to the
deeds done while he lived (Hebrews
9:27). After judgment is
pronounced he will spend eternity either in heaven or hell.
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.
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 moneymaking activities, such as bazaars
or suppers, are engaged in. A total of approximately $200,000,000 is given on
this basis each year.
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.
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 well pleasing 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).
Open Invitation
Now that you are aware of a church in the 20th
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!
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