I recently received
an email from a fine college student, whose Baptist friend wanted information about
what he called “Church of Christ beliefs” and “Church of Christ Churches”. He
had asked, “Is the Church of Christ biblical?” “What is the history of the Church
of Christ?” He had studied various denominations. He was very curious about the
differences, and he really wanted to go from what the Bible says.
As I wrote this
student a reply I realized that other young people – and those of all ages –
are asking the same kinds of questions. So I have posted my reply here.
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Dear ______,
Thank you for
getting in touch with me! Great questions!
Many of our
religious neighbors have been told that “Church of Christ” is a denomination
like “Baptist” or “Catholic.” They will talk about “Church of Christ beliefs,” ”Church
of Christ preachers,” and even ”Church of Christ churches!” They will ask,
“What does the ‘Church of Christ’ (or ‘your church’) teach about this or
that?” They may have even been told that the “Church of Christ” began in the
1800s, was started by someone like Alexander Campbell, and follows the
doctrines that he or someone else developed. They may have been told that we
think that only “our denomination” is going to heaven.
When a person
researches “Church of Christ” online, they will often see this kind of
denominational language. Then these sites will list various teachings and traditions
of this so-called “Church of Christ” denomination. Those who write such things
do not understand who we are. That is why certain beliefs are listed
on these sites that many of us do not accept as true.
We are not a
denomination. We have no councils or other governing bodies beyond the local
congregation. We have no creed book that we follow (except the Bible). We have
no rules for membership except the Bible. We are congregations of Christians. “Churches
of Christ” is a biblical phrase that simply means “congregations that belong to
Christ.”
Rom 16:16 All the
churches of Christ greet you.
Nobody “joins” “our
church.” We don’t own a church! When a person obeys the Lord as Acts 2 teaches,
God adds that person to His church. God added you and me to His church (that
belongs to Christ) when we repented of sin and were baptized for the
forgiveness of our sins. You and I have never joined any denomination or agreed
to follow any teaching that we cannot see for ourselves in the Bible.
We simply choose to
be Christians. We want to believe, teach, and practice what the New Testament
teaches the church and Christians to do.
Jesus built one
church, and He called it “My church” in Matt 16:18. It is one church, not a
denomination or a group of denominations. It belongs to Christ. In other words,
it is Christ’s church, or the church of (that belongs to) Christ.
The Bible
says: Eph 4:4 There is one body (church) and one Spirit, just
as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one
Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who
is over all and through all and in all.
The Bible forbids
divisions (denominations).
1 Cor 1:10 Now I exhort
you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and
that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same
mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed
concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among
you. 12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am
of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” 13 Has
Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you
baptized in the name of Paul?
So, if we do what
the Bible teaches, we are members of that original church! Christians!
Disciples of Christ! We are not “Church-of-Christ Christians.” We are just
Christians, because, when we repented of sin and were baptized, God added us to
the church - His church - Christ’s church.
Our plea is for
people to abandon ALL denominations and to return with us to the original
pattern that God gave the original church.
The Bible simply
does not describe or authorize the Catholic Church, the Baptist Church, the
Community Church, etc.
So when someone
says, “What does your church teach about ...?” - or “What does the Church of
Christ teach about ...?” I always change the question to ... ”What does the
Bible teach about ...?”
So if they ask about
baptism, the Lord’s Supper, elders and deacons, a cappella singing, or anything
else that seems “different” from various denominations, I take them straight to
the Bible for the answer.
For example,
Southern Baptists typically teach that one is saved before baptism. In other
words, they are told that baptism is not necessary for salvation, because it is
a “good work,” and we are not saved by works. The Bible teaches differently!
Baptism is not a good work at all. It is an expression of faith and repentance
that God requires. This is very clear in Acts 2:38; Rom 6:1-4; 1 Pet 3:21; Gal
3:26-27. This is not a “Church-of-Christ doctrine,” as if it belongs to some
denomination. It is the Bible’s clear teaching! So it’s the truth, not because
you and I agree with it and do it, but because God said it!
The Bible never -
never - never calls Christ’s followers “Baptists,” “Catholics,” “Protestants,”
or any other man-made name. The Bible does not refer to ANY denomination. They
all started long after the Bible was written.
All the apostles and
first-century Christians belonged to the same church - the one church -
described as beginning in Acts 2.
So when someone asks
about “Church-of-Christ” history, how the church began, etc., I will often
study Acts 2 with them.
If they will believe
and do what the Bible teaches in Acts 2, God will add them to the same church -
the one church - that began that day. And they will be Christians, nothing more
or less. Then we can teach them about the faith, practice, and worship of that
original church. As we do that we will teach them what that “church belonging
to Christ” or “church of Christ” was taught about singing, the Lord’s Supper,
etc.
Here are two blog
posts I have written, that you and your friends may want to review.
Good News! An Evangelistic Bible Study Based on Acts 2
Are You a Christian? Are You Saved? Are You SURE?
Please write again!
God bless.
1 comment:
What a great article to share with family and friends that are currently searching for the truth of God's Word.... I plan to forward and share! Thanks again Cory!
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