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 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!