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 empasizes 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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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 beginings
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 begining of the 19th century. Rather,
the whole movement is designed to reproduce in contemporary times
the church originally established on Pentacost, A.D. 30. The
strength of the appeal lies in the restoration of Christ's original
church.
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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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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 orphanges 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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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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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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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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Only in
the sense tht 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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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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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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No.
Ministers or evangelists of the church have no special perogatives.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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).
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!
