| 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. |
|
| 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 Pentacost, A.D. 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 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. |
|
| 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
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 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. |
|
| 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. |
|
| If you have any questions about what the Bible says or
would like to become a Christian like the Bible tells us, please
contact the Northwest Tampa Church of Christ at (813) 886-3946 or office@TampaChurch.org
|
