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By: Batsell Barrett Baxter
 
  • Seek to duplicate the non-denominational church of the first century.
  • Take the bible as our supreme and only guide.
  • Reject doctrines and practices that were introduced after the close of the new testament.
  • Seek to be Christians only.
  • Believe this is the one and only way to unite all who are seeking to follow Christ.

 

       The apostle Peter once wrote, "Sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord, being ready always

  to give answer to every man that asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with

  meekness and fear" (I Peter 3:15.)  Christians are admonished to be ready at all times to give

  a reason for the faith which they hold.

 

 

 

       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.

 

 

 

       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" & 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 starting a new church, but rather a return to Christ's church as described in the bible.

  Members of the church of Christ don't 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, A.D. 30. The strength of the

  appeal lies in the restoration of Christ's original church.

 

 

       The most recent dependable estimate lists more than 15,000 individual churches of Christ. The

  "Christian Herald," general religious publication which presents statistics concerning all the

  churches, estimates that the total membership of the churches of Christ is around 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.  Many 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.

 

 

       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 colleges and secondary schools, as well as 

  orphanages and homes for the aged.  There are magazines and other periodicals published by

  individual members of the church. A nationwide radio and television program, known as "In

  Search of the Lord's Way" is supported by Christians and churches of Christ across the country.

  There are no conventions, annual meetings, or official publications.  The "tie that binds" is a

  common loyalty to the principles of the New Testament.

 

  

       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.

 

 

       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.

 

 

       Yes.  The statement in Isaiah 7:14 is taken as a prophecy of the virgin birth of Christ.  New

  testament passages such as Matt. 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.

 

 

       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 evidence that God did not predestine individuals

  to be eternally saved or lost, but that each man determines his own destiny.

 

 

       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.

 

                                                    

       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.

 

 

       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.

 

  

       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).

 

 

       This memorial is celebrated every first day of the week "Sunday".  A central part of the worship

  is the eating of the Lord's supper (Acts 20:7).

 

 

       As a result of the distinctive plea of the church, a return to new testament faith and practice, "a

  cappella" singing is the only music used in the worship.  This singing, unaccompanied by

  mechanical instruments of music, conforms to music used in the apostolic church and for several

  centuries thereafter (Ephesians 5:19).

 

 

       Yes.  The statement of Christ in Matthew 25, and elsewhere, are taken at face value.  It is

  believed that after death each person must come before God in judgment & that they will be judged

  according to the deeds done while they lived.  (Hebrews 9:27).

 

   


       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.

 

 

       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.

 

  

       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.

 

 

       In the salvation of person's soul, there are 2 necessary parts, God's part and the person'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 of God, not of works, that no man should glory".  (Ephesians 2:8-9).  The

  love which God felt for us, led him to send Christ into the world to redeem us.  The life and

  teachings of Jesus, the sacrifice on the cross and the proclaiming othe gospel to all people

  constitute God's part in salvation.  Though God's part is the big part, our part is also necessary if

  we are to reach heaven.  We must comply with the conditions of pardon which the Lord has

  announced.  Our part is 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 & 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 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!  We invite you to honor us with a visit.  Come and see for yourself, all are welcome.