problems with church of christ doctrine

Soteriology - We believe that water baptism is a necessary part of salvation. 2. Act 16:32And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. I want to make it clear before I go any further that even though I decided to start attending a different kind of church, Im not opposed to attending other Churches of Christ in the future. History. Water baptism is a picture, a good testimony, and a good thing but it doesnt do anything for you SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING! Paul plainly says believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST.. If we can speak to ourselves in psalms than the greatest song book would be the book of Psalms. Did you know the church of CHRIST as a title never even occurs in the Bible? Is it shallow sectarianism? I understand water baptism isnt the law but it is a good work in the New Testament. The shipping trade made many people rich. One of the major problems for them is they ignore the CONTEXT! At salvation the Holy Spirit baptizes you into the body of CHRIST. To the west, 699 miles, members of the Mountain View Church of Christ in Tucson, Ariz., faced a similar quandary to that of their brethren in Kress. They are strongest in parts of the Midwest and in the western and southern parts of the country. And they said, Unto Johns baptism. The implication is fairly common in the church today that all of the major doctrines (and minor ones, for that matter) were decided once and for all decades ago and we don't need to revisit or discuss them anymore beyond a memorized defense. Of course, not all Churches of Christ are the same, but it has been my experience that even in churches where these problems are not as pronounced, they are still lying beneath the surface, controlling and manipulating the environment and the direction of the church in most cases. forms: { Churches of Christ commonly see the Bible as historically authentic and accurate, unless the written context clearly designates differently. Perhaps youre thinking that even if I disagree with these traditional, bedrock beliefs of the Church of Christ (described in this series of articles), that I can still assemble with Churches of Christ and be an active member. The Doctrine of Christ Allows Us to Obtain the Blessings of Christ's Atonement. The Church of Christ is an independent Christian congregation consisting of various churches joined together by their distinct beliefs and practices, based on their interpretation of the Bible. But it has been my experience key word my experience that even when this dogmatism and intolerance arent overtly preached and taught on a regular basis, it is often lying under the surface, and is pushed by more conservative members often enough to ensure that the status quo remains the same. Notice the contrast in reception between those in Jerusalem and those along their journey - Acts 15:3. Also, while the Church of Christ serves the Communion every first day of the week, Baptist Christianity does not have a uniform practice of how often to serve the Communion(some churches serve after every month and others serve it more often). If water baptism saves, How could Paul have begotten them through the gospel if he didnt baptize them? There was a chasm between the two groups. 1Co 15:1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 1Co 15:2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God(John 3:16) and is God in the flesh( 1 Timothy 3:16). Notice this describes the whole group. Rev 5:8And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and fourandtwenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. For me, the decision to leave the Church of Christ in October of 2016 was prompted by a unique set of circumstances. This belief excludes the use of instrumental music, along with the use of candles, incense, and other comparable elements. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Your first birth was NO GOOD! They do not approve of requiring circumcision and they did not authorize anyone from their group to teach such things. A great dispute arose in the church at Antioch - Acts 15:1-3. There was a time when we adhered to the motto that said, "We speak where the Bible speaks and we are silent were the Bible is silent." This show water baptism has nothing to do with the gospel. They are a denomination. We cant openly discuss theology and opinions for fear of deviating from this narrow definition of truth and so we have to keep what we really think and feel to ourselves so often. Joh 19:32Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. There was much disagreement among this group. 1. Paul gives doctrine directly for the church in his epistles. Mar 16:16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Act 19:3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? Baptist Church: History & Beliefs The Churches of Christ arose from the Restoration Movement The American Restoration Movement of the 19th century began with the merging of various independent contingents to return to apostolic Christianity. On the dashboard, you can adjust how often you are notified of changes to La Vista's website. Congregations cooperate deliberately in helping orphans and the aged, in preaching the gospel in new domains, and in other related works. That is not a course of action that I unilaterally recommend, even for people who agree with me and share my concerns. They teach the blood isnt applied to you unless you are baptized in water by one of THEIR elders. Since it was the whole church, it meant they had to remain silent (I Cor 14:34-35). The fact that they are deceived and hooked up with the wrong people has nothing to do with anything. They use the New Testament to set their doctrines and practices, citing examples from the early Christian church in the book of Acts. This World Conference more fully reflects the characteristics of our international faith community than ever before. Avoid things associated with idol worship, b. the way into the body of CHRIST was made possible at the cross. Jesus Christ did all the work that was required for you to get saved. If they have believed on the LORD JESUS CHRIST than they are in the body spiritually even if they are physically in a satanic biker gang. What bothers me is that the Church of Christ takes such strict, inflexible stances to the point that it excludes nearly everyone else from its sphere of fellowship and acceptance. The source of the problem was members of the Jerusalem church - Gal 2:11-13, b. Doctrine that denies the deity of Christ, the virgin birth, His sinless nature, His actual death, or His physical resurrection is false doctrine. If you're interested in evidences for God and the Christian faith, check out the "Apologetics" page. In CHRIST your neither make nor female but spiritually speaking you are still MALE or FEMALE! The Church of Christ practices baptism by immersion of consenting believers because it was the norm during the early church. But, in the middle of the 19th century, controversies occurred among the Christians over the use of musical instruments in worship and the biblical authorization for organized mission societies. Copyright 2023 Hensley Bible Believer. (Romans 4:5) They are mostly known for opposing congregational support of various institutions like orphanages and bible colleges. It wasnt a suggestion or considered a matter of opinion. Jesus died before he did. Its a dangerous, destructive mindset that is deeply embedded in the minds of many influential Church of Christ leaders and members. Why not remain in the Church of Christ while I continue to study these issues? Notice verse 28 says there is neither jew nor Greek, neither male nor female. 3:16-17; Rev. B. Who are the Disciples of Christ, and what do they believe. (Colossians 1:15-18) He is sinless. This is not a recent event. It doesnt bother me that the Church of Christ observes the Lords Supper every Sunday or abstains from the use of instrumental music in worship. We provide these articles to help you understand the distinctions between denominations including origin, leadership, doctrine, and beliefs. arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins,calling on the name of the Lord. Also remember Acts is a transition book. God has shown His approval by the signs and wonders done among the Gentiles - Heb 2:3-4. If you say that the blood of CHRIST is applied when you are water baptized by a church of CHRIST elder, That puts the church of CHRIST elder in charge of the blood of Jesus Christ. The congregations in this group also differ on issues such as; whether the communion wine should be fermented or not; Whether the cup should be refilled if it runs out or spills during the service. They believe that musical instruments are not to be used in church service, they practice baptismal regeneration, and they use the Church of Christ title so that others will know who they are. This is not a recent innovation, but something God has planned. Rom 4:2For if Abraham were justified by works, he hathwhereofto glory; but not before God. He said nothing about water baptism when the jailor asked how to be saved. Dr Robert Morey lectures on the Doctrinal Errors of the Church of Christ Concerning Baptism and Its Relationship to Salvation .This lecture was presented at . Is the Church of Christ a good biblical church? 3:15), 3. Were told to bear one anothers burdens (Gal. a. Linked to this is a presumption that the Bible presents an understandable "blueprint" or "constitution" for the church. There is ONE BAPTISM that saves and that is the SPIRIT BAPTISM. Notice a spiritual circumcision because it is the circumcision made WITHOUT HANDS. Please understand that my message in all of this is NOT that everyone in the Church of Christ needs to leave the Church of Christ. As used in the scriptures, a family consists of a husband and wife, children, and sometimes other relatives living in the same house or under one family head. Congregants of this church simply identify themselves as Christians, without using denominational identification. There does need to be vigilance in guarding the church and the souls of our brethren. If the church of Christ is The Church than why do I see 3 of them on the same road? No, we shouldnt walk away from our brethren every time there is a disagreement or problem, but there are extreme times when we may need to do just that; where we at least need to separate for a time to gain clarity. This kind of environment runs counter to everything Paul said in Romans 14 about unity in diversity, patience, and tolerance. Dont Get Played Like A Fiddle or a Banjo. Lutheran History & Beliefs. It is unbelief that damns a person. They do not have any central headquarters, councils, or organizations above the elders of each local church. I believe Jesus Christ is coming back to get the saints before the tribulation begins. Share. Even if they havent been water baptized. Im not so much railing against the Church of Christ as I am expressing my concerns and sharing my observations from MY time in the Church of Christ. Act 19:2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? This group consists of 1,100 congregations. Rom 4:7Saying,Blessedarethey whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. That is actually a title given to THE CHURCH in the Bible! The Bible clearly and consistently states that receiving Jesus Christ as Savior, by grace through faith, grants salvation ( John 1:12; 3:16, 18, 36; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-10, 13; Ephesians 2:8-9 ). They believe that the Holy Spirit has anointed every Christian through baptism and is therefore called to minister in the church of God( 1 Peter 2:5). You can easily see the Paul refers here to the spirit baptism and not water baptism. Col 1:20And, having made peace through theblood of his cross,by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him,I say,whetherthey bethings in earth, or things in heaven. Finally, it looks like an ever-shrinking window of fellowship. (function() { Nicodemus thinks JESUS is referring to two fleshy births. Answering the Church of Christ New Testament pattern controversy by sharing the doctrine of justification by faith alone. The second birth is when you are born of the spirit and that is what got you in the family of God. Finally, you must live your life faithfully as a Christian(1 Peter 2:9). } of works? (Revelation 19:11) By what law? You guessed it, More proof that born of water is the fleshy birth is in. The church, which is His Body (Eph. } Therefore, a capella singing is their music of worship, as it was done in the apostolic churches and for many centuries that followed(Ephesians 5:19). The church is called several different things but NEVER THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, The church(ES) of CHRIST are local churches in Romans 16:16 and not THE CHURCH. Otherwise I wouldnt even bring up their name because we all know you cant find baptists in the Bible.. We let the Bible correct us. Whether they currently go to a Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, church of CHRIST, baptist, seventh day Adventist, Mormon, or Jehovahs Witness assembly. An environment such as this, where it exists, is inhibitive to personal and church growth, and in all too many Churches of Christ, there are people struggling with this very thing. They adopted the name "Disciples of Christ". In addition to the accurate meaning of the word, immersion is practiced because it was the tradition of the church in the apostolic era. 1Co 12:13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whetherwe beJews or Gentiles, whetherwe bebond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. The Pentecostal Church: History & Beliefs It was not, as some claim, because the Jerusalem church was the source of doctrine for the church, a. They mess up by Interpreting The Clear In Light Of The Unclear! First off, who did the work that made it possible for you to get in the body? Rom 3:25Whom God hath set forthto bea propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; Rom 3:26To declare,I say,at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Problems always are. They ignore the transitional nature of Acts and dont care that men were getting the Holy Spirit in different ways throughout the book. Col 2:13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Eph 4:4There isone body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; Eph 4:5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, Eph 4:6One God and Father of all, whoisabove all, and through all, and in you all, 1Co 8:5For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,). Act 10:48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Notice the focus is on the cross and not water baptism. The Churches of Christ have a distinctive plea for spiritual unity based upon the Bible. Eph 1:7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Col 1:14In whom we have redemption through his blood,eventhe forgiveness of sins: 1Jn 1:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Water baptism would definitely count as a work of righteousness. All rights reserved. They completely ignore the context. There is a lot of pious talk involved. They ignore the transitional nature of the book of Acts. Saying Im Baptist because of John the baptist doesnt make good sense. Act 10:47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized,which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? I have been blessed with opportunities to talk privately to many people who have concerns about the Church of Christ and who have been hurt by the Church of Christ or religion in general. Some Christians view the word "doctrine" as almost a curse word. I.Judas and Silas, along with others, joined Paul and Barnabas in returning to Antioch. Joh 3:7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. When Paul and Barnabas had a significant disagreement about whether or not to take John Mark with them on their second missionary journey, they decided to go their separate ways for the sake of the work (Acts 15:36-41). The church of CHRIST is similar to Catholics in that they claim to be the true church and that OUTSIDE OF THEM there is no salvation. Sometimes, it takes time to move past something. I desire to follow Christ. For the remission of sins. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! Despite being influenced by the Restoration Movement,individuals of the Church of Christ do not consider themselves as a new church originating near the beginning of the 19th century. Baptism is only for those who are old enough to understand and believe the gospel. Can Christians watch Anime, The 13 Easiest Version of The Bible to Read (2022), 5 Major Promises Of God In The Bible (Complete list), Scriptures and Verses of Thankfulness to God (2022), 30 Verses About Scripture on Gods Love (Complete list). 1:13; 1 Cor. D.Decisions were made in public forums where the whole church could listen, even if they could not participate. Mormons: The Church of Latter Day Saints & Their Beliefs If this is your first time visiting my website and blog, check out the My Story & Defense portion of my site, which you can find in the menu at the top of this page. Act 22:12And one Ananias,a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all theJewswhich dweltthere. Because if my salvation depends upon God and me -I might mess up." When it comes to receiving Holy Communion, the Church of Christ practices open communion, offering it to all Christians present regardless of their denomination. Total worldwide membership is over 3,000,000, with around 1,300,000 in the U.S. Read more about the Churchesof Christ in the followingareas of the world:Austrailia&Europe. Col 2:11In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Col 2:12Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen withhimthrough the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 1:13; Eph. Just because something isnt in the Bible doesnt mean it is wrong. Act 16:30And brought them out, and said, Sirs,what must I do to be saved? 16:16) and Church of God (1 Corinthians 1:2) that identify them as belonging to Christ and God. The following do not have authority equal to or exceeding that of the elders. This verse shows that the Church is the Lords body. What about Lemonade ? You know, as much as we criticize other churches for having functions and activities that we deem unscriptural, one thing that can be said about them is that they have made the church relevant and meaningful in every aspect of life. They say the New Testament doesnt give the ok for instruments. One of the Twenty Fundamental Beliefs of God's Church is that of Christ's return. Today it isnt about circumcision but rather water baptism. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! The C.o.C will use these verses to teach that water saves. Members of this movement believed that Jesus Christ established only one church, and therefore, Christians should unite based on the Bible. The remaining categories are generally smaller than those in the mainstream and non-institutional. The wash away thy sins part is connected to calling on the name of the LORD. 2. Refusing to affiliate with any denomination, they referred to themselves as Christians. If your about to die in a plane and you want to be saved, your out of luck. The church of CHRIST basically just uses verses about the church as proof texts for their local churches that are based on false doctrine. They insisted that these new Gentile Christians be circumcised. Sure Psalms is in the Old Testament but Paul saidteaching and admonishing one another in psalms. My email is 1. Notice that We are buried with him by baptism into death. You were born a sinner. Their collective faith in the Bible and adherence to its teachings are the main bonds which connect them together. b. 1Co 12:12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so alsoisChrist. In Matthew 3:13 Jesus came to John to be baptized of. Even though the apostles were among the people, they solved their doctrinal problem by the same method we have available to us. How Do You Get In The Church, Which Is His Body? Just because something isnt in the New Testament doesnt mean it is wrong. Church wasnt something that they did; it was their whole lives. 1. Notice it says for by one SPIRIT. and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? Yet they teach they speak where the scriptures speak and are silent where the scriptures are silent?. That is a horrible way to live your Christian life. B. They believe that it is not the mandate of the congregation to support non-church activities and institutions. The elders are caretakers or supervisors who serve under the command of Christ according to the New Testament. Jesus Christ died on the cross, shedding His blood, for our sins, He was buried, and resurrected. The elders are the superior authorities of each local congregation, and they operate under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

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