|
What Is the church of Christ
We are a group of men and women, boys and girls who
have formed and constitute a congregation such as those described in the
New Testament.
We are simply Christians (Acts 11:26; 26:28; I
Peter 4:15-16), followers of Christ, and we comprise a church that is
“of Christ” (Romans 16:16). We do not wear or accept any
designations not found in the scriptures, and we do not subscribe to any
creed, the Bible is our only guide.
We
are striving to be a church after the pattern found in the New Testament
– in how we become Christians and in how we live as Christians; in
what we teach; in the work we do as a church; and in the way we are
organized.
We are trying to speak where the Bible speaks and
to be silent where the Bible is silent; to do Bible things in Bile ways and
to call Bible things by Bible names. We are interested in honoring God, in
following Christ, and in learning, doing, and teaching God’s Word.
We are your neighbors, your fellow-workers, and
your fellow-students. We are Christians who desire that all men be saved
just as God does (II Peter 3:9)
We Are Not A Denomination
Neither
are we inter-denominational. It is our sincere desire to be
non-denominational, to wear no other name than Christ’s, and to be
known simply as Christians, members of the body of Christ (Acts 11:26;
Ephesians 1:22-23). Collectively we refer to ourselves as the church of
Christ, the Lord’s church, or some other scriptural description to
identify ourselves as the saved people belonging to Christ (Ephesians
5:23).
We Strive To Be The Same Church Described
In The New Testament
It is our purpose to be identified with the
Christians of the first century. We believe this to be possible to all who
will learn, believe, and be guided by the plain teaching of God’s
Word. When Jesus declared such to be “the seed of the kingdom”
(Luke 8:11), He was emphasizing a known fact of nature. Specific kinds of
seed, when planted, will always produce after their kind. For example,
wheat will always produce wheat. In like manner, the word of God, when
planted in the hearts of honest people, and obeyed, will produce Christians
just as it did in the first century – nothing more and nothing less.
We Have No Human Head
There is no man, or group of men, who legislate for
the church. We have no one to answer to except Christ our Lord. He is the
head of the church (Colossians 1:18). There is no human head. As was true
in the first century, there is no inter-congregational organization.
Congregations in different locations, with Christ as Lord, function
independently of each other. According to the authority of Christ, when a
church matures to the point where two or more men meet the qualifications,
overseers (also called bishops, elders, and pastors) are appointed to look
after the affairs of the local congregation. Such men are appointed
when they meet the qualifications listed in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus
1:5-9. Then they have the responsibility to “feed the flock”
with spiritual food found in the scriptures, and to be examples for others
(I Peter 5:1-3). In churches of Christ, preachers are not “pastors”
(unless they meet the qualifications cited above), but are simply teachers
of the gospel.
The Bible Is Our Only Guide
Therefore we have no man-made creeds to follow. We
are governed in faith and conduct by the Bible alone. While recognizing the
guiding principles of the Old Testament, we seek to conform to the pattern
of the New Testament (Hebrews 1:1-2; I Peter 4:11). We accept the Bible as
being both verbally inspired and infallible in content (II Peter 1:20-21; I
Corinthians 2:11-13). Consequently, when the Bible speaks upon any given
subject, its pronouncement is accepted as final. By its own testimony, no
one may alter a single word with impunity (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6;
Revelation 22:18-19).
About Our Worship
Our Plea For Unity
We
plead for unity among all who obediently respond to the doctrine and
commandments given in the New Testament. Such is in harmony with the prayer
of Jesus, and the pleadings of the apostles (John 17:20-21; I Corinthians
1:10; Ephesians 4:1-6). We consider such unity to be possible, or Jesus
would not have prayed for it. Since division has always been the result of
departure from God’s pattern, we believe division can be healed by a
return to the revealed truth of God’s Word. For this unity we plea.
What Is Done In Our Assembly?
Our worship procedures are simple, spiritual, and
orderly, key-noted by the words of Jesus, who said, “true worshippers
shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). The
frenzied emotionalism so common in churches today is absent. Each element
of worship finds its origin in the commands and examples found in the New
Testament.
Singing
The entire assembly joins in singing gospel songs.
There is no choir or special groups, but simple congregational singing.
Since there is no evidence in the New Testament that the early church used
mechanical instruments to accompany their singing, we do not use them in
our worship (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).
Prayer
The congregation is led in prayer by one of the men
in the assembly. We pray, not only in praise and thanksgiving to God, but
also to ask for our needs and the needs of others (I Timothy 2:1-4).
Preaching
The lessons and sermons are designed to teach
God’s Word so as to encourage compliance by those who listen. It has
become increasingly popular for preachers to appear sensational by
discussing subjects not revealed in the Bible, and even laying claims to
miraculous powers. We make no such claim for sensationalism – just
plain Bible teaching and study.
The
Lord’s Supper
Like the church during the time the New Testament
was written, we partake of the Lord’s Supper each first day of the
week (Acts 20:7). The supper consists of unleavened bread and fruit of the
vine as memorials of the body and blood of Jesus (I Corinthians 11:20-36)
Giving
As We Prosper
We do not take up a collection every time we meet,
but only on the first day of the week (I Corinthians 16:1-2). Should you
attend our Sunday service when the collection is received, you are not
expected to give. This is the responsibility of our members, not our
guests.
PLEASE COME AND JOIN US AS WE
WORSHIP!
|
