Churches of Christ

Restored On Principles Of The First-Century Church

During the late 18th century, men and leaders of different denominations throughout the world, each studying individually, began to question the establishment of denominations and creeds and some of the practices that were being taught. These men asked: Why not go back to the origins of the first-century church? Why not rely on the Bible as the only guide to our lives and worship, rather than the creeds of man that had been established over years of corruption in the church? These men encouraged teaching ONLY what the Bible taught, without additions or subtractions, which are both condemned in the New Testament (Galatians 1:6-9Galatians 1:6-9
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6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.  

; Revelation 22:18,19Revelation 22:18,19
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18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. out of the book...: or, from the tree of life  ).

Each Congregation Is Self-Governed

The restoration of the church of Christ was not the establishment of another denomination, but instead was the abolition of denominationalism that had been destroying Christ’s church. Each congregation is autonomous and independent of other congregations. They are not ruled by a bureaucracy formed by man to govern the activities and worship of the congregation. These type of organizations are not ordained in the New Testament.

Congregations of the churches of Christ are governed locally by the elders selected from among the local members. These are men that meet the qualifications of an elder outlined in the Bible in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Deacons are also appointed in each congregation to help in service to it’s members and in missionary activities. These are men that meet specific qualifications outlines in 1 Timothy 3.

Forms Of Worship

There are five primary forms by which churches of Christ worship. These forms are singing, praying, preaching, giving, and partaking of the Lord’s Supper, the same five observed by the first-century Christians. Jesus tells us in John 4:24John 4:24
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24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.  

: God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

To worship God in truth, we must do so according to his Word, because his Word is truth (John 17:17John 17:17
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17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.  

). Therefore, we must not exclude that which is found in his Word, and we must not include anything not found in his Word. In an effort to worship in truth, the churches of Christ hold firm to the belief that we should Speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent. In following this belief, there are two forms of worship practiced by churches of Christ that are different from most other religious groups:

  • A Cappella Singing
  • Weekly Observance of The Lord’s Supper

A Cappella Singing

One of the things most often noticed about churches of Christ is that we sing without the aid of any type of mechanical instrument of music. A Cappella singing is the only form of music used in our worship. The reason for this is simple. We are striving to worship according to the teachings of the New Testament. Therefore, since the New Testament does not ordain the use of instrumental music, we believe it proper to leave it out of our worship. To make use of instrumental music, we would have to do so without the authority of the New Testament, and therefore without the authority of God.

The following verses make up the complete list of New Testament scriptures on the subject of music. Notice the absence of direction regarding instrumental music in these passages:

The first appearance of instrumental music used in church worship occurred in the sixth century. The first regular use of instrumental music in worship did not occur until the eighth century. At these times, and in later years, instrumental music was strongly opposed by religious leaders and viewed as a form of false worship. They rightly believed that the introduction of instrumental music by man, without the ordaining of God through the New Testament, made it’s use a form of false worship. This is still the belief in the churches of Christ today.

Weekly Observance of The Lord’s Supper

Another form of worship often noticed about churches of Christ is that the Lord’s Supper is partaken of on the first day of every week. Most religious groups agree that the memorial supper was established by Jesus on the night of his betrayal (Matthew 26:26-28Matthew 26:26-28
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26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. blessed it: many Greek copies have gave thanks 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  

). Most also observe this supper in memory of the Lord’s death (1 Corinthians 11:24,251 Corinthians 11:24,25
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24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. in...: or, for a remembrance 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.  ). The unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine used in the supper symbolize the body and the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:161 Corinthians 10:16
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16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?  ). However, unlike many other religious groups, churches of Christ partake of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of every week. The reason for partaking every week is due to our determination to obey the teachings found in the New Testament. Acts 20:7Acts 20:7
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7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.   reads:

And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

There are many people in the religious community that will argue that the scripture does not say every first day of the week, only the first day of the week. This may be true, but in the Old Testament, when the Jews were commanded to “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8Exodus 20:8
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8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.  

) they had no problem in understanding the intent of the command was every Sabbath, although the word every is not in the command. This was also not a point of confusion or conflict for the early Christians who partook of the Lord’s Supper on every first day of the week, as recorded by a number of noted historians such as Neander and Eusebius.

How Does One Become A Member?

Churches of Christ do not have a written set of procedures or initiation steps that must be met for you to obtain membership. The steps necessary for becoming a Christian, a member of Christ’s church, are outlined in the New Testament. The steps taken by the Christians of the first century which resulted in salvation will bring you salvation as well.

The establishment of the church is recorded in Acts 2:38Acts 2:38
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38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  

…and all those who repented and were baptized were saved. Since that day, all who were saved were added to the church. Acts 2:47Acts 2:47
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47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.   tells us that God did the adding. For this reason, there is no established criteria that must be met to be considered a member of Christ’s church other than those recorded in the New Testament. We have no authority to require any more of someone than their submission and obedience to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The conditions taught in the New Testament for becoming part of Christ’s church are:

Churches of Christ are known for putting an emphasis on baptism, but the emphasis is not as a church creed or ordinance, but as a command of Christ recorded in the New Testament. Baptism is taught in the New Testament as an act that is essential to salvation (Mark 16:16Mark 16:16
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16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.  

; Acts 2:38Acts 2:38
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38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  ; Acts 22:16Acts 22:16
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16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.  ).

Baptism is performed as an immersion by churches of Christ, symbolizing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Acts 8:35-39Acts 8:35-39
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35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.  

; Romans 6:3,4Romans 6:3,4
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3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? were: or, are 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  ; Colossians 2:12Colossians 2:12
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12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.  ). Immersion is used because the original Greek word from which the word baptize comes means “to dip, to immerse, to submerge, to plunge.” Sprinkling does not meet the New Testament definition of baptism and does not properly symbolize the burial of Christ as we are buried in the watery grave of baptism.

We also do not practice infant baptism because the New Testament teaches a baptism for sinners who repent and turn to the Lord, believing Him to be the Son of God. Infants neither have sins to repent of, nor can they affirm themselves as believers.

Churches of Christ believe baptism to be an extremely important part of one’s salvation. The New Testament declares baptism to serve the following purposes:

Christ died for the sins of the world, and an invitation has been extended to everyone (Acts 10:34,35Acts 10:34,35
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34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.  

; Revelation 22:17Revelation 22:17
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17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.  ). His saving grace is available for all to choose. No individual is predestined for salvation or for condemnation. Those who choose to come to Christ in faith, obedient to the commandments given in the New Testament, will be saved. Others will reject His plea and be condemned (Mark 16:16Mark 16:16
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16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.  ). These will not be lost as a result of a predetermined condemnation, but because they have chosen that path in this life.

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