I'm afraid that's going to require more study....
Posted on 05/01/2006 7:14:29 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
[caps and emphasis in the original]
One of the three major movements within the Campbellite family of American Protestantism, and the one most recent in origin (although the Disciples' "Restructure" dates only to 1968). Its separate identity begins officially with action taken at a Christian Church convention in Cincinnati in 1927. By 1971 this body of independent congregations had sufficient particularity and cohesion in its own eyes to request a separate listing in the Yearbook of American Churches.
This "undenominational" fellowship stands to the right of the CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST) and to the left of the CHURCHES OF CHRIST, the two other movements within the CAMPBELLITE TRADITION, both of which are indigenously American. "Christian Churches and Churches of Christ" is the name by which it is commonly known, but its aversion to denominational character means that no official name has been or can be designated. It is also known as the "middle group," the "Centrists," "Independent Christian Churches," or "Christian Churches,'' or ''Christian Churches/Churches of Christ." A single congregation is most often referred to as a "Christian Church" but sometimes as a "Church of Christ," the latter despite the clear separation between this "middle group" and the non-instrumental Campbellites regularly (but also not officially) called Churches of Christ.
Like the other two Campbellite bodies, this fellowship traces its origins to RESTORATIONISM, a theme with roots in the thinking of the Protestant Reformers. This theme took shape as the Restoration Movement in early nineteenth-century America, which was characterized by a determination to adhere rigorously to the Bible, especially in matters of congregational organization and practice. As led by Thomas and ALEXANDER CAMPBELL and BARTON W. STONE, these Christians intend (in paraphrase) to "speak where the Scriptures speak" and "to be silent where the Scriptures are silent." In practice, the focus fell less on theology than on how to organize congregational life and how to carry out public worship. The recovery and duplication of "New Testament Christianity" was its hallmark from the beginning.
The passion to restore the patterns of Primitive Christianity continues to animate these "Independent Christian Churches." Indeed, that is their stock-in-trade, their only reason for existence. As they see it, the Disciples of Christ wing has largely abandoned the Restorationist concern in favor of ecumenicity, which also was a major commitment of Campbell; however, it was to be "undenominational" rather than explicitly cooperative Christianity, especially in the earlier years of his career. On the other side, the Churches of Christ are viewed as having turned conviction into legalism, especially on the use of instrumental music in services of congregational worship. It should be noted that on the classic theme of Restoration, however, the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ fellowship hold much more in common with the Churches of Christ than with the Disciples of Christ.
Thus the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ branch of the family is more "conservative" than "liberal"; it remains committed to the words of the Bible, bent on retaining local-church independence. It stands closer to rationalism than to any other hermeneutical or epistemological method; it rejects all "manmade creeds"; it is highly self-conscious about its particular nature and mission. At the same time, it repudiates legalism and has a generally open, cooperative, and respectful attitude toward other bodies of Christians. It is as firm in its conviction that we are "Christians only" (a slogan from the first generation of the movement) as it is in its rejection of "we are the only Christians." The fellowship honors the qualities of being firm, solid, uncompromising, and earnest. This is a people who live by an acknowledged authority, who are very clear on the commission of the New Testament to Christians and on their mission to embody with purity and scrupulosity the belief and practice of the primitive church.
The Churches of Christ had become a specifiable branch of the Campbellite family in the public understanding by 1906. However, as a regional (Southern) movement having fewer and fewer fraternal ties with Northern Disciples, it was taking shape as the Civil War began and was informally recognizable as a separate body of like-minded independent churches no later than the 1880s. The Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, in somewhat similar fashion, were taking shape before the actual break in 1927. Many thousands who had maintained their connection with the Disciples "grew increasingly restive in the fellowship." The Cincinnati-based Christian Standard led a swelling outcry against the "liberalizing" and "modernizing" trends among Disciples, especially on the subject of biblical criticism. In a 1927 "preaching assembly" called by veteran evangelist P. H. Welshimer, these more traditional and authority-minded congregations chose to go their own way. As a result, the North American Christian Convention was born. ("Convention," rather than "Church," is used to indicate that no corporate decisions are binding; instead congregations voluntarily convene to engage matters of common concern.)
Demographically, it is the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) with whom the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ fellowship is closely linked. The heartland of its strength is approximately the same: from western Pennsylvania across the Midwestern states to Missouri and Iowa in the West. Sizable membership also prevails, however, in Kentucky (in both cases), the state of primary origination. Several other Southern states reflect notable growth, especially since World War II; Oklahoma, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina all have more than 150 churches and 25,000 members. Kentucky's figures are 427 and 75,000; Missouri's are 320 and 52,000. The total estimated membership nationwide was one million in 1982. Unlike sister fellowships within the Campbellite family, the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ are also strong in northern California, Oregon, and Washington.
More committed to Bible colleges than to theological seminaries, their congregations support 44 such colleges. There is one liberal arts college, Milligan, located at Johnson City TN and four graduate schools of religion, one at Johnson City and another in Cincinnati OH.
Bibliography. Directory of the Ministry, 1982: A Yearbook of Christian Churches and Churches of Christ; Robert O. Fife, David E. Harrell, and Ronald E. Osborn, Disciples and the Church Universal; James DeForest Murch, Christians Only; William J. Richardson, ea., Christian Doctrine; William Robinson, Biblical Doctrine of the Church; Dean E. Walker, Adventuring for Christian Unity; C. Robert Wetzel, ed., Essays m New Testament Christianity.
SAMUEL S. HILL UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
"This theme took shape as the Restoration Movement in early nineteenth-century America, which was characterized by a determination to adhere rigorously to the Bible, especially in matters of congregational organization and practice. As led by Thomas and ALEXANDER CAMPBELL and BARTON W. STONE, these Christians intend (in paraphrase) to "speak where the Scriptures speak" and "to be silent where the Scriptures are silent." In practice, the focus fell less on theology than on how to organize congregational life and how to carry out public worship. The recovery and duplication of "New Testament Christianity" was its hallmark from the beginning.The passion to restore the patterns of Primitive Christianity continues to animate these "Independent Christian Churches." Indeed, that is their stock-in-trade, their only reason for existence.
[caps and emphasis in the original]
"It is as firm in its conviction that we are "Christians only" (a slogan from the first generation of the movement) as it is in its rejection of "we are the only Christians."
Frome my experience, many of them do believe they are the "only Christians" (and that other denominations have gone astray) - though they are sort of quiet about it.
How many churches were purchased by the blood of Christ?
To be fair, not all of them do (and AFAIK, only some within the Churches of Christ). Of those that do, it's my understanding that they reject as invalid any baptism that was not performed by one of their preachers, and more explicitly any baptism not performed for the expressed purpose of remission of sins. Since baptism for them is absolutely essential for the entrance into salvation, invalid baptism = not saved/regenerated, thus claims of salvation outside of baptism into a "Church of Christ" are generally looked upon with deep suspicion and distrust.
However, in their defense, as the Churches of Christ are not a denomination per se lacking any overarching theology/creed to bind them together, your local CoC congregation may believe differently.
You are correct in saying that churches of Christ are not a member of any denomination. Each congregation is autonomous and under the leadership of it's local elders, just like in the 1st Century.
A proper candidate for baptism that has been baptized for the remission of their sins is added to the church by God. It doesn't matter who performs the baptism.
One must be born of the Spirit and of water.
One can be born of the Spirit before one is born of water.
"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word....Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?"
Romans 8:9
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
They had the Spirt - therefore they belonged to Christ before they were baptized in water.
Obedience to Christ's command to partake in baptism is a foregone conclusion for any true believer. But new spiritual life does not come through physical baptism - it comes through the spiritual washing and regenerative powers of the baptism of the Spirit which God gives to all who believe the Gospel and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
Hi Alex! I was wondering how this is worked out in real life. How is congregational life organized? What patterns of Primitive Christianity are followed?
I'd say all of them that accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, wouldn't you???
What if the baptizer (as opposed to the baptizee) is administering the baptism for reasons other than the remission of sin? For that matter, what if the baptizer has never himself (herself?) been properly baptized for the remission of sin? Does it still not matter?
If you notice, the qualifications of the baptizer is never questioned in the Word of God. However, the person who is being baptized is to be one that believes, has repented of their sins, and that confesses that Jesus is the son of God.
I'm afraid that's going to require more study....
A recent sermon I heard at a church of Christ was about the need to read and study the Bible following the Berean example given in Acts 17:11. The preacher specifically said that we should question what we are told, and study the Bible to find the truth. He said that no one should believe something simply because he said it, or because any person said it, or simply because it is what our parents taught us, or simply because the church teaches it, but because it can be proven by the inspired word of God. (Galatians 1:8)
He mentioned a Gallup poll where a percentage of people in this country actually believe that Billy Graham delivered the Sermon on the Mount, and that Sodom and Gommorah were husband and wife! He said we were being destroyed for lack of knowledge of the word of God (Hosea 4:6), and that the remedy is to read and study the Bible, and to encourage others to do the same. (2 Timothy 2:15,16)
This may be how your local church views it, but lacking any overarching theology/creed that keeps the CoC congregations doctrinally homogeneous, I'm sure you're aware that many CoC congregations have a different take on this matter.
"A recent sermon I heard at a church of Christ was about the need to read and study the Bible..."
Should I catagorize this as a rebuke or as an encouragement?
:)
(i.e. are you CoC?)
I am aware that there are those that are in the church of Christ that view things differently than I do. However, I fail to find any qualifications of the baptizer in the New Testament, and that is what matters.
LOL! Maybe someone who follows these patterns will enlighten us.
What matters - that there (theoretically) aren't any qualifications found in the NT, or what you personally believe/conclude, based on the omission?
Have you seen the FR thread "You might be a Gnostic if..."?
If there are no qualifications for the baptizer found in the New Testament, then adding qualifications would be adding to the Word of God, which is wrong.
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