Posted on 08/17/2007 11:11:00 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
Q:My grandson is marrying a lovely young lady of a different faith. She did not want a wedding in her church because instrumental music was not allowed. She also did not want to get married in our church. She wanted a backyard wedding.
Would you please enlighten us on the beliefs of the Church of Christ?
Elaine, Piedmont
A:Each Church of Christ traces its heritage to the Restoration Movement that swept the new American nation in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
Baptists in New England, Methodists along the Middle Atlantic Coast and Presbyterians in the Appalachian Mountains, among others, grew distressed by what they saw as too much highlighting of denominational beliefs and not enough emphasis on what Christ taught and the earliest Christian church practiced.
Led predominantly by transplanted Scotsman Alexander Campbell and Presbyterian clergyman Barton Stone, some worshippers withdrew from their denominations and established individual, self-governing churches that sought to restore Christianity to ancient practices and biblical teachings. They threw out all creeds, such as the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Apostles' Creed, and announced they had only one creed, the Bible.
They saw no reason to name themselves in any way other than as believers in Jesus Christ. Individual congregations, therefore, were called churches of Christ, disciples of Christ or Christian churches. In the beginning, these groups found it important to use lower case rather than capital letters when referring to themselves, to avoid the appearance of denominationalism.
They opposed any organization that was not at the local church level alone. For example, the Restoration Movement believed the New Testament showed that ancient churches engaged in mission work individually and did not form umbrella organizations for that purpose. The movement, therefore, eschewed mission societies in which various churches pooled their efforts for evangelism, charity or any other work.
In 1906 and 1968, divisions occurred in the Restoration Movement, leading to three groups: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the most liberal, which has become a denomination in the traditional sense; Christian Church/Churches of Christ, the centrist group, which retains complete local church autonomy, and the Churches of Christ, the most conservative of the groups and the one about which you asked.
Using the Bible — and giving great weight to the New Testament — each Church of Christ decides for itself what it believes and teaches. Despite this autonomy, there is a surprising degree of similarity among churches in practice and doctrine.
As your future daughter-in-law mentioned, Churches of Christ typically prohibit the use of musical instruments in worship. Members tend to read the Bible literally and to allow in church only those things that the New Testament specifically authorizes. They find direction for singing in Ephesians 5:19, "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord ... .”
While the Old Testament mentions the use of musical instruments, the New Testament does not, so Churches of Christ practice only a cappella singing during services.
Adherents often point out that instrumental music was not used in Christian churches until the 600s, and the term "a cappella,” meaning to sing without instrumental accompaniment, is Italian for "as in the chapel.”
Churches of Christ tend to teach that each person has free will to accept or reject saving grace offered by God. In keeping with this teaching, they believe that predestination is limited to God ordaining that those who are righteous will be saved while those who are not righteous will be damned.
A person accepts God's offer of grace by being baptized, according to most Churches of Christ; therefore, only a person who has reached the age of accountability and can make such a decision may be baptized. Baptism is by immersion because it is believed that John the Baptist submerged Jesus when baptizing him and because the New Testament Greek root of "baptize” means to dip, plunge or immerse.
While some Christian denominations believe "once saved, always saved,” Churches of Christ typically teach that a person may lose or reject the salvation he or she once accepted.
Churches of Christ do not consider themselves as Protestants, nor do they count themselves as Orthodox or Roman Catholic. They do, however, celebrate Holy Communion every week, using grape juice instead of wine.
Churches of Christ interpret literally I Timothy 2:11, which says, "I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.” Therefore, the congregations are led by male elders.
Eli, Eli is Hebrew...Mark used Eloi, Eloi which is a transliteration of Aramic...Matthew translated the Hebrew into Greek, and the English translation from that of course is, 'My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me???
A little bit of 'trickery' by the Romish church to claim it is Aramic to justify using the Aramic KIPHA in Matt. 18:18 to prove that Peter was an Aramic 'rock' instead of a Greek 'stone'...
Must every thread deteriorate into a catholic thread?
It’s well established what the RCC teaches and preaches. Many of us do not agree. It would be refreshing to have an interesting thread in the religious forum that sticks with the original subject matter. Invariably, someone brings up the RCC.
Perhaps all future non-RCC threads ought to be caucused as “No RCC discussions allowed”.
Only those who are insecure about their pontifications and who are unable to reasonably discuss and defend their pontifications have to hide behind "Caucus Only" threads.
Alas; you are correct, sir! Forgive my Monday morning blues.
Just once, though, I'd just like to see ships floating in a full bath, rather than spiraling toward the sewer.
1) Elect Barack Obama by driving a wedge between real conservatives making it impossible to find common cause.
2) Get people fighting on the Internet, like they need an excuse...
3) The Moderators of this service are not busy enough so we need people to act like children.
4) All of the above.
Pick one, there is no excuse for these threads.
Wise up people. By fighting about his on FR, you are doing the work of George Soros, not Jesus Christ.
No, he didn't. He transcribed the exact Aramaic words. They're written in the Greek alphabet (just the way they're written in the Latin alphabet in an English bible), but they aren't Greek. Go look it up if you don't believe me (I just did). It says, "Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani". That ain't Greek, kiddo, and it ain't Hebrew either.
that Peter was an Aramic 'rock' instead of a Greek 'stone'...
The Koine Greek word for "stone" is "lithos".
A little bit of 'trickery' by the Romish church
You guys are the ones who are engaging in trickery.
Yah gotta luv it! LOL
You left one out:
5) Education - sometimes for me, sometimes for others.
Unless you intend to hold me accountable for the posts of every every infidel, heretic, bigot, basher, yahoo, ignoramous, dolt, dimwit, maroon, and otherwise unpinged unwashed uncouth malcontent that ever added a comment to one of my threads, that is.
Yes, I can go back and give you the bible verses taught - but that will be an overwhelming task to prove what?
In class we are studying the book of Jeremiah, on Wednesday nights we are studying Revelations. The preacher is currently teaching I and II Thessolonians. Sunday night he was teaching about “seeing what you hear” with explanation how the bible teaches us with pictures formed by the biblical stories. Words alone are just words but when we “see” them in the stories, it reaches our hearts. Examples - David and Goliah, Noah and the Flood and the new covenant of no more destruction by water as shown by the rainbow.
We are extremely fortunate in that we have a member who is an expert on the ancient civilizations and has delved into teaching Revelations through the eyes of the 1st century Christians. He is also teaching it as it would have been interpreted in those times with the meanings of the words and symbols looked at through their traditions, lives.
Of course this is his view and is discussed with the views of the preachers, elders, members. But, very enlightening.
I could not even begin to explain it because much of it goes over my head. His main point is that the book needs to be looked at - not literally - but with eyes seeing the message from God given. And that message is hope. That although Christians will endure persecution even to the point of death, that if they stay true, death can not touch them as they will have eternal life. And, it shows those that suffered so cruelly to the point that some were boiled alive or quartered, that God will take revenge.
There is a difference in listening to a pastor as compared to installing a man on earth to be worshipped and who gives rules.
Now, for me, when I look at the Catholic Church, I see a massive organization that has installed a man on earth to be worshipped and esteemed above all other men. This I do not find in the Bible. The apostles had powers given by Jesus. But those powers were to prove that they were from God to spread His message. The day of miracles by the leaders was over after them - per the Bible.
I also see opulence, pagentry, which we did not see Jesus concerned with.
I visited the Bishop’s Palace in Galveston which is a lavish mansion left to the catholic church. A bishop lived in that lavish luxury for years and even converted a bedroom to be his personal chapel although the church was right across the street.
I could not help but compare this to what Christ put his emphasis on. And wealth, pagentry and opulance were never found bestowed on Him or the apostles. Look at how the apostles lives ended. They all died horrible deaths.
So, I see a church with many wonderful people - but I see a massive power delving out biblical instructions while they amass power and wealth. Service yes, but what you see is the massive wealth.
I could give you so many things that the Catholic Church does that I do not agree with .....
-Praying to Mary. Mary is not God or Jesus.
-Holding services in Latin - delving out biblical instructions as they see fit.
-Establishing saints that people pray to.
-Establishing one man to be elevated above all other men to on earth.
All of those prayers and honor can go directly to Jesus. There is no need of a pope to intercede for us, Jesus intercedes for us with God. We can pray directly to the creator of the universe with simple prayer. Why is there a need to install men to live lives of lavish wealth?
She may not have meant “earn her salvation” but have only really meant being true to God’s plans for her.
Jesus paid for our sins by His death which was why He was sent.
When we acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God, repent of our sins and are baptized for the remission of those sins, we are buried with Christ in baptism and arise to a new life. We are given the gift of the Holy Spirit living in our hearts.
From then on we follow Jesus to the best of our ability. Now we can turn our backs on Jesus, fall away or deny Him, and lose our salvation. But, we also can ask for forgiveness and go forward.
The authority they had as preachers was that they knew she accepted Christ as her Savior, was baptized and attempted to follow Him. The bible teaching was the authority.
Many wonderful people who have served God all their lives feel that way on their deathbed. It shows an acknowledgment that each of us could do more and regret that we did not.
I too would get irritated at preachers telling us you are saved by grace of Jesus’ death. Then before the end of the sermon, they would say, but be back here next week or ........... I would go out the door thinking “they giveth and they taketh away”.
But I feel that is the fault of the preacher.
God will judge each one of us on Judgment Day. And, I trust that the whole of each man will be looked at with eyes that see the whole of us with all our imperfections in character, genealogy, mistakes and failings and look into our hearts.
It is interesting that you question the authority to decide if a person has done enough or not, yet you believe in a church with a pope, bishops, priests on and on.
Why do you keep going back to Campbell, why do you demean a church because they will not join other church alliances?
Big deal?
I have been a member of the Church of Christ for 60+ years and I could not really tell you about Campbell although I have heard him mentioned in my youth. Usually in jest that some call us Cambellites?
Now, if I was a Cambellite, wouldn’t I know it?
Any person any where can go to the Bible and learn of Jesus’ dieing for our salvation and the instructions to receive that salvation. If they follow what Jesus says to do, they are a member of Jesus’ church period.
We have heard of a man in Africa that came across a Bible. He read it, studied it and then traveled to a city and went to a church wanting to be baptised for the remission of His sins.
That man is a Christian no matter what church baptised Him. He is a member of the Church of Christ. You forget that originally being a member of the church of Christ just meant that you read the Bible and followed the instructions to repent, and be baptised and you will be saved. They are Christians - not baptists, methodists, catholics - just Christians. Then they need to keep on studying and find a church that teaches what they learned about the church in the Bible.
Compare the beliefs of the Mormons and the Church of Christ.
Mormons
-Joseph Smith, a latter day saint.
-Multiple wives for one man
Church of Christ
-Only the 12 apostles
-Joseph Smith, not a saint
-Marriage to one husband or wife.
Looks like you are attempting to smear the Church of Christ - why the necessity to do that? We simply believe in the Bible teachings, why do you find that needing to be demeaned .
Why the need to tear down the Church of Christ? Does your church tell you to destroy the reputation of simple bible believing people?
It is very telling that you seem to impart knowledge of the history of all church branches but know nothing about what they believe. Makes me doubt your history too.
Where do you find instruction to baptize three times - I have never - ever - heard of that.
Where do you find that only church officials have the power to forgive sins. Jesus and God forgive sins - man has no power over forgiving our sins. Man may lead in asking God for forgiveness for our sins - but no man can take God’s place in forgiving.
Are you saying all of the prayers people say daily asking forgiveness for their sins is a waste of time because the “elite” church officials did not do it for them?
Talk about power. It is about power - the power of men over other men to the point of being their intermediary with God.
No, I never heard mention in the Bible of a pope or bishop forgiving our sins.
Mine has 66.
So, you have 72? Then why are they not published in the Bible in the stores?
If they are so powerfully better what man would hoard them to himself? Any such church that would willfully keep the Bible from man, is not a church but a power seeking organization.
I will go with the 66 thank you. Seems really suspicious that there is a need for “extra books of the bible” to prove your heiracy and teachings. Seems you would want to share them with the world and they would be accepted worldwide.
What a pity that your powerful church has not had the means to give the world the missing chapters from their bibles. Maybe they should ask the members for contributions to spread the word.
You have freepmail.
Yep. Nothing new about that.
Then why are they not published in the Bible in the stores?
Which stores? Complete, 72 book Bibles are trivially easy to find, and not at all expensive. They can even be had online for free. Perhaps the you should challenge whatever stores there are that only sell 66 book abridged Bibles to quit trying to hide the complete Bible.
If they are so powerfully better what man would hoard them to himself?
Another good question. But we are truly blessed that some folks do NOT hoard them, sell paper copies cheaply, and even give them away at no charge.
Any such church that would willfully keep the Bible from man, is not a church but a power seeking organization.
With that, I agree. Fortunately, there are plenty of folks willing to sell or give you a complete Bible. I guess those would be true Churches.
I hope this has been of some assistance to you.
Wine in the Bible is applied to all stages of the juice from grapes, ranging from
So to use unfermented wine, commonly known today as grape juice, is authorized. Why would you think otherwise?
On the contrary. Verses written by James, verses written by Luke (Acts 2:38), verses quoting Jesus (Mark 16:16), verses written by Peter (1Pet 3:21) are the same gospel as those written by Paul.
Maybe the problem is in your understanding of Paul. You definitely should reconsider your stance that NT writers conflict with one another. If any of them are deemed wrong because they disagree with you, then they all stand in question for the same reason.
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