All institutions have a beginning. The establishment of any institution possesses certain characteristics, which in themselves set that institution apart from all others. By reviewing the beginning characteristics of the church, as we find in the scriptures, then we can compare these with institutions that make the claim of being the Lord's. Remember, if the beginning characteristics of the church you belong to match that of the church found within the scriptures, then this is the first step in establishing the scriptural Church of our Lord.
The first characteristic is that the church belongs to the Lord. It is the Lord's Church, not someone else's. It belongs to Christ. Far too many religious institutions (churches) claim to follow Christ, but wear another's name, or follow another's ideas. We distinguish such institutions by their names. By way of example only, we know that the Lutherans follow the teachings of Martin Luther; the Baptist have their name by the manner or mode of baptism; the Methodist by their method of teaching; and we could continue this example on and on. The point is that these institutions think more of another name or title than they do the name of the Lord. If the church belongs to the Lord, then it should bear His name, not another's.
Christ said that He would "build His church," not the church of someone else. Notice His own words: "upon this rock I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). This fact is established by the words of the apostle Paul in writing to the Roman's: "The churches of Christ salute you." (Romans 16:16) This characteristic is distinctive with the Lord's church, and it sets it apart from all those who bear the name of other men or ideas. If any institution, claiming to belong to the Lord's, fails to wear His name, then they are unworthy to call upon the very name that they fail to be called by.
The beginning of the Lord's church also sets it apart from all the others. There exist a set pattern for the establishment of the Lord's church. In our Lord's first statements about the establishment of the church we find the first clue to this pattern.
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:18-19).
Here the Lord equates the church with the kingdom. Granted, the word church and kingdom do not mean the same thing, yet the Lord's words makes them refer to the same people or institution. In brief, the Lord is saying that whenever the church is established, so too the kingdom.
The next clue is found in Mark 9:1
"Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power."
Some who heard the Lord that day would be witnesses of the establishment of the kingdom. Also, the kingdom, when established, would be established with power. This power is the next clue, for in Luke 24:49 the Lord says:
"Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."
The promise mentioned here is that of the Holy Spirit found in John 14-16. This Holy Spirit would be the power that would accompany the establishment of the kingdom, and it would come in the city of Jerusalem where the apostles would be assembled.
The final clue is found in the first four verses of Acts chapter two.
Acts 2:1-4 "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
Here we have the day of Pentecost; the apostles assembled together; the Spirit coming with power. At the close of this chapter we find the following: "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved," Acts 2:47.
The things had come together and the church was established just as the Lord had said. The following chart puts these clues together.
- Church -- Kingdom (Matthew 16:18-19)
Kingdom -- Power (Mark 9:1 the Holy Spirit)
Power -- Jerusalem (Luke 24:49)
Jerusalem -- Power Came (Acts 2:1-4)
Church Established
Kingdom Brought Forth
The year was 33 AD when the church was established. It was on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of the Lord, which was about the month of June, or the end of the grain harvest. It was on the first day of the week, or what we call Sunday. It was at 9 a.m. - the meaning of the third hour of the day. There were 3,000 who were added to the church that day (Acts 2:41)
There can only be one institution that can claim all of this for its beginning -- the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. All other institutions have different beginnings with different characteristics. Thus, they cannot belong to the Lord.
Friend, as you read these characteristics, search the scriptures and compare them with the beginnings of the church you belong to. If you love the Lord and the church that He purchased with His own blood, then seek that which the Lord built and not man.
The Historical background of the Restoration Movement in Modern times.
One of the earliest documented advocates of the return to New Testament Christianity, as a means of achieving unity of all believers in Christ, was James O'Kelly of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1793 he withdrew from the Baltimore conference of his church and called upon others to join him in taking the Bible as the only creed. His influence was largely felt in Virginia and North Carolina where history records that some seven thousand communicants followed his leadership toward a return to primitive New Testament Christianity.
There were also several others who came to the same conclusion independently at approximately the same period of time. In 1802 a similar movement among the Baptists in New England was led by Abner Jones and Elias Smith. They were concerned about "denominational names and creeds" and decided to wear only the name Christian, taking Bible as their only guide.
In 1804, in the western frontier state of Kentucky, Barton W. Stone and several other Presbyterian preachers took similar action declaring that they would take the Bible as the "only sure guide to heaven." Thomas Campbell, and his illustrious son, Alexander Campbell, took similar steps in the year 1809 in what is now the state of West Virginia. They contended that nothing should be bound upon Christians as a matter of doctrine which is not as old as the New Testament.
Although these four movements were completely independent in their beginnings eventually they became one strong restoration movement because of their common purpose and plea. These men did not advocate the starting of a new church, but rather a return to Christ's church as described in the Bible. Members of the church of Christ do not conceive of themselves as a new church started near the beginning of the 19th century. Rather, the whole movement is designed to reproduce in contemporary times the church originally established on Pentecost, A.D. 30. The strength of the appeal lies in the restoration of Christ's original church.
How many churches of Christ are there?
The most recent dependable estimate lists more than 15,000 individual churches of Christ. The "Christian Herald," a general religious publication which presents statistics concerning all the churches, estimates that the total membership of the churches of Christ is now 2,000,000. There are more than 7000 men who preach publicly. Membership of the church is heaviest in the southern states of the United States, particularly Tennessee and Texas, though congregations exist in each of the fifty states and in more than eighty foreign countries. Missionary expansion has been most extensive since the second World War in Europe, Asia and Africa. More than 450 full time workers are supported in foreign countries. The churches of Christ now have five times as many members as were reported in the U.S. Religious Census of 1936.
How are the churches organizationally connected?
Following the plan of organization found in the New Testament, churches of Christ are autonomous (self-governing). Their common faith in the Bible and adherence to its teachings are the chief ties which bind them together. There is no central headquarters of the church and no organization superior to the elders of each local congregation. There are no conventions, annual meetings, or official publications. The "tie that binds" is a common loyalty to the principles of the restoration of New Testament Christianity.
How are the churches of Christ governed?
In each congregation, which has existed long enough to become fully organized, there is a plurality of elders or presbyters who serve as the governing body. These men are selected by the local congregations on the basis of qualifications set down in the scriptures (1 Timothy 3:1-8). Serving under the elders are deacons, teachers, preachers, evangelists or ministers. The latter do not have the authority equal to or superior to the elders. The elders are shepherds or overseers who serve under the headship of Christ according to the New Testament, which is a kind of constitution. There is no earthly authority superior to the elders of the local church.
What does the church of Christ believe about the Bible?
The original autographs of the sixty six books which make up the Bible are considered to have been divinely inspired, by which it is meant that they are infallible and authoritative. Reference to the scriptures is made in settling every religious question. A pronouncement from the scripture is considered the final word. The basic textbook of the church and the basis for all preaching is the Bible.
Do members of the churches of Christ believe in the virgin birth?
Yes. The statement in Isaiah 7:14 is taken as a prophecy of the virgin birth of Christ. New Testament passages such as Matthew 1:20, 25, are accepted at face value as declarations of the virgin birth. Christ is accepted as the only begotten Son of God, uniting in his person perfect divinity and perfect manhood.
Does the church of Christ believe in predestination?
Only in the sense that God predestines the righteous to be eternally saved and the unrighteous to be eternally lost. The statement of the apostle Peter, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that feareth Him and worketh righteousness is acceptable unto him"(Acts 10:34-35) is taken as an evidence that God did not predestine individuals to be eternally saved or lost, but that each man determines his own destiny.
Why does the church of Christ baptize only by immersion?
The word baptize comes from the Greek word "baptizo" and literally means, "to dip, to immerse, to plunge." In addition to the literal meaning of the word, immersion is practiced because it was the practice of the church in apostolic times (ie. Acts . Still further, only immersion conforms to the description of baptisms as given by the apostle Paul in Romans 6:3-5 where he speaks of it as a burial and resurrection.
Is infant baptism practiced?
No. Only those who have reached the "age of accountability" are accepted for baptisms. It is pointed out that the examples given in the New Testament are always of those who have heard the gospel preached and have believed it. Faith must always precede baptism, so only those old enough to understand and believe the gospel are considered fit subjects for baptism.
Do ministers (or Preachers) of the church hear confession? No. Ministers or evangelists of the church have no special prerogatives. They do not wear the title of Reverend or Father, but are addressed simply by the term Brother as are all other men of the church. Along with elders and others they do counsel and advise those seeking help.
Are prayers addressed to the saints?
No. God the Father is considered the only one to whom the prayers may be addressed. It is further understood that Christ stands in a mediatorial position between God and man (Hebrews 7:25). All prayers are therefore offered through Christ, or in the name of Christ (John 16:23-26).
How often is the Lord's supper eaten?
It is expected that every member of the church will assemble for worship on each Lord's day. A central part of the worship is the eating of the Lord's supper (Acts 20:7). Unless providentially hindered, each member considers this weekly appointment as binding.
What kind of music is used in the worship?
As a result of the distinctive plea of the church - a return to New Testament Faith and practice - acapella singing is the only music used in the worship. This singing, unaccompanied by mechanical instruments of music, conforms to the music used in the apostolic church and for several centuries thereafter (1 Corinthians 14:15; Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19; James 5:13). It is felt that there is no authority for engaging in acts of worship not found in the New Testament. This principle eliminates the use of instrumental music, along with the use of candles, incense, and other similar elements.
Does the church of Christ believe in heaven and hell?
Yes. The statement of Christ in Matthew 25, and elsewhere, are taken at face value. It is believed that after death each man must come before God in judgment and that he will be judged according to the deeds done while he lived (Hebrews 9:27). After judgment is pronounced he will spend eternity either in heaven or hell.
Does the church of Christ believe in purgatory?
No. The absence of any reference in the scriptures to the temporary place of punishment from which the soul will eventually be released into heaven prevents the acceptance of the doctrine of purgatory.
By what means does the church secure financial support?
Each first day of the week the members of the church "lay by in store as they have been prospered" (1 Corinthians 16:2). The amount of any individual gift is generally known only to the one who gave it and to the Lord. This free-will offering is the only call which the church makes. NO assessments or other levies are made. No money-making activities, such as bazaars or suppers, are engaged in.
Does the church of Christ have a creed?
No. At least, there is no creed in the usual sense of the word. The belief of the church is stated fully and completely in the Bible. There is no other manual or discipline to which the members of the church of Christ give their allegiance. The Bible is considered as the only infallible guide to heaven.
How does one become a member of the church of Christ?
In the salvation of man's soul there are 2 necessary parts: God's part and man's part. God's part is the big part, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift if God; not of works, that no man should glory" (Ephesians 2:8-9). The love which God felt for man led him to send Christ into the world to redeem man. The life and teaching of Jesus, the sacrifice on the cross, and the proclaiming of the gospel to men constitute God's part in salvation.
Though God's part is the big part, man's part is also necessary if man is to reach heaven. Man must comply with the conditions of pardon which the Lord has announced. Man's part can clearly set forth in the following steps:
- Hear the Gospel: "How shall they call on him whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"(Romans 10:14).
Believe: "And without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing unto Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that seek after him" (Hebrews 11:6).
Repent of past sins: "The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent."(Acts 17:30).
Confess Jesus as Lord: "Behold here is water; What doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, if thou believeth with all thy heart thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:36-37).
Be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. "And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."(Acts 2:38).
Continue living a Christian life unto death:. "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified." (2 Corinthians 13:5).
If you need to locate a church of Christ congregation nearest to you, or have questions please contact me at BibleTruthsToU@gmail.com or 253-396-0290 (cell) and I will be more than glad to help you find it. No one from the church will call without your consent. Please come by and visit.
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