How big are the Churches of Christ?
What are our beliefs based on?
Contact Westgate Church of Christ
Worldwide there are
some 20,000 congregations of Churches of Christ with a total of 2.5 to 3 million
individual members. There are small congregations, consisting of just a few
members - and large ones made up of several thousand members.
The greatest concentration of numerical strength in Churches of Christ is in the
southern United States where for instance, there are about 40,000 members in
some 135 congregations in Nashville, Tennessee. Or, in Dallas, Texas, where
there are approximately 36,000 members in 69 congregations. In such states as
Kentucky - and others - there is a Church of Christ in practically every town,
no matter how large or small.
While there number of congregations and members is not so numerous in other
places, there are Churches of Christ in every state in the United States and in
109 other countries.
Members of churches of Christ are a people of restoration spirit - wanting to
restore in our time the Christianity of the New Testament.
Dr. Hans Kung, a well-known European theologian, published a book a few years
ago entitled The Church. Dr. Kung lamented the fact that the established
church has lost its way; has become burdened down with tradition; has failed to
be what Christ planned it should be.
The only answer, according to Dr. Kung, is to go back to the scriptures to see
what the church was in its beginning, and then to recover in the twentieth
century the essence of the original church. This is what Churches of Christ are
seeking to do.
In the latter part of the 18th century, men of different denominations, studying
independently of each other, in various parts of the world, began to ask:
- Why not go back beyond denominationalism to the simplicity and purity of the
first-century church?
- Why not take the Bible alone and once again continue "steadfastly in the
apostles' teaching..." (Acts 2:42)?
- Why not plant the same seed (the Word of God, Luke 8:11), that first century
Christians planted, and be Christians only, as they were?
They were pleading with everyone to throw off denominationalism, to throw away
human creeds, and to follow only the Bible.
They taught that nothing should be required of people as acts of faith except
that which is evident in the scriptures.
They emphasized that going back to the Bible does not mean the establishment of
another denomination, but rather a return to the original church.
Members of churches of Christ are enthusiastic about this approach. With the
Bible as our only guide we seek to find what the original church was like and
restore it exactly.
We do not see this as arrogance, but the very opposite. We are saying that we do
not have the right to ask for men's allegiance to a human organization - but
only the right to call upon men to follow God's blueprint.
Since God has vested "all authority" in Christ (Matthew 28:18), and since he
serves as God's spokesman today (Hebrews 1:1,2), it is our conviction that only
Christ has the authority to say what the church is and what we should teach.
And since only the New testament sets forth Christ's instructions to his
disciples, it alone must serve as the basis for all religious teaching and
practice. This is fundamental with members of Churches of Christ. We
believe that teaching the New Testament without modification is the only way to
lead men and women to become Christians.
We believe religious division is bad. Jesus prayed for unity (John 17). And
later, the apostle Paul begged those who were divided to unite in Christ (1
Corinthians 1).
We believe the only way to achieve unity is by a return to the Bible. Compromise
cannot bring unity. And surely no person, nor group of persons, has the right to
draw up a set of rules by which everyone must abide. But it is altogether proper
to say, "Let's unite by just following the Bible." This is fair. This is safe.
This is right.
So Churches of Christ plead for religious unity based upon the Bible. We believe
that to subscribe to any creed other than the New Testament, to refuse to obey
any New Testament command, or to follow any practice not sustained by the New
Testament is to add to or take away from the teachings of God. And both
additions and subtractions are condemned in the Bible (Galatians1:6-9;
Revelation 22:18, 19).
This is the reason the New Testament is the only rule of faith and practice we
have in Churches of Christ.
Churches of Christ have none of the trappings of modern-day organizational
bureaucracy. There are no governing boards - neither district, regional,
national or international - no earthly headquarters and no man-designed
organization.
Each congregation is autonomous (self ruled) and is independent of every other
congregation. The only tie which binds the many congregations together is
a common allegiance to Christ and the Bible.
There are no official conventions, annual meetings or publications.
Congregations do cooperate in supporting children's homes, homes for the
elderly, mission work, etc. However, participation is strictly
voluntary on the part of each congregation and no person nor group issues
policies or makes decisions for other congregations.
Congregations should be governed locally by a plurality of elders selected from
among the members. These are men who meet specific qualifications for this
office given in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
There are also deacons in each congregation. These must meet the biblical
qualifications of 1 Timothy 3.
Worship in churches of Christ centers around five items, the same as in the
first century church. We believe the pattern is important. Jesus said, "God is
spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24).
From this statement we learn three things:
1) Our worship must be directed to the right object...God;
2) It must be prompted by the right spirit;
3) It must be according to truth.
To worship God according to truth is to worship him according to his Word,
because his Word is truth (John 17:17). Therefore, we must not exclude any item
found in his Word, and we must not include any item not found in his Word.
In matters of religion we are to walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). Since faith
comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17), anything not authorized by the
Bible cannot be done by faith...and whatever is not of faith is sin (Romans
14:23).
The five items of worship observed by the first-century church were singing,
praying, preaching, giving, and eating the Lord's Supper.
If you are acquainted with Churches of Christ you are probably aware that in two
of these items our practice is different from that of most religious groups.
A Cappella Singing
One of the things people most frequently notice about churches of Christ is that
we sing without the use of mechanical instruments of music – a capella singing
is the only music used in our worship.
Simply stated, here is the reason: we are seeking to worship according to the
instructions of the New Testament. The New Testament leaves instrumental music
out, therefore, we believe it right and safe to leave it out too. If we used the
mechanical instrument we would have to do so without New Testament authority.
There are only 8 verses in the New Testament on the subject of music in worship:
Here they are:
"And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives" (Matthew
26:30)
"...about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God..."
(Acts 16:25)
"Therefore I will praise thee among the Gentiles, and sing to thy name" (Romans
15:9)
"...I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also" (1
Corinthians 14:15)
"...be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart"
(Ephesians 5:18, 19)
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one
another in al wisdom, and as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with
thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Colossians 3:16)
"I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church I will
sing praise unto thee" (Hebrews 2:12)
"Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing
praise" (James 5:13)
The mechanical instrument of music is conspicuously absent in these passages.
Historically, the first appearance of instrumental music in church worship was
not until the sixth century A.D., and there was no general practicing of it
until after the eighth century.
Instrumental music was strongly opposed by such religious leaders as John Calvin, John Wesley and Charles Spurgeon because of its absence in the New Testament.
Weekly Observance of The Lord's Supper
Another place where you may have noticed a difference between churches of Christ
and other religious groups is in the Lord's Supper. This memorial supper was
inaugurated by Jesus on the night of his betrayal (Matthew 26:26-28). It is
observed by Christians in memory of the Lord's death (1 Corinthians 11:24,25).
The emblems - unleavened bread and fruit of the vine – symbolize the body and
blood of Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:16).
Churches of Christ are different from many in that we observe the Lord's Supper
on the first day of every week. Again, our reason centers in our determination
to follow the teaching of the New Testament. It says, describing the practice of
the first-century church, "And upon the first day of the week...the disciples
came together to break bread..." (Acts 20:7).
Some have objected that the text does not specify the first day of every week.
This is true - just as the command to observe the Sabbath did not specify every
Sabbath. The command was simply, "remember the Sabbath. Its seems to us that by
the same reasoning "the first day of the week" means the first day of every
week.
Again, we know from such respected early historians as Neander and Eusebius that
Christians in those early centuries took the Lord's Supper every Sunday.
Perhaps you are wondering, "How does one become a member of the Church of
Christ?" What are the terms of membership?
Churches of Christ do not speak of membership in terms of some formula which
must be followed for approved acceptance into the church. The New
Testament gives certain steps which were taken by people in that day to become
Christians. When a person became a Christian he automatically was a member of
the church.
The same is true of Churches of Christ today. There is not separate set of
rules or ceremonies which one must follow to be inducted into the church.
When one becomes a Christian, he at the same time, becomes a member of the
church. No further steps are required to qualify for church membership.
On the first day of the church's existence those who saved repented and were
baptized were saved (Acts 2:37-38) were added to the church (Acts 2:47).
According to this verse (Acts 2:47) it was God who did the adding. Therefore, in
seeking to follow this pattern, we neither vote people into the church nor force
them through a required series of studies. We have no right to demand anything
beyond their obedient submission to the Savior.
The conditions of pardon which are taught in the New Testament are:
1) One must hear the gospel, for "faith comes by hearing the word of God"
(Romans 10:17).
2) One must believe, for "without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews
11:6).
3) One must repent of past sins, for God "commands all men, everywhere to
repent" (Acts
17:30).
4) One must confess Jesus as Lord, for he said, "He that confesses me before
men, him will I
also confess before my father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32).
5) And one must be baptized for the remission of sins, for Peter said, "Repent,
and be baptized
everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins..."
(Acts 2:38).