Who are the Churches of Christ?

This week in our Bible Question & Answer segment a reader writes in asking, “Just exactly who are the churches of Christ and what do they believe?” Let me begin by saying that the churches of Christ are not a part of the reformation movement, or the restoration movement that occurred in America over a century ago. The churches of Christ are not a denomination because the Bible teaches denominationalism and division is a sin (1 Cor. 1:10-13). Just who are the churches of Christ then?

Who are they? The churches of Christ are trying to be the church of the first century that we read of in the Bible. They were not established by any man, but they were established by Jesus Christ in the first century (Matt. 16:13-18). The churches of Christ have no man made creed (Prov. 16:25) but strive to follow the Bible only (Col. 3:17). The churches of Christ have no human leader, such as a pope, cardinal, or head of the church, except for Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:20-22). The churches of Christ are called by a Bible name, not the name of a man or great religious leader (Acts 4:11-12, 1 Cor. 3:11). In short, the churches of Christ are trying to be the church we read of in the Bible without any man made additions or subtractions (See Rev. 22:18-19).

What do they believe? The fundamental belief of the New Testament church was to do things exactly as Jesus and the Apostles had told them to do (Rom. 5:4, 1 Cor. 4:6). This is what the churches of Christ today believe also. We believe in restoring the New Testament church back to its original state as seen in the Bible. For example, the first century church met on the first day of the week to partake of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7) and the churches of Christ believe this is the same pattern we should follow today (Acts 2:42). In fact, one might wonder where the authority for partaking of the Lord’s Supper on Easter and Christmas is at in the Bible. In addition, in the churches of Christ you will not find mechanical instruments of music to worship God with. We do not have these because they are not commanded in the New Testament. God tells us specifically to sing and make melody in our hearts (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). One might wonder where an example of the New Testament church using instruments is in the Bible. There is no authority for the use of mechanical instruments and we cannot go beyond what is written (1 Cor. 4:6, Prov. 30:6). While these are definitely not all the beliefs of the churches of Christ, these are worthy of our consideration.

The churches of Christ are not trying to bind where God has not bound, but we are also not trying to loose where God has not allowed us. We simply want to do what the Bible says and put our faith in God not men. Let me thank this week’s reader for sending in this question. If you have a Bible questions about any subject, please write it down and send it to the address below and I will be glad to answer it biblically in this article in the Friday religious section of the Daily Ardmoreite. May God Bless each of us as we strive to do His will!