Perhaps you are considering attending the church of Christ in your area, or you are visiting a worship service of the church of Christ. Maybe you have some questions about the church. This is good. We are always ready to try to answer one’s ques- tion about our beginning, our teaching, our organization, or our worship, or our work.
When did the Church of Christ Begin?
The prophet Isaiah about 700 years before Christ, foretold of the kingdom’s or the church’s beginning. He referred to both the time and place of its beginning. It would begin in the “last days,” and it would begin in Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-3). One can read of the fulfillment of this prophecy in Acts 2. Prior to that first Pentecost following the resurrection of Christ, the kingdom (or the church) was in the future. On that memorable day, the Lord added to the church such as were being saved (Acts 2:47). Sometimes individuals will ask if we are non-denominational. Perhaps a better way to express who we are is to say we are pre-denominational. The church of Christ was in existence before any denomination came into existence.
What Is Taught at the Church of Christ?
The simple answer is the Bible. We believe all sixty-six books are inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Though there is great value in studying the Old Testament made up of thirty-nine books, we are under the New Testament today. The Jews were under the Old Testament, but when Jesus died on the cross, he took it away (Colossians 2:14) in order to establish the New Tes- tament (Hebrews 10:9-10). The church is the pillar and ground of the truth; so, we teach the truth (John 8:32; 17:17; 1 Peter 1:22).
The principle of sowing and reaping is followed. The word of God is the seed of the kingdom (Luke 8:11). If we plant the same seed as was done in the first century, we will produce the same crop. If we teach the very same thing that was taught in the first century, we will produce Christians. If seedcorn were pre- served a hundred or a thousand years when planted, it would still produce corn. This is what we endeavor to do.
The church teaches what the New Testament directs con- cerning what one must do to be saved. People must be taught (Matthew 28:19-20). They must believe the gospel, repent of their sins, confess Christ and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 16:15-16; Romans 10:10; Acts 2:38). When they do that, the Lord adds them to the one church (Acts 2:38-47).
How Is the Church of Christ Organized?
Jesus Christ is the head of the church universally (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23). Each congregation is self-governing. When a congregation is fully organized, it is overseen by a plurality of men called elders, overseers, or bishops (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-4). Each man in the eldership must meet the qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. All members of that congregation are to be in subjection to the elders. This body of men, called the eldership, makes decisions only in the realm of judgment. They cannot go beyond that which is authorized in the New Testament (Revelation 22:18-19). One man is not over the local church. Serving with and under the eldership are deacons, preachers and all other members (Hebrews 13:17).
How Does the Church of Christ Worship?
When one enters a worship service of a church of Christ, he finds things are done perhaps are a little different from what those in the denominational world do. He will find friendly people. But there is no mechanical instrument used with our singing because the New Testament authorizes us all to sing (Ephesians 5:19; Co- lossians 3:16). History is clear that there were no mechanical instruments of music used in worship services for hundreds of years, close to a thousand years later, according to one scholar. If one visits the services on the first day of the week, he will no- tice that the Communion is also offered. This is done every week because that is how often the early church partook (Acts 20:7). Prayers are offered at all services. One will also observe that Christians give as they have been prospered each first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:2). Visitors can give if they please, but we do not expect them to do so. The preaching will be unique. One will hear the Bible preached. All are encouraged to compare what they hear and see with what the New Testament teaches (Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21).
The Work of the Church of Christ
The purpose of the church is to carry out the work that Jesus did while on earth. Luke records, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10.) Before Je- sus left this earth, he gave the Great Commission which reads:“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have command- ed you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19–20.)
As one reads the book of Acts, he will notice that the early church went everywhere preaching the gospel (Acts 8:4). This charge is still for us today. As we go preaching the gospel, we are to remember the poor (Galatians 2:9-10). Recreation and oth- er such activities are not the work of the church. That is the re- sponsibility of the home.
So, come visit the church of Christ. You will be a welcome guest.