What Others Think We Believe...

I was reading about Amish beliefs (their basic beliefs are close to ours with one primary exception, they "baptize" by sprinkling. They immerse by sprinkling. Doesn't make too much sense but by encouraging the use of the word baptism we do not help the situation. Regardless I did similar searches for other groups and then thought of the Church of Christ. Here is what they said about us. We may not agree but this is the way many people see us.

Types

1. In the three basic branches of the Church of Christ, each branch holds its own theological beliefs. Each one considers the other a heretic, yet they still share the same name. The first group of Church of Christ believers is called "One Cup Brethren" and has no musical instruments in the service and followers use only one cup for communion. The second group of believers is called "Cups Brethren." These followers also have no musical instruments, but they use many cups for communion. The last group is called "Instrumental Brethren." They use many instruments in their worship service and they, too, use many communion cups. The "One Cup Brethren" refers to the "Cups Brethren" as the "Digressive Church of Christ," and the "Instrumental Brethren" is known as the "Liberal Church of Christ."

   History

2. The Church of Christ attributes its roots to A.D. 30, stating that it is a New Testament church. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the churches went through a restoration time, which in turn spread throughout America and other countries. The movement which was also known as the Stone-Campbell Movement was lead by two men, Barton W. Stone and Alexander Campbell, in 1832. Many churches went through a revival time, denouncing their original denominational ties and just referring to themselves as Christians or disciples. Because of this revival, the Church of Christ was established. It emphasized the importance of the Bible and using it as the only source of information.

   Misconceptions

3. There are many people who believe the Church of Christ is a cult or has the potential to be a cult. The reason for this is because some feel that the definition of a "cult" is a group that follows extreme beliefs, and that its way is the only way. Another popular misconception regarding the Church of Christ is that it is a denomination. By its own account, it is not a denomination, but a part of the body of Christ. Church of Christ believers claim that they do not follow any man's beliefs or accounts, but model their lives after Christ.

   Theories/Speculation

4. The main theology of Church of Christ followers is that the Bible is the only text that should be followed. Their theology can also be broken down into three main ideologies: Baptismal Regeneration, Non-Instrumental Worship (except for the "Liberal Church of Christ") and denial of the Holy Spirit. Baptismal Regeneration means you are born again and receive your salvation once you've been baptized by water. Many Church of Christ followers have deviated from the Non-Instrumental Worship and allow the use of instruments to worship. However, original Church of Christ followers denied musical instruments in the church, stating that the Bible never mentions them used in the church, so they won't use them. The denial of the Holy Spirit is not followed by all Church of Christ believers. The original Church of Christ followers did not believe that the Holy Spirit was a part of the Holy Trinity, and denies the gift of the Spirit.

   Size

5. Because there are so many different sects of the Church of Christ, the size of the church varies from sect to sect. According to some estimates, there are about 15,000 different individual Church of Christ churches. There are about 2 million members with over 700 men preaching the Word. These statistics were based on the "Christian Herald," which tallies church memberships and churches throughout the United States.

Do you suppose God will answer our prayers for unity any differently than he did Jesus' prayer? A group so divided at first blush does not appear to be worth considering. The world is entering eternity lost and we ignore Jesus' possibly rhetorical question: Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? [4] Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? [5] You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. And we talk about how we "know" we are saved or that we are saved by "grace?" Should be wonder who are the heretics and who are the saved?