The Gospel Message


Volume 1 	            Lawrence, Kansas    		December 1961	  	     Number 12
Editor and Publisher - Roy Loney


What Is The Church Of Christ?
F. Wilford Landes


The church of Christ is a body of believers endeavoring to worship the Lord God as prescribed by the New Testament. Ours is not a plea for denominationalism, but a plea for the unity of all believers in Christ. We believe that this can only be achieved by a complete return to the New Testament teaching and practice.


Unity is possible, not on the terms of man, but on the terms of the Lord. Jesus prayed that his disciples might all be one (John 17:21.). One of the slogans to aid such unity in the midst of so much division, is "Let us speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent."


THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God and that it is sufficient for teaching and creed, for Paul states that the scriptures furnish the man of God unto all good works (II Timothy 3:16, 17). We do not have any written handbooks, Confessions or creeds as are commonly known. We believe that the Old Testament reveals the prophecies of Jesus and his church, and that the New Testament shows the fulfillment of these prophecies. We believe that in the complete will of God, the Bible, there is sufficient information to guide us in rendering acceptable service to God. The apostle Peter declared that God has given unto us "all things which pertain unto life and godliness"—II Peter 1:3. Read also II Peter 1:16-21 and Galatians 1:8-9, where Paul declared that the curse of heaven would rest on those who preached any other gospel than the one he received by divine revelation.


WHEN DID THE CHURCH BEGIN?
The New Testament must be our guide in this matter, as it shall be in this entire article. The usage of the word church, and all references to it in the New Testament are always in the future until we come to Acts 2. Chronologically this was about the year 33 AD. As you read this chapter, you are struck by the forcefulness of the events and the sermon Peter preached on that day. Then verse 47 brings a bold conclusion to the stirring events, for it reads, "And the Lord added to the church . . ." This statement is present tense indicating that the church was now an established institution. Determining the date of this event, we find that church was established 50 days after the resurrection of Christ. We believe that the church he established was and is the church of Christ. We only ask that you read carefully the rest of this article, examining the scriptures cited to see the validity of our position.


Historically the church has always existed where and when there were those who were obedient to Jesus as he and the New Testament taught them.


We believe the church of Christ is in the world today where there are congregations that are endeavoring to be the same as the churches of the apostolic times. In other words, it is a "restoration movement" today. We have no desire to organize a new group or build a new church, but to perpetuate the organization so clearly and simply set forth in scriptures. We would call all from world of Christianity to the body of Christ, bearing his name, and known only as Christians. It is presumptuous for men to build a church other than the church that Christ, through love and divine wisdom, built nineteen hundred years ago. Jesus did not die to save the churches of men: he died to save and redeem his own church—Acts 20:28. His church was purchased with his blood.


WHY THE NAME "CHURCH OF CHRIST?"
There are several terms used in the scripture to describe the church that was established on the day of Pentecost 33 A. D. Each of those terms is valuable to the student and to the members of the body of Christ. However the term "church of Christ" conveys more accurately and concisely all that Christ had reference to when he said, "upon this rock I will build my church"—Matthew 16:18. It is his church because he paid the full price for it—I Peter 1:18-19.


The term is scriptural by example for Paul in speaking of a number of congregations said, "The churches of Christ salute you"—Romans 16:16. Denominational names are divisive. They do not unite Gods people, but by their very terminology, they separate into groups. Let us use only New Testament terms for our practice, and thus walk by faith.


THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH
The New Testament reveals that each congregation of the church was a local and separate unit. There was no central headquarters established. Even Jerusalem, with all of its influence, was not considered by the early church to be the headquarters or "Mother church." Each local congregation was and is ruled by local elders or bishops. They are to be "ordained" in every church—Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5. All Bible scholars agree that in the early church the elders and bishops were the same class of officers. They were called elders to denote their maturity and experience: they were called bishops to indicate the nature of their work. They had the oversight of the flock and were to feed it—I Peter 5:2. The bishop did not rank above the elder for they were one and the same.


Preachers of the church of Christ are not pastors in the modern sense of the term. The pastorate applies to the eldership, for they were the feeders of the flock. Preachers are called evangelists—(Ephesians 4:11) and are the proclaimers of the gospel and as such are under the rule of the elders or bishops, as are all other members.


Just here arises another question: How are the congregations linked or connected together? By their common belief in the scriptures as their only guide: By their common faith and practice. By the common method that brings all believers into Christ, and thus into the church.


THE WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH
IT'S MUSIC: The New Testament as a history positively establishes the fact that during the apostolic times the church rendered its musical praise to the Lord without musical instruments. Religious historians agree. Inasmuch as we desire to be like the New Testament pattern, we do not use musical instruments. As Paul phrased it, we worship God by "speaking to ourselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord"—Ephesians 5:19 also Colossians 3:16.


IT'S PRAYERS: Prayer is an integral part of the worship services of the church of Christ, and of the private lives of its members. The early church "continued steadfastly" in prayers—Acts 2:42. The church prays for the members who are in need, as it prayed for Peter (Acts 12:5), and it also prays for our temporal rulers—I Timothy 2:1-2. We do not pray to men nor saints, nor do we pray through them. God alone is the recipient of our prayers of petitions and thanksgiving. Christ is our mediator, acting in our behalf before the throne of divine Grace (I Timothy 2:5), and our prayers are through his name and by his authority—John 16:23-26; Colossians 3:17; Matthew 28:18.


THE LORD'S SUPPER: "Upon the day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread" reads a portion of Acts 20:7. The church of the first, century observed the Lord's supper each first day of the week. The regularity of their example is forceful enough to cause each follower to want to do likewise. Thus the Lord's Supper is a part of each Lord's day service today in the churches of Christ.


THE STUDY OF THE WORD: "Study to show thyself approved unto Gad, a workman that is not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth"—II Timothy 2:15. We by classroom teaching, preaching and edification bring a knowledge of the scriptures to the assembled congregation. Private studies in the home are earnestly encouraged.


FINANCES: "How do you raise your money?" This seems to be always a prevalent question. All works of the churches of Christ are authorized by the New Testament. All financial support for such work is to be by the church. The world is not called upon to finance the work of God's own people. To raise the funds necessary to carry on the work of the church, each congregation takes up a collection during the assembled worship service, each first day of the week. This is the only collection. Each member gives as he has been financially prospered and is able. Each is answerable to the Lord as to how much he shall give. In this we believe the New Testament is the source of examples for such procedure. "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God has prospered him"—I Corinthians 16:2.


BAPTISM: Members of the church of Christ are often asked about this subject, and to answer it let me quote from the scriptures.

  1. It is a command of Christ. "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." —Matthew 28:19.
  2. It is a command of the apostle Peter: "Then Peter said unto them, repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost"—Acts 2:38.
  3. It was taught by the apostle Paul that we are in Christ through baptism. "For as many of us as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." —Galatians 3: 27
  4. Baptism saves us. "Baptism doth also now save us"—I Peter 3:21
  5. Baptism is by immersion or burial. "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death"—Romans 6:4

Baptism is a matter of faith in God, in Christ and in the scriptures. Since it is a matter of faith, infants are not baptized, for they cannot have faith. Churches of Christ immerse into Christ all who by faith acknowledge their desire to comply with the command.


HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
  1. We must have Faith: "Without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him"—Hebrews 11:6. And this faith can come only by hearing the word of God—Romans 10:17. When we hear and believe God's word, only then do we have faith. "These things are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life through his name"—John 20:30, 31.
  2. We must Repent of our sins: "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish"—Luke 13:8. "Then Peter said unto them, repent and be baptized"—Acts 2:38. "And the times of this ignorance God winked, but he commandeth all men everywhere to repent"—Acts 17:30.
  3. We must confess faith in Christ: "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation"—Romans 10:10. "If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God"—Acts 8:37.
  4. We must be baptized: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved"—Mark 16:16. "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins"—Acts 2:38.


AFTER WE RECEIVE MEMBERSHIP
"That we should walk in newness of life"—Romans 6: 4. "Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ"—II Peter 3:18. "And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue, knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance godliness, and godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity (love). For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ"—II Peter 1:5-8.


IN CONCLUSION
Your reading of this article is deeply appreciated. We are interested in your soul. We assuredly believe that our eternal salvation is found only through obedience to the scriptures; for these scriptures set forth the plan of God through the church of his beloved Son. May we help you to be a part of that institution?



~ Left this world to be with his Lord - (Revelation 14:15)


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