Church of Christ

Alternate meanings: see Church of Christ (disambiguation).

The Churches of Christ are a body of autonomous Protestant congregations that have their roots in the American Restoration Movement of the Nineteenth Century. The churches of Christ have as distinctive traits their refusal to hold to any creeds other than the Bible itself ("Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent,") their practice of adult baptism for the remission of sins, autonomous congregational church organization with congregations overseen by a plurality of elders, the weekly observance of communion, and their belief in a capella congregational singing in worship. Other churches that have their roots in the Restoration Movement include the Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ (Instrumental) and the Disciples of Christ.

Churches of Christ in the past would be characterized as a sect (holding that they are not another denomination); but some congregations today would consider themselves to be "Christians only, but not the only Christians." It should be noted that some members, particularly older members, of this group are apt to object to being referred to as "Protestants", saying that the Church was not founded as a protest against anything, other than perhaps the domination of the present world by Satan. Some, probably most, members would also object to the categorization of their church as a "denomination", as one of the tenets of this movement is that they are not a denomination and that denominationalism is a sinful departure from the original plan laid down in the Bible for the Church.

Church organization

There is no headquarters for the Church of Christ and each congregation has its own structure consisting of Elders, Deacons, and one or more Preachers/Evangelists. Typically the churches participate in a loose informal network of other local churches of Christ.

Elders are spiritually mature Christian men who work in some specialized capacity of a spiritual nature. They provide moral guidance, approve and establish bible study curriculum, select Sunday School teachers, and select the Preacher/Evangelist if the position becomes vacant. In some congregations, elders also select the deacons. Elders are also called pastors, shepherds, and bishops; these Biblical terms are held to refer to the same office, but the use of "elder" is the most common by far. Elders are selected by the members of a congregation; the method of doing this varies slightly between congregations, but involves confirming that a potential elder does indeed embody all of the characteristics of elders which are listed in the Bible.

Deacons are recognized special servants of the church and most often take care of specialized needs of the congregation. Typically the physical building in which services are held will have a Deacon overseeing it. Deacons, like Elders, are generally selected by the congregations in a manner very similar to that of Elders.

The Preacher/Evangelist/Minister prepares and delivers sermons, teaches Bible classes, performs weddings, preaches or evangelizes the gospel, and performs baptisms. This position is typically paid. (People associated with the Churches of Christ do not use the title "pastor" to refer to their pulpit minister, as this term is held to refer to the same position as "elder" in the Bible which they feel requires a certain set of qualifications outlined in 1 Timothy and Titus.)

Many congregations also employ other paid ministers besides the pulpit minister including ministers for youth, college students and women.

Hermeneutics

A closer look at the church of Christ really requires one to understand how they go about their interpreation of the Bible. It is often summarized in three parts, "Command", "Example", and "Necessary Inference". The "Command" refers to a direct command found in the scripture. (This being complicated further by what some mainstream evangelicals would refer to as the dispensation principle. For example, the command to build an ark was directed at Noah and not at Christians.) Additionally, commands are classified as 'Specific' or 'Generic' in nature.) "Example" is sometimes phrased as "an approved Apostolic example." The intent here is that the apostles or first century Christians did some action that was approved of (or not condemned). "Necessary inference" refers to some interpretational conclusion that would be necessary in order to obey a command or example.

The principle of silence is also observed. When the Bible does not specifically or indirectly allow a practice, it is considered forbidden. The disagreements within the Churches of Christ primarily derive from differences in interpretation of the meaning of "necessary inference" and the conclusions which can be rightly drawn from "silence". The non-insturmental Chuches of Christ agree that the absence of references to instrumental music in New Testament worship mean that their use is forbidden. However, the New Testament is necessarily silent about many other issues, such as institutions such as oprhanages/children's homes and later innovations such as Sunday school and, for that matter, congregationally-owned houses of worship ("church buildings"). In each case, the "mainstream" group has reasoned that "necessary inference" allows their use as a way of providing for otherwise-homeless children, facilitating study of the Scriptures, and providing for a reasonable and convenient setting for worship services; in each case a dissident faction, using the "principle of silence", finds these developments to be unwarranted and sinful innovations.

Specific teachings and prohibitions

Churches of Christ mostly agree with the theology of other Fundamentalist Christian groups, believing in Jesus Christ as the son of God, the death of Jesus by crucifixion as atonement for sin, and most other basic Christian teachings. However, there are many specific practices that distinguish them from these other bodies.

The Church of Christ believes that the organization and structure of the church was laid down by Jesus Christ himself through his apostles in the form of the Bible. Since this Church has no headquarters and each church is independent, the teachings may vary but there is a remarkable degree of uniformity among churches of Christ in each region. The common variances are over the institution of Bible classes, the method that the Lord's supper is served (whether the fruit of the vine is served in one cup or many), the role of women in public worship and whether ministers should be paid professionals or serve on a volunteer basis.

Common beliefs and practices include:

• The Bible was written by men who where inspired and guided by God the Father through the Holy Spirit. Most believe in a "Plenary" Inspiration whereby the inspired author is able to use his language to express divine truth but the ultimate truthfulness is from God (as opposed to "mechanical" inspiration where the Biblical author is just a mortal "typewriter" for an immortal God).
• No religious icons
• No instrumental music in services (a capella)
• Children below the age of accountability are considered in a "safe" position in the eyes of God and would not be condemned to hell if they died before the age of accountability (a denial of the common doctrine of Original Sin). Additionally, such persons as lack the mental capacity consciously to choose right or wrong are saved as they are incapable of truly choosing wrong.
• The requirements for salvation are commonly presented in 5 steps being: Hear (the Word of God), Believe (in the Word), Repent (of one's sins), Confess (that Jesus Christ is Lord) and be baptized (by immersion). Continued faithfulness is enjoined because they do not believe in doctrine of perseverance of the saints.
• Celebration of religious holidays, such as Christmas, as religious holidays, is often discouraged, although secular observance of such days is usually tolerated for individual members. In recent years this belief is in decline in many churches, and it is not unheard of for a church to have special events for such holidays or even to celebrate them with traditional religious significance. A number of churches, though, continue to practice complete rejection of holidays.
• Women are not to have positions of spiritual authority over grown men.
• The lost will be condemned to eternity without God. The vast majority believe in a literal hell while others believe it is metaphor of an eternity outside of the light of God.
• Most churches forbid women from participation in leading public worship or in serving as elders, deacons and preachers.
• Worship can take place at any gathering of church members. Baptism can take place in any suitable body of water and may be administered by any person.
• No clergy and laity distinction; all members are considered to be priests. Certain male members specialize in the field of teaching. These men are often called "Preachers" and are generally paid for their work.
• The Lord's Supper can be served anywhere members are gathered on Sunday; no specifically "authorized" individual is needed to administer communion (except that those administering communion are almost invariably male as a matter of doctrine in most congregations).
• Divorce, except for reasons of infidelity, is condemned and remarriage in these cases is adultery.
• Abortion is considered to be a sin.
• Homosexuality is seen as a sin. They generally differentiate homosexual actions from homosexual people, often espousing the idea that all homosexual action is a choice, and denouncing the idea of inherently homosexual people.
• Satan is considered to be a literal being, not just a symbolic or allegorical representation of evil. He is seen as literally tempting Christ's followers away from their chosen path, usually by the use of human agents. His power is considerable, although vastly inferior to that of God, who allows Satan to exist so that God's followers worship and follow Him as a true act of free will, not predestination.
• Many members of the churches of Christ practice "closed fellowship" (fellowshiping only fellow members of the churches of Christ), while others would extend the ties of fellowship to Evangelical Protestant denominations. The issue of "fellowship" is a hotly debated one.
• Generally, a belief that Churches of Christ are not a denomination. Most believe denominationalism itself is sinful and hold that Christ established only one church. This doctrine is similar to earlier beliefs of Roman Catholicism.
• In terms of Eschatology the church of Christ is generally amillennial.
• The theology of Churches of Christ is basically Arminian, although probably not often referred to as such. Original Sin and the whole idea of Total Depravity from which it ensues are rejected, although the human prediliction to sin to due to tempatations and the limitations of human nature is affirmed. Election and predestination are functions of the exercise of free will -- those who freely choose God's way through Christ are elect and hence saved, others are lost. This decision can be changed based on the believer's behavior -- he or she can consciously elect to cease following Christ and hence be lost ("fallen from grace"). God's sacrifice of Christ provided sufficient grace to save all persons from their sins, but it is imcumbent upon them to accept Christ's will and follow Him for this grace to save them personally.

Because of the autonomous nature of churches of Christ, many vary in their adherence to some of these practices. Many congregations are actively debating many of these issues, but as a whole this list reflects practices considered to be standard, with a focus on those beliefs that distinguish the churches of Christ from other Protestant groups.

Other Restoration Movement bodies

The Churches of Christ have their roots in the American Restoration Movement of the 19th Century. Out of this movement sprang one body interchangeably called "The Churches of Christ" or "Christian Churches," sometimes called "Campbellites." After the American Civil War there began to be divisions in this body over the issues of Missionary Societies and instrumental music in worship which reached a head in 1906 when the two groups formally split, agreeing to be listed separately in the religious census then conducted by the Bureau of the Census. Those holding to the prohibition of instrumental music are the Churches of Christ of today.

Instrumental congregations began to divide in the 20th century during the Fundamentalist response to modernism which solidified in the 1960s with two groups: the Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ and the Disciples of Christ.

Other groups related to the Restoration Movement were the Christian Connexion and The Christian Church, both of which merged into the Congregational Church during the 1930s and thus eventually became part of the United Church of Christ.

Disputes within the Church

A major disagreement over the establishment of "institutions" at a level over that of the local congregations in order to serve works such as children's homes came to a head in the 1950s and 1960s. Today those who disagree with this idea are referred to as non-institutional or often by the pejoratives "anti-cooperation" or "anti." They represent approximately 15% of U.S. membership and are also represented by missionaries in other countries as well.

What is now called the International Churches of Christ (sometimes called "The Boston Movement" which was grounded in the Church of Christ "Crossroads Movement"), which is often considered a cult, had its origins in certain congregations of the Church of Christ. Since the late 1980s, however, Church of Christ leaders have repudiated the Boston Movement as an apostatized, schismatic cult; the Boston Movement in turn has declared itself to be a faithful remnant being called out of a dead or dying church, namely the mainline churches of Christ. (See the Paden article, second link below under the "ICOC" heading, for a fairly impartial examination of this accusation.) Representatives of the ICOC and the mainline Churches of Christ attended reconciliation meetings at the 2004