The Church of Christ?

[Mitspa]

We do believe in the born again experience, in that we are reborn at the time of our repentance and baptism. We become new beings in Christ or to put it better we are new creations in Christ (albeit with a past :/ ) and the spirit dwells in us or alternatively the gift of salvation from the Spirit. Salvation to a future life.
No to baptism before belief. You must believe first then confess your belief and repentance of sins at your baptism.
Also no to baptism of babies because we believe that until someone is old enough to know sin you are without sin. We don't believe in the inherent sinfulness doctrine. Sin is something we learn as we mature and decide to do. A baby doesn't know what's right or wrong for the first year or so of his or her life. Then it is not really choosing sin, rather testing mum n dad's patience and boundaries. Further, a toddler cannot possibly comprehend God and the consequences of his or her actions. Lord knows we adults have a hard enough time of that
Therefore no infant baptism.

funny I just heard the other day about baptism for infants in your church? Are you sure this is not part of the doctrine? I wont debate these issues here...like being born-again and receiving the Spirit before baptism...which is how everyone is born-again..at the hearing of the gospel... and the scriptures clearly teach... but I would like to ask if your group rejects Pauls epistles and teaching that before we receive Christ we are by nature children of wrath and sinners in the flesh....And the testimony of the law that none are good all are sinners? How to you understand these truths as it relates to what your church teaches? By the way a baby is born in sin and the sin and selfish nature can be seen quiet early in a baby.

 

[Eph2all]

I was a member of several Church of Christ, Inc. [CoC] congregations. There are significant differences in their theology and the amount of legalism.

The almost universal thread is that one can only be saved if baptized in an approved manner by a member of an approved CoC.

Every one was incorporated yet claimed to be the sole approved church! [Note most members don't realize their group is incorporated and fewer understand the significance of that.]

 

[hornetguy]

The almost universal thread is that one can only be saved if baptized in an approved manner by a member of an approved CoC.

I've been a member of the Church of Christ all my life. My dad was an elder. As Ron White would say..... "we've met"......

I have never (as in never) heard anyone in the Churches of Christ state that you had to be baptized by an "approved" member of an "approved" church.... we actually had two or three baptisms of young adult guys in our swimming pool, with all their friends in the water with them.... talk about a moving, meaningful experience....

Churches of Christ are autonomous... there is no central guiding/overseeing body. Each church decides for itself what its "mission statement" is. Most are very similar.

It is getting difficult now to find a Church of Christ that does not have some form of instrumental music.... although it is correct that it was considered un-scriptural up until maybe 10-12 years ago... unscriptural in the sense of there was no mention of it in the first century church.... Old Testament was a separate thing.. didn't matter what David did.... we're talking the body of Christ... the church.

Nearly all of them believe that baptism is an essential part of the salvation process. Many still loosely go by the 5 necessities for being saved.... you hear, believe, repent, confess your sins, and are baptized. All are essential parts of the process of being saved.... it's not earning it, it's obedience to what Jesus and the apostles taught.... scripture.

Churches of Christ participate in communion every Sunday.. as it appears in scripture and in the writings of the apostolic fathers that the early church did.

There's more, if you are interested.... ask any question you wish....

 

[Eph2all]

You apparently went to more liberal CoCs than I did. NONE of the ones I went to had or approved of instrumental music. In fact most had lists of other 'approved' congregations and at least two (I think - it was decades ago) either required or wanted letters of commendation before accepting an 'outsider' (someone not in the congregation) to be allowed to have communion!

 

[hornetguy]

Yes, there are some pretty rigid churches... some think that having "Sunday school" is wrong. Some still hold that women are to be silent observers during worship. No getting up in front of the group to even read announcements, because that would be "usurping authority" from men...
ANY denomination will have the fringe groups, either ultra conservative, or ultra liberal.... the Churches of Christ are no exception..

As I said, there has been a pretty widespread shifting of belief in the non-essentials lately. There is way more tolerance in most churches I've attended or visited.
Where I live, there are probably 6 or 7 churches, and 3 of them that I know of are mostly "liberal" in beliefs... 2 or 3 would be considered "moderate" or even old fashioned.... we call it the 1960's Church of Christ mentality... at least one is what we would call an "anti-cooperative" type... no Sunday schools, no participation in city-wide church events, men and boys expected to wear suits to church, and women wear dresses.... etc...

 

[Adstar]

I know denominations are not important to God and that there should be no division. We should adhere to and follow the bible itself. So on so forth. But when it comes to this church called "The Church of Christ" (NOT to be confused with Church of Christ latter day saints, no Mormonism) I'm interested. I'm praying and starting my own walk in the faith and am trying to learn.


Does anyone here on CC attend The Church of Christ? Has anyone before went to one but was lead away because of personal convictions? Any personal testimonies with this church? Just I want to get a better idea of others' experiences. Not that just their experiences alone would persuade me to attend this church but so I can gain more knowledge about it in general. I also understand that not every church of the same denomination even will be exactly the same. Just over all, how is the Church of Christ?

I had discussions with some COC members on other forums some years ago.. They where very much into Works.. While they did state they believed in the Grace of the LORD Jesus they then went on to focusing on works salvation teaching.. It was almost as if Jesus only saves you from your former sins but after you are saved you must maintain your own salvation by doing works and avoiding sinning..

 

[Adstar]

You apparently went to more liberal CoCs than I did. NONE of the ones I went to had or approved of instrumental music. In fact most had lists of other 'approved' congregations and at least two (I think - it was decades ago) either required or wanted letters of commendation before accepting an 'outsider' (someone not in the congregation) to be allowed to have communion!

Yeah this is bringing back memories.. Very Law focused and sin avoidance.. But there may be a lot of variance between different churches in COC.. Some more strict and more inventive in regards to the LAW ( i mean inventing more Laws then the Law has ( banning instrumental music being an example )..

Edit:: I may be wrong but i think there was also one banning dancing.. They may have taught that dancing was a vertical expression of a horizontal desire ??? Something like that..

 

[Lynx]

at least one is what we would call an "anti-cooperative" type... no Sunday schools, no participation in city-wide church events, men and boys expected to wear suits to church, and women wear dresses.... etc...

The one in our town must be that uncooperative kind. When we have community Easter or Thanksgiving service (where all the churches in town get together at the park) they never, ever come.

 

[hornetguy]

It was almost as if Jesus only saves you from your former sins but after you are saved you must maintain your own salvation by doing works and avoiding sinning..

I'm sure there are some that do believe that, just as in every other denomination... most that I worship and fellowship with, see "works" as being obedient, and as evidence of our life in Jesus...
Salvation is offered to us, freely.... we simply have to accept the gift. If we accept the gift, we will do what our Savior asks us to do. It's called obedience...

But there may be a lot of variance between different churches in COC..

Yes, in my experience, there are probably three major "belief systems"... the really strict ones, with no co-operation, no Sunday schools, no women in any role of authority, no instrumental music, no "kitchen" area in the church building, proper dress, "we're the only ones going to heaven" mentality... etc.

The second group are the moderates... while they don't think instrumental music is sinful, they simply "choose to not have it." proper clothing is more "business casual"... do things "decently and in order"... women are allowed to teach Sunday school, and organize events, etc. While they don't require any kind of "proof" of a believer's status, they would still quietly look askance at someone participating in communion that they know (or suspect) was not a believer. While they don't necessarily think they are the only ones going to heaven, they probably don't believe that any other denomination "has it right" in all areas....

The third group are the liberal folks.... instrumental music, praise bands, no dress code at all, open communion, raising of hands during singing... they might even change the name of the church from "Church of Christ" to just "Church", to avoid negative connotation... women participating in the worship service, leading prayers, reading scripture, even giving the little devotional talk for the communion service time...
I think that even the liberal groups still don't allow women to be the full time pulpit minister. (preacher) though.

 

[NightTwister]

I grew up in the church of Christ. Other than the baptism requirement for salvation, they're doctrinally sound on the essentials. One thing I took away from there was learning to sing 4-part harmony.

 

[hornetguy]

One thing I took away from there was learning to sing 4-part harmony.

Yes.... a big plus, in my opinion....

 

[Soyeong]

I know denominations are not important to God and that there should be no division. We should adhere to and follow the bible itself. So on so forth. But when it comes to this church called "The Church of Christ" (NOT to be confused with Church of Christ latter day saints, no Mormonism) I'm interested. I'm praying and starting my own walk in the faith and am trying to learn.


Does anyone here on CC attend The Church of Christ? Has anyone before went to one but was lead away because of personal convictions? Any personal testimonies with this church? Just I want to get a better idea of others' experiences. Not that just their experiences alone would persuade me to attend this church but so I can gain more knowledge about it in general. I also understand that not every church of the same denomination even will be exactly the same. Just over all, how is the Church of Christ?

Denominations are mostly about having local autonomy, though they are also about grouping people who agree with how we should adhere to and follow the Bible itself. Anyone can label themselves "The Church of Christ", though that doesn't mean that they are the church that Christ rebuilt.

 

[Adstar]

I'm sure there are some that do believe that, just as in every other denomination... most that I worship and fellowship with, see "works" as being obedient, and as evidence of our life in Jesus...
Salvation is offered to us, freely.... we simply have to accept the gift. If we accept the gift, we will do what our Savior asks us to do. It's called obedience...

If thats true then just one fail;ure to do what Jesus said.. One failure to be obedient shows that we have failed to do what our Savior asks us to do.. What is the logical conclusion to one failing in obediance??

Simple That person has not trully accepted His gift because if they did accept His gift they would be doing what the Savior asks us to do.. Therefore failure.. Just one failure ( and lets be honest people fail to live up to the standards of Jesus all the time) in the COC means that you never really accepted the gift of Jesus.. Your failure proves that you where not saved because as you state those who have accepted the gift """WILL DO WHAT OUR SAVIOR ASKS US TO DO""""

The second group are the moderates... while they don't think instrumental music is sinful, they simply "choose to not have it." proper clothing is more "business casual"... do things "decently and in order"... women are allowed to teach Sunday school, and organize events, etc. While they don't require any kind of "proof" of a believer's status, they would still quietly look askance at someone participating in communion that they know (or suspect) was not a believer. While they don't necessarily think they are the only ones going to heaven, they probably don't believe that any other denomination "has it right" in all areas....

The third group are the liberal folks.... instrumental music, praise bands, no dress code at all, open communion, raising of hands during singing... they might even change the name of the church from "Church of Christ" to just "Church", to avoid negative connotation... women participating in the worship service, leading prayers, reading scripture, even giving the little devotional talk for the communion service time...
I think that even the liberal groups still don't allow women to be the full time pulpit minister. (preacher) though.

So each church leadership ends up going their own individual way.. I have witnessed this in the baptist denomination.. Often the teachings of each church depends on the personal beliefs of the individual pastor officiating the congregation..

 

[hornetguy]

in the COC means that you never really accepted the gift of Jesus.. Your failure proves that you where not saved because as you state those who have accepted the gift """WILL DO WHAT OUR SAVIOR ASKS US TO DO""""

I have never heard anyone in any Church of Christ say anything remotely like that. There may be some that believe that way, as in any other church, but it is certainly not one of their accepted beliefs.... AFAIK....

So each church leadership ends up going their own individual way.. I have witnessed this in the baptist denomination.. Often the teachings of each church depends on the personal beliefs of the individual pastor officiating the congregation..

I can't speak to how Baptist churches operate, but Churches of Christ are led by a group of elders, chosen by the congregation, after much prayer... not by a "pastor"... which is called a "minister" in the Churches of Christ.
The term "pastor" is synonymous with "elder", "overseer", and "shepherd"....
going their own individual way is NOT the way the church is supposed to operate.