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What
is the Church of Christ?
In
language, we think of a word or phrase as having a singular
meaning. In reality, words and phrases may have multiple meanings
for a variety of reasons. The term 'Church of Christ' has a
meaning to me that has been shaped by my study of the Scriptures
and by teachers and preachers who have expounded the Word. Like
many religious groups, some in churches of Christ are going
through a self-professed identity crisis. For these and others
from varied religious backgrounds, 'Church of Christ' may signify
a narrow, unimportant, sectarian organization with roots only a
couple of hundred years old.
I believe that most members of the Church of Christ rightly
understand our Biblical identity as the church belonging to
Christ. It is a mark of pride (but not in an unholy, self-exalting
sense) to know that we can be a member of the kingdom prophesied
in the Old Testament (Isa. 2, Joel 2), predicted and
promised by Jesus (Matt. 13 & Matt. 16:18), and
purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28).
The Christians in first-century Rome were admonished, "Greet
one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet
you." (Romans 16:16) We see from this verse
that the plural or singular phrase is Biblical. Many have noted
that this designation is not the only one in the New Testament. We
find 'church(es) of God' (Acts 20:28, 1 Cor. 1:2 [& 5
other times in 1 & 2 Cor.]; Gal. 1:13, 1 Thess. 2:14, 2 Thess.
1:4, 1 Tim. 3:5), 'church of the firstborn' (Heb.
12:23), 'kingdom of God' (many times in gospels), etc. But
these descriptions were not denominations or bodies distinct from
one another in doctrine, worship, or organization. These
scriptural titles show the joint ownership and headship of God and
Christ over the church (Greek ekklesia meaning 'called
out').
Just as surely as calling a dog a cat doesn't make it a cat,
calling oneself a/the church doesn't make it necessarily so. A
church with the right title but with wrong practices
isn't any more justified than one having the right practices
but a wrong title (wearing the name of men or movements).
God and Christ have an entity, pictured as a bride, a body, an
army, and a family, that is the church. Through the Word of
God, we can know the distinctiveness of this church, its terms of
admission, its purpose, its worship, its organization, and its
destiny. Other articles will explore these important Bible
teachings. For all of God's people wanting to be His church, we
must submit to His authority for how to please Him in all things.
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What
must one do to be a member of the Church ?
How
confusing it must be to those with no religious background to sort
through the various denominational teachings on the conditions for
church membership. Truly, if we are all worshipping the same God,
and believe in the same Jesus, how can there be conflicting
doctrines about how to get in the church? Is the standard so broad
that 'anything goes'? On one extreme the 'megachurch' touts its
devotion to the 'whole man' (often meaning much social and
physical development and very little spiritual) and has lax
standards of admission. The motto is "it doesn't matter what
(or if) you believe, just come swell our roll and have a little
fun. The opposite spectrum might see a church so formal/
traditional / dignified, that the unspoken message is "don't
even think about membership here, we're quite well off without
you" (especially since you don't dress or talk like we do).
Is there scriptural authority for upholding a fixed, unchanging
pattern for man's response to God's gracious offer of pardon
through Christ's cross? We can see the pattern of New Testament
teaching on this subject by noticing the importance of:
1) Hearing the gospel - "So then faith comes by
hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Rom. 10:17)
2) Believing the gospel - "But without faith it is
impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe
that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek
Him." (Heb. 11:6)
3) Repenting of sins - "The Lord is not slack
concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is
longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but
that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9)
4) Confessing Christ - "that if you confess with your
mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised
Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one
believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation." (Rom. 10:9,10)
5) Baptism into Christ - "And now why are you waiting?
Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the
name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16)
Many other Scriptures substantiate each of the above points and
all should be studied in their contexts. It follows that
faithfulness throughout life must be pursued for us to be saved.
See Matthew 28:18-20.
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Why
don't we use instrumental music in worship ?
One
distinct feature of worship in the Church of Christ is the absence
of instrumental music. In the New Testament, there is not a
command, example, or inference of it being used in worship to God.
Furthermore, early church history bears out the use of vocal
singing in praise to God. Modern churches, even with the name
'Church of Christ' on them, who use instrumental music do so
without scriptural warrant. It needs to be noted that there are
other religious groups who refuse instrumental music either on the
grounds that there is no authority for it, or on some other
grounds.
Some of the reasons given to defend its use include:
1. It was acceptable in the Old Testament so why not now?
Hundreds of other acceptable practices like animal sacrifices were
done away with by the cross of Christ. Why pick and choose only a
few we want to keep?
2. The New Testament doesn't forbid their use. When
God specifies how a thing is to be done, that excludes
innovations. We wouldn't add cake and coke to the Lord's supper on
the same basis of respecting God's silence.
3. There will be harps in heaven, so why not here?
Based upon figurative language in Revelation (6:2,
for example), some seem to find authority. It is doubtful that
there are literal harps in a spiritual realm, but even so, it
doesn't justify their use on earth.
4. Instruments are an aid to singing. There is a
difference between an aid (like a pitch pipe or songbook) and an
addition (like a piano, guitar, drums, etc.) The relative favor
one might have for instrumental music is not as important as what
God's Word says.
5. Playing is just as authorized as singing in Eph.
5:19f. The Greek word 'psallo' has been studied and
debated for centuries and an overwhelming majority render it as
sing, not sing and play or play only. By the way, if it did
include playing instruments, all people would be required to in
fulfillment of the above passage. How many groups have 100%
participation in this regard?
6. We like it and are determined to keep worshipping this
way. Most individuals and denominations who use instruments in
worship probably have not thought critically about the practice.
Tradition and personal enjoyment are often reason enough for
people to do this, and I'm sure few are convinced that it's wrong
and are willfully ignoring Biblical evidence. Like all doctrines,
truth has nothing to fear as we honestly study our New Testament.
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Who
is the Holy Spirit?
Let us begin by noticing that 'who' in the title is
more fitting than 'what' in identifying the Holy Spirit. As the
third member of the Godhead, the Spirit (same Being as the Holy
Ghost in older versions) is referred to by personal pronouns like
He, Him, and His. He is found some 88 times in the Old Testament
and 264 times in the New Testament. Though many outlandish claims
are made today for His work in the world, we simply need to stand
on Scripture. He is not to be feared more than Satan, as some are
misled to believe.
He was present at the creation of the world (Gen. 1:2,27),
is by nature 'good' (Neh. 9:20), is eternal (Heb.
9:14), and is omnipresent (Psa. 139:7).
As one having personality, and not just an 'it' or an intuitive
influence, the Spirit was blasphemed (Matt.12:31,32),
grieved (Eph. 4:30), lied to (Acts 5:3),
resisted (Acts 7:51), and quenched (1 Thess.
5:19).
His special role for Jesus' apostles was as Comforter, teacher,
and reminder (John 14:16,26), witness bearer (John
15:26), and guide (John 16:13).
Concerning His role in redemption, He has given us the inspired
Word, though He is not identical to the Word. We are born of water
and the Spirit (John 3:5,6), are sanctified by the
Spirit (2 Thess. 2:13), and of the Spirit will reap
eternal life (Gal. 6:8).
Though He was very active in a miraculous way in the first century
church, he is active in a non-miraculous way today. He leads (Rom.
8:14; Gal. 5:16-26), makes intercession in prayer (Rom.
8:26), communes (2 Cor. 13:14), is an
earnest [guarantee] of future glory (Eph. 1:13,14; 4:30),
and strengthens (Eph. 3:16).
One of the more debated topics of the Spirit's work is His
indwelling. Romans 8:11 and 1 Cor. 6:16-19
teach that the Spirit indwells Christians. It is noteworthy that
such is also said of God (2 Cor. 6:16) and Christ (Col.
1:27), so the fact of indwelling can't be denied; the
means of indwelling is.
In Acts 2:38, the gift of the Holy Spirit is
promised to the penitent baptized. Some believe that this was a
miraculous gift, while others believe it was a personal,
non-miraculous measure. Compare also Acts 5:32.
Suffice it to say, the Holy Spirit will not overwhelm us against
our consent into obeying/serving God. Let us be respectful and
appreciative for His power
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