What's so different about the Church of Christ from the various religious organizations of today? The Churches of Christ exist today because people have seperated themselves from the various man made religious institutions and returned to following the simple New Testament pattern as is found in the Bible. We do our best to adhere only to the Bible as our source of religious authority. We are opposed to all departures from the original biblical plan. The Churches of Christ today wear the same name as in the first century Church, teach the same plan of salvation, and worship the same way the Church did in the days of the apostles.

The phrase "Church of Christ" is a descriptive term to signify Christ's Lordship of the Church, not a denominational label. In the New Testament times there was only one Church, and every Christian who obeyed the plan of salvation was a member of it. The idea more than one Church with various doctrines, forms of worship, and different names simply was not God's plan. The Bible makes no mention of modern denominations. Divisions in the original Church only came about years later. The very oldest denominations did not begin until several hundred years after Jesus established his Church. Many man made denominations have begun only withun the last 100 years. Jesus foretold of departures from the original plan (1Tim 4:1-2, 2 Tim 4:3-4, Acts 20:29-30, 2 Thess2:3). The only guide for faith and practice of those early Christians was God's word by the inspired preaching of Apostles. It is the map that gives all Christians the divine guidance that we need.

Today we have the Bible and can know what doctrines are based on biblical principals. If we compare ourselves, our beliefs, and our actions to what is written in God's holy word we can know the truth. The Bible is the inspired, authoritative, all sufficient word of God (2 Tim 3:16-17). The word "Church" (Ekklesia in Greek literally means "To call out"). The Church in the New Testament scriptures refers to "A Called Out Body of People". The Church includes all the saved who have been called our of the world into God's service.

 
 

Establishment: The Church was established on the day of Pentecost in the city of Jerusalem about 33 AD.

- Predicted by prophecy ( Daniel 2:44)

- Church promised (Acts 2: 2-42)

- Church built (Matt 16:18)

Founder and Head: Christ promised to build his church during his earthly ministry. The Church has no other head, except for Christ. His dominion over it is total and complete.

- Christ founded the Church (Matthew 16:13-19, Ephesians 2:19-22)

- Christ reigns as its head (Colosians 1:18)

Name: The term "Church of Christ" is not used as a denominational designation, but rather as a descriptive term indicating that the Church belongs to Christ. No specific authority is given for any denominational name. It is distinct from religious institutions of human origin.

- Christ owns the church (Matthew 16:18)

- Church of Christ (Romans 16:16)

- The Kingdom (Hebrews 12:28)

- The Body (Colosians 1:18, Ephesians 1:22,23)

Number: The Church in the New Testament is always referred to in singular terms and could not be correctly labeled as a denomination as it many times is in the world today. The word "denomination" suggests a fraction or part of the whole. The Church of Christ is not a part or fraction of anything, therefore it is not a denomination.

Organizations: The Church must remain free from earthly political, economical and secular governing organizations. The local congregations of the New Testament days had Elders, Deacons, and Evangelists.

- Christ is Head (Colosians 1:18)

- Heaven is his home (1 Peter 3:24)

- Each congregation is independant (1 Peter 5:2)

- Overseen by Elders (Titus 1:5-9)

Membership: Through the preaching of the Apostle, many on my hand in Jerusalem obeyed the Gospel of Jesus Christ and were added to the Church. When a person obeys the Gospel of Christ and becomes a Christian, God adds them to the Church.

- Baptized into the Church (1 Corinthians 12:13)

- God, not man, adds us to the Church (Acts 2:47)

- Individual members make up the Church (1 Corinthians 12:12)

Names of the Church members: The Bible uses the terms "Christians", "Saints", and "Brethern" to primarily describe the members of the New Testament Church.

- Brethern (James 5:7)

- Saints (Colosians 1:2)

- Christians (Acts 11:26)