The apostle Peter charges us with the responsibility of defending our faith:
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…(1 Peter 3:15/NIV).
The fact that my family has ties to the Church of Christ is not a sufficient defense. Jesus once observed that, Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me…(Matthew 10:37/NIV). Moreover, social acceptability, popularity, and friendliness are not biblically oriented reasons for belonging to this religious group. We must be as the noble Bereans:
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true (Acts 17:11/NIV).
In other words, don’t approve my word, but study it for yourselves. So then, why am I a member of the Church of Christ?
First, I’m a member of the Church of Christ because of its name.
There are, of course, many expressions of Christ’s church in the NT:
The “church” (Acts 8:1)
“church of God” (1 Timothy 3:5)
“church of the living God” (1 Timothy 3:15)
“church of the Firstborn” (Hebrews 12:23)
“church of Christ” (Romans 16:16)
The church has been so designated because Christ built it (Matthew 16.18). In Ephesians, Paul declares that God …placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church…(1:22-23). And, …Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior (5:23). Since Christ built the church, and is its ruling head and Savior, it is called by his name. Thus, the scriptural title, “Church of Christ.”
Second, I’m a member of the Church of christ because of what its members are called.
Disciples of Jesus in the New Testament are called:
“saints” (1 Corinthians 1:2)
“disciples” (Acts 20:7)
“brethren” (1 Corinthians 15:6)
“children of God” (1 John 3:1)
“sons of God” (Romans 8:14)
“Christians” (Acts 11:26; 26:28)
Isaiah in (Isaiah 62:2) forecasted that God would later call a people by a new name, and that name was “Christian.” Peter says in (I Pet. 4:16) that it is in the name Christian that we are to glorify God.
Some, nonetheless, suggest that there is nothing in a name. If that is true, then why did the Lord tell us to glorify God and suffer in the name Christian? There is something in a name, and we must wear only the name of the one to whom we are committed (Acts 4:12). The Bible does not talk about different “brands” of Christians, but simply “Christian.”
Third, I’m a member of the Church of Christ because of its creed.
The Bible alone is its system of faith. What authority do we have to write our own dogmas and bind them upon anyone, when Peter says,
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness (2 Peter 1:3).
Our plea is to take the Bible itself and to discard human creeds:
You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine (Titus 2:1).
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God…(1 Peter 4:11).
Suppose people in a foreign country were unaware of any religious body but were given a Bible to follow as a guide. If they read and believed it and then began a church, what kind would it be if they were influenced by nothing but the New Testament? What would they call it? Would it be a denominational church? No! What creed would they follow, because it takes a creed to produce a church? If they followed only the doctrine of Christ and divorced themselves from human creeds and opinions, they would become New Testament Christians and members of the Lord’s church!
This, my friends, has occurred! There have been people in distant lands who have acquainted themselves with the Bible, set up churches by doing Bible things in Bible ways and calling Bible things by Bible names and, having no foreknowledge of Churches of Christ any where else, their result was the same name and the same practices! The only way that could happen would be to strictly follow the New Testament pattern.
Fourth, I’m a member of the Church of Christ because of its organization.
Each congregation of the Churches of Christ is autonomous, meaning that each local church selects its own elders and deacons and manages its own affairs without being under the dictates of another group or central church regime. Each congregation is independent, and its work is regulated and monitored by elders, as clearly suggested in Acts 14:23. Elders may also be called:
“bishops” (spiritual overseers), Titus 1:5, 7
“overseers” (same as bishop), Acts 20:28
“stewards” (wise managers of God’s estate, the church), Titus 1:7
“pastors” (shepherds tending and protecting the Lord’s flock, the church), Ephesians 4:11
“presbyters” (same as elder, i.e., referring to both physical and spiritual maturity), 1 Timothy 4:14
This is the only type of organization established by God in his New Testament church. There is no authority for one elder or bishop holding rank over another elder or bishop, or one congregation having priority over another. The Church of Christ has consistently respected and adopted this form of government for the Lord’s church.
Fifth, I’m a member of the Church of Christ because of its worship.
On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul was holding a discussion with them…(Acts 20:7/NRSV)
This passage contains a purpose clause, telling us why the early church met on Sunday, the first day of the week, and it was to take the Lord’s Supper. Since Luke, author of Acts, specified the first day of the week, and since he cited no particular first day (i.e., 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month), and since every week has a first day, we partake every first day of the week. The Mosaical Law read, Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy (Exodus 20:8). The Jews understood that to mean every Sabbath, since each week has a Saturday. In the same way, that applies to the expression, “first day of the week,” meaning every week.
Members of the Church of Christ also give of their means as outlined in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, contributing proportionately according to one’s income:
Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income…
Our praise consists of pure, unadulterated a cappella singing, as indicated, at least indirectly, in Ephesians 5:19.
Finally, I’m a member of the Church of Christ because of its teaching on how to become a Christian.
Paul wrote,
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
God’s grace, nevertheless, requires that we take certain measures to insure that we embrace that grace:
Faith is mandatory. Jesus remarked, The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent (John 6:29).
Repentance is a must. Paul said, In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30/NIV).
Confession of our faith in Christ as God’s son is an undeniable component of redemption: For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved (Romans 10:10/NIV).
Baptism completes the plan and seals our initial salvation and place in Christ and his Kingdom:
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
When one obeys these basic commands, demonstrating one’s love and faith in obedience to God, the Lord adds one to the body of the saved, the Church (Acts 2:47).
These are some of the reasons why I am a member of the Church of Christ. I trust that you will lay aside all bias and tradition, and consider these biblical grounds that influenced and prompted my personal choice …for the hope that is in me.
Determine to stand on the Bible alone, and help us to restore New Testament Christianity in its ancient purity and simplicity.
--Paul Killom
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