many churches or one church

[dwinkjr]

Here is a statement of Faith from a CofC College.

Both the Old and New Testaments have been given by divine revelation and are the standard of authority in religious matters.

The Old Testament prepared the way for Christ, and the New Testament fulfills and supersedes it, making the New Testament the final authority for those who have lived since Christ's death on the cross.

There is one God, who is the creator and sustainer of the universe and who takes a direct interest in every human being.  The Godhead consists of God the Father; Christ the Son; and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.  Christ was born of a virgin, died on the cross to make atonement for man's sins, arose bodily from the tomb, and ascended into heaven, where he presently reigns.  There is a heaven to be enjoyed by the faithful and a hell to be endured by the disobedient.

God created all people with a need for fellowship with him and the ability to choose to obey his commands.  Man cannot earn salvation from sin but can qualify to receive it as a gift of grace through submission to the will of God.  The scripturally appointed means for receiving this gift is faith in Christ, repentance, confession of faith, and baptism (immersion).  The transformation in character, conduct, and relationship with God that man experiences in this process is the new birth (regeneration).  Christians are expected to live in accordance with the teachings of the New Testament.

Christ established the church for the mutual encouragement, instruction, and assistance of Christians and for the evangelization of the world through the proclamation of His gospel.  Jesus prayed for unity among his disciples and commanded love for one another as the means to maintain it.  The church was originally organized so that, once the apostles passed away, individual congregations would be independent of any central human authority and would be guided solely by the unchanging standard of Scripture.  Congregations are to be bound together by common purpose and cooperative effort.

Each congregation is to assemble for worship on every first day of the week according to the teachings of the New Testament.  In contrast to the elaborate temple ritual of the Old Testament, worship in the Christian age is to be in spirit and truth.  Accordingly, the worship of the New Testament church consists of teaching God's word, offering prayers and thanksgiving from the heart, singing praise to God and encouragement to one another with the human voice, voluntary giving as a means of expressing appreciation to God for his blessings and sharing them with others, and partaking of the Lord's Supper in commemoration of Christ's death.  Genuine charismatic gifts, such as prophecy, speaking in foreign languages, and miraculous healing were exercised in the first century but not perpetuated afterward.

On the basis of principles established at creation, the New Testament assigns roles of leadership in public worship and supervision of the local congregation to male Christians.  The scriptural organization of the local congregation consists of a plurality of elders (also called bishops or shepherds), who have oversight of the church; deacons, who assist the elders in ministering to the needs of members; and evangelists, who proclaim the gospel and teach under the authority of the elders.  The offices of apostle and prophet ended with the passing of the miraculous age of charismatic gifts.  Women are a powerful force in the church through the influence of their character and spiritual insights and through their efforts in teaching other women and children, helping the needy, and engaging in personal evangelism.

Christianity as taught by Christ and the apostles provides for the needs of the individual, the family, and society.  An understanding of God's sacrificial love enables each person to recognize his worth and potential in the sight of God, relieves his guilt and anxiety, and motivates him to conduct his life according to the highest standards.  The example of Christ fosters humility, submission to authority, and service to others.  Through its teaching, its communal worship, its fellowship, and its mission of evangelism and benevolence, the church strengthens both individuals and families and has a strong impact for good wherever its efforts and influence reach. [Written by Lawrence E. Barclay, Faculty Member, the Southern Christian University Turner School of Theology]

Now I challenge you to give me Firm biblical support for all of these points. Can you do it SD?

Now as far as denominationalism goes, I am partially going to agree with you. Denominational seperation is wrong, denominations for worship style, minor theological beliefs and such is fine and even necessary. The problem comes when folks start to believe that everyone but them is wrong and they are the only TRUE church as then you fail to fellowship with your brothers and sisters from the other denominations and furthermore do not even accept them as brothers and sisters because they do not belong to your denomination.

God Bless,

Dave

[Guest Saint Dennis]

then everyone is in sin except messianic jews....

Are you trying to say that the Church of Christ denomination is the only New Testament "authorized" institution?

The church is not a building, a denomination, nor institution so I hope not because that would be only religion. Who needs it?

Answer me this...

What did God call the faith given to Abraham? What did Yeshua call it?

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Through Abraham, all the nations of the earth were to be blessed... that was fulfilled through the sacrifice of Christ. Are you implying Paul was wasting his time being the Apostle for the gentiles in the first century?

[Guest yod]

No,

I'm referring to your comment about denominations being sin. They were the first...everything after that would have been rebellion.

My point about Abraham is that there was NO NAME given to the faith of Abraham. It was just obedience to God.

Denominationalism is how men define their beliefs.

[Khristeeanos]

Are you trying to say that the Church of Christ denomination is the only New Testament "authorized" institution?

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You "have heard" the Church of Christ DENOMINATION is the true church???

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I am not Church of Christ, but they are not a denomination. They are set up similiar to the group of churches I belong to.

There is no denominational headquarters or board of goveners or whatever else "official" denominations have.

Each church is indepenant and self-goverened and run by elders and ministers. There are no "pastors" like most of Protestantism has.

[Khristeeanos]

Now I challenge you to give me Firm biblical support for all of these points. Can you do it SD?

God Bless,

Dave

Hey Dave, perhaps you can point out which points you disagree with. It seems that all that I skimmed over was Biblical.

[nebula]

Well, the issue really isn't about whether or not the Church of Christ is Scripturally sound or not.

The issue is about the COC claiming to be "the only true church" and non-COC members being in sin because of it.

I'm with Yod. The original church was made of Torah-observing Jews who believed that Jesus fulfilled - not did away with - the Torah, and maintained their worship of the LORD in the same way.

[Guest yod]

and my only point is that we are each a part of the body...but the true church is the people...not the institutions.

I don't care if you are Catholic, CoC, Baptist, messianic, Pentecostal, whatever....

As long as you have been saved by grace through faith we can argue the finer points as brothers.

Amen? Amen!

[nebula]

the true church is the people...not the institutions.

AMEN!!!!

[Khristeeanos]

Well, the issue really isn't about whether or not the Church of Christ is Scripturally sound or not.

The issue is about the COC claiming to be "the only true church" and non-COC members being in sin because of it.

I'm with Yod.  The original church was made of Torah-observing Jews who believed that Jesus fulfilled - not did away with - the Torah, and maintained their worship of the LORD in the same way.

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I think that the two main reasons for their exclusivity is their beliefs on baptism and instrumental music in worship.

[Guest yod]

Do you think that exclusivity among brothers (to the point of division) is a good thing?

I think it is when we're talking about sin....but a piano? C'mon. That's just personal preference and cultural difference. To make it such a point of contention is more wrong than any lead guitar solo.