Tag Archives: Church of Christ

Christian

I Think Therefore

The Church of Christ, at least where I attend, teaches it preachers to not say “in my opinion” or “I think”. However, these phrases may save a preachers soul. If you say something is the word of God and it isn’t or if you are just plain wrong these phrases could save you from God’s eternal judgement.

If you let the people know your thought isn’t necessarily the word of God you cover yourself and you give them a chance to consider the issue or thought on their own. You give them the opportunity to form their own opinion.

Opinions aren’t bad, but serving up doctrines of men as the word of God could prove deadly both to the preacher and the listeners.

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Christian

Origin

In the last few weeks I’ve heard Church of Christ preachers speak about the origins of the Church. Both mentioning the Catholic’s tracing of position as the true Church from Peter as the first Pope and Christ’s statement in Matthew 16:18. Both disputing the above and claiming the Church of Christ as the only one true Church with origin in Acts.

While I suppose it is not uncommon for denominations to claim they are the one true Church with authority from Christ, I don’t believe either of the above positions is accurate. I believe the true Church can be found in Mark 3:34-35 KJV. And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! [35] For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

I’m not sure if Peter was actually the first Pope or not, but the Catholic church has played a crucial role in the development and spread of Christianity around the world. Meanwhile, the Church of Christ irregardless of their claims was created after the Protestant Reformation in the United States of America.

Looking at doctrine from the Catholic Church and the Church of Christ it is evident some of their beliefs and teachings are right while some are simply wrong. I’m not going to get into that here, but I feel safe in saying there is no denomination following the Word of God perfectly.

Hence the Church in my opinion will come from various denominations. It will be composed of those who do the will of God and keep his Commandments. These are those that read the Holy Bible. They learn of God himself and will not be led astray by commandments and doctrine of men.

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Christian

Pickers

Nothing inspires me to write more than hearing bad doctrine. I’ve heard it before and you may have as well, but following are some corrections to errant COC doctrines and beliefs.

The Church of Christ is a denomination, though they claim direct heritage from Christ’s day.  What makes them a denomination? They were created out of the Protestant Revolution, just like any non- Catholic church around today. They have unique doctrine, man picked from the word of God. Additionally, they have schools of preaching where new preachers are indoctrinated with their bad theology.

Singing a capella. They (the Church of Christ denomination) congratulate themselves on a regular basis for not using musical instruments. They site that there are no examples of musical instruments in the New Testament. To me it just shows lack of discernment. Play on Bertha.

There are only 9 Commandments. What? Many denominations including the Church of Christ proclaim we do not need to keep the Sabbath. I would like to respond with; ask the world over, how many Commandments are there? I think most would answer 10, not 9.

Confess your sins, just not to me. They don’t want to hear your specific sin. Just confess you’re a sinner and we’ll pray for you. The Church of Christ denomination even makes a distinction between public and private sin. There is no such distinction in the Holy Bible.

Trust in 1 John 1:9, and don’t let any preacher dissuade you from actually confessing. If you’ve sinned against someone, confess it to them, confess it to your spouse, confess it to the police, confess it on the internet.

Jesus is faithful to forgive, but only if we confess.

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Christian

Church of Christ Revisited

I stopped attending the Church of Christ because as a denomination they fail to believe in the possibility of modern miracles. The Bible does say to depart from those who doubt or do not believe in the power of God, but perhaps I have wrongly judged. Just because they don’t believe in the availability of miracles in this age doesn’t necessarily mean they believe God is without power.

Also, I miss a few things about the Church of Christ. I miss the fact that they offer communion every Sunday. I believe all churches should do this. I miss the hymnal. New music and musicians can be a great way to worship the Lord, but I miss the classics. I miss hearing them and I miss singing them. I’d like to say women don’t speak in Church to their shame, but some usually want to say hi (inside the building). The good news is they don’t speak in an official capacity, at least upstairs. How hard is it to keep the word of the Lord? 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. Ignorance is not really an excuse. We as adults are all expected to have read the Bible.

Still looking for a more perfect Church, but today I’ll be going back to Land Between the Lakes Church of Christ in Dover.

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Christian, Inspirational

Prayer of Faith

This is my 3rd and final piece of my series “Healing School”.

James 5:15 says, And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

What is the prayer of faith and is it required for healing? I’ll answer the latter first. Yes, this scripture makes the prayer of faith a requirement for healing.

Faith is belief. It is belief in Jesus our Messiah. It is belief that God has both the power and willingness to do miracles. The prayer of faith then is a prayer by someone who believes.

There are entire denominations such as the Church of Christ which believe miracles are ended. I won’t get into the verse they misinterpret to achieve this unbelief. Their unbelief, however, would exclude the entire denomination from the healing power of God as described in James, which promises New Testament miracles.

Is it required that all the praying elders have faith (or enough faith) to believe for the person to be healed? The quick answer is I don’t know for sure.

I don’t think God intentionally placed an insurmountable burden on people to receive healing. I believe if the seeker has faith of being healed and those praying believe God can that they will find healing.

Seek and ye shall find.

Ask and you will receive.

To be clear: If you need healing, seek it according to James 5:14-15. Ask the elders to perform James 5:14-15 as written for you. You may have to go to multiple churches or denominations. Ask the elders if they believe in the power of God. Ask the elders if they believe God can perform a miracle and heal you of your sickness.

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Christian, Inspirational

Believing the Lie

The Church I’m attending (mainly because of my mom) hired a new preacher. He started off his first day stating that he wasn’t here to preach denominational doctrine nor doctrine he learned at the Memphis School of Preaching, but only the Bible.

Would that this were true. You can lie to me because I know the Holy Bible, but perhaps the most dangerous lie is the one you tell yourself.

This is the second young Church of Christ preacher I’ve dealt with and older preachers, though perhaps less obvious, are no different. They honestly believe they dont belong to a denomination.

How can you point out doctrinal error to the person who doesn’t think they belong to a denomination? Or tell them that their opinion is clearly reflected in the denominational doctrine they put forward as the only truth?

I’ve heard the Church of Christ referred to as a cult and have vehemently disagreed with that characterization. Nonetheless, you could describe those that cling to and promote a lie as cultish. Believing their own lie that they are not a denomination only leads to further error. They don’t believe in the power of God – to do miracles – and that is grievous denominational error based on misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 13:10 KJV.

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Christian, Inspirational

Everyone Welcome

It seems the last few days I’ve been expressing things that bother me about some churches and preachers.

Churches that have “Everyone Welcome” on their church signs bother me.

Here’s why. I think they are missing the point. I believe the Church of Christ is an exclusive, members only group. Now I don’t necessarily mean being a member of your local church, I’m talking about being a living member of Christ’s Church; Being baptized by immersion in his name or in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost and trying to live out God’s word keeping his commandments.

1 Corinthians 5:11 KJV
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

Psalm 119:115 KJV
Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.

Romans 16:17 KJV
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Galatians 6:1 KJV
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

There are many warning verses throughout the Holy Bible and I maintain if anywhere is the place to be clickish, it’s with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Christian, Inspirational

Unbelief

At one point, I thought I would spend my life in the Church of Christ denomination. Not because they do everything right, but because of the churches I am aware of, the Church of Christ seemed the lesser of error and evils. At the very least it has the right name. The COC understands baptism and offers the Lords Supper weekly.

Yet, I have concluded to leave the Church of Christ denomination. Here’s why. As a denomination they misinterpret 1 Corinthians 13:10 KJV But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. They erroneously declare this verse to mean an end of miracles because Jesus was perfect, he has been here, and thus the season of miracles is over.

Why is this crucial. Read the warning in 2 Timothy 3:5 KJV which accurately describes the modern Church of Christ denomination! Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

They sing songs, they pray, they offer the Lord’s Supper, but they do not believe in the very real power of God to perform miracles today.

It goes further than this, as I have spoken with and overheard members of the COC speak unbelief and dissension. One preacher said, regarding Pharoah and the plagues, he didn’t believe the Lord could reach inside a person and harden a heart. This is more than unbelief. It is argument against the word of God which clearly says God hardened Pharaohs heart. One said God couldn’t grant knowledge miraculously, but rather only through study and work. I was told this was logical. Another said he didn’t believe God could help a man walk perfectly before the Lord. These not only reflect disbelief they actively contradict the Word of God.

I suspect these opinions are mirrored in Church of Christ churches all over the nation.

This is serious enough that one should dissassociate with the COC. Why? Because God says to turn away. I have speculated maybe their deafness to truth and discernment is connected to their unbelief. I have also wondered if they are secretly and by majority the people described in 2 Timothy 3:2-7. If verse 5 is true could the inverse description of the people also be true?

All speculation aside, God commands we leave them in 2 Timothy 3:5 and He knows what’s best for us, his children. When someone wants to argue logic, remind them our relationship with God is not only logical, but passionate as well!

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Christian

Singing

After mentioning that we all should examine what goes on in our churches to see if it is scripturally sound, I thought I would make that the subject of my previous post and the next few following posts. This post will attempt to cover singing.

Romans 15:9 KJV And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.

Ephesians 5:19 KJV Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Colossians 3:16 KJV Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

I believe both a cappella and singing with musical instruments are appropriate during services. While there is no verse in the New Testament which directly says, use musical instruments while singing, there are ample verses of their use in the Old Testament. Here the Church of Christ denomination is following the traditions of man rather than exercising discernment. Old Testament verses include:

Exodus 15:20 KJV And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

1 Chronicles 13:8 KJV And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.

These are just a few. I think something of interesting note in mentioned earlier in Col. 3:16 is: teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns.

I think the intent here is that we should all be active in what is sung in our churches. Many churches such as the one I attend use a standard hymnal and the songs don’t seem to change much from Sunday to Sunday. Isn’t Col. 3:16 expecting more? Is it hoped we should write new songs, person specific songs, educational songs?

Keep in mind singing, giving, and praying need not be limited to the interior of churches.

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Christian, Inspirational

A Prettier Pan

Is it easier to give at a building? Is it easier to give to someone on television? Are these things easier than giving to someone on the street?

James 2:2-4 KJV For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; [3] And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: [4] Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

Cant these verses apply to giving as well? When certain men panhandle for thousands or even millions of dollars and begrudge the man on the street ten or twenty dollars it gets under my skin. See my previous post.

In that post, I also stated that we should be prepared to exam all things that occur in our churches. We should be aware of the history of giving at churches and how our money is spent. To just tell ourselves we are giving to God may be irresponsible.

The early tabernacle of the Lord began with Moses and the Jews after leaving Egypt. Offerings were made for sin and the tithe was often of first fruits. What did this mean? The Levites had food to eat and were supported by the larger group of Israelites. The job of the Levites was care, upkeep, and transportation of the Tabernacle. When the Israelites later built a temple and moved into the promised land these same practices were followed similarly. The Levites were given land and divided among the various cities. They had rotating duties at the Temple.

What does this mean today since the Temple of God no longer exists? When you contribute at the modern church you pay for the support of the preacher and the maintenance of the Church building. 

Things you should know and question. What is the preacher paid? Does the preacher consistently preach the truth? After paying the salary of the preacher and building expenses how much is left? How much of the money you give on Sunday actually goes to charitable purposes, i.e. the poor or missions?

The Church of Christ denomination claims biblical support of all they do. Since they claim we only follow the New Testament this biblical basis should be found in the New Testament. Their biblical claim for passing the plate every Sunday is 1 Corinthians 16:2 KJV Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

What they ignore is context. This instruction was given by Paul to collect an offering to give to the saints at Jerusalem. It was not and is not an instruction to modern churches to take an offering every Sunday.

It’s your money, when you give be aware of where it might do the most good. Giving directly to the poor should never be frowned upon. It might mean survival to that person. It might mean their only meal that day.

When giving to your church or a charity be aware of administrative fees. How much of your money actually reaches the intended recipient?

A handy tool for charities is charitynavigator.org. At your local church you may have to ask for a copy of their budget.

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