What is the Church of Christ?
January 13th, 2010
Many people hesitate to visit a church unless they know what it will be like when they go. This is to help you understand we are at the Bright Angel Church of Christ in Las Vegas, Nevada.
1) We are not just another denomination.
We are non-denominational rather than inter-denominational. It is our sincere desire to be known simply as Christians or members of the body of Christ (Acts 11:26; Ephesians 1:22-23). We refer to ourselves collectively as the church, church of Christ, the Lord’s church, or some other scriptural description to identify ourselves as the saved people belonging to Christ (Ephesians 5:23).
The church in the Bible is never named, but it is described on a number of occasions. The church is described as “the churches of Christ” in Romans 16:16.
Members of the church were called Christians in the first century. Acts 11:26 says, “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” An unbeliever named Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Peter talked about those who suffer as a Christian in 1 Peter 4:16.
2) We strive to be the same church described in the New Testament.
It is our purpose to be identified with the Christians of the first century. We believe this to be possible because Jesus said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). In the parable of the farmer who went out to sow seed in the field, Jesus says, “The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11). A seed reproduces after its kind, and if you sow corn, you will always get corn. In like manner, when the word of God is obeyed, it will produce Christians just as it did in the first century.
3) We have no human creed.
There is no man, or group of men, who determine the teaching of the church. Instead, teaching is supposed to come from God’s word. The church in the New Testament followed the teaching of the apostles and not the creeds of men. Jesus said of some people, “They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men” (Matthew 15:9).
4) What is the message of the church?
To the lost, the message is one of salvation. Note that this is the theme of the preaching of the book of Acts. There may be many things that we can talk about among the saved, but the message for the lost is that they need to obey the gospel of Christ. Is our purpose just to listen to people? No, it is to tell them about Christ.
To all who believe, the message is unity based on God’s word. This is the message of Christ and the apostles to all who believe (John 17:20-21; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:1-6). Unity is possible or Jesus would not have prayed for it.
To the saved, the goal is to become more like Christ. “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). As Christians, we are also to do good works. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
5) What is the worship of the church?
Worship in the church is to be in spirit and in truth. “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Our worship consists of singing, prayer, preaching, the Lord’s Supper, and giving.
6) What is the work and fellowship of the church?
The church in the Bible met together regularly to fellowship and worship. The Bible says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).
J B Myers
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