My entire life I have met in church buildings with signs out front that said something along the lines of, “The church of Christ meets here” or “First Street church of Christ.” There are thousands of these buildings spread throughout this country (and the world) and the groups of people meeting in them are collectively known as the “churches of Christ.” There is a lot of confusion about the identity of this group.
I am largely, however, not entirely in agreement with virtually everything that is stated in this article. What is NOT addressed is the divisiveness and inflammatory remarks and statements by many of those who attend, yes, the "denomination" of the "Church of Christ". This article, well intentioned holds a great deal of truth, but does not address the core problem.
Accurately stated in the article that the sign that hangs above the door, even if it states "Church of Christ", will not get you into heaven, and does not constitute the body or His church. It is the confession of sin and the repentance thereof, the turning away from, and being baptized as Jesus commanded, in the name of the father, son, and holy ghost, that makes you part of the "Body/Church of Christ." There are those that attend the denomination of the "church of Christ" that will make it through the pearly gates, and some like all denominations, will not make it through, and will hear "depart from me, I never knew you."
My wife's grandfather passed away many years ago and he and his wife attended a local Baptist church for many years, serving and being a part of the body of Christ. Her grandmother surviving her very recently deceased grandfather, had to endure her "Church of Christ" son-in-law tell her that her now deceased husband was in hell and she would be too, if she did not join the "Church of Christ". To say that because they did not attend a house of worship that had hung above the door of the church, "Church of Christ", they were going to hell, was in and of itself sinful. No one knows the heart of another person. If you have acknowledged that Jesus is the Christ, and you believe him to be born a virgin birth. Lived a sinless life. Crucified. Buried in a tomb, and rose again on the third day according to scripture. Baptized according to scripture, IS A CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH KING JESUS.
My father was a minister of the gospel, the good news, of Jesus the Christ. He pastored churches for over a quarter century, would periodically go to interdenominational pastoral fellowship meetings with other like minded obedient pastors in the area. Who was always missing? A representative from the denomination of the "Church of Christ".
The fact that an article has to written and conversations had is because of the ungodly, divisive, and arrogant stand, that many have taken, that because you do not gather in a building that has "Church of Christ" on it you will not make it into heaven. To errantly state that because other people saved by the same Jesus, are not saved/born again, is so very sadly divisive and it is damaging to the body and Christ's church. My parents were married for 53 years and I assure you they had disagreements. But, they were as the Word states "One flesh". We have different denominations within the body of Christ. We have different functions within the SAME body.
There are those who attend the "Church of Christ" that internally disagree on some topics. Are we to say one of those individuals are not saved simply because they disagree on some topic? What makes the difference? They are both attending under the same roof.. It is what is in the heart of the individual and as closely adhering to Biblical scriptural mandate in obedience that makes the Church. Not as what was stated accurately in this article that makes the Church. Conversations and statement otherwise are unnecessary and harmful to the Church.
I am largely, however, not entirely in agreement with virtually everything that is stated in this article. What is NOT addressed is the divisiveness and inflammatory remarks and statements by many of those who attend, yes, the "denomination" of the "Church of Christ". This article, well intentioned holds a great deal of truth, but does not address the core problem.
Accurately stated in the article that the sign that hangs above the door, even if it states "Church of Christ", will not get you into heaven, and does not constitute the body or His church. It is the confession of sin and the repentance thereof, the turning away from, and being baptized as Jesus commanded, in the name of the father, son, and holy ghost, that makes you part of the "Body/Church of Christ." There are those that attend the denomination of the "church of Christ" that will make it through the pearly gates, and some like all denominations, will not make it through, and will hear "depart from me, I never knew you."
My wife's grandfather passed away many years ago and he and his wife attended a local Baptist church for many years, serving and being a part of the body of Christ. Her grandmother surviving her very recently deceased grandfather, had to endure her "Church of Christ" son-in-law tell her that her now deceased husband was in hell and she would be too, if she did not join the "Church of Christ". To say that because they did not attend a house of worship that had hung above the door of the church, "Church of Christ", they were going to hell, was in and of itself sinful. No one knows the heart of another person. If you have acknowledged that Jesus is the Christ, and you believe him to be born a virgin birth. Lived a sinless life. Crucified. Buried in a tomb, and rose again on the third day according to scripture. Baptized according to scripture, IS A CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH KING JESUS.
My father was a minister of the gospel, the good news, of Jesus the Christ. He pastored churches for over a quarter century, would periodically go to interdenominational pastoral fellowship meetings with other like minded obedient pastors in the area. Who was always missing? A representative from the denomination of the "Church of Christ".
The fact that an article has to written and conversations had is because of the ungodly, divisive, and arrogant stand, that many have taken, that because you do not gather in a building that has "Church of Christ" on it you will not make it into heaven. To errantly state that because other people saved by the same Jesus, are not saved/born again, is so very sadly divisive and it is damaging to the body and Christ's church. My parents were married for 53 years and I assure you they had disagreements. But, they were as the Word states "One flesh". We have different denominations within the body of Christ. We have different functions within the SAME body.
There are those who attend the "Church of Christ" that internally disagree on some topics. Are we to say one of those individuals are not saved simply because they disagree on some topic? What makes the difference? They are both attending under the same roof.. It is what is in the heart of the individual and as closely adhering to Biblical scriptural mandate in obedience that makes the Church. Not as what was stated accurately in this article that makes the Church. Conversations and statement otherwise are unnecessary and harmful to the Church.