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What is the distinctive plea of the church of Christ?  It is primarily a plea for religious unity based upon  the Bible. In a divided religious world it is believed that the Bible is the only possible common denominator               upon which most, if not all, of the God-fearing people of the land can unite. This is an appeal to go back to the Bible. It is a plea to speak where the Bible speaks and to remain silent where the Bible is silent in all matters that pertain to religion. It further emphasizes that in everything religious there must be a "Thus saith the Lord" for all that is done. The objective is religious unity of all believers in Christ. The basis is the New Testament. The method is the restoration of New Testament Christianity.

                                    The Historical background of the Restoration Movement
 One of the earliest advocates of the return to New  Testament Christianity, as a means of achieving unity of           all believers in Christ, was James O'Kelly of the  Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1793 he withdrew from the
Baltimore conference of his church and called upon  others to join him in taking the Bible as the only
creed. His influence was largely felt in Virginia and  North Carolina where history records that some seven
thousand communicants followed his leadership toward a return to primitive New Testament Christianity.    In
1802 a similar movement among the Baptists in New  England was led by Abner Jones and Elias Smith. They
were concerned about "denominational names and creeds" and decided to wear only the name Christian, taking
Bible as their only guide. In 1804, in the western frontier state of Kentucky, Barton W. Stone and several
other Presbyterian preachers took similar action declaring that they would take the Bible as the "only
sure guide to heaven." Thomas Campbell, and his  illustrious son, Alexander Campbell, took similar steps
in the year 1809 in what is now the state of West Virginia. They contended that nothing should be bound
upon Christians as a matter of doctrine which is not as old as the New Testament. Although these four movements
were completely independent in their beginings eventually they became one strong restoration movement
because of their common purpose and plea. These men did  not advocate the starting of a new church, but rather a
return to Christ's church as described in the Bible. Members of the church of Christ do not conceive of
themselves as a new church started near the begining of the 19th century. Rather, the whole movement is designed
to reproduce in contemporary times the church originally established on Pentecost, A.D. 30. The strength of the
appeal lies in the restoration of Christ's original church.

                                              How many churches of Christ are there?
The mostt recent dependable estimate lists more than 15,000 individual churches of Christ. The "Christian
Herald," a general religious publication which presents statistics concerning all the churches, estimates that
the total membership of the churches of Christ is now 2,000,000. There are more than 7000 men who preach
publicly. Membership of the church is heaviest in the southern states of the United States, particularly
Tennessee and Texas, though congregations exist in each of the fifty states and in more than eighty foreign
countries. Missionary expansion has been most extensive since the second World War in Europe, Asia and Africa.
More than 450 full time workers are supported in foreign countries. The churches of Christ now have five times as
many members as were reported in the U.S. Religious Census of 1936.

                                        How are the churches organizationally connected?

Following the plan of organization found in the New Testament, churches of Christ are autonomous. Their
common faith in the Bible and adherence to its teachings are the chief ties which bind them together. There is no
central headquarters of the church, and no organization superior to the elders of each local congregation.
Congregations do cooperate voluntarily in supporting the orphans and the aged, in preaching the gospel in new
fields, and in other similar works.    Members of the church of Christ conduct forty colleges and secondary
schools, as well as seventy-five orphanges and homes for the aged. There are approximately 40 magazines and other periodicals published by individual members of the  church. A nationwide radio and television program, known
as "The Herald of Truth" is sponsored by the Highland Avenue church in Abilene, Texas. Much of its annual
budget of $1,200,000 is contributed on a free-will basis by other churches of Christ. The radio program is
currently heard on more than 800 radio stations, while the television program is now appearing on more than 150
stations. Another extensive radio effort known as "World Radio" owns a network of 28 stations in Brazil alone,
and is operating effectively in the United States and a number of other foreign countries, and is being produced
in 14 languages. An extensive advertising program in leading national magazines began in November 1955.
There are no conventions, annual meetings, or official publications. The "tie that binds" is a common loyalty
to the principles of the restoration of New Testament Christianity.

                                         How are the churches of Christ governed?

  In each congregation, which has existed long enough to become fully organized, there is a plurality of
  elders who serve as the governing body. These men are selected by the local congregations on the basis of
  qualifications set down in the scriptures (1 Timothy  3:1-8). Serving under the elders are deacons, teachers,
    and evangelists or ministers. The latter do not have the authority equal to or superior to the elders. The elders
    are shepherds or overseers who serve under the headship of Christ according to the New Testament, which is a
    kind of constitution. There is no earthly authority  superior to the elders of the local church.

The original autographs of the sixty six books which make up the Bible are considered to have been divinely
inspired, by which it is meant that they are infallible and authoritative. Reference to the scriptures is made
in settling every religious question. A pronouncement from the scripture is considered the final word. The
basic textbook of the church and the basis for all preaching is the Bible.

Yes. The statement in Isaiah 7:14 is taken as a prophecy of the virgin birth of Christ. New Testament
   passages such as Matthew 1:20, 25, are accepted at face value as declarations of the virgin birth. Christ is
   accepted as the only begotten Son of God, uniting in his person perfect divinity and perfect manhood.

Only in the sense that God predestines the righteous to be eternally saved and the unrighteous to be
eternally lost. The statement of the apostle Peter, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons,
but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is acceptable unto him" (Acts 10:34-35) is
taken as an evidence that God did not predestine individuals to be eternally saved or lost, but that each
man determines his own destiny.

The word baptize comes from the Greek word "baptizo" and literally means, "to dip, to immerse, to plunge." In
 addition to the literal meaning of the word, immersion is practiced because it was the practice of the church
in apostolic times. Still further, only immersion conforms to the description of baptisms as given by the
apostle Paul in Romans 6:3-5 where he speaks of it as a burial and resurrection.

No. Only those who have reached the "age of accountability" are accepted for baptisms. It is pointed
out that the examples given in the New Testament are always of those who have heard the gospel preached and
have believed it. Faith must always precede baptism, so only those old enough to understand and believe the
gospel are considered fit subjects for baptism.

No. God the Father is considered the only one to whom the prayers may be addressed. It is further understood
that Christ stands in a mediatorial position between God and man (Hebrews 7:25). All prayers are therefore
offered through Christ, or in the name of Christ (John 16:23-26).

It is expected that every member of the church will assemble for worship on each Lord's day. A central part
of the worship is the eating of the Lord's supper (Acts 20:7). Unless providentially hindered, each member
considers this weekly appointment as binding. In many  instances, as in the case of illness, the Lord's supper
 is carried to those who are hindered from attending the worship.

Yes. The statement of Christ in Matthew 25, and elsewhere, are taken at face value. It is believed that
 after death each man must come before God in judgement and that he will be judged according to the deeds done
while he lived (Hebrews 9:27). After judgement is pronounced he will spend eternity either in heaven or
hell.
 
 

Each first day of the week the members of the church "lay by in store as they have been prospered" (1
Corinthians 16:2). The amount of any individual gift is generally known only to the one who gave it and to the
Lord. This free-will offering is the only call which the church makes. NO assessments or other levies are made.
No money-making activities, such as bazaars or suppers, are engaged in. A total if approximately $200,000,000 is
given on this basis each year

No. At least, there is no creed in the usual sense of the word. The belief of the church is stated fully and
completely in the Bible. There is no other manual or discipline to which the members of the church of Christ
give their allegiance. The Bible is considered as the only infallible guide to heaven.
 
 

Hear the Gospel. "How shall they call on him whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe him whom
they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14).

Believe. "And without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him" (Hebrews 11:6).

Repent of past sins. "The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they
should all everywhere repent" (Acts 17:30).

Confess Jesus as Lord. "Behold here is water; What doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, if thou
believeth with all thy heart thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the
                  Son of God" (Acts 8:36-37).

Be baptized for the remission of sins. "And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized everyone of you in
the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

Live a Christian life. "Ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own
possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of
him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).

Now that you are aware of a church in the 20th century which is built according to the blueprints of Christ's
original church, why not become a member of it? In becoming a member of it, you will be called upon to do
 nothing which you cannot read in the New Testament. You will then live and worship just as the apostle-guided
Christians of the first century did. Not only is this return to New Testament Christianity a
wonderful basis upon which all believers in Christ can unite, it is absolutely solid ground. If we do just what
our Lord commanded we know that our salvation is certain. Come with us as we go back to the Bible, back
to Christ and his church!
If you need help in locating a congregation of the churches of Christ nearest to you, please e-mail us at
dthompson@www.hattoncoc.org  and we will be more than happy to help you find one. Please come by and visit us
 soon. We care about you and your family.