Expert: Dr Don Howe - 4/8/2009

Question
Dr. Howe,

I have a deep interest in studying and learning about different Protestant denominations. This interest has led me to visit some different churches of different denominations.  The churches that I am familiar with (Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans) all seem to be somewhat similar to eyes of an average layperson such as myself.  Obviously, there are some theological differences in the aforementioned denominations. However, I have noticed some extreme differences when it comes to denominations such as the United Pentecostal Church, and especially the churches of Christ.

I was doing some reading on the churches of Christ (COC) on this website. I read an answer from a volunteer “expert” in the COC section of this website. What I read was very disturbing, as this man basically claimed that they (the COC) are the only true Christians, and the rest of us are just denominations, therefore not really Christians. Below, I will paste what he says with the link:

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http://en.allexperts.com/q/Churches-Christ-2323/church-heaven.htm

Question:
Why do we think that the church of Christ is the only church going to heaven they say there is just one church and the others are man made      thank you

Answer:
Thank you for you question Clarence,

I would hope and pray that members of the Church of Christ worldwide believe they are going to heaven because it is according to God's Word.  I know it is politically incorrect for us to make that kind of statement, but we can't back down from the truth.  Jesus came and only built one church (Matt 16:18).  So it is HIS church, he died for it and purchased it with his own blood.  Now if Jesus did all that for HIS church, why would someone be a member of any other church?  Like I said we can't back down from the truth, there is only one church Jesus built, it is named in the scriptures (Romans 16:16) meaning it was in existence at the time of the apostles.  We are to worship, speak, act, teach, and live according to the scriptures.  All other churches are man-made because Jesus did not die for it, therefore he is not the head of it, it bares another man's name.  So stay strong in the truth Clarence, thank God that are in his family, his church, and pray like me that anyone searching for the truth whether they be an unbeliever or someone in a denomination can search God's word and be lead into the truth.  Have a blessed day
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Dr. Howe, I read your response to a woman called Alexa, in a question about the United Pentecostal Church - http://en.allexperts.com/q/Baptists-954/2008/12/United-Pentecostals.htm - I thought that you did a marvelous job in your response, and I’m hoping that you might be able to explain the COC to me as to where I might understand them more clearly. I know that I may come across as seeming divisive; however I do not intend to be. I’m just really curious about learning more about why each respective denomination believes what they believe. I feel as if this knowledge may help me in formulating a deeper understanding of my faith.

Thank you in advance for taking my question. I appreciate you spending your time helping people on this site by answering our questions and concerns.  

God bless you,

Erich  

Answer
  Erich, thank you for your question. I am glad that you are searching for answers and asking questions about what is going in Christendom as whole. I want to give you a little history on the Church of Christ, where they came from, and what they are today. Speaking for history, the  Church of Christ churches came from the Second Great Awakening under the leadership of Thomas and Alexander Campbell, Walter Scott, and Barton W. Stone. Those leaders had declared their independence from their Presbyterian roots, seeking a fresh start to restore the New Testament church, and abandoning creeds. The names Church of Christ, Christian Church and Disciples of Christ were adopted by the movement because they believed these terms to be biblical.
    A split occurred between those who used musical instruments in worship (now usually known as Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)) and those who chose to sing "a cappella" because the use of instruments is not mentioned in the New Testament. Though officially recognized as distinct movements from 1906, the actual separation of the Churches of Christ from the Christian Churches had already been taking place gradually for decades.

  Let get a handle on who the Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ are. The Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ are a part of the Restoration Movement and share historical roots with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the a cappella Churches of Christ.
  These churches (Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ) are best defined as those in the Restoration Movement who have chosen not to be identified with the denomination known as the "Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)." The obvious difference from the Churches of Christ is the use of instrumental music in worship. The instrumental Christian Churches and the a cappella Churches of Christ are otherwise fundamentally identical. There are no denominational ties, and therefore, no official statistical data, but the 2006 Directory of the Ministry[1] documents some 5,500 congregations. Many estimate the number to be over 6,000.

   Who are the The Disciples of Christ (Christian Churches?  The Disciples of Christ are going to be your biggest denomination.  The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a Mainline Protestant denomination in North America. It is often referred to as The Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, or more simply as The Disciples. It has made significant contributions to worldwide Christianity through the evangelistic work of its missionary societies and through participation in the ecumenical dialogue of the 20th century. The Christian Church was a charter participant in the formation of both the World Council of Churches and the Federal Council of Churches (now the National Council of Churches), and continues to be engaged in ecumenical conversations.
The Disciples' local churches are congregationally governed. Currently there are 691,160 members in 3,754 congregations in North America.

    There is a fourth group called the International Church Christ. The International Churches of Christ (typically abbreviated to ICOC) is a body of autonomous, non-denominational, religiously conservative, culturally innovative, socially engaging, and racially integrate Christian congregations, an offshoo from the Mainline Churches of Christ. Sometimes called the Boston Movement because of its early ties to the Boston Church of Christ, it is a controversial  restorationist Church which branched from the mainline Churches of Christ in the late 1980s under the leadership of Kip McKean. The ICOC regards the New Testament of the Bible as the supreme authority on doctrine, ecclesiastical structure, and moral beliefs — while acknowledging the historical accuracy and divine inspiration of the non-binding Old Testament — and thus claim the distinction of being "pre-denominational". Members of the International Churches of Christ generally emphasize their intent to simply be part of the original church established by Jesus Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection, which became evident on the Day of Pentecost as described in Acts 2. The Boston Movement came off the what is called the Shepherding Movement which was a very spiritually abusive, discipling, and controlling movement

    Erich, there is a fifth group that has the name Church of Christ in the name that I want you to be aware of. It is called the United Church of Christ. The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination principally in the United States, generally considered within the Reformed tradition. The UCC formed in 1957 with the union of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches. These churches in turn arose from the merger of various Protestant churches in the United States, tracing their roots back to Switzerland, John Calvin, and the Protestant Reformation.
According to the 2007 yearbook, the United Church of Christ has approximately 1.2 million members and is composed of approximately 5,518 local congregations.
The UCC maintains full communion with several other mainline Protestant denominations and participates in worldwide ecumenical efforts. The UCC has historically favored progressive, or liberal, views on gay rights, women's rights, abortion, and other issues. Congregations have extensive, perhaps definitive, authority over matters of doctrine and ministry, though, and may or may not support the national body's theological or moral stances.
   This ungodly group is where the Trinity Church of Christ belong to. And if you remember, this is  where Jeremiah Wright the false prophet was preaching his unbiblical messages. These guys are very liberal and any things goes. But if what you believe is not in God’s Word and can not be defended biblically by His Word, then that church is an apostate church and is considered a cult. So it is with Obama’s former church. So that is going to tell you a lot about what type of Christian worldview the current President has, which is a unorthodox, muslim friendly worldview. Obama is a former muslim and so was Jeremiah Wright who decided to convert to Christianity and combined Nationaly Islam with Black Liberation Theology and founded Trinity United Church of Christ. Obama did the same thing (converted from muslim to christianity). And this will help explain why the decisions he has made concerning, for example, abortion.  

     Erich, I want you see that there are many liberal churches who have the name “church of christ” or “disciples of christ” or “Christian Church”  in their name and they are very liberal, i.e. the Disciples of Christ and United Church of Christ. But then there is the fundamental  Church of Christ church that you had an encounter with and have the questions about. But I wanted you to be aware there is primarily five different Church of Christ groups.

   What do the Church of Christ Believe.

   The Church of Christ generally believe in the following tenets and this is not all inclusive, and individual churches will vary also:

1. Refusal to hold to any formalized creeds or statements of faith, preferring instead a reliance on the Bible alone for doctrine and practice.
2. Autonomous, congregational church organization without denominational oversight.
3. Local governance by a plurality of male elders.
4. Baptism by immersion of consenting believers (Believer's baptism) for the forgiveness of sins.
5. Weekly observance of Communion on Sunday. All but "a very small segment" use unfermented grape juice instead of wine.
6. Practice of a cappella singing in worship.
7. Claim the New Testament as their sole rule of faith and practice in deciding matters of doctrine and ecclesiastical structure.
8. View the Old Testament as divinely inspired, and historically accurate, they do not see its laws as binding under the New Covenant in Christ (unless they are repeated in the New Testament).
9. They believe that the New Testament demonstrates how a person may become a Christian, thus a part of the universal church of Christ, and how a church should be collectively organized and carry out its scriptural purposes.
10. Use no musical instruments in worship.
11. Members of the Churches of Christ believe that Jesus founded only one church (meaning them and why they use the name “church of christ), and that the current divisions between Christians are not God's will, and that the only basis for restoring Christian unity is the Bible.
12. They typically prefer to be known simply as "Christians", without any further religious or denominational identification
13. They see themselves as recreating the New Testament church established by Christ (and the only church).
 
   Erich, from this list you can already see problems. They are autonomous, congregational in polity, and without denominational oversight so they are independent and accountable to no one except local elders. So they can easily be controlling, spiritually abusive, rigid, and  twist the Scriptures to make themselves look orthodox. And this sets up where a dynamic spiritual leader, who is the false preacher doing the controlling. And not all church of christ churches are this way but generally many are, but spiritually abusive churches are rigid and it is about the false preacher having power and control of the flock. The Pharishees were this way and Jesus had a lot to say to these guys.
   You will also see this in the United Pentecostal Churches where they tell the women they can not cut their hair, can not wear pants, can not wear jewelry, and can not wear makeup. This is about control.
   The CoC do not believe in musical instruments in their worship service and so everything is sung acapella. I use to go to my aunt’s church in the summer and it was a Church of Christ church. And many of my relatives were very godly people and love the Lord Jesus, but their worship service was very dry, not uplifiting, montonous, and very depressing. Let’s see what the Word of God says about singing and music in the New Testament Church.  Eph. 5:19 states “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” Paul is saying we need to be speaking in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing, and making melody in our hearts. Melody is the Greek verb psallō which means to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang, to touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical instrument so that they gently vibrate, or to sing to the music of the harp. So Paul says we can play instruments to make music in our hearts. But the Bible has something to say about putting undue burdens, requirements, and yokes on people like they can not play musical instruments in worship and have to sing a cappela. Jesus tells us in Matt. 23:4 speaking to the Pharisees “For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay [them] on men's shoulders; but they [themselves] will not move them with one of their fingers.” Jesus saying do not bind burdens upon men’s shoulders like how to sing and how not to play instruments. Acts 15:10a “Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples.” So again the idea is not to put undue requirements on men which could include telling people how to sing, what not sing, when to play an instrument,  or when not to play an instrument, and then for the Church of Christ to say the “use of  musical instruments in worship” is not mentioned in the New Testament. They are twisting the Scriptures to try to justify their control of people and tell them on how to worship.

   The “expert” says if  you ain’t in the Church of Christ you are not “the Church.”

   Erich, let’s rightly divide the Word of Truth and see what this “expert” said above about the Matt. 16:18. This “expert” said “I would hope and pray that members of the Church of Christ worldwide believe they are going to heaven because it is according to God's Word.  I know it is politically incorrect for us to make that kind of statement, but we can't back down from the truth.  Jesus came and only built one church (Matt 16:18).” To say “I know it is politically incorrect for us to make that kind of statement” is a cowardly statement. Erich, being politically correct will send you to Hell, but being Biblical Correct will send you on the first place seat to the glory train to Heaven. Political correctness is when the Devil will use our words and define those same words according to his dictionary. This is why us see liberals and supposedly “Christians” calling good evil, and evil good. Isa. 5:20 addresses beautifully this political correctness “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
     Matt. 16:18 states “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Jesus is telling Peter to upon this rock speaking of Himself, I will build my Church. Peter understood that Jesus was speaking of himself as the rock because in 1 Pet. 2:4-7 “Peter, by His own testimony, did not see himself as the rock on which the church was founded. He says that we are living stones, but Jesus is the cornerstone” (Guzik). Jesus is saying upon this rock I will build my church. Jesus is giving a clear claim of ownership. The church belongs to Jesus and he is speaking of the entire universal body of Christ which started from the Acts Chapter 2 to the present day. Jesus is referring to all believers called the universal church of believers. And to say he is speaking of just the Church of Christ here is twisting the Scriptures and is heresy plain and simple. Just because you have Church of Christ in your name does not mean Jesus was referring to just to that particular body of believers, but to all believers.
   The Church of Christ state they “believe and govern by the Bible and not like “the traditional councils and denominational hierarchies that had come to define Christianity since the first century.” The churches that do have the traditional councils and denominational hierarchies are also part of the universal body of Christ also as menitioned in Matt. 16:18.  
  This “expert” made mention of Rom. 16:16 which states “Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.” Greeting one Christian to another in the first century was common practice to be greeted with a kiss on the cheek. Paul is saying the “churches of Christ salute you.” Note he is saying churches is plural and referring to all churches of the body of Christ greet them with a holy kiss. This IS NOT REFERRING TO THE CHURCH OF CHRIST AS THE ONLY CHURCH. Other churches that had traditional councils and denominations are included as the churches of Christ. To say Paul was speaking of the only the Church of Christ today is taking it out of context and again heresy.
   Erich, the Church of Christ takes that one small part of the verse in Rom. 16:16 in which Paul makes mention of “churches of Christ” and say he is talking about them. Baloney.
   
   Also this “expert” stated “All other churches are man-made because Jesus did not die for it, therefore he is not the head of it.” He is referring “all other churches” who are not Church of Christ are man-made. This statement is from Hell itself. All churches are man-made to a certain extent (including the Church of Christ) in that they are governed by men, have men in spiritual authority called pastors, elders, and deacons, and have congregations made up of men, women, and children. God uses men to start the first century church until now because Jesus died on the Cross for the Church, and His church is governed by His Holy Word. All churches and not just the Church of Christ. So the Church of Christ is man-made to a certain extent and man-governed just like all churches.
    To say “Jesus did not die” for all churches is totally wrong. Jesus died for the redemption of sin for all men including the Church of Christ. And to say “he is not the head” shows that this man does not know his Bible and has an agenda and ax to grind. Eph. 5:23 disputes this stupid statement “For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself {being} the Savior of the body.” Verse 23 explicitly states Jesus is the head of the Church and He is the Savior of the body (meaning the all body of believers). Col. 1:18 states “He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”
    Jesus did not only died for the church, he is the head of the church, but he is also the High Priest. Heb 4:15 states “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as {we are, yet} without sin.” Heb. 5:5 states “So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, "YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU".” Heb. 9:11 goes on  to states “But when Christ appeared {as} a high priest of the good things to come, {He entered} through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation.”
    I could go on  and give many more verses about Jesus being Our High Priest but you can get the idea from the passages from Hebrews.
    Erich, I hope this helps you to get a little understanding of what the Church of Christ believe, where they came from, and the five different branches of the “Church of Christ.” But understand there is some false teaching in all denominations and organized religions. But this is never a reason to take the Bible out of context and twist the Scriptures to justify our own false beliefs, but when one does this he is a heretic.  

   God’s Blessing to you. Keep rightly dividing the Word of Truth and the may the Peace that surpasses all understanding be upon you and your family.
   Amen.

Dr Don Howe, RN, PhD, ThD.