Expert: Marvin Howard - 11/15/2007

Question
Is the name “Church of Christ” authentic and from the scriptural? Can we go by some other name say like House of God, Church of God etc or be called just a Christian and nothing else? What does Alexander Chambel have to do with Church of Christ?

Answer
Hi!

Joy, it is an honor and privilege to answer this for you. I am sorry that I had to take a couple of days away form my ministry due to illness, but I have returned.

"Churches of Christ" is one, proper designation for the church, but it is not the only one; only so far as descriptions go. Where there are many congregations known for the same thing, (i.e., churches of Christ - Romans 16:16 and Matthew 16:18), any single congregation will bear the singular form of the same designation (i.e., church of Christ).

You should know that in Bible times, the church is called:

The temple of God - 1st Corinthians 3:16
The bride of Christ - Ephesians 5:22-32
The body of Christ - Colossians 1:18,24; Ephesians 1:22-23
The kingdom of God's son - Colossians 1:13
The house of God - 1st Timothy 3:15
The church of God - 1st Corinthians 1:2
The church of the first-born - Hebrews 12:23
The church of the Lord - Acts 20:28
The churches of Christ - Romans 16:16; Matthew 16:18

Any of these are meet the authority of Scripture. Again, this is only so far as designations go. If any group selects a designation by which they will be known (even church of Christ), but they practice differently from the church revealed in the Bible, they are an imposter. With personal knowledge, there are groups which select at least three of the above designations who teach contrary to God. With over 4,000 different denominations, it is likely to be more; or even all of them.

Due to denominational confusion, and the legal need to keep records, a common and unifying (Jesus prayed for unity in John 17:1-26) designation is sorely needed. As Christ bought the church (it is His), and that designation was not in use by any group at the time of latter apostasy, the designation "churches of Christ" is the common choice for congregations of the church. Since the church is anti-denominational (as it was in the first century, c.f., 1st Corinthians 1:12), we have no denominational hierarchy. Rather, each congregation is autonomous. Therefore, you may find congregations of the church using a different, but Scriptural, designation.

Why do I call these designations rather than names? The name is simply, "the church" (Matthew 18:17, Acts 2:47, Acts 5:11, Acts 7:38, Acts 8:1, Acts 8:3, Acts 11:22, and 60 other verses). Anything else in the Bible merely demonstrates ownership; to whom does the church belong. The Greek word for "church" is ἐκκλησία (ek-klay-see'-ah). Its simple definition is "called out." Basically, then, a church of Christ is any group consisting of those called out of the world by Christ.

As individuals, we are known as Christians, disciples, sons of Abraham, and a few others. However, of all the words for individuals, only one of them is unknown to the Law of Moses; Christians. Why is this significant? It is the fulfillment of prophecy.

Isaiah 62:2, "And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name."

When Gentiles were granted righteousness, God's people were to get a new name. Let's look at the first, two passages in which Gentiles (not Jewish proselytes) were converted (became His people, c.f., Hosea 2:23), and see what happened.

Acts 10:1-2 and 47-48, "There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always...Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days."

Acts 11:1 and 26, "And the apostles and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God...And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."

The first Gentile accepted was Cornelius. Peter returned to Jerusalem straightaway, and gave a report in the chapter immediately following. Within the same chapter as the report, as soon as there were enough converts in a Gentile city (Antioch), we find the first time disciples were ever called by a new name; Christians.

In honor of this prophecy, Christian is the preferred name worn by members of the church.

Before my next statement will make sense to you, you will need a solid foundation in church history. A previous querist asked a more detailed question on history. From the answer I gave, I published an article online. You may view it at the following URL:

http://preacherman1962.multiply.com/journal/item/4

Some questions on the dating of the book of Revelation (the majority of scholars - at least those within the church - hold to 96 A.D., while there is a distinct group that holds to 68 A.D. - I concur with the majority) cause some to think the prophecies therein cannot apply as I see them. As such, they disagree with the prophetic explanations I give. Nevertheless, the dates are sure, even if their meaning of those dates is less so.

At the conclusion of that article, I listed several men involved with the American Restoration Movement; one of whom was Alexander Campbell. Many people were involved with the church in America before Campbell; including his father, Thomas.

Alexander Campbell actually began his work shortly after his father, while still in Ireland. The main difference was that Alexander first tried to accomplish this from within a denomination rather than after leaving. He knew nothing of his father's work, and likewise, his father knew nothing of what Alexander was doing. When Alexander decided to come to America and join Thomas, both pondered how to tell the other they had parted ways with the presbyterians (to which Thomas had converted in 1807 from the "church" of England, or the American version of the same; the episcopalians) and the baptists (to which Alexander converted from presbyterianism before his immigration).

While Thomas began his work of Restoration in 1809 (two years after his immigration), and Alexander began shortly after the same time, no exact date can be determined for Alexander's beginning. Therefore, the date generally assigned to him (1826) is not his date of beginning in Ireland (for he was still connected to denominationalism at that time), nor is it the date he first preached in America. It is the date when he began to unite the work of the other leaders of the movement by his treatise wherein he stated the need to throw off denominational creeds and the devices of men; seeking instead the church revealed in the New Testament.

You see, Alexander was probably the most prolific writer among them with at least two recurring publications. What he had to say was seen by far more people. Upon seeing those writings, and hearing reports from others who had, the leaders became aware of one another through his work. It is only logical that Alexander would be mostly responsible for the unification, and be the most recognized name of the group. This was finally completed when Alexander joined forces with Barton W. Stone from Kentucky. Alexander's base of operations, if you will allow me that expression, was Philadelphia.

After Alexander's first publication wherein he denounced denominationalism, he preached until he died in 1866; some forty years of service in the kingdom of God.

Alexander Campbell, just like the other leaders of the American Restoration movement, started no new denomination or religion. Granted, some denominations devolved from the church after this time, but that was not the responsibility of these great men. All these leaders did was plant the same seed (the Word of God) as was done in the first century, and the same plant (Christians) was realized as the harvest.

Joy, I thank you once again for the opportunity to serve you in this manner. As history is what I feel to be my weakest subject, it always does me good to revisit the topic. If I can be of further service to you, please let me know.

In His Service,
Marvin Howard
http://www.geocities.com/preacherman_1962
http://360.yahoo.com/preacherman_1962
http://preacherman1962.multiply.com