Questions On The Identity And Nature of The Lord's Church (2)

Question 6. Does it matter what name hangs over the door of the church  someone attends, or is it what is taught that counts?

Answer It is what is taught that counts. The name that the church is called by also counts because it should be part of the things taught. One might call a dog a cat, but that does not make the dog a cat. It must possess the characteristics of a cat in order to be a cat. Just to call the church by any name does not make it the church that Christ came to build. It must possess the proper characteristics: 1. It must be build upon the proper FOUNDATION, which is Christ. (1 Cor. 3:11; Matthew 16:16-18) 2. It must have built at the right PLACE: Jerusalem. (If the church you attend began at Jerusalem, it might be the church that Jesus built. If it was founded some other place, then it cannot be the church Jesus built. (Isa. 2:2-4, etc.) 3. It must have built at the right TIME. If it was built before Acts 2, it was too early and if after Acts 2 it was built too late. 4. It must have the right FOUNDER: Christ and his apostles. 5. It must have the right LAW. (We are now under the "law of Christ", not the "law of Moses". Disciplines, confession of faith, etc. are of man and not divine. They either contain too much and therefore add to the Word of God, or too little and take away from the Word of God.) 6. It must have the right NAME: (1) 1 Cor 1:2 "The church of God which is at Corinth…" (2) Mat 16:18 "… my (Christ) church" (3) Rom 16:16 "The churches of Christ salute you." (4) Heb 12:23 "To the general assembly and church of the firstborn…"

We are "carnal" if we call ourselves by human names. (1 Cor 3:4) (1 Cor 14:33) "God is not the author of confusion… Therefore we are to "all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (1 Cor 1:10-13) We are to teach the same things and wear the same names. Not Paul, Apollos, Cephas, John the baptist, etc. To do so is to divide Christ. Jesus will not share His glory with any man.

Jesus "purchased" the church "with his own blood". (Acts 20:28) If I purchase a car or a house, it is mine and I put my name on the deed. I would not allow you to call it your car or house. If I write a check, I sign my name, not yours. That shows to whom that account belongs. It shows ownership. Jesus bought the church and the name shows ownership.

The church is the manifold wisdom of God. (Eph 3:10) Why give it a human name exhibiting human wisdom? Jesus is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23), but it does not matter what you call it?

We are the "household of God" (Eph 2:19) or "house of God" (1 Tim 3:15). The church is the bride of Christ. (Eph. 5:22-33; Rom. 7:4). Why be called by someone else's name? We not only wear the name of the one we are married to, but we also submit to him and obey what he teaches, because he is our head.  Contact Danny

Question 7. Why was circumcision important to the Early Church?

Answer Read Acts chapter 15 carefully.

Circumcision was a religious rite in the nation of Israel, dating back to Abraham.   (Read Genesis chapter 17).  It was a mark of God's covenant with the Israelites, and was strictly observed.

When Christ came and gave Himself as a sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, He nailed the Old Covenant to the cross and took it out of the way (read Col. 2:14).

The first Christians were Israelites (who in the time of Christ were called Jews - same people).  They had it firmly nailed into their head that circumcision was required to be in a covenant relationship with God, and anyone (any man) who was not circumcised was not a Jew. 

The Jews also understood clearly that they were God's chosen people, and that the Gentiles were "dogs".  The early Christians, who were Jewish, had a very difficult time understanding the idea that Gentiles also could be Christians. Even though Old Testament prophecies spoke of "all nations" (including Gentiles) coming to God in the "last days" (the Christian Age) and even though Christ spoke of the coming salvation of the Gentiles, yet the early Christians still did not get the message.

God had to perform three special miracles to help the Apostles to understand. Read Acts chapter 10.

1.      God appeared miraculously to Cornelius, a Gentile, telling him to send for Peter.

2.      Peter saw a vision from God, which was to help him understand that the ways of the Old Covenant were not longer in force. 

3.      Then God sent Peter to preach to Cornelius, and performed a miracle upon Cornelius, for Peter and his Jewish friends to see, which made it crystal clear that God had chosen for salvation to also be offerred to the Gentiles.  

In Acts chapter 11 Peter was "called on the carpet" back home for going to preach to a Gentile.  Peter explained the miracles which God did, and that Gentiles also could become Christians.

Read Acts chapter 15 again.  A major problem if not THE major problem which faced the first century church was the false teaching, by some Jewish Christians, that the Gentile Christians must keep the Law of Moses, such as being circumcised.  Paul and the other Apostles in Acts 15 pointed out the error of that teaching.

But all through the New Testament we read of this false teaching of requiring circumcision, and teaching by the Apostles and other New Testament writers trying to set the record straight about God's requirements under Christ.  See passages such as Gal. 1:6-10.

Read and study carefully the entire book of Acts, and I think you will see the problem of circumcision in the early church.

For more on the distinction between the Law of Moses and all that it included, and the salvation made possible through Christ, read carefully the book of Hebrews.  It get bogged down and deep, because it assumes a knowledge of the Old Testament (which the Hebrew (Jewish) Christians did understand), but it is a good explanation of the superiority of the High Priesthood of Christ.  And it is also a good summary of the Jewish religion and sacrifices, etc.  Contact David

Question 8. 1. "When was the Church established?" 2. "When did denominations first appear?" 3. "When did the Disciples of Christ first appear?" 4. "When did the Disciples of Christ denomination first appear?"

Answer Answer to the First question: "When was the Church established?"

God promised in the previous age, through the Old Testament prophets, that He would set up His kingdom:

Dan 2:44-45 44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. (KJV)

Isa 2:2-4 2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (KJV)

God promised through His spokesman in this age, Christ Jesus, to set up His kingdom:

Heb 1:1-2 1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (KJV)

Matt 16:16-19 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 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. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (KJV)

Jesus said it would come soon:

Mark 9:1 1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. (KJV)

Luke 24:45-49 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. (KJV)

In Acts we see that the kingdom did come with power:

Acts 1:5-8 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (KJV)

Acts 2:1-4 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (KJV)

That day of Pentecost was in the same year that our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, about AD 33 or thereabouts. That, in answer to your first question, is when the Church which Jesus established came into existence. Since Christ promised that "... the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" we can assume that it did not cease to be, even up to this present day.

The rest of Acts chapter two is the story of the first gospel sermon and the establishment of the Church which the prophets of old spoke of and which Jesus promised. The rest of the book of Acts is a history of the early years of the Church which Jesus established in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

Answer to the Second question: "When did denominations first appear?"

There were soon departures from the plan which Christ established:

Acts 20:28-30 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. (KJV)

Rom 16:17-18 17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. (KJV)

Gal 1:6-12 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (KJV)

2 Tim 4:1-4 1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (KJV)

2 Pet 2:1-3 1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. (KJV)

Jude 1:3-4 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (KJV)

The mainstream "church" from about the 2nd or 3rd century until about the 14th or 15th century was the apostate church, which had departed from the plan which Christ Jesus established. The concept of "denomination" came about just after the middle ages, at the time of the attempt at "reformation" of the apostate church.

Many people, such as Martin Luther, saw that the "church" did not follow the precepts laid down in the Holy Scriptures. They tried to correct the problem by "reforming" the apostate church. But it did not work. The Reformation movement rather than fixing the problems with the apostate church, created a whole new set of groups, the denominations, which continued the same problems.

The "true" Church which Jesus established in AD 33 must have been there all along, for you remember that He said: "... the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" but you don't read much about it in the history books. It must have been a minority group, which is consistent with other Bible teachings from the beginning of time, such as Noah and his family, down to the "broad way" versus the "strait and narrow way" which Jesus preached in His Sermon on the Mount.

The denominations in the 16th and 17th centuries were the Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, etc. and later the Mormons, the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Disciples of Christ and the Christian Church. Since then the number of denominations has skyrocketed.

Major departures from the original pattern which Christ laid down for the church include:

1. A change in the form of church government, from the original pattern. The New Testament pattern has saints, which include bishops/elders/pastors, deacons, evangelists/preachers, as members of each separate, individual and autonomous congregation of the Church with Christ as the only head of the Church. Departures included such additions as "pyramid-plan" type church governments, the difference between the "clergy" and the "laity", etc.

2. A change in the name by which the church was known, from the original pattern. In the New Testament we can see several names for the church, such as The Church (Col 1:18), the Church of God (! Cor 1:2), Churches of Christ (Rom 16:16), etc. Later names for the denominations which sprang up included the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Baptist Church, the Methodist Church, etc. and later the Mormons, the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Disciples of Christ and the Christian Church.

3. A change in the subject of baptism, to include infants (who are too young to believe) as well as believers.

4. A change in the form of baptism, from immersion as practiced in the New Testament, to sprinkling and pouring.

5. A change in the creed of the church, from the Word of God alone, to human creeds.

6. A change in the form of worship. The Church in the New Testament worshipped with singing (unaccompanied), praying, preaching, giving and studying God's Word. Later departures incorporated instruments of music and even bands and dancing, etc. in church worship today, which is more entertainment than worship to God.

Answer to the Third question: "When did the Disciples of Christ first appear?"

Shortly after the American Revolutionary war, at the end of the 18th century and on into the beginning of the 19th century, many religious people in many different and independent locations on both sides of the Atlantic came to the conclusion that since the movement to 'reform" the apostate church was not successful, perhaps the correct approach would be to abandon the denominational movements and "restore" the New Testament church from scratch.

Some of these locations and some of the people involved were:

1. Glasgow, Scotland (1778) 2. Edinburgh, Scotland (1798) 3. Criccieth, North Wales (1799) 4. Tubermore, Ireland (1807) 5. Manchester, England (1807) 6. Dublin, Ireland (1810) 7. James O'Kelley, Manakintown, VA (1793) 8. Dr. Abner Jones, Lyndon, VT (1800) 9. Dr. Jones, Bradford NH & Piermont NH (1803) 10. Barton W. Stone, Cane Ridge, KY (1801) 11. Thomas & Alexander Campbell, Washington County, PA (1809) 12. Walter Scott & William Amend, Lisbon, OH (~1820)

Note that these individual movements were separate. Each of these people were members of a denomination, but had become dissatisfied with the denominational teaching. They came to realize, by their own diligent study of the Holy Scriptures, that the denominational doctrines were not in keeping with the precepts of the New Testament. They finally had to dissociate themselves from their individual denominations and strike out on their own with only the Word of God as their guide.

It is important to realize here that the church which Jesus Christ established on the day of Pentecost does not rely on a literal succession of persons to continue its existence. The Church, the Kingdom, is spiritual, not physical. It could fade away in one location, and spawn anew in another completely isolated location as people read their Bible and understood the pattern which Christ Jesus laid down for the Church which He established. "...and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." -- and they did not!

These individual people, with religious fervor, studied and learned the truths revealed in the Holy Scriptures, and grew. They continued to learn, and continued to grow. Some of them came to meet some of the others, and rejoiced at the similarity of their simple New Testament gospel preaching and teaching.

Thomas Campbell (the father) and Alexander (his son) were on opposite sides of the Atlantic when they independently realized that the teaching of the denomination was not consistent with the New Testament. Before Alexander came to America, they were each apprehensive about their reunion, and what would the other one think about their new found conclusion. They were delighted to find that they were in agreement.

William Amend had reached the conclusion that the denominations were wrong, but figured that he was alone, and that all the other preachers taught the same party line. He had a chance to attend a meeting where Walter Scott was preaching, and did not get there until it had already been going on a couple days. But when Mr. Amend heard the simple gospel proclaimed by Mr. Scott, he was overjoyed, and they joined forces.

The famous Cane Ridge revival (1801) sorta marked a beginning in what we today call the Restoration Movement. Estimates of attendance at Cane Ridge vary from 10,000 to 50,000. But as you see above, the restoration movement started all over the place, each independently. It was not limited to Cane Ridge revival of 1801. Some specific revivals and individual movements were more famous and involved more people than others. But they shared a respect for New Testament Christianity.

In 1831 the movements of Barton W. Stone and the Campbells joined forces, and the Restoration Plea spread like wildfire across the central west. Note that 200 years ago they did not have the internet, nor TV nor radio, not even telephone. That is what allowed each of these individual movements to go on for so long separately.

Many of these "new" Christians preferred the name "Christian." Barton W. Stone and his followers used that term. Alexander Campbell and his followers preferred the term "Disciples." But they did not let that small difference keep them from working together. It did not take a lot to get their groups to work together, for there was no organizational structure to merge. Each congregation fiercely protected their congregational autonomy and separateness.

Answer to the Fourth question: "When did the Disciples of Christ denomination first appear?"

Let me interject my own personal definition and explanation of the concept of "denomination." To me, the denominations generally have practices and regulations specific to their own group which are not found in the Holy Scriptures, and which make them different from other religious groups. They usually have a pyramid-plan type organization, or some other type of organic unity. They very often teach the concept that "one is as good as another." Just choose whichever denomination fits your fancy, or your family history.

In time the original fear of organizations and doctrines broke down, and the teachings of the restored Churches of Christ weakened and let in some denominational doctrines and practices. One of these was the American Christian Missionary Society (1849). It was an organization formed to do missionary work, and it was supported by money from independent congregations. This ACMS tied the congregations together in an unscriptural organization, not found in the New Testament.

Another departure was instrumental music in the worship services. This came up about three decades later. There were extremely bitter discussions and divisions in the various congregations about these departures. By the turn of the century, the division was mostly complete.

The more "liberal" element of the restoration movement included the ACMS and musical instruments in their worship services. They used the name "Disciples of Christ." The Disciples have adopted, in the nine decades since the turn of the century, many practices of the denominations. They are indeed just another denomination. They have their organization, their instruments of music, their unscriptural baptism, etc.

On the other hand, the more "conservative" element of the restoration movement condemned the ACMS and musical instruments in worship as departures from the original pattern laid down in the New Testament Scriptures. They called themselves the "Churches of Christ."

I hope that this "history lesson" answers your original questions. When I was a teenager, I was really confused. As I studied the scriptures and some history references, it began to make sense. Much of the historic material which I have used in this summary comes from Restoration Handbook a Study of the Church, the Falling Away, and the Restoration. It is by Leslie G. Thomas and is copyrighted 1941, the Gospel Advocate Company, Nashville, TN. There are several other resources which discuss the same historical concepts. One which I highly recommend (if you can find it) is called as I remember The Quest for a Christian America by David Edwin Harrell. Contact David