Christian churches and churches of Christ













"Christian Churches" and "Churches of Christ"
Classification
Christian, Restoration Movement
Orientation
New Testament, Restorationism
Polity
Congregationalist
Separations
Churches of Christ, Disciples of Christ
Members
1,071,616 in the United States

The group of Christians known as the Christian Churches or Churches of Christ are congregations within the Restoration Movement, aka the Stone-Campbell Movement and the Reformation of the 19th Century, that have no formal denominational affiliation with other congregations, but still share many characteristics of belief and worship.[1] Churches in this tradition are strongly congregationalist and have no formal denominational ties, and thus there is no proper name that is agreed to apply to the movement as a whole. Most (but not all) congregations in this tradition include the words "Christian Church" or "Church of Christ" in their congregational name. Due to the lack of formal organization between congregations, there is a lack of official statistical data, but the 2016 Directory of the Ministry[2] documents some 5000 congregations in the USA and Canada; some estimate the number to be over 6,000 since this directory is unofficial.[who?]


These congregations share historical roots with other, similarly named congregations within the Restoration Movement, including congregations organized within formal fellowships, such as the "Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)" or the "Churches of Christ". The congregations discussed in this article, however, have chosen to remain fully autonomous. Further distinguishing these congregations is their use of instrumental music within their worship, unlike the "Churches of Christ" who do not use instrumental music. The instrumental congregations discussed here and the a cappella "Churches of Christ" are otherwise very similar but have little contact with each other in most communities, although there is some cooperation among some larger churches and also in some educational institutions.[clarification needed]




Contents





  • 1 Congregational nomenclature


  • 2 Separation from the Disciples of Christ


  • 3 Identity


  • 4 Baptism


  • 5 Educational institutions


  • 6 Slogans


  • 7 See also


  • 8 References

    • 8.1 Bibliography





Congregational nomenclature


The churches are independent congregations and typically go by the name "Christian Church", but often use the name "church of Christ" as well. Though isolated exceptions may occur, it is generally agreed within the movement that no personal or family names should be attached to a congregation which Christ purchased and established with his own blood, though geographical labels are acceptable. Thus, it is common for a congregation to be known as "[City Name] Christian Church," [3] but in some areas they may be known as "[The/First] Christian Church [of/at] [City, Community, or Other Location Name]." In recent history, individual congregations have made the decision to change their formal name to break with traditional nomenclature and to adopt more generic names like "Christ's Church [of/at] [City Name]", "[City Name] Community Christian Church", or "[City Name] Community Fellowship". The tendency in Restoration churches to choose names such as "Christian Church" and "Church of Christ" can cause difficulties in identifying the affiliation (if any) of an individual church based solely on its name. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for churches outside of the Restoration Movement to use similar names (see Church of Christ (disambiguation)).



Separation from the Disciples of Christ


The separation of the independent Christian churches and churches of Christ from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (DoC) occurred over an extended period of time.[4]:185 The roots of the separation date back to a polarization that occurred during the early twentieth century as the result of three significant controversies.[4]:185 These controversies surrounded theological modernism, the impact of the ecumenical movement, and open membership (recognizing as full members individuals who had not been baptized by immersion).[4]:185


The Disciples of Christ were, in 1910, a united, growing community with common goals.[5] Support by the United Christian Missionary Society of missionaries who advocated open membership became a source of contention in 1920.[4]:185 Efforts to recall support for these missionaries failed in a 1925 convention in Oklahoma City and a 1926 convention in Memphis, Tennessee.[4]:185 Many congregations withdrew from the missionary society as a result.[4]:185


A new convention, the North American Christian Convention, was organized by the more conservative congregations in 1927.[4]:185 An existing brotherhood journal, the Christian Standard, also served as a source of cohesion for these congregations.[4]:185 From the 1960s on, newer unaffiliated missionary organizations like the Christian Missionary Fellowship (today, Christian Missionary Fellowship International) were working more on a national scale to rally Christian Church/Church of Christ congregations in international missions.[4]:9 By this time the division between liberals and conservatives was well established.[5]


The official separation between the independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is difficult to date.[6]:407 Suggestions range from 1926 to 1971 based on the events outlined below:


  • 1926: The first North American Christian Convention (NACC) in 1927[6]:407 was the result of disillusionment at the DoC Memphis Convention.

  • 1944: International Convention of Disciples elects as president a proponent of open membership[6]:408

  • 1948: The Commission on Restudy, appointed to help avoid a split, disbands[6]:409

  • 1955: The Directory of the Ministry was first published listing only the "Independents" on a voluntary basis.[6]:408

  • 1968: Final redaction of the Disciples Year Book removing Independent churches[6]:408

  • 1971: Independent churches listed separately in the Yearbook of American Churches.[6]:408


Identity


Because the Christian churches and churches of Christ are independent congregations there is no set creed, but The Directory of the Ministry[2] contains the following general description:


Members of Christian Churches and churches of Christ believe in the deity and Lordship of Jesus Christ, the inspiration of the Bible, and the autonomy of local congregations. Following the basic principles of the 'Restoration Movement', they accept and teach believers' baptism by immersion into Christ for the forgiveness of sins; they assemble for worship on the first day of the week, making the observance of the Lord's Supper a focal point in such worship. They seek the unity of all believers on the basis of faith in and obedience to Christ as the divine Son of God and the acceptance of the Bible particularly the New Testament as their all-sufficient rule of faith and practice.



Baptism






Baptism by immersion


Of the principles cited above, one characteristic marks most Christian Churches and Churches of Christ as distinctly different from other modern Evangelical Christian groups today. That is the teaching that a person is ultimately regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and receives the remission of sins, during his baptism.[7] Baptism is:


  • by immersion,[8]

  • for publicly confessing believers in Jesus Christ [Acts 8:37],

  • a work of God's grace, not a work of man [Col 2:12],

  • a promise received through obedient submission [Acts 2:40, 41],

  • necessarily accompanied with confession of sinfulness and repentance [Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Rom 10:9,10],

  • the occasion when one receives God's forgiveness for their sins [Acts 2:36-37; Acts 2:40-41],

  • the occasion when one calls on His name for salvation [Acts 22:16],

  • the occasion when the equipping, indwelling Holy Spirit is received as a seal and promise of heaven [Acts 2:38; Titus 3:5],

  • a "circumcision" or transformation of the believer's heart by the hands of Christ himself [Col 2:11,12],

  • foreshadowed in the Old Testament ceremonial washings, now fulfilled in a believer's shared experience with Christ [Heb 10:22],

  • sharing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ [Rom 6:4], and the only assurance of the hope of the resurrection from the dead [Rom 6:5-7],

  • specifically emphasized and commanded by Christ in his brief closing remarks ("The Great Commission") before ascending into heaven,

  • not only an outward sign of an inward change, but is both simultaneously [e.g. "born again" John 3:4, 5],

  • one baptism indeed, both physically in water and spiritually in the blood of Jesus [Eph 4:5; John 3:5],

  • entry into the body of Christ at large, and hence, the only viable entry into the membership of a local congregation of the Independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (as in the Church of Christ (non-instrumental), a candidate for membership is not usually required to be re-baptized if they have previously been "baptized into Christ" in accordance with the above general understanding and/or guidelines) [Eph 4:5].


Educational institutions


The Christian Churches/churches of Christ support a variety of Bible colleges and seminaries. Because there is no official "denominational" structure in the movement, the local colleges often serve as information centers and allow the local churches to maintain connections with each other.


Canada











Colleges and seminaries
Location
Date Founded

Alberta Bible College
Calgary, Alberta
1932

Maritime Christian College
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
1960

Philippines








Colleges and seminaries
Location
Date Founded

International Christian College of Manila
San Jose, Antipolo City, province of Rizal, Philippines
2005

United States






















































































Colleges and seminaries
Location
Date Founded

Boise Bible College
Boise, Idaho
1945

Blueridge College of Evangelism
Wytheville, Virginia
1971

Central Christian College of the Bible
Moberly, Missouri
1957

Cincinnati Christian University
Cincinnati, Ohio
1924

Colegio Biblico[9]
Eagle Pass, Texas
1945

Crossroads College
Rochester, Minnesota
1913

Dallas Christian College
Dallas, Texas
1950

Emmanuel Christian Seminary
Johnson City, Tennessee
1965

Florida Christian College

now Johnson University Florida


Kissimmee, Florida
1976

Great Lakes Christian College
Delta Township, Michigan
1949

Hope International University
Fullerton, California
1928

Johnson University
Knoxville, Tennessee
1893

Kentucky Christian University
Grayson, Kentucky
1919

Lincoln Christian University
Lincoln, Illinois
1944

Louisville Bible College[10]
Louisville, Kentucky
1948

Manhattan Christian College
Manhattan, Kansas
1927

Mid-Atlantic Christian University
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
1948

Mid-South Christian College[11]
Memphis, Tennessee
1959

Milligan College
Milligan College, Tennessee
1866

Nebraska Christian College
Papillion, Nebraska
1945

Northwest Christian University
Eugene, Oregon
1895

Ozark Christian College
Joplin, Missouri
1942

Point University
East Point and West Point, Georgia
1937

Saint Louis Christian College
Florissant, Missouri
1956

Summit Christian College
Scottsbluff, Nebraska
1951

Summit Theological Seminary
Peru, Indiana
1974

William Jessup University
Rocklin, California
1939

Puget Sound Christian College, opened in 1950 but closed in 2007.[12]



Slogans


A number of slogans have been used in the Restoration Movement to express some of the distinctive themes of the Movement.[13]:688 These include:


  • "Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent."

  • "The church of Jesus Christ on earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one."

  • "We are Christians only, but not the only Christians."

  • "In essentials, unity; in opinions, liberty; in all things love."

  • "No creed but Christ, no book but the Bible, no law but love, no name but the divine."

  • "Call Bible things by Bible names."


See also



  • Christianity

  • Christian Church

  • Restoration Movement

  • Churches of Christ

  • Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

  • Christian primitivism

  • Sponsoring church (Churches of Christ)

  • Churches of Christ (non-institutional)


References




  1. ^ "Denominational Profile: Christian Churches and Churches of Christ". The Association of Religious Data Archives. Retrieved 10 June 2015. Note: The Archive site capitalizes the word "churches" in its naming convention 


  2. ^ ab Directory of the Ministry


  3. ^ The naming practice is taken as applied doctrine from Paul's use of city names in writing epistles to "the church which is at Corinth" or "the church at Thessalonica" etc.


  4. ^ abcdefghi Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0-8028-3898-7, ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Christian Churches/Churches of Christ


  5. ^ ab Kragenbrink, Kevin R (2000), "The Modernist/Fundamentalist Controversy and the Emergence of the Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ", Restoration Quarterly, 42 (1): 1–17, archived from the original on 2013-11-10 .


  6. ^ abcdefg Leroy Garrett, The Stone-Campbell Movement: The Story of the American Restoration Movement, College Press, 2002, ISBN 0899009093, 9780899009094, 573 pages


  7. ^ Baptism & the Great Commission, pg. 11


  8. ^ Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon


  9. ^ Colegio Biblico


  10. ^ Louisville Bible College


  11. ^ Mid-South Christian College


  12. ^ Puget Sound Christian College


  13. ^ Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0-8028-3898-7, ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Slogans




Bibliography



  • Baptism: A Biblical Study; Dr. Jack Cottrell; College Press, Joplin, MO: 1989; ISBN 0-89900-341-9.


  • Union in Truth: An Interpretive History of the Restoration Movement; James B. North; Standard Publishing; Cincinnati, OH: 1994; ISBN 0-7847-0197-0.






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