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 Christian churches and 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. The term does not include all Christian churches.

These churches are best defined as those in the Restoration Movement who have chosen on the one hand not to be identified with the denomination known as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). On the other hand, 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 very similar.

Churches in this tradition have no formal denominational ties, and thus there are no official statistical data, but the 2006 Directory of the Ministry documents some 5,500 congregations. Many estimate the number to be over 6,000.

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," 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. The roots of the separation date back to a polarization that occurred during the early twentieth century as the result of three significant controversies. 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). Theological modernism and ecumenism led to the development of a denominational structure within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).^{[citation needed]} The split occurred as local congregations refused to take part in rapidly developing extra-congregational organizations that eventually evolved into a General Assembly.^{[citation needed]} They were also disturbed by what they saw as liberal influences within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) concerning Biblical criticism and social justice.^{[citation needed]}

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

• 1926: The first North American Christian Convention (NACC) in 1927 was the result of disillusionment at the DoC Memphis Convention.
• 1930s - 1940s: Symbolic differences and disagreements flourished. Institutional controversy develops. See also Sponsoring church and Churches of Christ (non-institutional).
• 1944: International Convention of Disciples elects as president a proponent of open membership
• 1948: The Commission on Restudy, appointed to help avoid a split, disbands
• 1955: The Directory of the Ministry was first published listing only the "Independents" on a voluntary basis.
• 1968: Final redaction of the Disciples Year Book removing Independent churches
• 1971: Independent churches listed separately in the Yearbook of American Churches.

Because of this separation, many independent Christian churches and churches of Christ are not only non-denominational, they can be anti-denominational, avoiding even the appearance or language associated with denominationalism holding true to their Restoration roots and firm conviction that Christ has founded only one church which is his body.

Separation from the International Church of Christ and International Christian Church

Both church movements have their roots in the restoration movement of discipleship and the biblical teachings of "Full Immersion baptism." However they branched off the little known controversial Crossroads movement (Total Commitment Movement). In 1967, though never departing from the Mainline Church of Christ, the Crossroads Church near the University of Florida pioneers evangelizing the secular campuses of the United States, "counting the cost" with each person that desires to be baptized, and the shepherding of the new converts.

In 1979,in a small suburb of Boston Kip McKean was hired to take charge of a struggling 30 something member Lexington Church of Christ. Soon the "30 would-be disciples" would be the first church in what would soon become the fastest moving and growing church in the world the International Church of Christ (aka ICOC) or the "Boston Movement". The ICOC differs from the mainline Church of Christ in 8 major doctrinal ways: Bible Church just not a New Testament Church, only disciples are true christians, each and every member of the church must be a disciple, each member should be in discipling relationships, a vision to evangelize the nations in a generation, the planting of new churches to achieve this vision, central leadership not autonomous congregations, and the role of women. However in 2002 the International Church of Christ returned to a mainline Church of Christ theology. The ICOC forced out Kip McKean and fired the Central Leadership. They soon adopted a "Co-operational" agreement among themselves appointing a new lead Movement Evangelist every 2 years and a democratic method of governing. They soon after voted as well to return to mainline Church of Christ theology.

In 2003, Kip McKean was invited once again to lead a small struggling congregation in Portland, Oregon then at 25 members the Portland International Church of Christ. In one year the church baptized 140 members. By the end of 2006 the church grew to over 400 members the fast single growing church in the history of the ICOC or mainline Church of Christ. Kip McKean called every member back to the doctrinal requirements of the ICOC except now he calls every member to be a "Sold-out Disciple" thus church and the new movement has been dubbed by its persecutors "The Sold-out Discipling Movement." On October 15th of 2006 the Portland International Church of Christ leadership renamed the church the Portland International Christian Church to symbolize the differences in doctrine from the ICOC and the number of both remnant US domestic and international churches that left the ICOC to join the Sold-out Movement.

Not to be confused with the Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ, DoC) or Churches of Christ (CoC) the ICOC and the ICC are two different movements of churches that had differing views on baptism, accountability, central leadership, Bible teachings and discipleship from the DoC or CoC. Although most ICOC churches have dropped the "International" from their name to show they have returned to a mainline theology very few ICOC congregations still teaches the same teachings they preached back in Boston in 1979. Both movements of churches view the Restoration Movement as a part of their church history and the reason they have progressed in their knowledge of the biblical "One Church, One Body" teachings.

Identity

Because the Christian churches and churches of Christ are independent congregations there is no set creed, but The Directory of the Ministry 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 regenerative 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

See also: Baptism in early Christianity

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. Baptism is:

• by immersion [Rom 6:4],
• 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],
• symbolic of 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].

The teaching that "salvation coming by grace through faith at immersion into Christ" is the only New Testament example for Christians to follow today is viewed by many groups, particularly those of Calvinist persuasion, as too similar to a salvation by works rather than a salvation by faith alone.^{[citation needed]} Christian Churches and Churches of Christ contend that true faith is not mere belief, but no less than a believing, trusting, and repentant obedience, that baptism is always mentioned in the passive verbal forms in the New Testament (i.e. "be baptized [at the hands of another]", as opposed to Old Testament-styled active commands), because it is a work of God, not man [Col 2:12].^{[citation needed]} In that respect, (being a work of God) baptism may be considered similar to belief [John 6:28, 29].^{[citation needed]} The assertion follows that it is Christ's redemptive work one trusts in as they, by faith, accept his free offer of grace.^{[citation needed]} Finally, a life of trusting faithfulness until death is seen to demonstrate the authenticity of one's faith, and further makes his or her calling and election sure.^{[citation needed]}

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

United States

Colleges and seminaries	Location	Date Founded
Boise Bible College	Boise, Idaho	1945
Central Christian College of the Bible	Moberly, Missouri	1957
Cincinnati Christian University	Cincinnati, Ohio	1924
Colegio Biblico	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	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	Louisville, Kentucky	1948
Manhattan Christian College	Manhattan, Kansas	1927
Mid-Atlantic Christian University	Elizabeth City, North Carolina	1948
Mid-South Christian College	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.

Slogans

A number of slogans have been used in the Restoration Movement to express some of the distinctive themes of the Movement. 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

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.