• The Church of Christ is the kingdom (reign) foretold by the prophets of old and heralded by John the Immerser and Jesus the Messiah.

• The Church of Christ can and does exist today.

• When the seed, which is the word of God, is planted in the hearts of men, “the proper fruit will come forth,” namely the Church of Christ.

• The Church of Christ can be identified by:
  a. Organization.
  b. Designation or proper name.
  c. Proper pattern of worship.

Item one equates the Church of Christ with the new reign. But which Church of Christ is the seat of controversy in this discussion? There are a dozen or more Churches of Christ within the a cappella movement that have denominated themselves by this title. They will not accept each other as “loyal” and “sound” churches. Doing battle with each other is one of their common exercises. Each church claims to be devoted to Jesus’ prayer for unity, as recorded in John 17:20-23, and each one alleges to be the “one body” of believers spoken of in Ephesians 4.4. Not one of them will admit to being defective or counterfeit. They all cleave to “the truth that makes men free”—or so they say.

Would you conclude that something is wrong? Or is everything right? Should we accuse Jesus of formulating and setting in motion an arrangement that is torn by division and turbulence? Would our lord head a system that has divided and sub-divided into at least a dozen splinters? If Ephesians 4:4 can be desecrated by devising more than one body of believers, what is to prevent multiple Gods, multiple Spirits, multiple hopes, and multiple faiths? The Church of Christ should not complain when other religions invent others gods and faiths.

“This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers who received the lively oracles to give unto us” (Acts 7-38).

Hebrews 2.12 also places a church under Moses. My fellow travelers of the religious order under study assert that the Church of Christ had her genesis in about 33 A.D. But if a church existed under the reign of Moses, she is much older than my brothers claim. I would remind them that Catholicism, which drifted from the original root, became the commanding apostate movement. She bloomed to stardom in about A. D. 300, long after Jesus and His apostles ushered in the grace era or Christian community. Protestant churches came centuries later and are an outgrowth of Catholicism—thanks to Luther’s efforts.

The a cappella Church of Christ arose out of Thomas and Alexander Campbell’s efforts in the early 1800s to unite the Christians in all the sects. She is centuries too young to be God’s new reign. The Campbells did not institute the Church of Christ. They and other noble seekers of truth were reformers. They commenced a reformation movement and disavowed all shades of sectarianism. The separatist attitude and rigid law system which later developed gave rise to this sect or “denomination.” It is no secret that Jesus freed us from law slavery. It is not likely he would abolish one law system and add another.

The “New Testament System” is as inadequate as the Old Testament System. Neither is able to pardon and justify. My Church of Christ brothers make the covenant of grace and love a covenant of law, and use it as old Israel used the old covenant of law. If a man is looking for “religion” in the Church of Christ, he will find an ample supply. But if he is searching for a celestial relationship, he will come away disappointed.

Church of Christ leaders have become so engrossed in “religion” and organizational schemes they have lost sight of their “first love” (Jesus). Legalism has permeated this sect so thoroughly that her membership is no longer adequately capable of coping with loneliness, depression, grief, financial collapse, or poverty. These were some of Jesus’ prime targets. The Church of Christ deals essentially with dogma and doctrine. She is defeated and crushed when confronted with financial setbacks and frustration. I suggest that if she refuses to reform, she ought to be declared spiritually insolvent and relegated to some dark corner of partisan history.

Like all sects, the Church of Christ will survive only if she undergoes reform. Once reformation has run its course, she will cease being a sect and become a concerned community and an evangelistic society. Even if she were to change her banner to “Assembly of God,” she would still be a sect because of her separatist and divisive attitude. For today’s Assembly of God is yet another sect. A thorn by another name is still a thorn. Even proper designations may be ecclesiastically abused. The name does not always identify the game.

So, where is God’s family located? And I answer: Over the hills and in the valleys of sectarianism, for wherever God has a child, we have a brother or a sister. God has children in Babylon (Rev. 18:4). They are told to “come out of her.” The name “Babylon” is synonymous with all sects and religious parties. The admonition is tantamount to surrendering all shades of sectarianism—whether Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Lutheran, Church of Christ, Church of God, or Christian Church.

It is not necessary to leave the ones we love to abandon the party spirit, because the sectarianism spirit is essentially a separatist and divisive attitude—an attitude that generates division and separation. Religious parties are the end result. We may differ, as did the early believers, but we may not separate into parties or “faithful churches.”

The Corinthian believers were in the process of separating into parties (1 Cor. 1:11-13). If the partisan attitude had run its course, there would have been a physical separation. However, Paul “nipped it in the bud” before a physical separation materialized. I affirm that the Church of Christ is a religious party that generates division and separation. Her history confirms this charge.

A man may get out from underneath this authoritarian mess, whether he be in the Church of Christ or in any of the other sects, by becoming an independent thinker and working within the framework of his own party for reform and unity. It is not necessary that he leave the group and journey over to the other side of town and start a “faithful church.” He may work for reformation and unity where he is—unless, of course, he is expelled or given the “left boot of disfellowship.”

Should he be permitted to remain where he is, he would be a non-partisan striving to reform partisans, as a non-alcoholic might work with alcoholics in an effort to reform them. An interesting thought is that Paul never once commissioned believers to divide over differences and start a “sound church.” Let this truth be a lesson to partisan believers and their sects.

1. The early believers did not employ professional pulpiteers. The Church of Christ does.

The professional pulpiteer obstructs spiritual growth in that he performs all of the body’s major functions. Even the physical body will die if its members are not permitted to exercise their various roles, for activity strengthens and builds.

The Christian community should no longer be slaves of pulpiteers or the professional clergy. Only when all believers are trained and permitted to function for themselves will pewwarmers awaken to their responsibilities and become shareholders instead of slaves. Everyone may then truly consider himself a minister and ready to strengthen others by means of mutual participation. Those specially gifted will become leaders and trainers (shepherds), not masters or partisan pastors.

The truth is, when the early believers came together it was not for the purpose of receiving encouragement and spiritual stimulus from a salaried functionary but to mutually stimulate and strengthen one another. Paul reminded the believers at Rome that they were “able to instruct one another” (Rom. 15:14). In the Thessalonian letter he told the congregation to “encourage one another and build up one another” (1 Thess. 5:11). The writer of Hebrews directed the saints “to stir up one another” (Heb. 10:24). When this “one another” system is substituted by a foreign arrangement that usurps the freedoms and prerogatives of the priesthood of all believers, digression and stagnation result. The non-instrumental music Church of Christ is guilty, as charged.

The Church of Christ will tell you that every believer is a minister, a preacher, and a priest. This, of course, coincides with heaven’s testimony, the scriptures. But whose name appears on the signboard, in the newspapers and journals, and on radio and TV? The professional functionary. Their practice conflicts with heaven’s testimony! Yet, in light of all this, the Church of Christ denies having the “denominational” clergy system.

2. The ancient order collected money only for evangelism and the destitute. The Church of Christ has “gone beyond” these two biblical examples.

The Church of Christ solicits contributions for two basic reasons. 1) To support the hired hand, and 2) To maintain and make payments on the edifice. The early saints had no edifice to make payments on and no professional hireling to keep financially afloat. If no immediate monetary need existed, no collection was taken.

A careful analysis of 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, a favorite portion of scripture of the Church of Christ, reveals that this particular collection was for a special need, namely to alleviate poverty among the poor saints in Jerusalem. Naturally, when the need was met, the collection ceased. Please keep abreast of the fact that most all monies collected by the Church of Christ go for real estate and to bolster a clergy caste, the very opposite of what the early saints did.

3. The ancient arrangement had solos in their corporate meetings. The Church of Christ says “No!”

The Church of Christ condemns solos as petty pieces of entertainment. But the great apostle Paul told the Corinthians that “when you come together each one has a hymn, a lesson...” (1 Cor. 14:26). These gifts, and others as well, were to be mutually utilized among those who were gifted in those areas of the Christian walk. The lessons were not to be congregationally spoken and the hymns were not to be congregationally sung. Both were to be employed in solo fashion. What was true of one was true of the other. But not in Church of Christ circles. So, is the Church of Christ ancient or recent? Is she old or fresh? We know the answer.

4. The early community of believers considered everything they did in their corporate assemblies worship. The mainline Church of Christ says only “five acts of worship may be performed.”

The Church of Christ limits corporate worship to teaching, praying, Lord’s Supper, contributing, and singing. Talk about creeds and pattern theology! This one is bathed in Prariseeism. If a brother is meditating about God “during the worship services,” is he not worshipping? Meditating is not teaching. It is not praying. It is not the Lord’s Supper. It is not giving and it is not singing. It is the act of meditating. Therefore an “act of worship.”

But let’s take this approach a little further. If a sister whispers words of encouragement to an ailing brother “during the worship services,” is she not worshipping? If I help an arthritic saint take his coat off “during the worship services,” am I not worshipping? Yes, of course, inasmuch as worship consists of offering ourselves (Rom. 12:1).

Is it not true that every time I use one of God’s gifts to assist my fellow humans, in or out of the public assembly, I am worshipping Him? If my view contains any validity, there are seven “acts of worship” chronicled in one chapter of Romans. They are prophesying (whether past or present), serving, teaching, encouraging, contributing, leading, and showing mercy (Rom. 12:6-8). The “five acts of worship” creed of the Church of Christ is bypassed by none other than the apostle Paul. I suggest the Church of Christ is later than she thinks.

Jesus introduced the principle that in the new age—the grace era—worship would be anytime and the place where we are (John 4:21-24). Worship for the committed believer is incessant, 24-hours-a-day. It never ends. It cannot be confined to certain places, restricted to specific times, or discharged in special ways. To adopt this manner of thinking and practicing is to revert back to Judaism, the old legalistic system under Moses, from which we were freed.

We are worshipping God as devoutly under the shade of the old apple tree or in our livingrooms as we do when we meet inside a church idol. I am worshipping my God when I mow the lawn, wash the dishes, or tell my wife I love her. “For whatever you do, in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:17). Paul makes this truth even clearer by saying, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). It is impossible to do something for the glory of God and in the name of the Lord Jesus without worshipping. Consequently, to try to restrict worship to our Sunday meetings, and inside some church structure, is irrational and insane. Jesus did not usher this in. He ushered it out!

5. The primitive colony of believers did not enact a formula that says all things within the realm of religion must be proven right or wrong by 1) direct command, 2) approved example, or 3) necessary inference. The Church of Christ does.

This divisive group decrees that all things pertaining to the Christian walk must be proven by one of these postulations. However, the scriptures nowhere specify this kind of creedal legislation. That some things are substantiated by command, verified by example, and confirmed by inference or implication no one will deny. But to combine these three premises into a rigid creed and legislate that everything we do must find its basis in this kind of restrictive theology, is to make laws where God has made none.

In the first place, this creed falls short of its goal for many things are proven to be accurate and exact by statements of fact. For example: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). These words are not a command, not an example, and not an inference. They are a statement of fact. Like the Pharisees of old, the non-instrumental music Church of Christ invents doctrines and creeds to meet her separatist needs. Jesus would never head such a creed-ridden system.

6. The Church of Christ relies on Daniel, chapter 2, to “prove” that she is the kingdom (reign) Jesus founded. However, the claim is counterfeit because Daniel did not prophesy about the non-instrumental music Church of Christ. And I’ll tell you why.

This sect teaches that the kingdom of which Daniel foretold—the kingdom that would break to pieces all other kingdoms and stand forever—is the Church of Christ. The claim borders comedy. For if she is Daniel’s kingdom, how could she possibly break to pieces other kingdoms when she is so fractured, so broken, and so splintered herself? There are 12 to 15 different a cappella Churches of Christ. A divided front cannot break through enemy lines. It takes a strong and united front to incapacitate its foes. The Church of Christ does not qualify.

Many lovely saints in the Church of Christ would happily abandon the party spirit (sectarianism) if someone were available to lead and teach them. Again, it should be said that it is not necessary that a believer leave the ones he loves to surrender the party spirit, as the party spirit, in the main, is a separatist attitude. So, yes, stay where you are and work for reform unless the heat rises to an unbearable temperature.

Have I tried to discourage Christians from meeting collectively to praise their God together? Heavens, no! I am not so unlearned that I am unable to envision the importance of meeting with others of a common cause to share experiences, knowledge, wisdom, and to stimulate each other’s faith. Then what have I attempted to do? Point out the sin of churchism. Listen to me:

A group of people may accept Jesus, experience the new birth, live holy lives, and some day die saintly deaths and go where God is without ever hearing of a church. The good Lord will have added them to the one body of believers the moment they are born anew. They are justified, saved, sanctified, and all without churchy and theological trimmings. They now meet as a concerned community of believers of a common cause.

Now tell me. Why would this group of believers need any of the numerous church parties among us? For them to now join any of our partisan churches would be to become infected and defiled in their walk with the Lord. And so I resound it over again:

Let us be Christians only. Not the only Christians, but Christians only. Let us not be Christians plus Baptists, plus Methodists, plus Catholics, plus Church of Christers, plus Christian Churchers, or plus any of the other sects among us.

A neighbor lady and I were in my front yard a few years ago discussing salvation and the role churches play. She almost went into shock when I told her it was not necessary to be a member of a church to reach God’s gloryland. She cut our conversation short and took off across the street, shaking her head in disbelief. I wanted so badly to tell her that she could be born anew, live by divine principles, and adhere to celestial guidelines without becoming a religious partisan, just as a man may practice political principles and adhere to political guidelines without becoming a political partisan.

I will not join or place my membership with any religious party! I am a free man. I will not surrender my freedom to a religious party any more than I would surrender it to a political party. As my membership is in heaven, my orders proceed from there. God’s Holy Spirit indwells and guides me. And by the way, the Holy Spirit is a celestial person, not paper and print. It is through the providence of God we have the scriptures, yet the Holy Spirit was both with and in the early believers before one word of the new covenant scriptures was written.