What do people that know religion think about the Church of Christ?

Question

I grew up in the church of christ but for the last year i have been with a chrisatian school and i have come to beleave the church of christ is more like a cult than a church but i am confused on what i beleave. what do u people think about it?

Answer 1

I think you're right about it being a cult. They try to dance along the lines, but the deity of Jesus seems to be something they will not accept. That issue alone separates them from Christian churches.

Answer 2

Just a quick response, though it requires Scripture. 1 John 4:1, written to Christians states, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." Acts 17:11spoke of the Bereans and the fact that they were more noble (fair-minded) than the Thessalonians because they received the words spoken by Paul and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. They took that which Paul spoke and compared it to the Old Testament Scriptures. The Scriptures were the standard to determine whether or not ones religious thinking and practice was true. I was raised Catholic, was mixed up in a Charismatic cult during my teens years. I now preach for the church of Christ. It is not a cult, but it is exclusive (Matt. 16:18). The Scriptures need to be your guide, understanding its context. It will be our judge (Jn. 12:48). If it is to be our judge, then surely God intended us (all mankind) to be able to learn and do what He would have to do to be saved (Jn. 8:32). Having said that, if we do what those in the first century did in order to become and remain a Christian and receive a home in heaven, then we sholud no less expect the same when are days are done upon this earth. The choice is yours.

Answer 3

I think the best source for answers is always The Word. When you really look into your particular churches beliefs, there should always be scripture as the reason for the practice. Example, salvation should not be based on an opinion of a particular person or persons in a church, but rather based on what the Bible says about salvation.

Anything that you are taught in your church should be backed up in scripture, and if it's not than you should always question it.

Whatever you find when searching the Word and asking questions, find a church you can call home and stay close to His Word. Don't get discouraged, that is what the enemy wants, to divide believers. Do not be afraid to ask questions!

Your sister in Christ!

Answer 4

The church of Christ tries to go by the Bible only, not man-made creeds or catechisms. They look to Biblical examples of conversion, rather than taking a single verse out of context.

A cult is normally defined as having certain qualities:
1. Rejects the Bible, and substitutes some other writing.
2. Rejects Jesus, and tells people to look toward some charismatic leader.

Nope, the church of Christ isn't a cult, because it doesn't meet these criteria.

Go ahead and question your beliefs, but don't reject anything simply based on what those around you think. I'd be willing to help you with any questions you might have.

Answer 5

Well, I was raised in the Church of Christ, some of my relatives have started up different ones in different areas, and my step father is a preacher for the one I grew up in. So, though I may not have a degree, I may have some information that is of use to you...

Number 1: Don't we hate it when someone only responds with "ALL RELIGIONS ARE FAKE!" I am not going to go that route. That is stupid and immature....

From traveling to different places all over America and attending several different Churches of Christ I can say that some of them are MUCH different than others. I suppose the basic things that set us apart from most people is that we pray directly to Jesus, we believe that Jesus is the Son of God and died on the cross for our sins, we believe that you must be baptized to be saved, we take communion on the first of every week, and we do not have "extras" like musical instruments, choir, ushers, etc during worship service.

From studying the written and rewritten and re-rewritten version of the Bible we have today, I see no quarrels with the way most Churches of Christ operate. Some are a little crazy and cultish (but aren't all religions in definition a cult)... but I cannot think of a religion that does not have it's fanatics.

My only suggestion to you is to do your research outside of King/James. Compare what you know to other religions, even ones that do not believe in Christ. You may be surprised at what you find. Do not let your teachers sway your heart; common sense was given to us for a reason. Check out what they say. Hmmm... And look for the pros and cons of every person (great or small), fact, clue, belief. I personally hate how they will magnify a person and then later you find out that it was more political than spiritual....

That is it. As long as your conclusion is YOUR conclusion and this is what you believe then run with it, but be sure all your ducks are in a row first. Even I do not take everything someone says at face value (whether if it from the Church of Christ or some old illiterate guy that says he hears God's voice) and I am a preacher's kid :)

Good Luck.

Answer 6

Hey i was part of that church not to long ago. Actually less than a year, It isn't a cult. I assume you mean the ultra conservative church of Christ that doesn't have instruments and doesn't believe in miracles? Thats a good church there isn't as much or the world in what they preach it still isn't the complete truth though.

In order to find the truth you must search out the scriptures and remain open to other faiths or teachings. But always pray to God to find the truth because he will give you the knowledge you desire.

Oh I am no longer part of that church obviously I am now LDS. lol I'm sure that makes people disregard everything else I've said but oh well I'm sure of my faith and its validity

Answer 7

Wow, I am a member of a Church of Christ and I would like to hear more about why you think your church is a cult? We read and learn straight from the bible at our church. If anyone teaches anything outside of that then a red flag would definitely go up for me. I am very concerned for you and your future as a christian. Good luck, I hope that you find the answer that you are looking for.

Answer 8

I attended a Church of Christ for 17 years, and looking back, they were the most judgmental, unforgiving, hypocrites i've ever known in a Church group. It has taken me several years to get over the hurt, and build up the courage to step back into ANY Church building again. I do not see all Churches of Christ as the same, however. Some of them may have a strong, positive congregation, so it's really hard to label the Churches of Christ in the same category.

Answer 9

Wow, its amazing you ask this, I just read a book by someone that was affilitated with RLDS, last night, I live where they are everywhere, and I almost made a mistake joining them, they call it Zion here, and think we are going to be the New Jeruslahem, also they believe God started out with men, they believe no other church is righteous with God, and they go to a special heaven. They believe we earn going to heaven through works, the Bible clearly shows we go by the grace of God.
They believe people can be baptized that already dead by proxy.
This Joseph Brown, was arrested at one place for fraud, and then went to Missouri, his teachings are compared to the Bible to be totally inaccurate, and way off.
He claimed Israelites would only return to their homeland after knowing their true redeemer, In 1948 they returned and many still do not know Christ.
He made a false claim about the Gold plates, and the reading, he tried to make it look like they were accurate, when in fact the person who read them, said he never said that in a letter. The smithsonian Institute has also prooved them fraudulent.
The Church of Claims to be split, be I went their the first time and saw their board had a night study of the morman book, and it was also in one of the brochures I brought home from church. They continue to say that they are not affiliated, because Joseph Browns account was proven wrong, and that he was a false prophet, but they still say they are the Church of Zion, which is one of Browns claims. The lady who wrote the book says a cult is any false teaching of God.

Answer 10

There is more than one type of church of Christ. I don't know them all but United Church of Christ is suppose to be cult like.
I belong to a church of Christ in the state of Kentucky. We study strictly from the Bible. No creeds or anything else like that. Just the Bible! :)