Your opinion on the Church of Christ (mainstream)?

Question

Hey guys/girls! I am a member of the Church of Christ, and was just curious as to what you guys think of it? I'm talking about the mainstream Churches of Christ, not United/Mormon/Boston Movement. I know this is kind of random, but I just wanted to hear other's opinions. I'll be the first one to say that I don't think that ANY church does everything right, and I guess the point of this post is not to bash anyone's beliefs. Ok, lets hear em!!! :) God Bless

the third answer, I would have to strongly guess that you might be talking about the Boston Movement....That is considered by most a cult....my dad went there back in the 80's with the understanding that it was a mainstream, and he was harrassed, followed, and all other sorts of cult-esque stuff, so i think you might be confused with them...

answer 4- No, I'm very unfamiliar with this concept, and being that I am very familiar with the Church of Christ's beliefs and doctrine, would also have to assume that this could be another type of church

Thayle.... HUH? I am sorry that you had a bad experience, are you sure that this was Church of Christ and not "Christ Church". I can tell you right off the bat that no church that claims to follow the Bible would ever promote this, as the Greatest Command's deal with Loving God and Loving one another.

To answer 4CHRIST's question about instruments: The Bible does talk a lot about instruments, but the New Testament has no commandment for or against using them in worship. The church I go to is pretty progressive and it's not really a big issue. My opinion is that it doesn't matter whether or not you use instruments, but rather that you are worshipping God with your heart, not your voice or hands.....God knows the heart, so in my opinion it doesn't matter whether or not you use instruments- or sing a capella. :)

Answer 1

This is to mainly answer the question 4CHRIST asked, but to also answer the comment from BeefB.

Christ says he has "all authority" and the disciples were to teach the things He had commanded.(Matthew 28:18-20) No where in the New Testament did the apostles teach or show an example of the use of instrumental music in worship of the church.

ALL of the verses in the New Testament that talk about music in the church the music is singing. To use another type of music can not be done from authority found in the New Testament because the New Testament no where authorizes its use. The authority to use instruments in the Christian church therefore does not come from God. If used it must be authorized by men. If we follow a man's authority (teaching), does Christ have "all authority"?

One of the verses that teaches about music is Col. 3:16. This verse specifically tells us to sing. The very next verse (verse 17) says, "Whatever you do in word or deed, DO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS." "In the name of" means by the authority of, or according to the instructions. Jesus and the apostles did not authorize the use of mechanical instruments in the New Testament church. You cannot play an instrument by the authority, according to the instructions of, or in the name of Christ because he did not instruct it. The New Testament did specify "singing" as the type of music we are to use in worship.

To do anything else is to follow the commandments of men rather than God. Such makes worship vain. (Matt. 15:9)

Why not be satisfied to worship in the way God's word has authorized?

When God told Noah to use "gopher wood", other types of wood were excluded. When Naaman was told to dip in the Jordan River, he knew other rivers were excluded (2 Kings 5). God has been specific about the music in the church, singing. Why add to his word?

Interesting, many of the founding fathers of denominations that now use instruments were opposed to their introduction. Among those against instrumental music were John Wesley, Adam Clark, John Calvin, and Martin Luthur.

So one should not question why we don't use them, the question should be "By what authority do you add them to your worship"? Why not be satisfied to simply worship as God's word instructs?

Some point out that David used instruments. As for David’s harp, He lived under the Law of Moses (Old Testament). We are now under the Law of Christ (New Testament).

If you bind one part of the Old Law today, you are subject to keep the whole law. In Galatians 5:3, some were trying to bind circumcision, an Old Testament commandment. Paul said if they bound this one item, they were “debtor to keep the whole law”. In James 2:10, if you keep the whole law, but miss one point, you are guilty of all.

If you try to bring over authority for David’s harp from the Old Testament, you must with the same authority bring over all of the animal sacrifices, feasts, Passover, the Sabbath day observance, yearly trips to Jerusalem, and the allowance of polygamy. We must keep the whole law if we keep any part.

If we try to justify ourselves by the Law of Moses, we have “fallen from grace!” (Galatians 5:4)

God is not worshiped with men's hands (Acts 17:25) but with the heart. This verse talks about God not living in a temple made with hands, but it also applies this to hand-made worship, yet many say they worship on an instrument that was made with hands and played with the hands. The instrument God wants is our heart. Ephesians 5:19 instructs us to make melody in the heart.

These verses also say the purpose of music in worship is to speak and teach. An instrument cannot do this. In fact, it is more difficult to speak and be understood where there is background noise, therefore an instrument may interfere with these scriptural purposes of music in worship.

One last observance. This question asks about "mainstream" churches, but then the asker later says the church he attends is "progressive". Which is he? I thought this to be interesting.

The plea of the Church of Christ is to return to the Bible for authority in all we do and teach.

Answer 2

I was raised in the Church of Christ, the ones without insturmental music, ect. I became an Agnostic because I started to look into the origins of religion. I admit the Church of Christ does make an effort to follow the Bible.

Answer 3

I am a member of a church of Christ congregation as well, and I have caught alot of flak from my own family for being a member, but I usually take it in stride. I am single, 21 years old, I have a girlfriend who dosent attend church with me, nor will I force her to go! She has expressed an interest, and I we have discussed church many times. If we marry she has expressed a desire to go with me. I used to go to a church of Nazarene, but as I have studied the bible and examined the church of Christ I felt it to be the best church. I love going to the assembly. I would never force my beliefs down someones throat. I am always willing to answer questions about the church of Christ. And in terms of the best New Testament church, the church of Christ is by far the best choice.

Answer 4

Yeah. Well it's been my personal experience that your affiliation promotes spousal abuse, sexual abuse of wives and children and members of the congregation, greed, false prophets, animosity towards other religions, and so on and so on. If you are in a different era of Church of Christ fundamentals then good for you. I know what I went through when I was married to a Christ Church member and associated with his family. It was an eye opening experience that I will never forget.

Answer 5

I tried them for awhile and they are very cliquish and unaccepting of anyone who is not a "couple" of whose entire family isnt in it. They will tell you not to make friends outside the church but then they themselves wont have anything to do with you because your spouse doesnt belong.

They are very cultish and insist you believe exactly like they do (each member expects this). They ignore the widows and people who are emotionally or spiritually the neediest. I wouldnt set foot in a church of christ if it was the last place on earth.

Answer 6

I don't know a lot about the Church of Christ, but why don't they use musical instruments? The Bible talks a lot about praising with instruments.

Answer 7

If this is the Church of Christ (Christian) then the belief is that the 10 lost tribes of Israel are the white people of Europe.

Say no more.

Answer 8

Is your worship day on a Sunday or Sabbath, and is your church preaching Revelations 14? If not, investigate your church please.

God bless

Answer 9

Well, I haven't heard anything on followers of the Church of Christ doing anything particularly odd like many cases of Mormonism or Scientology, so I've got no complaints. :P

Answer 10

"those people declare to be Christians, yet i urge to selection." Why? Ever study the Bible? they are following its hateful instructions to the letter. good previous Christianity. it quite is a cult of hatred preaching the final public of humanity ought to get stoned to dying and upon demise they would be tortured for eternity, and yet its followers heavily have faith that it quite is a comparatively respectable ethical code.