Church Of Christ?

Question

I am dating a man who is belongs to the Church Of Christ, and I am Mennonite. We have debated issue after issue after issue. I like discussing the Bible, but he won't except me for who I am is intent on getting me to see it his way. I've been told that the Church Of Christ thinks they are the only way and if you don't belong to their Church you are going to hell. I'm not trying to change him, so why should he try and change me. Any answers will help.

Answer 1

Will only the Church of Christ be in heaven ?

An oft-heard assumption and criticism by those in denominationalism or with no religious affiliation is that those in the Church of Christ think that they are the only ones going to heaven. An answer to this 'loaded' question can be found by looking at the authoritative New Testament with an honest, open, and loving heart.

First, we can affirm that besides those in Christ's church, there will be the faithful from many generations on the other side of the cross. The righteous from both the patriarchal and Mosaic dispensations will be there. These pre-date the church Jesus established. Also, heaven will be inhabited by the souls of those who are 'safe' (including the mentally handicapped and retarded, young children who die before reaching an age of accountability, the aborted, etc.). These are blessed not by virtue of their conscious obedience to the gospel but through their innocence.

Second, we need to tactfully affirm that salvation is in Christ and the body He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28; Eph. 1:20,21; Eph. 5:23). The Bible teaches that we are saved by many things: grace (Eph. 2:5), mercy (Titus 3:5), Jesus (Acts 4:12), His blood (Rev. 1:5), the Holy Spirit (John 3:5), the word (James 1:21), faith (Eph. 2:8), repentance (Acts 2:38), confession (Rom. 10:9,10) and baptism (1 Pet. 3:21). Many mistakenly submit to one or some of these Biblical prerequisites to salvation. Churches of Christ, in the main, strive for balance in stressing the divine and human sides to salvation. We should not insist on doing more, less, or other than what the Bible teaches.

Third, we sadly confess that not all members of the Church of Christ will be saved. Without setting ourselves up as judges, or trying to do God's work for Him, we realize that some who wear Christ's name are guilty of open or hidden sins that will condemn them in the judgment if not repented of. Being a member of the church has never eternally insured salvation in the New Testament, any more than being an Israelite insured salvation in the Old Testament (1 Cor. 10:1-12).

"Speaking the truth in love" (Eph. 4:15), we can kindly and firmly say that salvation today is in Christ and His church. We can and should urge honest-hearted people to follow the Bible pattern of obedience to receive God's wonderful reward (Rev. 2:10)

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The above is an article written by a preacher at a congregation of the Church of Christ. I hope this is helpful.

Please also read the article at the second link below. It describes some ways the Church of Christ is and is not the only church.

In whatever you hear about a religious subject, always search the Scriptures to see if it is true! If a doctrine is taught in the Bible, accept it. If the Bible does not teach it, reject it. "We ought to obey God rather than man." (Acts 5:29)

Answer 2

Recently a friend of mine said some things she believed. She is Church of Christ. She says one must follow God's instructions. I used to go to the Church of Christ and yes they do believe they are the only ones going to Heaven because the rest of the churches do not follow the instructions of God.

Answer 3

If you can not come to terms with your separate Christian paths, either by agreeing or agreeing to disagree and stop the prosyletizing, your marriage is doomed. Have you each been to your own ministers, alone and together, to discuss this issue? You might also consider a secular mental health professional who can help the two of you reach a mutually agreeable decision.

Answer 4

Dear Sweetjazz

There is a wide spectrum of attitudes in the Church of Christ denomination. Many people raised in that tradition have rejected the exclusivism and narrow thinking that has characterized most of that tradition until now. Try to evaluate your friend as to his thinking and heart. Keep yourself open to logic and truth, but go slow on making decisions.

The mistake the Church of Christ made was to base their theological understanding on the wrong premise. There are only two approaches. Either religion is what we are doing for God or it is what God is doing in us. The former depends on our strength, determination, obedience, and persistence. The latter involves complete surrender of ourselves and the human/fleshly way of approach and placing ourselves completely in the hands of God by faith. Many Church of Christ people choose the former way which is futile, frustrating (they argue a lot), and doomed to failure. Some of these people have chosen the other way which is far more in line with the teaching of Jesus and the bible generally.

The Pharisees of the New Testament had the same theological foundation that this modern denomination (and others) has. They saw their righteousness coming from their performance, which is the formula for failure. This premise is seen in the absolutely false claim the Church of Christ makes that they are the "New Testament Church" and that you must be on of them to be saved. This premise has resulted in spiritual arrogance, lack of acknowledgement that others are Christian, and (sadly) brought about a large measure of sterility and ineffectiveness in the world.

Righteousness is a gift from God, not a quality of my performance. It depends on faith, not on achievement. (Read Philippians 3 and Luke 18 very carefully).

The Church of Christ had good intentions, but a wrong understanding of scripture. Please don't think evil of them, but consider them in need of help. On the other hand, don't allow their theological base to become yours. You will have to decide in your own case what the future holds, but be careful.

Not that it matters, but I'll mention that I'm still a member of a Church of Christ church, but one that through faith depends on God working in us and not the old traditional self based legalism. We, too, are concerned about those who continue to live lives of anger, self righteousness, and exclusiveism. They are missing the real joy and power of the Christ.
Sincerely, RB (254 855 9512)

Answer 5

I was raised in the Church of Christ, I assume the same denomination you are speaking of, and you are right, they believe only those who go to their church as going to heaven. It is one of the strictest religions out there. No music, no women teaching boys over the age of accountability, no dancing, etc. I would suggest that if he is unwilling to accept you for you, get out. One thing the Church of Christ missed was Jesus' message of acceptance. Don't let him get you down. They are some of the most judgemental people I have ever met.

Answer 6

The two of you won't work out, the bible says to marry only in the lord, that means a like minded person.

Answer 7

If you can't change for him, then you will be forcing him to change for you. In order for him to accept you as you are, he has to "give up" something that he believes strongly in.

This is a classic "lose-lose" scenario and is destined for failure. If you both can't win, then you might need to rethink the relationship.