about the church of christ?

Question

My fiances whole family are members of the church of Christ.
I was raised seventh day adventist, belong to United Methodist, and really now finding my answers through the Bible.
My problems with the church of christ are these,
They believe if you arent baptised you go straight to hell.
I believe in baptism as an act of obedience to God. I think if you are a christian, yes you should be baptised but if you give your life to God and scheduled to be baptised in church but die in an accident the day before, God will take that into account on judgement day. I dont believe baptism is what could keep you from heaven.
Also, They supposedly do everything by the bible, but the bible says women heads should be covered during prayer. For some reason The COC overlooks this?
It also says in the new testament that we can be filled with the holy spirit and talk in new tongues and cast out demons.
But they choose not to talk of this at all. And even poke fun at people on TV doing this.
Why?

I feel like the members of the COC I know...feel like their prayers dont get answered..even though it says in the bible that if you have faith God answers your prayers...ask and you will recieve. All I ever hear them talk about is...Im going to hell if I do this or that..

Answer 1

I don't know about the group of people that your fiance attends, so can't really make any comment about it. But I can address the points of your question.

Never in the years that I have been going to a Church of Christ congregation have I ever heard taught that if one isn't baptized that they are going to hell. Been to several different congregations, in different states even and never heard any such teaching. Since you say that you have heard such taught - will take your word for such. Just know that there are MANY congregations out there that have no such view.

I would add that while I have heard of the example that you give, "scheduled to be baptized in church but die in an accident the day before" - such is the very reason that I found comfort in the approach to having people instantly baptized when they are saved. I never could understand why they make a new believer wait - or go thru a host of classes that really have nothing to do with baptism at all. My personal viewpoint is that every congregation should be ready to meet the needs of a new convert - baptism being one of the first steps. To not be ready shows a real lack of being prepared. That of course is my own personal viewpoint.

As to the head covering part. Prayer doesn't only happen within a particular building at set times. Scripture points out that a woman's hair is a covering (1 Cor. 11:15). Now I am a woman that actually loves wearing hats - so if you were to come where I gather, you would indeed see a woman wearing a hat (along with several other women that wear hats since I like buying them and actually do give them away to several of the ladies within the congregation). I wear hats because I have issues with too much sunlight and skin problems. Health issue for myself.

As to the Holy Spirit, talking in tongues, casting out demons.

Holy Spirit has been taught about many times where I attend. It is an active working gift working within each and every believer. If the congregation that you have been with doesn't teach on it - I don't know why. Such is not the way it is in other congregations that I have been to.

Tongues. Have heard teachings on this as well were I attend. Having done more than a little study on it because of having been within a Charismatic group previously - possibly more so than others where I attend. My suggestion is to look up the words and their meaning within the language written in (Greek) then check it against whatever teaching that you are having on the subject before taking it to heart. There is much false teachings out there on the topic. One thing that I would point out is that the "unknown" that is before the word "tongue/s" is actually an added word and not in the original texts.

Demons. All one has to do is look at the evening news and know that there are indeed such at work within the world today. Never have any of the congregations that I have gone to suggested that such was not a reality.

As to why the people that you write of doing what they do? No answer. My suggestion is that you ask them personally if you really want the answers since it pertains to them and not to any group of any particular name. I write that because what you write is so foreign to my own personal experience. Makes me wonder if it has to do with a region thing - or just maybe something that this particular group follows. Trust me on this - it does not reflect the Church of Christ as a whole by any means.



"I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let's start with typewriters."

Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959)

Answer 2

The thing about the churches of Christ is that they're all different. There's not a specific governing body that sets parameters for all the churches. Each church is left to it's own interpretations of the Bible. What you cited about when you're saved, and doing everything by the Bible are generalities, but they're not absolutes. I work at a church of Christ that believes baptism is done in obedience to God's plan as a symbol that you've accepted Jesus as your savior. We use instruments in worship, we pray for the Holy Spirit to work in us, for miracles, for healing, even casting out demons. There are a lot of great churches out there that are churches of Christ, and there are a lot that preach some pretty toxic stuff. I would suggest, if you have to go to a church of Christ, to look around and find one where you can worship and grow into a deeper relationship with God. If you don't absolutely have to go to a church with "church of Christ" on the sign, try a community church, or a Christian church, they might be good compromises. We're all on the same team anyway.

Answer 3

Hi and Congrats on your engagement -

I am a member of the church of Christ. I have found it to be a very loving church. Yes, we do follow what the Bible says regarding baptism, however, I do believe that God will take that into account if someone is killed as they are planning to get baptized, etc. The church of Christ is not perfect by any means, think of the church as a hospital for the sick, where we grow and encourage one another.

As for other questions, it might be better to meet in person with someone regarding this. My best advice is to ask to meet with an elder, or call the church office and tell them that you have some questions and would like to meet with someone.

Truthfully, you will find alot of churches of Christ to be different.

((((((HUGS)))))))))

Answer 4

Obama is a member of the "United Church of Christ". This group isn't an identical because of the fact the Church of Christ!!!! they are extensively distinctive in doctrine, worship, and company.

Answer 5

Well, this is the first time i've heard the head covered thing. But I do remember the whole speaking in tongues thing that you're talking about. The reason they have a problem with it is the ONLY time that speaking in tongues was EVER a sign of being filled with the holy spirit was on the day of Pentacost. Which, (as the name implies) was a single day. They believe that one day is the only time it can ever happen and anyone trying now is putting on a great show.

Answer 6

I was raised in a very legalistic congregation of the Church of Christ. That caused me to have a complex when I grew up and could not live up to their "perfect" standards. I find that they are sometimes more concerned with appearances (being good examples) than the truth about their lives.
On the flip side, I have since attended other congregations of the COC and find they were not as legalistic and 'stodgy' as the one I knew when I was growing up.
The COC reminds me of a verse in the Bible that goes"having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof".

Answer 7

Like most denominations, they have certain things that they believe and other things they don't. They reinforce their beliefs and discredit the things they don't believe in but others do. The bible tells us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. What you believe concerning God is between you and God according to His leading.

edit: God is the judge of all, not the members of any denomination whether they think they are or not.

Answer 8

Wow! You’ve asked a lot of good, but complex questions.

Let me try to answer as many of them as I can.

1. Speaking in tongues.

Speaking in tongues and other miraculous gifts had a purpose in the first century. These were to confirm the Word. (Mark 16:20, Hebrews 2:2-4)

This is because the New Testament was not complete. Someone could not go and compare a doctrine to the New Testament, so the word had to be confirmed another way.

These were to continue until the New Testament was completed. 1 Corinthians 13:8 says, “Where there are tongues, they will cease.”

When would they cease? 1 Corinthians 13:10 says, “When that which is perfect is come…” Some believe that this refers to the coming of Christ, but notice it says “that which is perfect” and the context is talking about knowing in part, it does not say when “He that is perfect is come”. It says “that”.

Toward the end of the New Testament, the Word of God is called “the perfect law of liberty.” (James 1:25)

We now have the complete New Testament. This word has already been confirmed, and does not need miracles to confirm it again. If we need to know if someone teaches the truth, we don’t have to see a miracle; we can just compare his doctrine to the New Testament.

Since tongues are no longer needed, their purpose has been fulfilled; they have ceased, as promised in 1 Corinthians 13.


2. Baptism.

The blood of Christ washes away sin. (Revelation 1:5)

This blood was shed and offered for our sins when Christ died upon the Cross. It is through this blood that we can be saved. (Romans 5:8-10)

Probably on the same page in your Bible, it tells you how to contact this saving blood. We cannot wash in the blood if we do not contact it!

Since the blood was shed at Christ's death, we must contact His death to contact the blood. Romans 6:3-5 tells us at baptism we are "baptized into His death"! (See Colossians 2:12 also.) That is when we contact the blood.

Romans 6 also teaches that we are "baptized into Christ". We cannot be saved outside of Christ!

Romans 6:4 continues to teach that at baptism, we "rise to walk in newness of life"! At a birth there is new life. We cannot be saved if we are not "born again" into this new life in Christ!

That is why Saul (Paul) was told to "be baptized and wash away your sins"! (Acts 22:16) We cannot be saved if our sins remain!

Jesus said, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved". (Mark 16:16)

Some say that you believe, are saved, and then you shall be baptized. This is not the same thing Jesus said. It is not in the same order!

What would Jesus have said if He had meant, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved"?

I believe He said what he meant and meant what he said! I believe Jesus! "He that believes not shall be condemned!" (Mark 16:16)

Jesus commanded baptism! "And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him!" (Hebrews 5:9) Notice, Jesus saves those who obey him. We cannot be saved if we do not submit to the authority of Christ in obedience! You have said baptism is to obey Christ. Does that not make it necessary for salvation according to this verse? If not; why not?

Peter said, "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you -- not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience -- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 3:21)

What would Peter have said if he had meant "baptism now saves you"?

Baptism is "for the remission of sins", "unto the remission of sins", or "so that your sins will be forgiven"! (Acts 2:38, depending on which version you read)

Baptism; along with faith, confession, and repentance; is part of the plan of salvation that God established for us to follow!

Every example of conversion in the book of Acts specifically mentions baptism! Every one of these converts were baptized immediately. None of these converts ate, drank, slept or continued a journey until they were baptized!

Saul, who I mentioned earlier, fasted without eating or drinking for three days. (Acts 9:9) The Bible indicates he was baptized before he took food! (Acts 9:18-19) There is no Biblical example of anyone scheduling baptism for a later time.

Not every example of a conversion specifically mentions confession, repentance, mercy, love, the blood of Christ, or grace. These are all necessary for salvation and they can be inferred, but they are not specifically mentioned every time, but Baptism is!

After Jesus commanded baptism, where is your biblical example of someone being saved without baptism? What does the Bible say?

There is NO power in the water! The power is in Christ and obeying him -- doing what he said to do to contact his death and saving blood!

Jesus is "the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Hebrews 5:9)

As for those unable to be baptized, let God judge them! They will be judged based on what they are able to do now, how they use that opportunity, and all of the opportunities they have passed up or taken advantage of in the past!

As for you and I, we are probably not in that situation. We have the opportunity to be baptized today! Therefore, this hypothetical situation does not apply to us.

If we are not baptized for the remission of our sins immediately, then it is only because we refuse to do so! If we do not obey Christ, it is because we simply don't want to do so.

Can you expect to be saved while you refuse to obey Christ? Is Jesus "Lord of your life" if you will not do as He instructs without delay? Please open your Bible and read Hebrews 5:9 for the answer!

Jesus said, ""Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

3. Head Covering.

Since my answer is already so long, I will just give you the link to an article that deals with the subject of head covering.

http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/20040104.htm

I hope this information answers your questions and is helpful. Please look into your Bible and see if the things I have mentioned are true (Acts 17:11)