|
|
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
|
|
|
|
|
|
What is the distinctive plea of the Christian
Church?
|
|
The Christian Church pleads for
religious unity of all believers in Christ. This unity must be based upon
the Bible (especially the New Testament) because the Bible is the only
possible basis upon which godly people can unite. This is an appeal
encourages believers to speak where the Bible speaks and to remain silent
where the Bible is silent.
|
|
 ..Back to top
|
|
What is the Historical Background of the
Restoration Movement
|
|
One of the earliest advocates of the return
to New Testament Christianity, as a means of achieving unity of all
believers in Christ, was James O'Kelly of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In 1793 he withdrew from the Baltimore
Conference of his church and called upon others to join him in taking the
Bible as their only religious creed. His influence was largely felt in Virginia and North
Carolina, where approximately seven thousand
people followed his leadership.
Abner Jones and Elias Smith began a similar
movement among the Baptists in New England
in 1802. They were concerned about "denominational names and
creeds" that were dividing the believers. Like the early Church at Antioch, they chose to be called
"Christians" and to take the Bible as their only guide.
In 1804, a similar movement began in
western Kentucky
under Barton W. Stone. He and
several other Presbyterian ministers declared that they would take the
Bible as the "only sure guide to heaven."
Thomas Campbell and his son, Alexander,
followed with the same message in 1809 in what is now the state of West Virginia.
Although completely independent in their
beginnings, these restoration movements eventually united into one due to
their common purpose and plea. These men did not advocate the starting of a
new church, but rather a return to the church of Christ
as described in the New Testament. Thus, members of the Christian
Church/Churches of Christ do not consider themselves to be a new church
started near the beginning of the 19th century. They simply want to
reproduce in contemporary times the church established by Jesus in the New
Testament.
For more information on the Restoration
Movement, click HERE.
|
|
..Back to top
|
|
How large is the brotherhood of Christian Churches?
|
|
The most recent dependable estimate lists
more than 15,000 individual Christian Churches/Churches of Christ. The Christian
Herald, a general religious publication which presents statistics concerning
all the churches, estimates that the total membership of the Christian
Churches/Churches of Christ is approximately 2,000,000.
The heaviest concentration of the church is
in the southern part of the United States,
particularly Tennessee, Kentucky,
and Texas,
though congregations exist in each of the fifty states and in more than 80
foreign countries.
The largest Christian Church is the
Southeast Christian Church in Louisville,
Kentucky (http://www.southeastchristian.org/),
with approximately 25,000 members.
|
|
..Back to top
|
|
How are the churches organizationally connected?
|
|
Following the plan of organization found in
the New Testament, local congregations are completely autonomous. Elders
who are elected from the membership govern them. There is no central headquarters of the
church and no organization superior to the elders of the local
congregation. The overall church is bound together by the member’s common
faith in the Bible and adherence to its teachings. Congregations do
cooperate voluntarily in supporting each other, caring for orphans and the
aged, in preaching the gospel in new fields, and other similar works.
Members of the Christian Church/Churches of
Christ conduct forty colleges and secondary schools. Individual members of
the church also publish approximately 40 magazines and other periodicals.
|
|
..Back to top
|
|
How are the Christian
Churches governed?
|
|
A group of elders is elected independently
by each congregation to serve as spiritual leaders and the earthly
authority for the congregation. These men are selected on the basis of the
qualifications listed in I Timothy 3:1-8. Serving with the elders are
deacons, teachers, and ministers. Deacons are nominated by the Elders in
accordance with Acts 6 and are then approved by the congregation.. In most
congregations, the elders and deacons form a church board that is
responsible for the normal operations of the church.
|
|
..Back to top
|
|
What does the Christian Church believe about the Bible?
|
|
The Bible is God’s Word to all men. It was
written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of God through the
Holy Spirit. Thus, the Bible is truth without error and authority without question.
(Proverbs 30:5; Psalm 119:105; II Timothy 3:16; and Hebrews 4:12). The
Bible is used as the supreme source of truth for Christian belief and daily
living.
|
|
..Back to top
|
|
Does the Christian Church believe in the Virgin Birth?
|
|
Absolutely.
The statement in Isaiah 7:14 is taken as a prophecy of the virgin birth of
Christ. New Testament passages such as Matthew 1:20, 25, are accepted at
face value as declarations of the prophesied virgin birth. Christ is
accepted as the only begotten Son of God, the uniting of divinity and
mankind.
|
|
..Back to top
|
|
Does the Christian Church believe in predestination?
|
|
Only in the sense that God predestines
those who accept him and obey his commands to be eternally saved and those
who do not to be eternally lost. The statement of the apostle Peter,
"Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, but in
every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is acceptable
unto him"(Acts 10:34-35) is taken as evidence that God did not
predestine individuals to be eternally saved or lost, but that each person
chooses their destiny.
|
|
..Back to top
|
|
Why does the Christian Church baptize only by immersion?
|
|
The word translated baptize in the Bible is
the Greek word "baptizo" that literally means, "to dip, to
immerse, or to plunge." In addition to the literal meaning of the
word, the Bible describes baptism as a "burial and resurrection"
(Romans 6:3-5). Immersion is practiced as a burial of the old sinful man in
a watery grave to be resurrected as a new man in service to God. .
|
|
..Back to top
|
|
Is infant baptism practiced?
|
|
No. Only those who have reached an age of understanding
(sometimes referred to as the "age of accountability") are
accepted for baptism. The examples given in the New Testament are always of
those who have heard the gospel preached and have believed it. Faith must
always precede baptism. So only those old enough to understand their sins
and believe that Jesus was sent by God to remove those sins can be
baptized.
HCC does practice infant dedications. In these ceremonies the parents dedicate
the child to God and promise to raise the infant in a Christian
environment.
|
|
..Back to top
|
|
How often is the Lord's Supper (Communion) taken?
|
|
The example of the early Church was to assemble
for worship and the “breaking of bread” on the first day of the week (Acts
20:7). The Christian Church follows
this example and makes Communion the focus of the worship service.
|
|
..Back to top
|
|
Does the Christian Church believe in Heaven and Hell?
|
|
Yes. God
created man to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from
God by sin, or in union with God through salvation. Hell is the place
created for eternal separation from God.
Heaven is where God is and is the place prepared for his believers
to be eternally united with Him. The
statements of Jesus in Matthew 25 are taken to be literal. After death the
soul of each person shall come before God and be judged according to their
earthly deeds. After judgment is pronounced, the soul will either inherit
the Kingdom
of Heaven or be cast
into Hell. (Also see Matthew 1:8; 2:44-46; John 2:25, Romans 6:23; Hebrews
9:27; and Revelation 20:15.)
|
|
..Back to top
|
|
How are God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit
related?
|
|
This concept
is difficult to explain. God is the
Creator and supreme Ruler of the universe. He exists in three forms: the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one being
(God). Each form simply serves
different purposes. (See Genesis 1:1, 26; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; I
Peter 1:2: and II Corinthians 13:14.)
Jesus is the
only son of God. He was sent to earth as God in human form. He lived a sinless life but accepted all
the sins of the entire world and died in our place on the cross. He arose
from death after three days and ascended back to heaven to prepare a home
for those who believe in Him. He will one day return to gather His
followers and bring judgment to the world. (See Isaiah 9:6; Matthew
1:22-23; John 1:1-5, 14; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3-4)
The Holy
Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is the presence of God on
the earth. His purpose is to make
sinners aware of their need for Jesus and to guide Christians in their
daily lives. He lives in every
Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with
power for daily living, the understanding of spiritual truth, and the
guidance for doing what is right. (See John 14:16-17; 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; I
Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; and Galatians 5:25.)
|
|
..Back to top
|
|
By what means does the church secure financial support?
|
|
Each first day
of the week the members of the church "lay by in store as they have
been prospered" (I Corinthians 16:2) and give willingly as they feel in
their heart. Tithing of 10% is encouraged and practiced by many of the
members, but is not mandatory. This free-will offering is the only call
that the church makes. No assessments or other levies are made. In general,
HCC does not engage in money-making activities such as bazaars or
suppers.
|
|
..Back to top
|
|
Does the Christian Church have a creed?
|
|
No. At least,
there is no creed in the usual sense of the word. The belief of the church
is stated fully and completely in the Bible. Allegiance to no other manual
or discipline is required for the members of the Christian Church. The
Bible is considered as the only infallible guide to heaven.
|
|
..Back to top
|
