Post by pitbull on Dec 12, 2005 9:34:53 GMT -5
Church Of Christ Fact Sheet
Properly called "Campbellites" [this is the appropriate name for devout members of the so-called "Church of Christ" because they are actually followers of the teachings of Alexander Campbell rather than the teachings of the Lord Jesus], the so-called "Church of Christ" did not appear on the pages of church history until the early 1800's when Thomas Campbell, and his son, Alexander, left the Presbyterian church to restore the "true" church.
Thomas Campbell first organized the "Christian Association" which later became an independent church in 1811. Thomas was appointed elder, Alexander was "licensed" to preach, and four deacons were elected. At this time, none of the members had been baptized by immersion. The first Campbellite church wasn’t named the "Church of Christ." It was named the "First Church of the Christian Association of Washington."
Having strong argumentive abilities, Alexander, became involved in a number of public debates, and was often corrected by his father for his conduct in these debates. Alexander’s theory was that "a week’s debating is worth a year’s preaching." (Memoirs, Vol. 2, p. 90) Paul’s theory was slightly different (I Corinthians 1:18, 21; Romans 1:29). Needless to say, this same unbiblical spirit of debate is still very present among his followers.
The Campbells weren’t baptized by immersion until June 12, 1812 – a whole year after starting their "church." Being unable to find a Church of Christ preacher (since there were none before 1811), they convinced Matthias Luce, a Baptist preacher, to perform the service. His Baptist brethren later rejected Luce himself.
Several years later (1825-1830), the Campbell clan (also called the "reformers") was joined by Walter Scott, a traveling preacher who believed in baptismal regeneration. The Campbells embraced his views and were later joined by Barton Stone (another ex-Presbyterian). Together, the "big four" were ready to take on the world with the "true Gospel."(II Corinthians 11:3-4; Galatians 1:6-9) Today the "Church of Christ" teaches a number of heresies. Following is a list of passages from the Bible that condemn some of them:
1. A-Millennialism – Luke 19:17-19; II Timothy 2:11-13; Revelation 5:10; 20:1-7
2. Baptismal Regeneration – I Corinthians 1:17
3. Denial of Eternal Security – John 5:24; 6:37; 10:28-29; I John 5:11-13; Romans 8:38-39; Philippians 1:6
4. Denial of a Sin Nature from Birth – Psalm 51:5; 58:3; Romans 3:10; 3:23; 5:12
5. Lord’s Supper Required Weekly – Matthew 26:26-28; I Corinthians 11:23-26
6. Musical Instruments Forbidden in Worship – Psalms 33:2-4; 150; I Chronicles 16:42; 25:5-6; II Samuel 6:5; Nehemiah 12:27; Revelation 5:8; 14:2; 15:2
7. Salvation through Works – Galatians 2:16; 3:22; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5
8. True Church Theory – Ephesians 4:4; 5:23-32; Colossians 1:18-24; Hebrews 12:23; Revelation 19:7; 5:9-10; 21:9
Techniques To Help Win A Campbellite To Christ
First, realize that you must know what the Bible says about salvation. Second, you must be familiar with the passages that they will try to distort in regards to baptism [John 3:5; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21]. Why? They are infamous for wanting to debate people over baptism being essential to salvation.
Do not engage them in a debate, which is unbiblical [see I Corinthians 1:18, 21 and Romans 1:29] and does not solve the dilemma. Rather, be ready to show them from the Scriptures how to be saved:
“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” [John 3:7]
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16]
• “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” [John 3:36]
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” [John 5:24]
“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” [John 6:29]
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” [John 6:47]
“He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” [John 8:47]
“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be save, and thy house.” [Acts 16:30-31]
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation…For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” [Romans 10:9-10,13]
• “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” [Galatians 3:22]
• “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” [Ephesians 2:8-9]
• “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” [Titus 3:5]
• “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” [1 John 5:13]
If you cannot win them to Christ with the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, no intellectual debate or eloquent argument will win them.
Properly called "Campbellites" [this is the appropriate name for devout members of the so-called "Church of Christ" because they are actually followers of the teachings of Alexander Campbell rather than the teachings of the Lord Jesus], the so-called "Church of Christ" did not appear on the pages of church history until the early 1800's when Thomas Campbell, and his son, Alexander, left the Presbyterian church to restore the "true" church.
Thomas Campbell first organized the "Christian Association" which later became an independent church in 1811. Thomas was appointed elder, Alexander was "licensed" to preach, and four deacons were elected. At this time, none of the members had been baptized by immersion. The first Campbellite church wasn’t named the "Church of Christ." It was named the "First Church of the Christian Association of Washington."
Having strong argumentive abilities, Alexander, became involved in a number of public debates, and was often corrected by his father for his conduct in these debates. Alexander’s theory was that "a week’s debating is worth a year’s preaching." (Memoirs, Vol. 2, p. 90) Paul’s theory was slightly different (I Corinthians 1:18, 21; Romans 1:29). Needless to say, this same unbiblical spirit of debate is still very present among his followers.
The Campbells weren’t baptized by immersion until June 12, 1812 – a whole year after starting their "church." Being unable to find a Church of Christ preacher (since there were none before 1811), they convinced Matthias Luce, a Baptist preacher, to perform the service. His Baptist brethren later rejected Luce himself.
Several years later (1825-1830), the Campbell clan (also called the "reformers") was joined by Walter Scott, a traveling preacher who believed in baptismal regeneration. The Campbells embraced his views and were later joined by Barton Stone (another ex-Presbyterian). Together, the "big four" were ready to take on the world with the "true Gospel."(II Corinthians 11:3-4; Galatians 1:6-9) Today the "Church of Christ" teaches a number of heresies. Following is a list of passages from the Bible that condemn some of them:
1. A-Millennialism – Luke 19:17-19; II Timothy 2:11-13; Revelation 5:10; 20:1-7
2. Baptismal Regeneration – I Corinthians 1:17
3. Denial of Eternal Security – John 5:24; 6:37; 10:28-29; I John 5:11-13; Romans 8:38-39; Philippians 1:6
4. Denial of a Sin Nature from Birth – Psalm 51:5; 58:3; Romans 3:10; 3:23; 5:12
5. Lord’s Supper Required Weekly – Matthew 26:26-28; I Corinthians 11:23-26
6. Musical Instruments Forbidden in Worship – Psalms 33:2-4; 150; I Chronicles 16:42; 25:5-6; II Samuel 6:5; Nehemiah 12:27; Revelation 5:8; 14:2; 15:2
7. Salvation through Works – Galatians 2:16; 3:22; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5
8. True Church Theory – Ephesians 4:4; 5:23-32; Colossians 1:18-24; Hebrews 12:23; Revelation 19:7; 5:9-10; 21:9
Techniques To Help Win A Campbellite To Christ
First, realize that you must know what the Bible says about salvation. Second, you must be familiar with the passages that they will try to distort in regards to baptism [John 3:5; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21]. Why? They are infamous for wanting to debate people over baptism being essential to salvation.
Do not engage them in a debate, which is unbiblical [see I Corinthians 1:18, 21 and Romans 1:29] and does not solve the dilemma. Rather, be ready to show them from the Scriptures how to be saved:
“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” [John 3:7]
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16]
• “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” [John 3:36]
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” [John 5:24]
“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” [John 6:29]
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” [John 6:47]
“He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” [John 8:47]
“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be save, and thy house.” [Acts 16:30-31]
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation…For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” [Romans 10:9-10,13]
• “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” [Galatians 3:22]
• “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” [Ephesians 2:8-9]
• “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” [Titus 3:5]
• “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” [1 John 5:13]
If you cannot win them to Christ with the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, no intellectual debate or eloquent argument will win them.