|
By: Brian A. Yeager I have a great interest in the Christian Church. Many of my brethren hold that they are close to the body of Christ spoken of in the New Testament, of which I am a member and preacher. I have done much research to see if the Christian Church was in fact an institution of which God authorized. I pray that my studies, and the information presented in this article, will show you as it has myself, that the Christian Church is a denomination and is not the one body spoken of in I Corinthians 12:12-13 and Ephesians 4:4. I have found through great depths of biblical study that Christ truly did only build ONE church as he promised in Matthew 16:18. The Christian Church is not that one Church. Now we will look at A Statement from Jimmy Foreman who is currently the preacher of the Tulsa Independent Christian Church. In more research of this denomination, we find the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In search of a statement I came across this web site: [http://www.disciples.org/whoare.htm]. The information on this web site is listed as being stated in 1999. Here are some of the statements they make relative to who they are and what they believe. Of all the general ideas on this group off of this web site, I found the following to be the most contradictive: The Disciples claim no official doctrine. Worship practices vary widely from congregation to congregation -- from the more common informal services to what some might describe as "high church" in others. Disciples congregations also run the theological spectrum from ultra-liberal to solidly conservative and everything in between. Membership is granted after a simple statement of belief in Jesus Christ and baptism by immersion -- though most congregations admit transfers baptized differently in other denominations. Even though immersion is virtually the universal Disciples practice, no church authority requires baptism by a particular form. The Lord's Supper -- generally called "communion" -- is open to all Christians. The practice is weekly communion, though, once again, no church law insists upon it." (Emphasis B.A.Y.) If you would continue to read their statements you would find that they have a "Church Government". This of course is not biblical (Colossians 1:18 and Ephesians 1:22-23). The only authority man has it that which God has given. While elders are biblical in the Church (Acts 20:28 and Titus 1:5-9), Deacons are biblical (I Timothy 3:8-13), and finally preachers (Romans 10:14); there is no mention of any of the following: Oriented to congregational government, the denomination has a somewhat unique structure in which three levels or "manifestations" (general, regional and congregational) operate as equals, managing their own finances, property and program, with strong but voluntary ties to each other. This means the Disciples' nearly 3,800 local congregations own their own property and have full control of their budgets and program. Regions, of which there are 35, likewise exercise rights within their own sphere of operation. The chief executive of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is called the general minister and president. The office currently is held by the Rev. Richard L. Hamm, who has been nominated for reelection during the October 8-12 Geneal Assembly. [In respect to the term Reverend, that would be placing Mr. Hamm at the level of God (Psalms 111:9)] At the national/international level, the church's main representative body is the General Assembly, which meets every two years and brings together lay and ordained voting delegates from each manifestation of the church. A General Board of 160-voting members, at least half of which must be lay persons, meets annually, and a 44-member Administrative Committee, similarly lay-oriented, meets more frequently. The General Assembly, General Board and Administrative Committee are presided over by an elected moderator. There also are first and second vice-moderators. These positions carry two-year terms. General offices are located in Indianapolis, Ind., with the exception of the publishing house, the higher education division and the social and health services unit, which are headquartered in St. Louis, MO., and the Disciples of Christ Historical Society in Nashville, Tenn." (Emphasis added B.A.Y.) Scriptural Refutation of the Instrument While it is not the only difference between the true church and the Christian Church. It is one that is most recognized as a major difference, and it is one reason why the Christian Church split from the body of Christ. As presented in Brother Goddard’s sermon above, the Greek word "psallo" is used to defend the practice of instruments in worship by the Christian Church in such debates as the Highers / Blakely Debate on Instrumental Music. We will look at this and briefly some other arguments used and expose them too as error. Advocates of instrumental music in the worship generally use three arguments. They say instruments were used in the Old Testament (Psalms 150:1-6). We know that the Old Testament is no longer binding (Romans 7:1-6, Ephesians 2:13-15, Colossians 2:14, and Hebrews 8:7-13). We know that it is a sin to try and justify things by it (Galatians 5:4). Then they say that the angels voices sounded as harpers harping in Heaven, but we realize that things bound in Heaven are not on Earth (Matthew 22:30). The third argument is the Greek term "Psallo - yallw " Now, I want to look at another Greek term and use it to prove a point. That term is "baptizo" it appears in forms of baptize, baptism etc. Strong’s number 907 defined as: Look at every time that the words sing, sang, song, singing, sung or psalms – relating to singing, or hymns, or spiritual songs appear in the New Testament. You will not find any time in which they played. (Romans 15:9, I Corinthians 14:15, Hebrews 2:12, James 5:13, and Revelation 15:3. – The term sing). (Acts 16:25 – The term sang). (Revelation 5:9, Revelation 14:3, and Revelation 15:3 –The term song). (Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 – Singing). (Matthew 26:30, Mark 14:26, Revelation 5:9, and Revelation 14:3 – The term sung.) (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16, and James 5:13). (Matthew 26:30, Mark 14:26, Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 – The terms hymn(s) and spiritual songs.) None of the verses speaking of singing in the New Testament give any form of authority for an instrument! Also, you will have those people that say that the word "psalms" means that we should sing from the Old Testament book of Psalms. If that is the case then why are we not doing animal sacrifices (Psalms 20:3 etc.)? We cannot because we are under a New Law that has Christ as the only sacrifice (Hebrews 9:12-28). Then you will have the attitude that it helps in the worship. Yet, we must know that we are commanded to make the melody in our heart. To add to that command would be a sin (Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18-19). Now, if instruments were authorized through the term "Psallo", and the Apostles failed to use them, that would make the Apostles sinners (I John 3:4). That would make Christ a sinner since He did not use one in Matthew 26:30. There are so many common sense reasons why the instrument is invalid in the worship that any one that wanted to go to Heaven would not use them. We must remember that God must say it, infer it, or give an approved example of it, for it to be an acceptable practice in the worship. To say that the instrument is an expedient is to add to the instrument authorized which is the heart. Are we not supposed to be doing a worship that pleases God? What happens to man pleasing worshippers (Galatians 1:10)? "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord" II Corinthians 6:17 If you are in the Christian Church and this article has helped you to see that the Christian Church does not exist by the authority of Jesus Christ, please come from them. You may be asking, "what must I do".
At the beginning of this article I mentioned that some of my brethren conclude that the Christian Church is close to the true church in the Bible, of which we proclaim to be in faith and practice. I urge those brethren to realize that this is far from the truth. Even if there were only two differences (name and instrument) almost does not mean is (Acts 26:27-29). I am sure those same brethren would say that Agrippa in the verses just mentioned was not a Christian, although he stated "almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian". Almost, but lost! What a sad day it will be for those in any denomination when they go into that final day before the Lord and they profess that they have done right, and Christ answers with "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:21-23). I am proud to call Dan Goddard my brother in Christ. Dan came out of the Christian Church and is now a baptized member of the Church of Christ, the Church spoken of in the New Testament (Romans 16:16). Dan is also the preacher at the Garden City, MI Church of Christ. Dan wrote this in regards to his baptism, one subject in which will be addressed at the conclusion of this article. "When I came to the truth in 1972 my wife and I decided that we wanted to be baptized over again. I asked several Old time gospel preachers what we ought to do. Men like Guy N Woods, Gus Nichols, G.K. Wallace, Tom Warren and the list would include several others. These men told me all that was necessary for me to do was repent. To be baptized over again was not necessary. So for awhile I didn't do anything. I studied the question and decided that to be sure and safe in my relationship to God my wife and I would be baptized over again." If you have come from or are coming out of this denomination let Dan and others like him be an example of what to do! I recommend reading Brother Robin Haley’s work titled: "Why I Left the Christian Church", it can be found online at: http://www.kepkeskorner.com/beware/ChristianChurch.htm 107 S. Duffy Road Butler, PA 16001
|