The Church of Christ believes in following the New Testament as the sole authority for faith and practice, emphasizing baptism for salvation, weekly communion, a cappella worship, and congregational autonomy.
Core Beliefs
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Biblical Authority: Members of the Church of Christ hold the Bible, particularly the New Testament, as the sole guide for faith and practice. They reject creeds, human-made doctrines, and denominational hierarchies, striving to align all teachings and practices strictly with Scripture
Salvation and Baptism: Salvation is understood as a process involving faith in Jesus Christ, repentance of sins, verbal confession of belief, and baptism by immersion. Baptism is considered essential for the forgiveness of sins and entry into the church, symbolizing the believer’s death, burial, and resurrection with Christ
Worship Practices: Worship is conducted without musical instruments, emphasizing a cappella singing as a form of spiritual sacrifice. The Lord’s Supper (Communion) is observed weekly, typically on Sundays, using bread and fruit of the vine to memorialize Christ’s sacrifice and foster communal unity
Church Organization: Each congregation is autonomous and self-governing, with no central authority. Decisions regarding leadership, worship, and outreach are made locally, reflecting the belief that the church should mirror the New Testament model of the early church
Unity and Restoration: The Church of Christ seeks to restore the original church established by Jesus in the first century, rejecting denominational divisions. Members identify simply as “Christians” and aim to reproduce the practices and organization of the early church described in the New Testament
View of the Old Testament: While the Old Testament is considered divinely inspired and historically accurate, its laws are not binding under the New Covenant unless reiterated in the New Testament
Historical Context
The Church of Christ emerged from the Restoration Movement in the early 19th century in the United States, led by figures such as Thomas and Alexander Campbell. The movement sought to unify Christians by returning to the practices of the New Testament church, emphasizing scriptural authority and rejecting denominational creeds.
Summary
In essence, the Church of Christ emphasizes faithful adherence to the New Testament, the necessity of baptism for salvation, weekly communion, a cappella worship, and local congregational autonomy, all aimed at restoring the original church established by Christ and maintaining unity among believers
They believe that Baptism by immersion is required for salvation.
We believe baptism by immersion is an essential part of salvation through Christ. It is the only way to be baptized into Christ so that we may enter into his everlasting covenant. According to the scriptures, we believe the path to salvation is: Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance of sins, Verbal Confession of our belief, and Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.