Church Info

• Welcome
• About Us
• History
• Times and
  Location
• Events

Study Aids

• Sermons
• Life Articles
• Church Articles
• Online Bible

• Email Us
• Links
• Home

MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE CHURCH OF CHRIST

1. Misunderstandings cause war:
   1. Since the days of the Greeks there has been one war for every two years.
   2. Since the days of Jesus Christ there have been misunderstandings in the realm of His mission, His purpose, His kingdom and His teachings.
2. It is easy to misrepresent those who differ with us.
3. Since the church of our Lord is neither Catholic, Protestant, nor Jewish, there are many misconceptions about who we are and what we believe.
4. What are some of these misconceptions?

1. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST WAS FOUNDED BY ALEXANDER CAMPBELL.
   1. Campbell was an outstanding preacher and religious leader of the early 1800's.
   2. Campbell preacher restoration ideas.
   3. ILL: When brother Johnson sows glass seed it does not bring forth brother Johnson's. (Luke 8:11; 1 Peter 4:11).
2. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS TOO NARROW.
   1. Some brethren might be too narrow on some things. When they are, they are wrong.
   2. This is a narrow-minded are in religion, however: This is a narrow-minded age in other areas:
      1. Geography - How far is it to Chicago? In which direction?
      2. Arithmetic - How many ounces in a pound? 2+2=
      3. Science - Is the earth round.
   3. The way to heaven is narrow - Matt.7:13,14.
      1. We must teach what God's word teaches - Nu.22:18.
      2. Is it too narrow to follow the N.T. pattern in all things: in worship; in how to become a Christian; in how far to go in everything pertaining to religion and service - Ex.25:40; Heb.8:5.
3. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST DOES NOT BELIEVE THE OLD TESTAMENT.
   1. The O.T. is inspired - 2 Peter 1:2, it is profitable for our learning - Rom.15:4, but that law was nailed to the cross - Col.2:14.
   2. They say, "We take it all," but they do not. Gal.5:3.
      1. Which will you take? The tabernacles - Ex.25:40; the temple - 1 Kings; or the church - Matt.16:18.
      2. Which will you take? The blood of animals - Lev.9:1; Heb.10:4; or the blood of Jesus Christ - Eph.1:7; Matt 26:28.
4. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST BELIEVES THEIR CHURCH IS THE ONLY ONE.
   1. Is one man's church just as good as another?
   2. But the church whose foundation is Christ - 1 Cor.3:11; and Christ's only, is the one bought and approved of God - Eph.4:4; Col.1:18. Show me where it say's Christ died for man made churches.
      1. If Luther has never lived, the church he established would not exist. Therefore Luther is its foundation, at least in part, and not Jesus Christ in total - 1 Cor 3:11.
      2. The same is true of all other denominations.
      3. If all the well know men from Paul on down to the present day had never lived, the existence of the Lord's church could not be denied.
5. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST BELIEVES IN WATER SALVATION.
   1. We must stress what the Bible teaches on baptism because the denominational preachers and members almost to a man teach against what the Bible says about baptism.
      1. Baptism is essential - 1 Peter 3:21.
      2. Baptism alone does not save. We must have faith, repent, confess and remember the grace of God.
   2. God saves: But when - Col.2:12.
      1. Naaman - 2 Kings 5.
      2. Blind Man - John 9.
   3. If you take out baptism, you might as well take out everything - Rev.22:18,19.
   4. If I practice water salvation, then:
      1. So did John the Baptist - Matt.3:5,6.
      2. So did Peter - Acts 2:38; 10:48.
      3. So did Paul - Acts 9:6; 22:16; Rom. 6; Acts 16; 18 and 19.
      4. So did Jesus - Matt.28:18-20; Mark 16:16.
   5. Yes, we are in good company when we teach the necessity of water baptism.
6. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS JUST ANOTHER DENOMINATION AMONG MANY.
   1. The church can not be part of the church - Acts 2:47.
   2. Jesus started the church - Matt.16:18 but Jesus never started any denomination.
   3. Remember the seed principle taught in Luke 8:11.
   4. Which denomination did Paul, Peter or any N.T. Christian join. NONE! Why? Because there were none in existence at that time. If God didn't want any then what makes you thin He wants them now. Besides, in N.T. times people were added to the Lord's church - Acts 2:47.
7. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST DOES NOT LIKE MUSIC.
   1. Not true - we like music.
   2. The N.T. church had music and liked it but it was vocal music - Eph.5:19; Col.3:16.
8. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST THINKS THEY ARE RIGHT AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS WRONG.
   1. This argument has been used by many people down through the year to stop restoration of N.T. Christianity.
   2. If people do not believe they are right religiously they ought to change. The same is true for me. Rom.14:23.
   3. We do believe the Bible is right and everybody who disagrees with it is wrong. But in the area of opinion we do make mistakes.
   4. Two people cannot be both right teaching contradictory doctrines:
      1. The earth is either flat or it is not. 2+2=4; or it doesn't.
      2. Baptism and the church are either essential or they are not.
      3. The Bible is infallible or it is not.
      4. Heaven and Hell are real or they are not.
      5. Judgment day is coming or it is not.
      6. We should preach against sin or we should not.
   5. How can we tell who is right?
      1. Not by human wisdom - 1 Cor.1:21.
      2. Not by how many people we have.
      3. But by the scriptures - 2 Tim.3:16-17.
   6. Does it matter what we believe?
      1. Forgiveness matters - Heb.10:4.
      2. Freedom matters - John 8:32.
      3. Purifying one's soul matters - 1 Pet 1:22.
      4. Condemnation matters - 2 Thess 2:11,12.
      5. Heaven matters - John 8:24.

CONCLUSION:

1. I hope this study has helped.
2. Abandon denominational ties and go back with us to the Bible and N.T. Christianity.
3. Come as we sing.