We all agree that the right church is the church that existed in the first century, the church of which Peter, John, James, and Paul were members. If we can find that same church existing in our day, it will still be the right church.
How do we know when we find it? We must ascertain its essential identifying features. We then need to search for the church today that has the same features. When we find it, we will have found the right church. As we open our New Testa ments, what essential identifying features do we find about the church?
- The church was guided solely by Christ’s doctrine, through the apostles. The church had no man-made creed, discipline, confession of faith, or catechism (Acts 2:42; Philippians 1:27; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:3).
- The church worshipped on the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:2), when they sang acapella (Ephesians 5:19), gave of their means (1 Corinthians 16:2), observed the Lord’s supper (Acts 20:7), prayed (1 Corinthians 14:15), and studied God’s Word (Acts 2:42; 20:7).
- The church was organized on a local, autonomous, congregational level (Acts 14:23), with elders, deacons, evange lists, and members (Philippians 1:1).
- The church was designated “the church” (Colossians 1:18), “the churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16), “the church of the Lord” (Acts 20:28 asv), and “the church of God” (1 Cor inthians 1:2).
- People entered the church by becoming penitent, baptized believers (Acts 2:36–47).
This was the church as it existed in the first century, the church of which Peter, James, John, and Paul were members. Now, with no intent to be boastful, but to be kindly clear, we affirm that the church of Christ in your community is the same church. The church of Christ in this century has the same essential identifying features:
- We have no man-made creed, discipline, confession of faith, or catechism. We are governed solely by the apostles’ doctrine found in the New Testament.
- We worship on the first day of the week by engaging in acapella singing, praying, studying God’s Word, giving of our means, and observing the Lord’s supper.
- Each congregation is local, independent, autonomous (self-governing), having elders, deacons, evangelists, and members.
- We are designated as “the church of Christ” or by an equivalent.
- If you were to ask, “How do I become a member of the church of Christ to day?” you would be kindly instructed that you must become a penitent, baptized believer.
We plead for the church now (this century) as then (first century). Such is pure, simple, and beautiful New Testament Christianity!
