The thing about Church of Christ is that they get a bit too fixated on what is and isn't mentioned in the Bible and can't just relax on some things. They say that musical instruments are mentioned in the OT but not the NT, so therefore instruments are forbidden in their church. I had some Church of Christ doorknockers come to my door once and I was like, "It's alright, I'm Christian." "Well, how do you know that you're saved? Did you ask Christ into your heart?" "Yeah, sure." "Well did you know that the Bible does not specifically say so, and that is just the Campus Crusade for Christ's narrative?" I wasn't going to entertain their pointless legalism and politely closed the door on them.
The Church of Christ is like the Farm to Market version of Christianity. The benefits are there are no additives, no sugar, no process. On the other hand, it's bland, raw, and its buyers are intolerant of everything else.
So the acapella singing is nice. The lack of rituals and embellishment is nice. But the whole "Everyone but us is going to Hell" is very isolating and fosters ignorance.
But their disdain for the United Churches of Christ is totally justified.
Never heard of Campus Crusade for Christ? The man behind that is the one who came up with the simple prayer for salvation ("come into my heart" etc) and the Church of Christ ilk don't like that, and believe that the only way to salvation is through baptism. No, baptism is a statement of faith. I just can't be bothered to argue with them. They aren't bad people, but I don't want to deal with them.
A soldier has just been fatally injured on the beach at Normandy. A Chaplain is there to pray and the soldier accepts Christ for the first time in his life. The chaplain says, "Well crap, we need to baptize you, so the Chaplain runs back to the water to get some seawater to baptize him, but a German grenade blows his leg off. As the Chapain lays immobilized, he calls over to the soldier and says, "Well nuts, it looks like I won't be able to baptize you, now that my leg's off and all. It looks like you're on your way to hell after all. Good luck with that." The Chaplain, of course, is Church of Christ.
Campus Crusade was big Christian ministry on college campuses in the 70s and 80s along with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. CC did a lot of evangelism with 4 main points to get kids to accept Christ.
Baptism means immersion but in what? Could be God's Word which is the most important thing a believer can do. As pertaining to salvation the moment a person first believes in the living God our savior Jesus, you are baptized with the Spirit of God.
That being said he orchestrated that, you didn't. If God doesn't come calling you ain't responding.
John 1:32-33
[32]And Iohn bare record saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heauen, like a Doue, and it abode vpon him.
[33]And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said vnto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, & remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the holy Ghost.
The book of Acts is a history book giving account of the actions of the Apostles, the addition of the 12th Apostle Paul and the day of Pentecost along with the beginning of the early church. Those actions aren't necessarily doctrine. Like Peter pushing circumcision to the heathen. He was rebuked by Paul.
The message from Spirit guided John the baptist was clear, baptism in water would be superceded by Grace and immersion of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore water baptism was only for the house of Israel.
Pushing any works and tying them to salvation is a heresy and false doctrine.
If your pastor pushes that crap then cancel him.
If he's a grifter for filthy lucre cancel him.
The thing about Church of Christ is that they get a bit too fixated on what is and isn't mentioned in the Bible and can't just relax on some things. They say that musical instruments are mentioned in the OT but not the NT, so therefore instruments are forbidden in their church. I had some Church of Christ doorknockers come to my door once and I was like, "It's alright, I'm Christian." "Well, how do you know that you're saved? Did you ask Christ into your heart?" "Yeah, sure." "Well did you know that the Bible does not specifically say so, and that is just the Campus Crusade for Christ's narrative?" I wasn't going to entertain their pointless legalism and politely closed the door on them.
The Church of Christ is like the Farm to Market version of Christianity. The benefits are there are no additives, no sugar, no process. On the other hand, it's bland, raw, and its buyers are intolerant of everything else.
So the acapella singing is nice. The lack of rituals and embellishment is nice. But the whole "Everyone but us is going to Hell" is very isolating and fosters ignorance.
But their disdain for the United Churches of Christ is totally justified.
Never heard of Campus Crusade for Christ? The man behind that is the one who came up with the simple prayer for salvation ("come into my heart" etc) and the Church of Christ ilk don't like that, and believe that the only way to salvation is through baptism. No, baptism is a statement of faith. I just can't be bothered to argue with them. They aren't bad people, but I don't want to deal with them.
A soldier has just been fatally injured on the beach at Normandy. A Chaplain is there to pray and the soldier accepts Christ for the first time in his life. The chaplain says, "Well crap, we need to baptize you, so the Chaplain runs back to the water to get some seawater to baptize him, but a German grenade blows his leg off. As the Chapain lays immobilized, he calls over to the soldier and says, "Well nuts, it looks like I won't be able to baptize you, now that my leg's off and all. It looks like you're on your way to hell after all. Good luck with that." The Chaplain, of course, is Church of Christ.
Not OP, but I would like to hear what you have to say.
Campus Crusade was big Christian ministry on college campuses in the 70s and 80s along with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. CC did a lot of evangelism with 4 main points to get kids to accept Christ.
Baptism means immersion but in what? Could be God's Word which is the most important thing a believer can do. As pertaining to salvation the moment a person first believes in the living God our savior Jesus, you are baptized with the Spirit of God. That being said he orchestrated that, you didn't. If God doesn't come calling you ain't responding.
Also water baptism is an abject heresy.
1611 KJV
John 1:32-33 [32]And Iohn bare record saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heauen, like a Doue, and it abode vpon him. [33]And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said vnto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, & remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the holy Ghost.
The book of Acts is a history book giving account of the actions of the Apostles, the addition of the 12th Apostle Paul and the day of Pentecost along with the beginning of the early church. Those actions aren't necessarily doctrine. Like Peter pushing circumcision to the heathen. He was rebuked by Paul.
The message from Spirit guided John the baptist was clear, baptism in water would be superceded by Grace and immersion of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore water baptism was only for the house of Israel.
Pushing any works and tying them to salvation is a heresy and false doctrine.
If your pastor pushes that crap then cancel him. If he's a grifter for filthy lucre cancel him.