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A Brief
History
From the deeding of the
property for the original church building on November 20,
1849, on the banks of Defeated Creek, the Montrose
congregation has been a Bible based group of New Testament
Christians seek to teach and preach the plan of salvation that
was set forth with the establishment of The Church on the Day
of Pentecost.
The construction of the church
was believed to have begun in 1850 after the recording of name
in the Smith County Register's office on September 25,1850.
The first recorded baptism was Samuel Kirby on October 26,
1851. The original trustees of the property were William
Belcher, Richmond Marman, James West, E.W. Cornwell, and
Daniel Huddleston.
With the groundbreaking for the
new Cordell Hull Lake and Dam in May of 1963, came the
necessity for a move to a new location. In October of 1968, a
new white brick building was completed on higher ground about
a mile from the original location on land donated by Mr. &
Mrs. Edward Kemp and Mr. & Mrs. Bobby Gray Kemp. Built at
a cost of $18,000, the building has been increased in size
twice, in 1972 and again in 1985. In 1975, the men voted to
borrow $2,500 to purchase land adjoining the church for the
purpose of building a minister's home.
Who are the
churches of Christ and What Do They Believe In?
by Batsell Barrett Baxter
Quick
index click on topic or scroll down
What
is the distinctive plea of the church of Christ?
It is primarily a plea for
religious unity based upon the Bible. In a divided religious
world it is believed that the Bible is the only possible
common denominator upon which most, if not all, of the
God-fearing people of the land can unite. This is an appeal to
go back to the Bible. It is a plea to speak where the Bible
speak and to remain silent where the Bible is silent in all
matters that pertain to religion. It further emphasizes that
in everything religious there must be a "Thus saith the
Lord" for all that is done. The objective is religious
unity of all believers in Christ. The basis is the New
Testament. The method is the restoration of New Testament
Christianity.
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The
Historical background of the Restoration Movement
One of the earliest advocates
of the return to New Testament Christianity, as a means of
achieving unity of all believers in Christ, was James O'Kelly
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1793 he withdrew from
the Baltimore conference of his church and called upon others
to join him in taking the Bible as the only creed. His
influence was largely felt in Virginia and North Carolina
where history records that some seven thousand communicants
followed his leadership toward a return to primitive New
Testament Christianity.
In 1802 a similar movement
among the Baptists in New England was led by Abner Jones and
Elias Smith. They were concerned about "denominational
names and creeds" and decided to wear only the name
Christian, taking Bible as their only guide. In 1804, in the
western frontier state of Kentucky, Barton W. Stone and
several other Presbyterian preachers took similar action
declaring that they would take the Bible as the "only
sure guide to heaven." Thomas Campbell, and his
illustrious son, Alexander Campbell, took similar steps in the
year 1809 in what is now the state of West Virginia. They
contended that nothing should be bound upon Christians as a
matter of doctrine which is not as old as the New Testament.
Although these four movements were completely independent in
their beginnings eventually they became one strong restoration
movement because of their common purpose and plea. These men
did not advocate the starting of a new church, but rather a
return to Christ's church as described in the Bible.
Members of the church of Christ
do not conceive of themselves as a new church started near the
beginning of the 19th century. Rather, the whole movement is
designed to reproduce in contemporary times the church
originally established on Pentecost, AD 30. The strength of
the appeal lies in the restoration of Christ's original
church.
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How
many churches of Christ are there?
The most recent dependable
estimate lists more than 15,000 individual churches of Christ.
The "Christian Herald," a general religious
publication which presents statistics concerning all the
churches, estimates that the total membership of the churches
of Christ is now 2,000,000. There are more than 7000 men who
preach publicly. Membership of the church is heaviest in the
southern states of the United States, particularly Tennessee
and Texas, though congregations exist in each of the fifty
states and in more than eighty foreign countries. Missionary
expansion has been most extensive since the second World War
in Europe, Asia and Africa. More than 450 full time workers
are supported in foreign countries. The churches of Christ now
have five times as many members as were reported in the US
Religious Census of 1936.
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How
are the churches organizationally connected?
Following the plan of
organization found in the New Testament, churches of Christ
are autonomous. Their common faith in the Bible and adherence
to its teachings are the chief ties which bind them together.
There is no central headquarters of the church and no
organization superior to the elders of each local
congregation. Congregations do cooperate voluntarily in
supporting the orphans and the aged, in preaching the gospel
in new fields, and in other similar works.
Members of the church of Christ
conduct forty colleges and secondary schools, as well as
seventy-five orphanages and homes for the aged. There are
approximately 40 magazines and other periodicals published by
individual members of the church. A nationwide radio and
television program, known as "The Herald of Truth"
is sponsored by the Highland Avenue church in Abilene, Texas.
Much of its annual budget of $1,200,000 is contributed on a
freewill basis by other churches of Christ. The radio program
is currently heard on more than 800 radio stations, while the
television program is now appearing on more than 150 stations.
Another extensive radio effort known as "World
Radio" owns a network of 28 stations in Brazil alone, and
is operating effectively in the United States and a number of
other foreign countries, and is being produced in 14
languages. An extensive advertising program in leading
national magazines began in November 1955.
There are no conventions,
annual meetings, or official publications. The "tie that
binds" is a common loyalty to the principles of the
restoration of New Testament Christianity.
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How
are the churches of Christ governed?
In each congregation, which has
existed long enough to become fully organized, there is a
plurality of elders or presbyters who serve as the governing
body. These men are selected by the local congregations on the
basis of qualifications set down in the scriptures (1 Timothy
3:1-8). Serving under the elders are deacons, teachers, and
evangelists or ministers. The latter do not have the authority
equal to or superior to the elders. The elders are shepherds
or overseers who serve under the headship of Christ according
to the New Testament, which is a kind of constitution. There
is no earthly authority superior to the elders of the local
church.
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What
does the church of Christ believe about the Bible?
The original autographs of the
sixty six books which make up the Bible are considered to have
been divinely inspired, by which it is meant that they are
infallible and authoritative. Reference to the scriptures is
made in settling every religious question. A pronouncement
from the scripture is considered the final word. The basic
textbook of the church and the basis for all preaching is the
Bible.
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Do
members of the churches of Christ believe in the virgin birth?
Yes. The statement in Isaiah
7:14 is taken as a prophecy of the virgin birth of Christ. New
Testament passages such as Matthew 1:20, 25, are accepted at
face value as declarations of the virgin birth. Christ is
accepted as the only begotten Son of God, uniting in his
person perfect divinity and perfect manhood.
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Does
the church of Christ believe in predestination?
Only in the sense that God
predestines the righteous to be eternally saved and the
unrighteous to be eternally lost. The statement of the apostle
Peter, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of
persons, but in every nation he that feareth Him and worketh
righteousness is acceptable unto Him" (Acts 10:34-35.),
is taken as evidence that God did not predestine individuals
to be eternally saved or lost, but that each man determines
his own destiny.
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Why
does the church of Christ baptize only by immersion?
The word baptize comes from the
Greek word "baptizo" and literally means, "to
dip, to immerse, to plunge." In addition to the literal
meaning of the word, immersion is practiced because it was the
practice of the church in apostolic times. Still further, only
immersion conforms to the description of baptisms as given by
the apostle Paul in Romans 6:3-5 where he speaks of it as a
burial and resurrection.
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Is
infant baptism practiced?
No. Only those who have reached
the "age of accountability" are accepted for
baptisms. It is pointed out that the examples given in the New
Testament are always of those who have heard the gospel
preached and have believed it. Faith must always precede
baptism, so only those old enough to understand and believe
the gospel are considered fit subjects for baptism.
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Do
ministers of the church hear confession?
No. Ministers or evangelists of
the church have no special prerogatives. They do not wear the
title of Reverend or Father, but are addressed simply by the
term Brother as are all other men of the church. Along with
elders and others they do counsel and advise those seeking
help.
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Are
prayers addressed to the saints?
No. God the Father is
considered the only one to whom the prayers may be addressed.
It is further understood that Christ stands in a mediatorial
position between God and man (Hebrews 7:25). All prayers are
therefore offered through Christ, or in the name of Christ
(John 16:23-26).
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How
often is the Lord's supper eaten?
It is expected that every
member of the church will assemble for worship on each Lord's
day. A central part of the worship is the eating of the Lord's
supper (Acts 20:7). Unless providentially hindered, each
member considers this weekly appointment as binding. In many
instances, as in the case of illness, the Lord's supper is
carried to those who are hindered from attending the worship.
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What
kind of music is used in the worship?
As a result of the distinctive
plea of the church - a return to New Testament Faith and
practice - acapella singing is the only music used in the
worship. This singing, unaccompanied by mechanical instruments
of music, conforms to the music used in the apostolic church
and for several centuries thereafter (Ephesians 5:19). It is
felt that there is no authority for engaging in acts of
worship not found in the New Testament. This principle
eliminates the use of instrumental music, along with the use
of candles, incense, and other similar elements.
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Does
the church of Christ believe in heaven and hell?
Yes. The statement of Christ in
Matthew 25, and elsewhere, are taken at face value. It is
believed that after death each man must come before God in
judgment and that he will be judged according to the deeds
done while he lived (Hebrews 9:27). After judgment is
pronounced he will spend eternity either in heaven or hell.
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Does
the church of Christ believe in purgatory?
No. The absence of any
reference in the scriptures to the temporary place of
punishment from which the soul will eventually be released
into heaven prevents the acceptance of the doctrine of
purgatory.
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By
what means does the church secure financial support?
Each first day of the week the
members of the church "lay by in store as they have been
prospered" (1 Corinthians 16:2). The amount of any
individual gift is generally known only to the one who gave it
and to the Lord. This freewill offering is the only call which
the church makes. NO assessments or other levies are made. No
money-making activities, such as bazaars or suppers, are
engaged in. A total of approximately $200,000,000 is given on
this basis each year.
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Does
the church of Christ have a creed?
No. At least, there is no creed
in the usual sense of the word. The belief of the church is
stated fully and completely in the Bible. There is no other
manual or discipline to which the members of the church of
Christ give their allegiance. The Bible is considered as the
only infallible guide to heaven.
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How
does one become a member of the church of Christ?
In the salvation of man's soul
there are 2 necessary parts: God's part and man's part. God's
part is the big part, "For by grace you have been saved
through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift if
God; not of works, that no man should glory" (Ephesians
2:8-9). The love which God felt for man led him to send Christ
into the world to redeem man. The life and teaching of Jesus,
the sacrifice on the cross, and the proclaiming of the gospel
to men constitute God's part in salvation.
Though God's part is the big
part, man's part is also necessary if man is to reach heaven.
Man must comply with the conditions of pardon which the Lord
has announced. Man's part can clearly set forth in the
following steps:
- Hear the Gospel
"How shall they call on him whom they have not
believed? and how shall they believe him whom they have
not heard? and how shall they hear without a
preacher?" (Romans 10:14).
- Believe
"And without faith it is impossible to be
wellpleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
seek after him"
(Hebrews 11:6).
- Repent of past sins
"The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but
now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere
repent." (Acts 17:30).
- Confess Jesus as Lord
"Behold here is water; What doth hinder me to be
baptized ? And Philip said, if thou believeth with all thy
heart thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:36-37).
- Be baptized for the
remission of sins
"And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized
everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the
remission of your sins and ye shall receive the gift of
the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38).
- Live a Christian life
"Ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may
show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of
darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).
OPEN INVITATION
Now that you are aware of a
church in the 20th century which is built according to the
blue prints of Christ's original church, why not become a
member of it ? In becoming a member of it, you will be called
upon to do nothing which you cannot read in the New Testament.
You will then live and worship just as the apostle-guided
Christians of the first century did.
Not only is this return to New
Testament Christianity a wonderful basis upon which all
believers in Christ can unite, it is absolutely solid ground.
If we do just what our Lord commanded we know that our
salvation is certain. Come with us as we go back to the Bible,
back to Christ and his church!
If you need to locate a church
of Christ congregation nearest to you, please CLICK
HERE to send me an E-mail and I will be more than glad to
help you find it. No one from the church will call without
your consent. Please come by and visit.
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