Occasionally you hear someone speak of members of the church being called “Campbellites.” Personally, I have only been called a “Campbellite” a few times, since in our age of religious ecumenism, name calling is not as common as it once was. Where did this name come from? Simply put, it is a nickname based on the erroneous idea that Alexander Campbell, along with his father Thomas, founded the churches of Christ.… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: CHURCH
WILL ALL OF THE DENOMINATIONS ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
No. Although the sentiment, “Join the church of your choice” is very popular today, the current denominational system could not be pleasing to God. It is not possible for all of the denominations to enter into the kingdom of God because of the wide diversity of teaching among the multiplied hundreds of religious groups. While some teach that Jesus was the Son of God, others teach that He was really only a good teacher or prophet.… Continue Reading
GOOD SOIL IN AMERICA
The world out of which the American Restoration movement grew was truly a world of “good soil” (Luke 8:8). The new nation was a nation that did not have allegiance to any particular religious denomination. Many were searching for truth in the early decades of the nineteenth century. It was fertile soil for people to question what they had always believed.… Continue Reading
HOW ARE THE CHURCH AND THE KINGDOM RELATED?
The burning question in the hearts of the early Jews was the question of when the Messiah would establish His kingdom on earth and reign upon David’s throne. Most misunderstood the issue, and even the disciples were caught up in misconceptions of the nature of the Lord’s kingdom. Just before His ascension, they asked Jesus, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”… Continue Reading
WHAT WAS PENTECOST?
Pentecost was one of the three great feast days of the Jews. (The other two being Passover and Tabernacles.) They observed all three of these feast days by making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Christians know Pentecost as the birthday of the church, from Acts chapter two. It was the day on which Peter and the other apostles first preached the good news of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, when “they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”… Continue Reading
SINCE THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD, WHY ISN’T THERE JUST ONE CHURCH?
Paul tells us explicitly that there is “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:6). Most people have little trouble with this concept, understanding that our Heavenly Father created our world and loved us enough to send Christ to save us from our sins. Paul does not speak only of “One God,” however, but mentions seven “unities.”… Continue Reading
HOW DO YOU JOIN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST?
People join many organizations, from civic clubs like Rotary and Lions, to personal development clubs like Toastmasters, to special interest organizations like the P. T. A. It is natural then that most people think about “joining” the church. As strange as it may seem, however, that one cannot “join the church of Christ.” The idea of joining the church carries with it the thought that the church is just like other organizations that you may join at will.… Continue Reading
WHAT IS GOD’S PLAN FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH?
Jesus promised that He would build His church, saying to Peter, that “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The heavenly Father “hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23).… Continue Reading
WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?
The prophet Isaiah looked to the coming Messianic age and said, “For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name” (Isaiah 62:1-2).… Continue Reading
DOES GOD APPROVE OF DENOMINATIONALISM?
Anyone who observes our religious world notices that it is filled with multiplied denominations. Many see this as a good thing—that anyone can find a denomination that teaches what he wants it to teach, thus the slogan, “Go to the church of your choice.”
This was the attitude expressed by Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon in a sermon: “I bless God that there are so many denominations.… Continue Reading
IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST A DENOMINATION? — BOB PRICHARD
A frequent follow-up question to “Are you a Christian?” is “What denomination are you?” “Denomination” is not found in the Bible, and the idea is based on sectarianism and division. “Denomination” is not simply an incidental name, but a choice to be divided from other believers who do not share the same sectarian doctrines. Religious denominations are divisions among people who may all claim to follow the same Lord and same Bible but cannot agree because of their denomination.… Continue Reading
WORSHIP OF ENTERTAINMENT? — BOB PRICHARD
There is no doubt that the man we know as Neil Postman described serious problems in modern culture in his insightful 1985 book Amusing Ourselves to Death. His thesis was that public discourse has been reshaped to such an extent by television and entertainment that thoughtful discourse is missing. Show business hype has affected advertising, politics, and religion. Postman’s conclusion is that none of these changes have made for improvement.… Continue Reading
Why Are There So Many Churches? (World Video Bible School)
Contemporary religious scholars and historians estimate that there are approximately 38,000 denominations in the world today. Have you ever wondered if the true church still exists today? Does it really matter to which church I belong? If the true church does exist, how can I find it? Learn about the fascinating history of the first century church of the Bible and how it still exists today!… Continue Reading
Searching For Truth (World Video Bible School)
Searching for Truth is a video/book program that introduces the very foundation of Christianity, the Gospel. It is designed to teach what one needs to know to become a Christian.
INTRODUCTION: Did you know that on the average, 107 people die every minute? That's a staggering number. As much as we might like to go on living, all of us will face death.… Continue Reading