Church of Christ

:Alternate meanings: see Church of Christ (disambiguation). The Church of Christ discussed in this article is not related to the United Church of Christ, to Mormonism, or to any Church of Christ within the Latter Day Saint movement.

Related Topics:
Church of Christ (disambiguation) - United Church of Christ - Mormonism - Church of Christ - Latter Day Saint movement

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The Churches of Christ are a body of autonomous Christian congregations. The Churches' roots can be traced back to the Restorationist movement championed by American Protestant preachers in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, most notably Thomas Campbell and his son Alexander. However, the Churches of Christ claim to be a restoration of the first-century church, and prefer to trace their origin to the day of Pentecost.

Related Topics:
Autonomous - Christian - Congregation - Restorationist - American - Protestant - First-century - Pentecost

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The Churches of Christ have the following distinctive traits: the refusal to hold to any creeds other than those specifically mentioned in the Bible itself; the practice of adult baptism as a requirement for the remission of sins; autonomous non-denominational congregational church organization, with congregations overseen by a plurality of elders; the weekly observance of The Lord's Supper; and the belief in a cappella congregational singing during worship. The American Restoration Movement of the 19th century promoted returning to the practices of the first century Christian churches. Other churches that were advanced by the Restoration Movement include the Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ (often designated "Instrumental" for their acceptance of musical instruments within worship) and the Disciples of Christ. Some Churches of Christ are called non-institutional and may have strong disagreements with other Churches of Christ.

Related Topics:
Creed - Bible - Adult baptism - Sin - Autonomous - Non-denominational - Elders - The Lord's Supper - A cappella - Worship - American - Restoration Movement - 19th century - Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ - Disciples of Christ - Non-institutional

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The Churches of Christ are distinct, in that they believe that they are not another denomination, but rather are striving to be the one, true Church. Many members today describe themselves as "Christians only" ("but not the only Christians" is often added).

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Despite the Church of Christ's historical origin as part of a movement started by Baptist and Presbyterian preachers, it should be noted that some members, particularly older members, of this group are apt to object to being referred to as "Protestants", believing that Christ's church was not founded as a protest against anything, other than perhaps the domination of the present world by Satan. The Church of Christ has firm disagreements with the Roman Catholic Church and does not recognize the authority of the Holy See. Some, and probably most, members would also object to the categorization of their church as a "denomination", as one of the tenets of this movement is that they are not a denomination and that denominationalism is a sinful departure from the original plan laid down in the Bible for the church.

Related Topics:
Baptist - Presbyterian - Protestants - Protest - Satan - Roman Catholic Church - Holy See - Denomination - Tenet - Denominationalism

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