Who We Are?

The church of Christ is not a new church. Congregations worshipping and teaching as we today existed in East Anglia over 250 years ago. However, what is more important is the fact that such congregations date from New Testament times; the first church of Christ was established by Christ, through His apostles, in Jerusalem about the year AD30. That church is described in the Scriptures. We read about the names it wore, the message it preached, its worship, and the way it was governed. In short, the New Testament gives a pattern for the church. All who are following that pattern faithfully are members of the church of Christ and are God’s children whether they are known to us or not. In fact, such groups have been found in parts of this world where we did not know they existed. Yet their existence should not surprise us because the Word of God is the seed of the kingdom which produces the true church wherever it is sown. (Luke 8:11)

By definition the church of Christ cannot be a denomination because it is not dependent on man-made creeds, but simply in the New Testament pattern. We do not conceive of ourselves as being a denomination — nor as Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish — but simply as members of the church which Jesus established and for which He died.

And that, incidentally, is why we wear His name. The term “church of Christ” is not used as a denominational designation, but rather as a descriptive term indicating that the church belongs to Christ.

We recognize our own personal shortcomings and weaknesses — and this is all the more reason for wanting to carefully follow the all-sufficient and perfect plan God has for the church.

We cannot point you to any place on earth from which the church is controlled or governed. Our only head is Christ Himself (Ephesians 1 :22-23). Each congregation is self governing whilst being bound to other congregations by ties of brotherhood. Each congregation also seeks to be governed in the way taught in the New Testament, that is by a number of elders. (These men are not ecclesiastical dignitaries, but men of wisdom and spiritual maturity, selected from the local congregation itself). They are assisted by deacons (1 Timothy 3 :1-13 ; Titus 1 :5-9). The work of preaching and teaching is done either by local men of ability or able men whose lives have been given to this work.

To avoid any confusion, we must clearly point out that we are not connected in any way with religious bodies with similar sounding names i.e. “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons). Also we are not connected with the “Church of England” (Anglicans), “Roman Catholic church” (Catholics), Jehovah’s Witnesses”, or any other religious groups. We are simply “Christians” (Acts 11:26). We call ourselves a “church of Christ” because that is one of the ways in which New Testament churches were designated (Romans 16:16).

Baptism is a very misunderstood concept in the modern religious world. In fact, it is one of most controvesial of issues. Thus, we seek to go back to the simplicity of scripture on the matter.

The early church baptised by full immersion. We see in every conversion in the New Testament that baptism is full immersion for the remission of sins. No sprinkling, or pouring, is found in scripture. Infants were not baptised, only accountable believers were immersed for the remission of their sins. (Acts 2 :38; 1 Peter 3 :21).

In the salvation of man’s soul there are two necessary parts: God’s part and man’s part. God’s grace is so great because He makes salvation possible. The Bible says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2 :8-9). No man deserves salvation because his choice to sin has separated him from his God. (James 1 :14-15; Romans 3 :23, 6 :23). The love which God feels for man led Him to send His Christ into the world to redeem man (John 3 :16; Hebrews 2 :10). The life and teachings of Jesus, the sacrifice on the cross, and the proclaiming of the good news of salvation to man is God’s part in salvation.