What is the church of Christ?

The church of Christ is not a denomination (meaning "away from the name", the name being Christ). If it were a denomination, then it would not belong the Jesus Christ. It is not catholic. If it were catholic, it would follow a man (the "Pope") who claims authority from Peter, the apostle. This is denied in Holy Writ (Acts 2.31-36) by the mouth of Peter himself! It is not jewish. If it were jewish, then the sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour is of no-effect (Romans 6.7; Romans 8.2). It is not protestant. Protestant churches have evolved from a split away from the catholics.

The term "church of Christ" is not a denominational designation, but rather is a descriptive term indicating that the church belongs to Christ and her members are His followers. As the head of the church (Ephesians 4.14), only Christ has the authority to say what the church is and what she should teach (Matthew 28:18; I Tim 3.16).

The New Testament outlines what the church is to teach, to do, and the mission of her members. Since only the New Testament sets forth Christ's teachings, it alone must serve as the basis for all religious practices, teachings, and instruction. The church of Christ today pleads with each and every soul under heaven return to God, the original design of the church (Acts 17:30). There were those in the beginning of the church who opposed her, her doctrine and creed (sent from God), and her founder (Acts 6.1; Acts 9.15). Honest hearts which heard the Word and allowed it to take seed in their hearts, followed it, forsaking all others.

In I Corinthians 1.10, the apostle Paul begged those who are in Christ to unite. Religious unity can be achieved. Under what authority and what creed do men follow to be able to walk together? The only way to achieve this unity is for all men to surrender to the authority of Christ. Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit to the apostles to bring to rememberance the words and deeds that he did while he was with them on earth (Acts 1.2). The Holy Spirit guided the hand of the authors of the New Testament to leave us Christ's Word as the final authority (II Timothy 3.16). The only way to find unity in Christ is to be in Christ and returning to His Word, the Bible.

To subscribe to any creed or doctrine other than the New Testament, to refuse to obey the instruction and principles of the New Testament, or to follow any practice not supported by the teachings found in the New Testament is to add or to take away from the teachings of God. As such, any additions or deletions are condemned in the Bible (Galatians 1:6-9; Revelation 22:18-19). True followers of Christ strive to do Bible things in Bible ways and to call Bible things by Bible names: nothing more or nothing less.