Church of Christ - Preliminary

Church of Christ

Common
Trinity
Soul
Heaven
Hell
Satan/Demons
"Saved"
Baptism
Resurrection
Antichrist

Science
Miracles
Evolution
Creation
Carbon Dating

Inspiration
Partial
Contradictions
& Inaccuracies

Preliminary Points: The Church of Christ¹ is the name of autonomous churches throughout Australia, Canada, and especially the "Bible belt" of the U.S.A. The Church of Christ has similar doctrines to those expounded by Alexander Campbell,² an associate of Dr. John Thomas with whom the Doctor broke after a fuller understanding of the elements of the gospel.³; Members of the Church of Christ have a motto, "Where the Bible speaks we speak, and where it is silent we are silent." They believe in "contending earnestly for the faith" (as they understand the faith), which is interpreted to mean striving as in rivalry or debate. This vigorous approach to Scripture has resulted in debates with Christadelphian lecturers in Indiana, Texas, Manitoulin Island, and Adelaide, Australia.⁴

Footnotes:

Not long after the American Civil War one group of members of the original movement proclaimed independence from the main body and has since maintained a separation. It has its headquarters in Nashville, Tenn. and is the group with which this study is principally concerned. The liberal wing of the Church of Christ is identified as the "Christian Church" in the Midwest and South, and "Disciples of Christ" in the East, See James E. Craig, "Who are the Disciples of Christ?", in A Guide to the Religions of America, ed. by Leo Rosten, (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1955), pp. 38-46. Return
In the "sanctuary" of the Park Avenue Christian Church in New York City, the table is preserved at which Alexander Campbell and Walter Scott presided in their communion services. Return
See Robert Roberts, Dr. Thomas: His Life and Work 2nd ed., (Birmingham: The Christadelphian, 1873), pp. 9-15; 20-84. Also John Thomas, "Confession and Abjuration", Herald of the Future Age, 1847, III, pp. 73-80. Return
The Lee-Mansfield debate, (1962) is a Christadelphian classic. The six night's debate between the Church of Christ and the Christadelphians drew an average attendance of 800, and at least six baptisms, resulted from persons contacted through the debate. Records of the debate have been made available by Logos Publications, West Beach, South Australia. Return