Church of Christ

[blackheart]

Anyone give me some guidance on the Church of Christ - (the denomination, that is) What are its distinctives? Positives and negatives, etc

[Jill]

I have enjoyed talking with several elders from a couple of different groups. My personal intrest was if there had been any Lds affiliations in the past, or if the Fayette New York group of 1830, also named The Church of Christ initially (later changed to "Latter-day Saints") was even still around. The Church of Christ stays strickly to the Bible only, and I enjoyed our visits very much. They do not consider themselves elders just because they are Christian, and seem humble in thier no instruments worship venue. Just call 'em up out of yer local phone book.

[brody196]

Anyone give me some guidance on the Church of Christ - (the denomination, that is) What are its distinctives? Positives and negatives, etc

Hey blackheart,

There are many sub-groups within the framework known as the "Church of Christ", ranging from your normal, typical church, to a hard line group that shouts "We are Christians only and the only Christians". Ive been fortunate(or unfortunate)enough to have conversed with both sides.
The "normal" group I described(or apostate according to the hardcore)are not as dogmatic on certain issues that give the Church of Christ its distinction, issues such as instruments in worship, kitchens in church buildings(yes, the hardcore groups says this will send you to hell)..etc..
The hardcore group is about as divisive a group as I have ever witnessed. I have spoken with several "hardcore" non instrumental groups and it has always been a bad experience. They will usually start the conversation off with Acts 2:38 and proclaim that your baptism was invalid if you were not water baptized "for the remission of sins".
If you can get them off of the subject of baptism, you will find that they deny any type of Holy Spirit gifts for today and some claim(within the sub group)that the Holy Spirit does not indwell any believer today. You will also find that the hardcore group talk about "works" sometimes seemingly to the exclusion of grace...a most horrible trap to fall into for the Christian, for it is "God who works in us".