Church of Christ

Dr. Couch, what is the Church of Christ? ANSWER:  While they deny they are a denomination, they are a denomination! They used to be called the Campbell-ites, from the founder Alexander Campbell (1788-1866). Each Church of Christ may have different doctrinal ideas but generally, they hold to five points for salvation. (1) You must believe in Christ, (2) Be baptized in the Church of Christ, (3) Repent, (4) Confess, and (5) Join their church.    Their creed is: "Where the Scriptures speak we speak, and where the Scriptures are silent we are silent." While this may sound good, they really do not hold to that. And too, they can be very wooden-headed. For example, since the NT does not speak of music in the church, they do not believe in using musical instruments. One could argue, the NT does not speak of using electricity in the church, so therefore, we should not use electricity.    The Church of Christ are famous for splits and counter-splits. They pick on each other. They push doctrines up against the wall and fight and fuss over minor points.    My main complaints are about their un-biblical view of salvation, and their un-biblical view of the return of Christ. They are amillennial in prophecy and "almost" do not believe in studying the OT, though that may be a bit unfair. Because of their "tight" view on salvation they would say that those who are not Church of Christ are not saved.    They are unable to discuss doctrine because they believe that such is un-biblical. Because of their false view of baptism, they can easily be defeated in a discussion by taking them to 1 Corinthians 1:12-17. Some years ago, I took a Church of Christ guy to this passage and after he read the verses, he got literally physically sick and just walked out of the room. They cannot answer what Paul is saying in these verses.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (11/10)

Many Protestant Denominations

Dr. Couch, do you think the Roman Catholic argument that the hundreds of divisions among Protestants prove that they are in error? ANSWER:  Oh, heavens no! Truth does not stand or fall on how people respond to it, but on its very nature. Millions of Protestants are not being taught the Scriptures so confusion is the natural consequences for the lack of teaching. But remember, that human nature thrives on division, and people gravitate to error and their own agendas if they are not looking carefully at the Word of God. All one has to do is look at the problems among the churches that Peter and Paul addressed in their letters.    Catholicism would be divided as well if it did not hold over its members the threat of the loss of salvation if they departed from the Catholic system. This includes the necessity of baptism, the mass, and confession. If the Catholic does not practice these, he is lost! By becoming a visible, earthly system, the glitter holds people and makes them think, "This must be the true church! Look at all the visible confirmation!"    The apostle Paul warned the church at Rome, "Keep your eyes on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which learned, and turn away from them" (Rom. 16:17). That teaching was the truth given by Paul, and recorded in Scripture. If we depart from that, confusion will arise. The Catholic Church does not hold people by biblical truth but by human devices and external threats. Every Catholic I have known said they feared going to hell if they left the Church!      Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch