by R. L. Morrison

Have you ever heard some one say, "I have heard the church of Christ teaches water salvation", or "I heard they believe you must be a member of the church of Christ to be saved"? Another might say, "Well, I heard those in the church of Christ do not believe the Old Testament", or "They believe it is sinful to use music in worship." These and many others are statements made about the church of Christ.

The purpose of this writing is to examine these ideas, comparing them to the word of God. It really matters little what the church of Christ or any other church teaches. We should be concerned about what the word of God teaches, as that word will be the standard of judgment in the last day.

1. Water salvation. Those who use the term undoubtedly refer to the teaching of water baptism being essential to salvation. Many today teach that a sinner is saved when he believes or accepts Jesus Christ as his own personal Savior, and this without baptism. They usually teach that baptism is for one who has already been saved by faith. But what saith the word of the Lord? Jesus said, "He who believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). The apostle Peter said, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). Ananias said to Saul of Tarsus (later Paul the apostle), "And now, why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Paul later taught: "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27). Then Peter wrote: "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us" (1 Peter 3:21).

These are only a few references to baptism and its part in man's salvation. They teach the necessity of baptism as well as the purpose of it! Men may, some do, call this "water salvation." No one, I suppose, believes that water can wash away sins literally, but those who believe the New Testament recognize that when a sinner obeys what God requires of him, baptism included, he is saved. Indeed, God requires the sinner to be baptized, but this is not water salvation.

2. Must one be a member of the church belonging to Christ in order to be saved? Again, what saith the scriptures? Jesus said, "I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18). Paul spoke of "The church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28). "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47). Paul taught that God gave Christ to be the head over all things to the church which is his body (Eph. 1:22-23). "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body" (1 Cor. 12:13). Finally, "... he (Christ) became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Heb. 5:9).

Jesus built his church, purchasing it with his life. It is his body; he is its head, or ruler. Those who are obedient to his will are added by the Lord to the body, the church. Paul says one is baptized into the body, the church. Christ is the Savior of those who obey him. Can one be saved and Jesus Christ have no knowledge of his salvation? Surely not, since when one is saved, the Lord adds the saved one to the church. Whose church? The one Jesus paid for, the one of which he is head. This is not a church brought into existence by the thinking and action of men. It is not one that wears the name of a man or follows the doctrines of men. Christ rules in his church; he is its Savior. Can one be saved without obeying the will of Christ? NO! For he is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him.

3. The Old Testament. This is rather peculiar in that if one believes the New Testament is inspired of God, he must also believe the Old Testament is inspired. Peter wrote, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:21). Peter simply said that God, by the Holy Spirit, directed the writing of both testaments. Men must believe both. This is not equivalent to saying that believing the Old Testament means that men today are required to obey its commandments. That old law was given to one specific group of people, the Jews. These were the descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob. When they came from slavery in Egypt, God gave them that law of commandments through Moses at Mount Sinai. It was never given to Gentile people. But, even for the Jews, that system of law ended when Christ died. Paul plainly so teaches: "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Col. 2:14). Elsewhere Paul wrote: "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace" (Gal. 5:4).

However, the Old Testament is valuable for the many object lessons it teaches. Paul said, "The things written aforetime were written for our learning" (Rom. 15:4). But the law of the child of God today is not that old one of bondage; rather it is the gospel of Christ, which provides freedom from sin. It enables a sinner to be justified, which that Old Testament law could not do!

4. The question of music in worship. Surely everyone believes that music is to be used and is acceptable to God in worship. The question arises over what kind of music is to be used! There are only two kinds of music - vocal and instrumental. Churches of Christ use vocal music in worship, and it is not accompanied by any kind of instrumental music. Every passage of scripture in the New Testament that refers to music names singing or vocal music. If one walks by faith, and is concerned about what the New Testament says, he will reject the instrument in worship. John wrote: he who goeth onward and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. This scripture shows the error of those who say, "well, it doesn't say not to use an instrument." To go beyond what God says is to transgress or sin. To please God, we must abide in that which is revealed.

There are places where instrumental music is acceptable - the home, the concert hall, places of amusement or entertainment; but the assembly for worship is not any one of these, and, in worship, God has regulated or restricted to that which is revealed in the word. Churches of Christ worship with music, but only that music which is authorized in the New Testament.

5. One says, "I have heard that that the members of the Church of Christ partake of the Lord's Supper every week. It seems to me that makes it too common. I think that once about every three months ought to be sufficient." Then there are others who select certain days on which to partake of it. But what does the New Testament teach about it?

It is true that churches of Christ observe this memorial every first day of the week. This is what the New Testament teaches. The Testament teaches by inspired example, that we follow the examples set by the inspired apostles, unless something teaches otherwise. In regard to the inspired example of observing the Lord's Supper, we turn to Acts 20:7: "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them." Paul spent seven days in Troas, waiting for the church to assemble for worship. Luke refers to the breaking of bread or eating the Lord's Supper. But, says one, "It does not say every first day! No, but every week has a first day, and on that day, Christians assemble to worship, a part of which involves the communion.

God gave a law to Israel. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." He did not say every Sabbath. Every week has a sabbath or seventh day. They understood this. And so it is with the observance of the Lord's Supper in the assembly of the church.

Also, the members of the New Testament church give as they have been prospered on the first day of the week. This is the ONLY way the church receives the money needed to fulfill its work. This is also taught in the New Testament. "Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by in store as God hath prospered him..." (1 Cor. 16: 2).

You may NOT have heard of this but this is the practice of the New Testament church!

Do you accept Bible teaching?