Questions & Answers

One of the most pronounced hindrances to the unity for which Jesus prayed (John 17:20-21) is a lack of knowledge of his teaching. Even in the Old Testament days Hosea lamented the fact that God's people just didn't know his law (Hosea 4:6).

Most people have a curiosity about religious matters. You may have wondered "Just what do those people over there stand for?" Or you may have been misinformed as to the teaching of the scriptures on any one of several subjects having to do with salvation.

In this article we are asking and answering questions about the Redmond Road Church of Christ.

Question 1 - "What is the main doctrine of the church of which you are a member?"

We have no sectarian doctrine just as we have no sectarian name. For example, we believe what the Bible teaches about the second coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), but we do not take that doctrine, enlarge upon it and call ourselves "Adventists." We wear no name that does not belong to all Christians. We believe we can believe all the truth taught on the next advent of Christ without being a member of the "Adventists." We also make it our aim to believe and teach all that the Scriptures furnish the Christian. We are not a sect among Christians. We are Christians only.

Question 2 - "What do you mean when you say you are Christians only?"

We mean we are Christians but not members of any denomination or humanly founded religious order. This may seem strange on the surface, but we must remember that people were Christians long before any of the present day denominations came into existence.

The oldest "Protestant denomination" is the Lutheran church and it is only about four hundred years old. The Roman Catholic organization is much older but it did not exist for several hundred years after Christ. The Roman Catholic Church developed gradually by the introduction of man-made doctrines and practices into church government and worship. We wish to be just what the people were in the days of the apostles. That is why we choose to be Christians only. Read Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, 1 Peter 4:16.

Question 3 - "You are members of a church. How can you be members of a church without being members of some denomination?"

Just as the people were in the days of the apostles. The denominations did not exist then but the church of Christ did. You can read about the church in the New Testament. See Romans 16:16, Matthew 16:18, Acts 20:28, Acts 2:47, and many other passages. Ask yourself the question, "Was Peter a member of a denomination? Was Paul a member of the Methodist or Baptist churches? What were they?"

Question 4 - "Why do you not want to belong to a denomination?"

Since this is a question involving spiritual matters and especially the body of Christ, the church, our answer must come from God's word, the Bible. Opinions or feelings have no place in determining what is or is not the will of God.

Very simply then, God has given us NO authority in his word for being members of anything except the ONE body, the church of the Lord (Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:4-6, 1 Corinthians 12:13). When Paul wrote these words there was only one body in existence. Everyone who obeyed the gospel was a member of that one body. The New Testament urges us to be Christians (Acts 26:28), but it does not teach us to be anything else.

Denominations were unknown in the days of the apostles, thus no one was a member of any denomination when the New Testament was written. Denominations were all founded by men hundreds of years after the Lord built his church. If there were Christians only in the days of the apostles there can be Christians only in our day--if we will obey the same gospel without adding to or taking from.

Question 5 - "Why do you believe we should have Bible authority for everything?"

Because God gave the Scriptures and they are complete and sufficient for instructing us in every work that is pleasing to God. The Holy Spirit moved Paul to write, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Therefore, any work in religion that is NOT FURNISHED by the Scriptures is not a good work. If not, why not?

Question 6 -"We all recognize the authority of the Holy Scriptures, but are we limited to that? Does God require us to be confined strictly to what the Bible teaches?"

Yes. Let us notice carefully some Bible statements on this point: "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed." (John 8:31). "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." (2 John 9). To abide is to stay within, so we are instructed here to stay within the teaching of Christ and to not transgress it. "Transgress" means to walk across, pass over or go beyond the limit of. The only teaching or doctrine of Christ we have is the New Testament. Therefore, we must not go beyond the teaching of the New Testament.

Adding to what the Lord has revealed is one way of going beyond his doctrine. Remember, Paul said the gospel is sufficient to furnish the man of God unto all good works.

The New Testament plainly teaches us it is sinful to practice what is not taught in God's word. Paul said in Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Anything we do that is not furnished by the word of God is not of faith and is therefore sin (Romans 14:23).

This is why the church at this place strives to teach and practice only the things authorized by the New Testament. With the New Testament as our only guide, we cannot join ourselves to religious institutions about which the New Testament says nothing. If you believe that the Bible is our only guide today, why not investigate what is revealed in it? We invite you to come and study with us and take your stand against all division and partyism which divides the religious world.

All will agree that the Lord has a church of his own (Matthew 16:18). Wouldn't it be infinitely better if all people would be members of HIS church and wear only HIS name? Jesus prayed for this (John 17:20-21). Let us work to make it a reality.

- Ken Frazier