Mike Hixson Live |The Church of Christ is NOT a Denomination

Join Mike in this discussion of the Church of Christ, which is not a denomination. When did denominations begin? What is a denomination? Most importantly, what is the church that you read about in the Bible? The Lord's church?

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[TheBoldChristian]

Thank you brethren for teaching the truth, as always. Praying for all those listening who are not part of the Lords one church- that they may have their hearts softened to obey the truth before it is eternally too late.

Mat 7:13  "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

Mat 7:14  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

[Shay-lclz]

Religion: an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies and rules used to worship God or group of Gods. Denomination: a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name, tradition and identity.
Christianity is a religion
Churches of Christ are represented worldwide as one of the denominations to evolve out of the American Restoration movement.

[brettcarter]

Well done, brothers! You were very thorough and straight- forward…and most importantly, biblical.

[changeamerica]

An "Only we have the truth." church.

[dwighthaas]

Even during the time of the apostles they were departing from the truth in pride, love, going back to Judaism, etc., but they were condemned, but corrected.
He is correct there is just one head and body, but this is a spiritual head (Jesus) and spiritual body (saints).
Alexander Campbell didn't try to restore the church, but rather early Christian practices to be more like the early saints.

[nancywhitehead]

Some denominations will baptize, but that makes you a member of that particular church and not all the churches of that denomination.

[Darren]

All these comments about a restoration movement, I just have a question. If this were true about the Church of Christ, where is this documentation that supports the restoration? I have never seen it. All I see is the bible and what Christ teaches us.

[tashahhunter]

Sir, you said send scriptures about instruments and I want to send a few showing they were used in praise to the Lord. This is not to usurp authority, just to expound on scriptures as done in Acts 18:26

Numbers 31:6
And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand.
( HOLY INSTRUMENTS and TRUMPETS, a musical instrument)

2 Samuel 6:5
And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
(Played BEFORE the Lord all manner of instruments and this is referencing musical instruments)

1 Chronicles 15:28-29
Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.

29 And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, that Michal, the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart.
( Played musical instruments before the Ark of the Lord. Some people today still despise this kind of praise, but did the Lord despise it, or a person?)

1 Chronicles 16:42
And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were porters.
(MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF GOD)

2 Chronicles 5:13
It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord;
(MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS used in PRAISE and THANKSGIVING in the HOUSE OF THE LORD, when his glory came down vs 14.)

?
Why would God come down and fill the his temple with his glory if what they were doing displeased him?
The answer is because ...
Psalms 22:3
But thou art holy, O thou that INHABITEST the PRAISES of Israel.
( By the which, they were doing with instruments)

Here is a new testament example:
Luke 15 (emphasis) vs 25
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

?'s
Don't we use this as an example of people coming to Christ?
Do people come to the house of God to receive Salvation?

Where does it say we can't praise, give thanks, and sing using instruments?

Yes it says sing...
But what about these scriptures listed above and the fact that ...
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Malachi 3:6
For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Thank you for your time. This is not for strife or contention, but I would like to see the scriptures saying we cannot, given the other scriptures say they did and that's what is WRITTEN
Corinthians 14:33
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

I really like your videos and believe the body should be one mind, one accord and believe what is written and rightfully divide the word according to scripture
Corinthians 4:13
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
IT IS WRITTEN praise with.... instruments including harp psaltery, cymbals, trumpets, trimble, & even dance

Psalms 150
Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.

2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.

3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.

6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

Another new testament example:
Revelation 14:2-3

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
(So instruments with song even in heaven? Doesn't this prove that our GOD doesn't change.?.)

[CaliCarpetbagger]

Yeah, it’s the Catholic “universal” church founded by Christ disciples in the 1st century. Not the man-made American religion of the evangelicals 2000 years later.

[robertdeuel]

Question: You state there is no Scriptural instruction for worshipping the Lord with instruments? What about the imperative call to worship in Psalm 150? The early church often sang the Psalms, so by the logic presented, then you can only sing Psalms and the spiritual songs in place during the New Testament church. Did the Apostles ever actually prohibit the use or is that just your interpretation since it is not directly permitted?

Second question: Why do you broadcast church services in the Church of Christ? Is there direct instruction to use technology?

[dwbid]

Yes indeed there is ONLY ONE CHURCH in the NT.
1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all CHURCHES OF THE SAINTS

Romans 16:4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the CHURCHES OF THE GENTILES


Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

I can't count very well but I believe that 3 + 1 = 4 and that's just in the first 30 some years of the NT.
How divisive was it of Paul to mention CHURCHES OF THE GENTILES didn't he know there couldn't be any divisions in the church.

[dwighthaas]

Sure it is by the definition of denominate...to take a name and use it to assoc with other things by that name. The early saints didn't have a particular name. However the Jews did denominate...The Jews were called Israelites, those of the tribe of Benjamin were called Benjamites, etc, all without condemnation from God. There is no scripture that addresses or condemns denominationalism.

[Journey_of_Abundance]

The restorationalist "churches of Christ" are indeed just another protestant denomination. Just because they think they got the name right, it doesn't follow that this makes them the true Church. Especially when you consider that they started in the 1800s and have absolutely no continuity with the Church in the Bible.

All of their polemics are against the Roman Catholic Church and other protestant denominations. None of their arguments work against the Orthodox Church, which is actually the true Church of Christ.

[Phil-bmxo]

Is there anything in the New Testament taught by the apostles, that we are not doing today? Is there anything we pass off as cultural yet it is based on divine reasons?

For instance, women remaining silent, is based on creation order, a divine reason. I agree we must follow this because it’s grounded on a divine apostolic reason. What about head covering and divorce/remarriage? They both are grounded on the divine principle of creation order as well but yet we do not apply them as Jesus and Paul instructed. We passed them off as cultural.

Notice how Alexander Campbell did not teach about head covering because there was nothing to restore there. It was already being practiced in all the churches per instruction. Notice his wife in several pictures is intentionally wearing a head cover. Why? Because it was a practice that no one questioned, and they followed it perfectly the scripture, therefore no one needed to restore it at the time. It is based on creation order just like 1 Timothy 2:11-14 and they knew this and practiced it.

If we are not practicing how Paul instructed in both passages, then we are a denomination that has moved away from Paul’s teaching and interjected our own.

It did not take the children of Israel, many generations to depart from the instruction to build booths as a remembrance. But they did step aside from this instruction, and when they found out, they had been neglectful of this instruction they wept and brought it back as they should have. I believe it’s time for a restoration movement regarding Paul’s instructions on the head cover and a re-examination of what Jesus was really taught regarding divorce and remarriage and it’s time to apply what Paul spoke to Christians in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11, 39.

I know we do not want to identify ourselves as a denomination, but if we are not practicing as Paul instructed and how Christ intended then yes sadly we are a denomination that has denominated from the one true church and pattern established for us, and based on divine reasons.

[aadschram]

Jesus did not build his church on Alexander but on Peter (Mat 16: 17-19).

[Pit]

The Church of Christ that has its roots in the Restoration Movement is most definitely a denomination.

[dwbid]

The Campbell's must have been inspired by GOD to restore a church from the Bible. The Catholic church and all denominations preach what they think the Bible says. So for the Campbells to actually restore the original church and it's worship they would have to been miraculously inspired to know the meaning of all things in the NT. If they weren't actually INSPIRED then they restored a church according to what they believed the NT says, which of course it's what the denominations have done. They only difference is they decided to put a sign out front that says Church of Christ, so of course if you do that if shows that what you preach is infallible. NONSENSE

[CardFan]

Basically every defense I hear from CoC members about being the one true church that Christ established are the same and no different here.

“Just look at our church sign! It literally says Church of Christ! Therefore we must be!”

Most really are sincere, but unfortunately so deceived.

[keithpitts]

Where there are two opposing teachings, either one is true and one is false, or both are false, because both cannot be true.

1 Corinthians 1:10

Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

If God established denominations at Pentecost, then he is divided against himself. Remember Christ said that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. We, as did those of the restoration, simply take the instructions and follow them, and in so doing, carry on the New Testament church.

[respectingthewordpodcast]

How do you all register for tax exemption when they ask for your denomination? You all are echo chamber. You all just repeat your self's all the time. You rather argue your false beliefs then lead someone to Jesus.