The Complete Guide to Christian Denominations by Rhodes Ron

Author:Rhodes, Ron [Rhodes, Ron]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780736931373
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Published: 2005-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN CHRISTIAN UNION

Founded: 1909

Members: 10,104

Congregations: 208

Beginnings

The Churches of Christ in Christian Union began in 1909 in Marshall, Ohio. Some ministers and laymen of the Christian Union (founded 1864) disagreed with this union’s increasingly negative stance on John Wesley’s holiness and sanctification message. When the union voted to censure any minister that preached the Wesleyan holiness doctrine, a number of ministers and lay people withdrew from the union. The Churches of Christ in Christian Union formed to allow complete freedom in preaching and teaching the salvation and sanctification message of John Wesley.

Beliefs

Bible. The Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit and is inerrant. It is accurate in every detail in the words of the original manuscripts. It is a fully sufficient rule of faith and practice.

God. The one true God is eternally manifest in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ. Jesus is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. In the Incarnation, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He was entirely without sin. He died on the cross to save us, rose from the dead, and ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He now intercedes to the Father on our behalf.

Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is one with the Father and Jesus. He is God’s agent for convicting sinners of sin. He regenerates sinners and sanctifies consecrated Christians. He magnifies Christ in the lives of believers and energizes them to live victoriously.

Sin and Salvation. Humanity broke fellowship with God by choosing to disobey Him. This broken fellowship resulted in an impassible chasm between God and human beings. All humans are now sinful by nature and by practice.

Salvation has been made possible through Christ’s atoning death on the cross. To receive this salvation, one must repent (turn away from sin) and accept Christ as Lord and Savior. Those who repent and believe experience a fourfold salvation: regeneration (believers are forgiven and baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ), entire sanctification (a baptism with the Holy Spirit such that we are cleansed from the carnal mind), growth in grace after sanctification (in which we are made more and more like Jesus), and immortality of the soul. People can choose to sever their saving relationship with Jesus Christ, thereby losing salvation.

Church. The church is composed of all true believers in Jesus Christ. The purpose of the church is to worship God and enjoy Christian fellowship. Christ is the head of the church. He commissions the church to take the gospel to every creature.

Every church is self-governing, though this governing must be within the guidelines set by the denomination manual. Polity is congregational within the limits set by the denomination. Each local church cooperates with the district and general authorities of the denomination.

Women are welcome in all forms of ministry.

Sacraments. Baptism is an outward testimony of the inward work of saving grace in one’s life. There is no one exclusive mode of baptism (“let each be fully persuaded in his own mind”).

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