On different occasions, I've invited folks who have never attended a Church-of-Christ service to attend the worship services. Some of them have made very interesting comments about their experience. Let me share some of those comments.

1. "Where is the choir? I've never seen everyone singing in our worship services." The reason is we are commanded to sing-not to have others sing to us. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."(Colossians 3:16) Singing in the Lord's church should be acappella, (vocal) (1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19).
   
   
2. "Why didn't you pass the contribution plates more than once? Why didn't you solicit contributions from everyone?" The Lord's church asks for a free-will offering from its own members. God requires His children to give "as they have prospered." (1 Corinthians 16;1,2) Also read 2 Corinthians 9:6,7. We have no chili suppers, no ice cream socials, no rummage sales, or any other means of adding money to the church treasury.
   
   
3. "Why do you take the Lord's Supper every week?" By approved example, we see that the disciples came together on the "first day of the week to break bread." (Acts 20:7) Every week has a "first day." This is just as it was when God instructed the Jews to "remember the Sabbath and keep it holy." (Exodus 20:8) The Jews observed every Sabbath, and we observe the Lord's Supper every Lord's Day.
   
   
4. "Why aren't there people who speak in tongues?" Tongues were a spiritual gift given to first-century Christians. Read 1 Corinthians 12-14. We see that these gifts were temporary until God's word was completely revealed. Biblical tongues were "languages" never studied or understood by those who heard them. Please see Acts 2 and Acts 11.
   
   
5. "Why did the preacher say believers must be baptized in order to be saved? I believe man is saved by faith only." Jesus said baptism is necessary for those who wish to be saved (Mark 16:16). Peter said it was a figure of what saves us (1 Peter 3:21). Paul told the Roman Christians that those who believe are "buried into His death." (Romans 6:3,4) Faith alone cannot save a man (James 2:14-26). That is why the preacher includes baptism in the Lord's invitation.
   
   
6. "Why are your worship services so boring?" How can they be boring if we follow the New Testament pattern? God desires the things we do to worship Him "in spirit and truth." (John 4:24) Paul told the Corinthian brethren to do all things "decently and orderly." (1 Corinthians 14:40) The worship service pays tribute and respect to God-it is not for entertaining men.
   
   
7. "Why don't you have a creed book?" The Bible is our only guide and source of authority for how and what we do (2 Timothy 3:16,17; Colossians 3:17). The Bible is the "perfect law of liberty." (James 1:25) How could man improve on what is already perfect?
   
   

Yes, one who attends the services of the Lord's church will find things done very differently than in the churches of men. However, there is a reason for this-one is seeking to please God, and the other is seeking to please men (Galatians 1:10). Who are you seeking to please?