I can't begin to count the times I have been asked the question, "why don't you folks in the churches of Christ" do one thing or another? Sometimes, they ask why we do this or that? In either case, Christians should be able to explain why we do or don't do this or that thing. 1 Peter 3:15 reads as follows " ... sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. And always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and with fear ..." Also read Galatians 1:6-11; 2 John 9-11 and Jude 1:3.
If you take the time to read the above Scriptures and show the interest you should when considering, spiritual matters, you will see that it is actually a matter of authority. (See also Matthew 12:48; Colossians 3:17). Everything the church believes, does, and teaches must be sanctioned by the New-Testament teachings Christ's Apostles received from the Holy Spirit whom Christ sent for that purpose (Matthew 28:18-20; John 16:12-13; 2 Peter 1:3; Acts 2:42; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Acts 25:24).
Some Things We Do and Some We Do Not Do
Why don't you folks tithe?
We do not tithe because tithing was an Old-Testament command that applied during the Jewish dispensation. In Hebrews 7:12, we read, "The priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law." The new law-the law of Christ--does not specify the amount believers are required to give. Rather, we are commanded to give as we have prospered, to give cheerfully, and to give bountifully (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8 and 9).
Why don't you observe the Sabbath?
Christians do not keep the Sabbath for the same reason we do not tithe. This too was a command given to the Jews instructing them to commemorate the time when God led them out of Egyptian bondage (Deuteronomy 5:1, ff; Acts 3:22-23; Matthew 17:5).
Why do you observe communion weekly?
Our first reason for having a weekly communion service is because Christ commanded His followers to commune: "This do ..." (Matthew 26:26-28).
Second, there is an approved apostolic example of Christians communing on "the first day of the week" (Acts 20:6-7).
Third, the early church communed on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). Since each week has a first day, it necessarily infers that they had a communion service each first day, just as the Jews understood "Remember the Sabbath" (Exodus 20:8) meant every Sabbath. If not, why not?
Why don't you baptize infants?
Christians do not baptize babes because: All conversions must follow the pattern Jesus gave His apostles in the Great-Commission passages (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:45-49).
A careful reading of the commission shows that infants do not fit the prerequisites Christ set forth.
The several conversion accounts in the Acts of the Apostles show no command, no example, no necessary inference to baptize babies; they are innocent (Matthew 18:1-4; Matthew 19:14).
Why do you teach that only one church is acceptable to Christ?
Christians teach that there is only one relationship that Christ called "My church." (Matthew 16:13-19) We believe that the saved are those who have been reconciled to God in one body by the cross of Christ when they hear, believe, repent, confess faith in Christ, and are baptized into this one body (Ephesians 2:13-17; Acts 2:22-38,41,47; Colossians 1:13-14). Every plant not planted by Christ will one day be rooted up (Matthew 15:13). Christ condemned manmade religious division (John 17:17; 20-21; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13). The Bible teaches that there in one body; that body is the church; and Christ will save only His one body (Ephesians 4:1-6; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:22-33).
Why do you consider immersion to be the only Scriptural mode of baptism and teach that baptism saves alien sinners?
There's one simple reason why Christians teach that baptism is immersion and that it saves alien sinners. That's what the New Testament clearly teaches. The same thing is true of each point addressed in this lesson; God's Word is my witness. The word from which we get the English word Baptize means to immerse. Since the verb baptize means to immerse, saying that a person could be baptized by sprinkling would be like saying he could run by flying; after all, they are verbs that denote the one action.
Second, we call your attention to the fact that John was baptizing at Aenon, "because there was much water there:" (John 3:23).
Next when we observe John baptizing Jesus in Jordan, Jesus "came up out of the water" (Matthew 3:16).
In Acts 8, when Philip baptized the eunuch, they both went down into and came up out of the water (Acts 8:26-39).
As to the design or Scriptural purpose for which one is to be immersed, again we look in the New Testament for our answer. In one of my lessons, I listed 21 reasons, all of which showed the absolute necessity for the alien sinner to be baptized. I shall be brief in this article, for if the Bible says something once that should be sufficient for the true believer. The New Testament says one must be baptized:
For the remission of sins, (Acts 2:38); that is why Jesus shed His blood Matthew 26:28).
To wash away sins (Acts 22:16).
To get into Christ (Romans 6:3-6).
To enter the one body (1 Corinthians 12:13).
To be saved (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21).
To put on Christ (Galatians 3:26-29).
Why don't you practice the social gospel?
As stated earlier in this article, the only organic entity for collective church work and worship is the local church congregation under the oversight of a plurality of bishops or elders. The only work assigned each local church that adheres to the New Testament order is:
To preach the gospel (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5; 1Thessalonians 5:11-16; 1 Peter 5:1-5; 1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 1:3-10; Philippians 4:15-16).
To edify the membership (Ephesians 4:11-16; Hebrews 10:23-31; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
To provide for the needs of the indigent saints as it becomes necessary (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Acts 11:27-30, etc.).
Those who try to find authority for local churches to provide social or recreational programs for the membership and use church funds to support such programs search in vain. Why? It cannot be found in the apostle's doctrine in which we must abide (2 John 9-11; Galatians 1:6-11; James 1:25; John 16:12-13; 2 Peter 1:3). Social and recreational activities are fine for the home and family and for the church distributive (as individuals) but not for the church collectively (1 Corinthians 11:22).
The church, which God's Son purchased with His blood, has far too high a mission that is much holier than social or recreational functions. As the "pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15), her basic function is to seek and save the lost, or simply stated, to prepare souls for heaven and guide them away from a fiery hell.
I concur with Brother Thomas concerning the questions asked by many outside the Lord's church. I'd like to add one more question to the list:
Why don't you folks in the church of Christ use instrumental music?
The fact that we don't use musical instruments in our worship services perplexes those involved in religions begun by men. On one occasion, a visitor offered to buy one for the small local church where I was preaching. He assumed that our worship was devoid of instruments because we could not afford to purchase them. Calmly, and Scripturally, I explained that cost had nothing to do with it-we don't use instrumental music because it's not authorized in the New Testament. God instructed His children to SING--not PLAY. Consider the following passages: 1 Corinthians 14:15; Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19; Hebrews 13:15; James 5:14.
Many people seek out various Old-Testament passages in Psalms and 2 Chronicles to show that instruments are authorized. Since we no longer live under the Law of Moses, those passages have no authority over Christians today (Galatians 3:24, 25; Colossians 2:14). Surely, if there was a New-Testament passage, someone would produce it, and the religious world could have unity instead of division.
All of these questions can be answered in the same way-we must have God's authority, contained in His word. We cannot do more or less than what it says; it's just that simple (Colossians 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11) (KMG)