Understanding the Church of Christ and Campbellism
Exploring the roots of the Church of Christ and the Campbellite movement, this content discusses accusations of cultism, historical perspectives on the Church, and the rejection of labels by followers like Alexander Campbell. It touches on the sect-like accusations faced by early Christians and the importance of not attributing human names to religious denominations.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Is The Church OF Christ A Cult? Cult- a system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies, great admiration for a person, thing, or idea; worship, a group or sect whose practices or beliefs are separated from generally accepted values and creeds. Cultism-the practices or beliefs of such a group or sect. Psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton A charismatic leader, who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose power. A process [is in use] call[ed] coercive persuasion or thought reform. Economic, sexual, and other exploitation of group members by the leader and the ruling coterie
Is The Church OF Christ A Cult? What is a Campbellite and/or Campbellism ?
A Campbellite: Campbellite is a mildly pejorative term referring to adherents of certain religious groups that have historic roots in the Restoration Movement, among whose most prominent 19th century leaders were Thomas and Alexander Campbell. Members of these groups generally consider the term "Campbellite" inappropriate, saying that they are followers of Jesus, not Campbell.They draw parallels with Martin Luther's protest of the name "Lutherans" and the "Anabaptists" protest of the name given to them by their enemies. With specific reference to the early Restoration Movement, "[t]he terms Campbellism and Campellites were universally rejected by those to whom they were applied. Wikipedia
You have done me, gentlemen, too much honor in saying I am the founder of the denomination, quite numerous and respectable in many portions of the West, technically known as Christians, but more commonly as Campbellites. I have always repudiated all human heads and human names for the people of the Lord, and shall feel very thankful if you will correct the erroneous impression which your article may have made in thus representing me as the founder of a religious denomination (Memoirs, ii.441). Alexander Campbell
Is The Church OF Christ A Cult? Christians in the 1st century had somewhat of a similar accusation against them as well Sectarian-excessive attachment to a particular sect or party, especially in religion. One of a sect; a member or adherent of a special school, denomination, religious or philosophical party; one of a party in religion which has separated itself from a established church, or which holds tenets different from those of the prevailing denomination in a state Acts 24:5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sectof the Nazarenes Acts 28:22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against
Is The Church OF Christ A Cult? Cultism Recognized
The story of a religious sect started by the Rev. John S. Barker in Limestone County begins with an oft-repeated legend that sounds more like a horror movie plot: One day in the 1910s, a Limestone County father took a walk to the barn with his pre-teen son. Suddenly, he forced the boy inside a stall with a mule known for being temperamental and capable of bodily harm. His intention was to have the vicious animal kick his son to death.The boy managed to escape but why would a father act in this way? Because his preacher, the Rev. Barker, told the father his child "had the devil in him." Barker's followers were known as Barkerites and had a community in the western part of the county. According to Sally Hess, a descendant of Barker's, the preacher felt there was a devil in every family, and the possessed needed to be killed. "He knew the Bible from cover to cover and could quote any part of it. But he used it for his purpose and not the purpose of God." Hess said in a 2010 interview. Hess's father was one of Barker's nephews. Barker never married. Barker advised his congregation that making whiskey was legal as long as it was sold to "non-believers," that a husband and wife of different religious beliefs should separate, and that his followers must "donate" to the church, although in reality he sent thugs to their homes to collect money, according to the 1973 book "A History of Limestone County" by Robert Henry Walker.
Marshall Herff Applewhite of Heaven's Gate Marshall Herff Applewhite came to teach chorale students at the University of Alabama in 1961. He was described as handsome, charming and "affable," and was well liked by students, according to a 1975 article in the Tuscaloosa News. Dr. Wilbur Rowan was interviewed about his former colleague after Applewhite became leader of a cult in the early 1970s and convinced a group of believers in Oregon to follow him into the Colorado desert in 1975 to await the arrival of a UFO that would take away the chosen ones. Applewhite met Bonnie Lu Trousdale Nettles around 1970 and it was apparently her belief in "salvation by spaceship" that swayed Applewhite into forming the group that eventually would become known as Heaven's Gate. Nettles and Applewhite said they were "The Two" referred to in Revelation and felt earthly laws did not apply to them. While spending time in jail for credit card theft, Applewhite formulated his UFO theory. No spaceship arrived in 1975 and the group remained out of the limelight for years before resurfacing in the early 1990s. In 1997, as the Hale-Bopp comet approached, Applewhite saw it as a sign that it was time to go to the Next Level. That March, he and 38 of his followers, all dressed in purple robes, drank a concoction of vodka and barbiturates. Their bodies were discovered on March 26 at their compound in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
Branch Davidian, member of an offshoot group of the Davidian Seventh-day Adventist Church that made headlines on February 28, 1993, when its Mount Carmel headquarters near Waco, Texas, was raided by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF); four federal agents were killed in the assault. A lengthy standoff between the group and government agents then followed. It ended on April 19, after some 80 members of the group, including their leader David Koresh, died when the Mount Carmel complex was burned to the ground following an attempted entrance by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents. The Branch Davidians are one of several groups that continued the work of Victor Houteff (1885 1955), a Bulgarian emigrant to the United States and Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) layman who in a set of tracts entitled "Shepherd s Rod" (1929) called for reform of the SDA church. Having been rebuffed by Adventist leaders, Houteff and his original followers settled near Waco in 1935 and began to prepare for what they believed was the imminent return of Jesus, complaining that the Adventists had abandoned this task in favour of worldly pursuits. They lived a simple life and avoided most commercial forms of entertainment. The hardworking community became self-sustaining, and its literature circulated to a growing group of believers across the country. Houteff died in 1955 and was succeeded by his wife, Florence. She not only continued his attempts to discern the signs of the endtime but also set April 22, 1959, as the date of the dawn of the new messianic age. Beginning in March 1959, hundreds of believers gathered at the Texas centre. The failure of the prediction led to the splintering of the movement into several factions. In 1962 Florence announced that she had erred, disbanded her following, and sold Mount Carmel
Is The Church OF Christ A Cult? Is the Church Of Christ A Cult? Worship?
Is The Church OF Christ A Cult? The Church Of Christ A Cult? Why is the Lord s Church called and considered a cult Worship? Is the Church of Christ a cult because they believe a church comes together to partake of the Lord s supper every 1st day of the week? And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20.7 KJV)
Is The Church OF Christ A Cult? The Church Of Christ A Cult? Why is the Lord s Church called and considered a cult Worship? Is the Church of Christ a cult because they believe that mechanical instruments of music are not authorized in worship?
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (Ephesians 5.18 20 KJV) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.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.And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3.15 17 KJV)
Is The Church OF Christ A Cult? The Church Of Christ A Cult? Why is the Lord s Church called and considered a cult Worship? Is the Church of Christ a cult because they believe that a collection should be taken up every first day of the week when a local church assembles on that first day of the week? (1 Cor 16:1-2)
Is The Church OF Christ A Cult? The Church Of Christ A Cult? Why is the Lord s Church called and considered a cult They Believe That ? The Bible is the word of God (2 Tim 3:16-17; Jn 17:17-20) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word (John 17.17 20 KJV)
Is The Church OF Christ A Cult? The Church Of Christ A Cult? Why is the Lord s Church called and considered a cult They Believe That ? The Bible teaches that Jesus is the Christ (Jn 8:23-24) And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (John 8.23 24 KJV)
Is The Church OF Christ A Cult? The Church Of Christ A Cult? Why is the Lord s Church called and considered a cult They Believe That ? The Bible teaches that Jesus is the Son of God (Jn 5:17- 18) But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5.17 18 KJV)
Is The Church OF Christ A Cult? The Church Of Christ A Cult? Why is the Lord s Church called and considered a cult They Believe That ? The Bible teaches that Jesus is Lord (Lk 6:46) And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (Luke 6.46 KJV) The Bible teaches that there are three in the Godhead (1 Jn 5:6-7) This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (1John 5.6 7 KJV)
Is The Church OF Christ A Cult? The Church Of Christ A Cult? Why is the Lord s Church called and considered a cult They Believe That ? The Bible teaches that baptism is essential for the remission of sins and salvation from sin (Mk 16:15-16; Acts 2:36-42; 47)
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16.15 16 KJV)
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2.36 42 KJV)
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2.47 NKJV)
Is The Church OF Christ A Cult? The Church Of Christ A Cult? Why is the Lord s Church called and considered a cult They Believe That ? The Bible teaches that there is only one true church in which God places the saved (Matt 16:18-19; Eph 1:22- 23; Eph 4:1-6)
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16.18 19 KJV)
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1.22 23 KJV)
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;One Lord, one faith, one baptism,One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4.1 6 KJV)
Is The Church OF Christ A Cult? The Church Of Christ A Cult? Why is the Lord s Church called and considered a cult They Believe That ? The Bible teaches that denominationalism is contrary to the will of God, hence sinful and those in it are in sin and should not be fellowshipped (1 Cor 1:10-17; Eph 5:6-13; Heb 7:26)
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. (1Corinthians 1.10 17 KJV)
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.Be not ye therefore partakers with them.For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. (Ephesians 5.6 13 KJV) For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens (Hebrews 7.26 KJV)
Is The Church OF Christ A Cult? The Church Of Christ A Cult? Why is the Lord s Church called and considered a cult They Believe That ? The Bible teaches that they are simply Christians without any denominational affiliations (Acts 11:26; 1 Pet 4:16; Acts 26:28) And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christiansfirst in Antioch. (Acts 11.26 KJV)
Is The Church OF Christ A Cult? The Church Of Christ A Cult? Why is the Lord s Church called and considered a cult They Believe That ? The Bible teaches that one must continue in the faith to be saved (Col 1:21-23; 2 Pet 1:1-10) In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (Colossians 1.22 23 KJV)
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20.11 15 KJV)
