Church of Christ Duluth

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Membership in it is obtained by obedience to God's commands including baptism (Acts 2:41-47; I Cor. 12:13)

"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (MK 16:15)

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32)

In Duluth, and around the world, one can find many places in which to worship God. But the question must be asked; which church is the right church? Are there individuals scattered throughout the various denominations, that have been faithful to their denomination's beliefs, that will enter heaven?
As with most things, when we are having trouble understanding, we need to pull out the instruction book to find the answer. The instruction book, in this case, is the Holy Bible. Please consider the following points:

What doctrine or creed?
First, we must accept the Holy Scriptures claim to be the true word of God, not the word or traditions of men. Being such, the bible can be our only guide in religious matters. (Romans 1:16; I Thess. 2:13). The Lord's church has no man written doctrine or creed books.
When was the church established?
The church/kingdom of the Bible was established on the day of Pentecost as documented in Acts chapter 2. It was also established in the right place as prophesied in the old testament (Isaiah 2:2,3; Joel 2:28-32).
What about the first Christians?
What church where the first three thousand people added to on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41)? The origin of all denominations, including Catholicism, can be traced back to hundreds of years after the day of Pentecost. Thus we can conclude, on this point alone, that todays denominations are not the true church of the bible that Jesus died on the cross for, the church in which it's members will be saved (Ephes. 5:23; Acts 2:47) and are enrolled in heaven (Hebrews 12:23).
What is the name of the church?
The church of the bible bears it's builders name; the church of Christ (Matthew 16:18; Romans 16:16; Acts 2:36). All other names are a deviation from the scriptures.
What are the requirements to enter the church?
When considering the New Testament as a whole we learn that, in order to become a Christian, we must; 1. Hear the word of God (Romans 10:17; Acts 16:32), 2. Believe what is taught (Mark 16:16; Hebrews 11:6), 3. Repent of past sins (Acts 2:38; Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30), 4. Confess faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10) 5. Be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; I Peter 3:21; Romans 6:3,4).
This is all that is required by the inspired word of God. Any additional "obstacles" by men, such as catechism or confirmation, are an addition to the scriptures. Adding to, or subtracting from, the Word of God is strictly forbidden (Duet. 4:2 and Rev. 22:18,19).

The church of the bible, in which one can be saved, is clearly identified in the bible. If one can stop thinking in terms of "denominationalism", he/she will see that the true church of God is waiting for you. Jesus said "and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). Furthermore, we know that the church still exists today and always will (Matthew 16:18,19).
After reading this article you should be pricked in your heart. Just think, there are people in this world today that subscribe only to the bible, truly believe in the one church identified in it (Ephes. 4:3-4), and live and worship in the clear pattern commanded of us! Will you please join us in giving our Lord and Savior the honor and respect He deserves?
Our plea is for all people to accept the Word of God as their sole standard of doctrine and practice.
Please see these related articles for more information: The Church Of Christ tftw.org The Establishment of the Church of Christ christiancourier.com

It comes as quite a surprise to most people when a Christian mentions the fact that the churches of Christ do not use mechanical instruments while worshipping God. The reason for this is not that we cannot afford one or nobody knows how to play the instruments. The reason is based on a holistic interpretation of the scriptures, the examples given and the requirement of obedience. Additionally, this position can be supported by non-biblical (even non-Christian) historical evidence.
As obedient Christians we are to submit to the authority of the Bible (Heb. 5:9). One cannot justify the use of mechanical instruments because the scriptures do not strictly forbid it, as it is a sin to add or subtract from the Inspired Word (Rev. 22:18,19). The scriptures clearly state that we are to sing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). One cannot find a single example in the New Testament that authorizes the use of instrumental accompaniment. Please consider this example; If I send my daughter to the store with ten dollars to purchase milk, do I need to list all the items within the store that she should not buy? Of course not, she understands, through the obedience she has learned, to only get what I asked of her. God wants to hear the heart felt singing of every Christian in the congregation, not the sounds created by individuals with special abilities. This would be the same argument against the use of Choirs or soloists during worship services.
The previous paragraph is actually another strong case for the inspiration of the scriptures. If instruments were required, it would probably be required that everyone play one at the same time. All other commandments and examples are to be equally borne by each Christian (Gal 6:2), except for the additional requirements of the congregations elders. This would require an individual to know how to play the organ, for example, in order to become a Christian. Obviously the bible does not put any obstacles of that sort in the way of the lost. Consider this similar example; Jesus said "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). If the scriptures would have said "walk ye into all the world", one could not take a plane or a car with the intent of preaching the gospel. This would also create a contradiction, as is would not be possible to preach to "all the world", as we could not walk to every continent. It is the little things like these, scattered throughout the Bible, that allows us to have faith in it (note: this is not a blind faith as the world defines it, rather a biblical faith based on evidences).
Many people, in Duluth and around the globe, give their feelings as a reason for using mechanical instruments while worshiping God. One might say: "the instruments make me feel good" or "I really enjoy the instruments". First of all we must understand we are gathering to worship our creator, not to please or entertain ourselves. Feelings cannot be our guide in religious matters (Prov. 14:12).
Finally, history records that the early Christians did not use mechanical instruments while worshipping God. It was not until hundreds of years later that they where added to the worship service. Consider this example:
Whatever evidence is forthcoming, is to the effect that the early Christians did not use musical instruments (William Smith & Samuel Cheetham, A Dictionary of Christian Antiquities, London: John Murray, 1880, II, p. 1365). This example and others can be found via the links at the end of this article.
We are not asking you to "take our word for it", rather that you study your bible on this matter. Think about how Christ died on the cross so you might have the hope of eternal salvation and also said "If you love me, keep my commandments". If you do not keep His commandments you do not truly love Christ and therefore, tragically, are not in a saved state.

Please see these related articles for more information: What About Mechanical Instruments Of Music In Christian Worship? christiancourier.com Do the Psalms Authorize Instrumental Music in Worship? christiancourier.com

We have hundreds of religious articles (aka tracts) that we would like to share with you. We do not write these tracks, but do buy them for scripturally sound individuals and study them before making them available to you.
Additionally, we are a relatively small congregation and have to impose a limit of ten tracts at a time to keep costs and labor within reason; we hope you understand.

Are the New Testament Books Historically Credible? christiancourier.com

Is Christian Worship Regulated By New Testament Law? christiancourier.com

The Baptist Church: An Historical Perspective christiancourier.com