Who Are We?
We Are Not Just Another Denomination
Neither are we inter-denominational. It is our sincere desire to be non-denominational, to wear no other name than Christ's, and be known simply as Christians, members of the body of Christ (Acts 11:26; Ephesians 1:22-23). We refer to ourselves collectively as the church of Christ, the Lord's church, or some other scriptural description to identify ourselves as the saved people belonging to Christ (Ephesians 5:23).
We Strive to Be the Same Church Described in the New Testament
It is our purpose to be identified with the Christians of the first century. We believe this to be possible to all who will learn, believe, and be guided by the plain teaching of God's word. When Jesus declared such to be "The seed of the kingdom" (Luke 8:11), He was emphasizing a known fact of nature that specific kinds of seed, when planted, will always produce after their kind. For example, wheat will always produce wheat. In like manner the word of God, when planted in the hearts of honest people, and obeyed, will produce Christians just as it did in the first century . . . nothing more, and nothing less.
We Have No Human Creed
There is no man, or group of men, who legislate for the church. We have no one to answer to but Christ. He is the head of the church (Colossians 1:18), which leaves no room for any human head. As was true in the first century, so also there is no inter-congregational organization, but rather independent congregations in different locations with Christ as Lord and Master. According to the authority of Christ, when a congregation matures to the point where men meet the qualifications, overseers ... (also called bishops, elders or pastors) are appointed to look after the spiritual welfare of the congregation. Such men are appointed only when they meet all of the qualifications listed by Paul in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. These men then have the responsibility to "feed the flock" with the spiritual food found in the scriptures and to be examples for others to see (I Peter 5:1-3). Our preachers are not "pastors" (unless they meet the qualifications and are so appointed) but are simply teachers of the gospel.
The Bible Is Our Only Book of Rules
We have no man-written creed books to follow. We are governed in faith and conduct by the Bible alone. While recognizing the guiding principles of the Old Testament, we seek to conform to the rules and patterns of the New Testament (Hebrews 1:1-2; II Peter 3:11). We accept the Bible as being both verbally inspired and infallible in content (II Peter 1:20-21; I Corinthians 2:11-13). Consequently, when the Bible speaks upon any given subject, its pronouncement is accepted as final. By its own testimony, no one may with impunity alter a single word of it (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19).
Our Plea for Unity
We plead for unity among all who obediently respond to the doctrine and commands given in the New Testament. Such is in harmony with the prayer of Jesus and the pleading of the apostles (John 17:20-21; I Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:1-6). We consider such unity to be possible or Jesus would not have prayed for it. Since division has always been the result of departure from God's pattern, we believe division can be healed by a return to the revealed truth of God's word. For this we plead.
Who Are We, Then?
We are a group of God fearing men and women, young and old, who have formed and constitute a congregation such as those described in the New Testament. We are simply Christians (Acts 11:26; 26:28; I Peter 4:15-16), followers of Christ. We comprise a church which is "of Christ" (Romans 16:16).
We do not wear or accept any designations that are not found in the scriptures, and we do not subscribe to any creed drawn up by fallible men. Christ is our only creed, the Bible is our only guide. We are striving to be a church after the pattern found in the New Testament . . . in how we become Christians, and how we live as Christians; in what we teach; in the work we do as a church; in the way we are organized. We are trying to speak where the Bible speaks, to be silent where the Bible is silent, to do Bible things in Bible ways, and to call Bible things by Bible names. We are interested in honoring God, in following Christ, and in learning, doing, and teaching God's word.
We are your neighbors, your fellow-workers, and your fellow-students. We are people saved from sin, who are interested in the salvation of others. We want heaven to be both our eternal home, and yours.
