The Christian Church has a long history, but many Christians are unaware of it. There is a rich heritage of faith in the church and its practices. Although the Bible records many miracles, there are countless other references to the Christian faith. Its doctrine is based on the person of Jesus Christ. A church can be anything it wants to be if it truly follows Jesus’ example and teaches his message. The Church is not a building; it is a community of believers united in Christ.
The term “Christian Church” is a collective term used to describe the universal company of believers. It includes the Catholic Church and the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic, as well as all Christians. In the Bible, the term ekklesia is translated as “church” for a variety of reasons. The word is mentioned only two verses in Matthew, but is also used twenty-four times in the Acts of the Apostles. It is also used in three verses of the Third Epistle of John, two verses in the Letter to the Hebrews, and nineteen verses in Revelation.
The Christian Church is a group of people devoted to the life of Jesus Christ. By the end of the 19th century, the Christian Church represented the largest group of Christians in the United States. In fact, the Stone-Campbell movement resulted in the creation of two denominations, the Churches of Christ and the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ. Members of these denominations are usually active in church building and in changing the world.
The New Testament, which was written after the death of Jesus, is the foundation of Christianity. The Gospels, which mean “good news,” were written between 70 A.D. and 100 A.D., contain the accounts of Jesus’ life and teachings. The epistles, or letters, by early Christian leaders, give instructions for the functioning of the church. However, some critics of the New Testament viewed these books as heretical and rejective of their stance.
The Christian Church has three types of members: lay members and clergy. Those who belong to the church are called “disciples.” The Disciples of Christ profess God the Father and the Son as their saviors. They baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. While the Christian Church has clergy, lay people play an important role in the community. The Gospels, or four gospels, provide the basic elements of Christianity.
In the United States, the Christian Church was the fastest-growing church body by the end of the 19th century. In addition to the Gospels, the Christian Church spawned two other denominations: the Disciples (founded in 1810) and the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ. While the Disciples were the first to reject instrumental music and organized missionary activity, the Stone-Campbell movement was a reaction to the growing influence of secularism.