Bible in general (Archive 1)

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Bible Question: Does anyone know the history of The Church of Christ?

Bible Answer: Hello ren333!

Are you referring to the Church of Christ: Scientist, Churches of Christ (in general), or the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.? It is easy to get all the denominations mixed up..

I will assume that you are asking for a history on the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A..

The Church of Christ was founded in 1894 and has attained a membership of 10,383 people in 167 churches (1998 records).

"A Baptist preacher in Alabama and Mississippi, C. P. Jones, seeking a new church and faith that would make him "one of wisdom's true sons . . . like Abraham, a friend of God," founded this church. The body retained its Holiness emphasis when other early black churches moved into Pentecostalism. The Church of Christ (Holiness) seeks to spread the gospel around the world, to reclaim those who have fallen away from the faith, to encourage believers to experience sanctification, and to support divine healing. The church has a strong eschatological focus as well.

Doctrinally, the church emphasizes original sin, the Holy Spirit as an indispensable gift to every believer, and Christ's atonement and Second Coming. There are two sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper. Foot washing and divine healing are employed as aids to the growth of spiritual life. The church has bishops who speak for the church, but its government is representative, with final authority vested in a biennial convention made up of elders, clergy, and local lay leaders. There are seven dioceses, each under a bishop's charge.

Missionary work is conducted in the U.S. and in Liberia and Nigeria. The church supports the Christ Missionary and Industrial College at Jackson, Mississippi, and a national publishing house in Chicago, Illinois."

Taken from page 165 of "Handbook of Denominations In the United States" 11th Edition by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, Revised by Craig D. Atwood

--Nolan