Discussing Church Of Christ with Two Ex Members
Discussing Church Of Christ with Two Ex Members
In this video, I discuss the church of christ with two ex church of christ members. This is a glimpse into how my podcast operates. If you’re interested in checking it out, go to my youtube channel or my iTunes podcast. Thanks for watching.
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Music: Silent Partner – Ether
I don’t know how old this video is, but I just left.
I wasn’t a full member because I wasn’t baptized, I had just gone to bible studies with them where they write down the notes for you. You can’t question anything they say or you are questioning the Bible and questioning God.
They expect you to do the impossible. Move across the country, leave family, friends, college, everything in order to evangelize. Disobeying this is seen as disobeying God. You are expected to cut off people (friends, relationships) that make you sin or go against the church. You are expected to give mandatory 10% of income to the church. (Which, I only found out when I started to look things up).
Baptism by them and only them, within their church, is the only way to salvation for “true disciples.” Where in the bible does it say that?
They tell you not to look up anything negative about them, and that anything saying they are a cult or bad media is just the enemy. In fact, they are proud to be called a cult.
The manipulation, humiliation, lovebombing… its all to pull you in and make you stay.
I just cut contact with my “discipler” today by blocking everyone from the church I knew. This is not a church of God, it’s a destructive cult that preys on vulnerable college students.
Need to be lighten the truthful way.. WVBS, GBN, Apologetics Press
Exactly! I don’t really know if there is a true religion. The "truth" is that there is no truth, far as I am concerned. Is there an all wise creator? Most likely yes. There is evidence for that argument. Is he affecting our lives now? I don’t know and I really don’t care. I do care about goodness though. Doing what’s generally accepted to be good is important to me.
I just recently realized that I can’t believe Christianity, it just doesn’t make sense to me. I grew up in the coc and I was told to not talk about being molested by one of the elders, I overheard people say that a 17 year old girl shouldn’t be a church because she was bipolar. I was told gay people shouldn’t be able to get married, I’m bi for context. I was taught how to convert people by the age of 11, I went to a school run by the coc and I still do and will continue because I have amazing friends there. If I was to say I was an atheist I would become an outcast. I knew a lady who was basically shunned by the church because she divorced her husband, her husband who tried to shoot her child, he fucking tried to kill her daughter and the elders expected her to stay with him. The level of sexism too is insane. I was taught the big bang theory was like throwing a box of matches up and it landing like a log cabin, now I can’t believe that either, it’s so engraved in me, I’m still trying to get that sin isn’t real. It was forced down my throat it isn’t as bad as JW but god was the reason for everything. I wasn’t allowed tight pants, the only 2 pieced swimsuit I was allowed to wear was basically shorts and a tank top, bikinis where prohibited. The church doesn’t like people with unnatural hair colors. I was also told to try to convert my baptist friends because instruments in worship were sinful, dancing is sinful, unmodest clothing is sinful, living with someone before marriage is sinful, and not trusting god enough is sinful.
The argument I always got for no instruments mostly ignored the OT. Rather they’d point to a couple verses in the NT saying to sing and point out the NT says nothing about instrumental worship and therefore it’s not authorized. Though my experience in the church of Christ was a bit different from those discussed in the interview
Guys seek the truth to set you free……& know that Jesus Christ is our redemmer! God is real….
Being gay in the bible belt can be hard regardless of your religion. I’m from Tennessee and I lost my faith around the time I found out I’m gay, but even then I delt with a lot of social ostracism and harassment because of that and not being Christian. Most gay people I knew delt with depression, and a lot were suicidal. It’s a really big problem.
So there should be a Conpensation fund against this, they’d be bankrupt, I know so many stories. I just chalk it up like life experience, it did help me and I believed it to be true of course I was young and needed guidance and direction in my life. I still am not able to really read my Bible or attend a church, I can’t blame anything on the church, I really lived the ICOC way of life, it was really hard in the beginning because you felt like your loved ones who didn’t get converted are going to hell..I had conversations with my Granny about it and we grew apart.
My life really changed in the mid 90ies after suffering with my Granny dying, and losing my baby in just 2 days apart.
I was numb, I hurt for years afterward and found that rather helping me deal with the tragedy, it was church as usual.
I still continued on hoping for the best life but years of heart ache and loss I felt kept me distant. I eventually lost my marriage due to his church commitments and my anger, resentment towards the church..I stopped going after I was ready to blow because I was committed and didn’t really feel loved, it seemed like my contribution and tithes were the only time I felt like I could contribute because I am a giver and I still am regardless of what anyone has to say, I truly invested my time, love, monies and everything I had. I was mad at the world and felt cheated by God, so I had apathy for years and was just lost.
After some time i really craved God again and now that I was divorced I felt empty and tried it again only to feel like I let down God again. This is the hard part, feeling like you are worthless in God’s eyes because you dont measure up to men. Still hurting and Still believe in God and love. Part 3, where do you go on from here
Ooh I’m an ex member and I’ve got plenty of bullshit for you all.
….folks in the audience with ears that are itchn,reveal their vain discomfort by bitchn….Potter’s Poets……..
try with all your might to speak as oracles; for a fool is known by multitude of words; and the laughter of the fool is the same as the crackling of the wood in the fire. When you Leave the Church of Christ; the word is just being proved: the dark flee from the light, and they seek to have their ears itched, and they will look for comfort but will find no comforter. If you do find carnal comfort outside the Church of Christ; understand it will only last as long as you do; & after that; HELL
Just now found this. As an ex-CoC person, I found this oddly validating, and wow did it bring up memories.
Unbelievable how similar all these cults are in their control techniques. It’s amazing how life can be when you reject fear.
Hearing the joke about CoC and heaven, followed by the brief discussion of dancing, reminds me of an old Mennonite joke we used to have; "Why can’t Mennonites have sex standing up?"…"Cuz it might lead to dancing."
Sects… Cults… Abuse… The charasmaniacs are the big psychos.
The Church Of Christ is called Iglesia ni Cristo in my country, its huge, there’s churches everywhere, my uncle was in it with his wife but thankfully they left the cult very early.
Do you guys really find comfort in physics.
I should congratulate the anchor and his hosts. It is sorry state of affairs that these men are disillusioned about the doctrine (teachings ) of Lord Jesus Christ recorded in the holy Bible. They are not real converts to Lord Jesus Christ but to the church. They were opportunists like all the churches of Christ members/followers seeking to be something like leaders, etc etc. in the church. Their motives are wrong because they had personal issues which is not related to salvation. One does not become a follower/christian of Lord Jesus because of a girl/woman/man or leadership in the church or speaker or song leaders or youth leaders. If this is the case, then their faith and understanding of the holy scriptures are shallow and lost on the way. If one becomes christian/follower of Lord Jesus material world means nothing, its rubbish and waste of time. Like a farmer toils the ground and plants the seeds and reap the harvest in due time. Perspective has be correct otherwise why become christian in the first place. Can one build a house with $10,000 or will he count the cost first and then proceed further. Salvation is free but with a price tag. There is not in between the paths, either right or wrong, straight or narrow, up and down period. You may observe I did refer any scriptures period.
I’m glad you recognize that atheism and agnosticism are different and can overlap. I consider myself an agnostic atheist after all!
Ah lovey, a Telltale video about my (non)denomination. To be clear, I’m atheist and was never baptized, so technically I’ve never been Christian according to Chruch of Christ understanding, I was just raised in it all my life, and became atheist in the last year or so. I can’t come out to my family because it would likely turn my mother totally against me or destroy her mentally, or both.
I was raised an atheist. I feel for you guys. I love the pic of Yosemite. The wilderness is my religion.
Of course I’ve hung with LDSers, (and LSDers), evangelists, and many other indoctrinated folks. They were nice people, but I felt the judgement and hate from a mile away.
Late to the party on this video. I had a friend who is CoC. I went to some of their events and Sundays. From things she has told me they are really into the idea of women being submissive to their husbands. They even had a special class for couples talking about how the women were to be submissive. I would love to hear from women who have left the church.
Have you thought about possibly doing an interview with former female members of the CoC denomination? My great grandfather started a congregation in our area 70+ years ago and I grew up in a church where 99% of the members are related to me. I was never really a part of the clique because I was “weird” and asked too many questions. I went to church camp in Kentucky when I was 12 (Taylor Christian Camp is beyond awful). I wasn’t allowed to go swimming on our only free day because I was on my period. I was also punished for commenting when our day teacher was explaining to the class why the New King James Version of the Bible is the only translation you’re allowed to read because “nothing can be added or taken away from the Bible”. I interrupted her lesson with “then why aren’t we reading it in Greek?” 😂 I had to scrub toilets with no gloves on after that. One day later I stole my phone from the camp counselor and called home, demanding to be picked up. My parents finally came to get me but only when the week was over. I never went back.
I had a similar experience to Mark, my brother outed me to our assistant preacher when I was a teenager and I was shunned publicly for many years until I “finally” married a man (I’m bisexual). Recently I was allowed back in, but because my husband doesn’t believe in the way they treat women we’ve been very openly ostracized, especially by my mother. I just wonder how the experiences of other women might be.
I am what you call an "Ex Hardline coc member". Always here if you want to talk whether that be on your podcast or through online sources 👍✝
if you think the church of christ is extreme & are fascinated by that, you should look into the international churches of christ/international christian church (ICOC/ICC). They are church of christ on another level as they branched away from that, and the ICC is even more so because it thinks the ICOC is even too lukewarm. & it’s got the classic MLM structure thing going on with a leader, McKean, at the top o pyramid. I would love to see a BITE model analysis of it
It’s the only Church mentioned in the Bible, Romans 16:16 , Christ Died for the church, Ephesians read the letter, Christ built the church Matthew 16:18
Early Church Fathers on the Catholic Church Being Founded by Jesus Christ
Catholic is used 140 times prior to Constantine
Catholic Church appears 656 times
Catholics appears 192 times referring to a group
Catholic is used 1515 times in total
Ignatius of Antioch Epistle to the Smyraeans ch 8 [50-117 AD]
See that ye all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as ye would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude of the people also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church…
Polycarp The Martyrdom of Polycarp ch 8 [69-155 AD]
Now, as soon as he had ceased praying, having made mention of all that had at any time come in contact with him, both small and great, illustrious and obscure, as well as the whole Catholic Church throughout the world, the time of his departure having arrived, they set him upon an ass, and conducted him into the city, the day being that of the great Sabbath.
Polycarp The Martyrdom of Polycarp ch 16 [69-155 AD]
"And of the elect, he was one indeed, the wonderful martyr Polycarp, who in our days was an apostolic and prophetic teacher, bishop of the Catholic Church in Smyrna. For every word which came forth from his mouth was fulfilled and will be fulfilled" (Martyrdom of Polycarp 16:2 [A.D. 155]).
Martyrdom of Polycarp greeting (69-155 ad)
The Church of God which sojourns at Smyrna, to the Church of God sojourning in Philomelium, and to all the congregations of the Holy and Catholic Church in every place: Mercy, peace, and love from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, be multiplied.
Martyrdom of Polycarp Ch 19 (69-155 ad)
Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of our souls, the Governor of our bodies, and the Shepherd of the Catholic Church throughout the world
Justin Martyr On the Sole Government of God ch 1 (100-165 ad)
For the men of former generations, who instituted private and public rites in honour of such as were more powerful, caused forgetfulness of the Catholic faith to take possession of their posterity
Irenaeus of Lyon Book 2 ch 9.1 (120-180 ad)
For even creation reveals Him who formed it, and the very work made suggests Him who made it, and the world manifests Him who ordered it. The Catholic Church, moreover, through the whole world, has received this tradition from the apostles.
Irenaeus of Lyons Adversus Haereses Book I Ch10.3 [120-180 AD]
…as these teachers who are destitute of truly divine wisdom maintain; while the Catholic Church possesses one and the same faith throughout the whole world, as we have already said.
Irenaeus of Lyons Adversus Haereses Book III Chapter 4 preface [120-180 AD]
The truth is to be found nowhere else but in the Catholic Church, the sole depository of apostolical doctrine. Heresies are of recent formation, and cannot trace their origin up to the apostles.
Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book 7 ch 17 (150-215 ad)
From what has been said, then, it is my opinion that the true Church, that which is really ancient, is one, and that in it those who according to God’s purpose are just, are enrolled. For from the very reason that God is one, and the Lord one, that which is in the highest degree honorable is lauded in consequence of its singleness, being an imitation of the one first principle. In the nature of the One, then, is associated in a joint heritage the one Church, which they strive to cut asunder into many sects. [+] Therefore in substance and idea, in origin, in pre-eminence, we say that the ancient and Catholic Church is alone, collecting as it does into the unity of the one faith — which results from the peculiar Testaments, or rather the one Testament in different times by the will of the one God, through one Lord — those already ordained, whom God predestinated, knowing before the foundation of the world that they would be righteous.
Clement of Alexandria Stromata book 4 ch 15 (150-215 ad)
For the apostle says, "All other things buy out of the shambles, asking no questions," with the exception of the things mentioned in the Catholic epistle of all the apostles, "with the consent of the Holy Ghost," which is written in the Acts of the Apostles, and conveyed to the faithful by the hands of Paul himself
Hippolytus Refutation of All Heresies Book IX ch 7 [170-236 AD]
Behold, into how great impiety that lawless one has proceeded, by inculcating adultery and murder at the same time! And withal, after such audacious acts, they, lost to all shame, attempt to call themselves a Catholic Church! …not discerning with whom they ought to communicate, but indiscriminately offering communion to all…
Caius Fragment 3 Muratorianus par 3 [180-240 AD]
He wrote, besides these, one to Philemon, and one to Titus, and two to Timothy, in simple personal affection and love indeed; but yet these are hallowed in the esteem of the Catholic Church, and in the regulation of ecclesiastical discipline. There are also in circulation one to the Laodiceans, and another to the Alexandrians, forged under the name of Paul, and addressed against the heresy of Marcion; and there are also several others which cannot be received into the Catholic Church, for it is not suitable for gall to be mingled with honey.
Tertullian Prescription Against Heretics ch 32 (160- 240 ad)
"Where was [the heretic] Marcion, that shipmaster of Pontus, the zealous student of Stoicism? Where was Valentinus, the disciple of Platonism? For it is evident that those men lived not so long ago,–in the reign of Antoninus for the most part,–and that they at first were believers in the doctrine of the Catholic Church, in the Church of Rome under the episcopate of the blessed Eleutherus, [the 13th Bishop of Rome 174-189AD] until on account of their ever restless curiosity,with which they even infected the brethren, they were more than once expelled
Tertullian Prescription Against Heretics ch 35 (160- 240 ad)
Catholics appeal always to evidence traceable to apostolic sources.
Tertullian Prescription Against Heretics ch 36 (160- 240 ad)
Catholics never change the Scriptures, which always testify for them.
Tertullian Against Marcion Book 4 ch 5 (160-240 ad)
By the rule of antiquity, the Catholic Gospels are found to be true, including the real St. Luke’s. Marcion’s only a mutilated edition. The heretic’s weakness and inconsistency in ignoring the other Gospels. [+] On the whole, then, if that is evidently more true which is earlier, if that is earlier which is from the very beginning, if that is from the beginning which has the apostles for its authors, then it will certainly be quite as evident, that that comes down from the apostles, which has been kept as a sacred deposit in the churches of the apostles.
Tertullian Against Marcion Book 4 ch 4 (160-240 ad)
that portion of it which we alone receive is so much older than Marcion, that Marcion, himself once believed it, when in the first warmth of faith he contributed money to the Catholic church, which along with himself was afterwards rejected, when he fell away from our truth into his own heresy.
Tertullian Against Marcion Book 4 ch 9 (160-240 ad)
These types signified that a man, once a sinner, but afterwards purified from the stains thereof by the word of God, was bound to offer unto God in the temple a gift, even prayer and thanksgiving in the church through Christ Jesus, who is the Catholic Priest of the Father.
Tertullian against Praxeas Ch 2 (160-240 ad)
The Catholic doctrine of the Trinity and unity, sometimes called the Divine Economy, or dispensation of the personal relations of the Godhead
Hippolytus Refutation of All Heresies book 9 ch 7 (170-236 ad)
And withal, after such audacious acts, they, lost to all shame, attempt to call themselves a Catholic Church! And some, under the supposition that they will attain prosperity, concur with them. During the episcopate of this one, second baptism was for the first time presumptuously attempted by them.
Caius Fragments ch 3 par 4 (180-240 ad)
The Epistle of Jude, indeed, and two belonging to the above-named John–or bearing the name of John–are reckoned among the Catholic epistles. And the book of Wisdom, written by the friends of Solomon in his honour. We receive also the Apocalypse of John and that of Peter, though some amongst us will not have this latter read in the Church.
Caius Fragments ch 3 par 3 (180-240 ad)
He wrote, besides these, one to Philemon, and one to Titus, and two to Timothy, in simple personal affection and love indeed; but yet these are hallowed in the esteem of the Catholic Church, and in the regulation of ecclesiastical discipline. There are also in circulation one to the Laodiceans, and another to the Alexandrians, forged under the name of Paul, and addressed against the heresy of Marcion; and there are also several others which cannot be received into the Catholic Church, for it is not suitable for gall to be mingled with honey.
Origen Commentary on the Gospel of John Book I ch 23 (185-254 ad)
And in his Catholic Epistle John says that He is a Paraclete for our souls with the Father, as thus: "And if any one sin, we have a Paraclete with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous,"
Origen Commentary on the Gospel of John book 6 ch 18 (185-254 ad)
As to the descent into Hades, we read in the sixteenth Psalm, "Thou wilt not leave my soul in Hades," and as for the journey in prison with the Spirit we read in Peter in his Catholic Epistle,
Origen de Principiis book 3 preface (185- 254ad)
Let such things, however, be lightly esteemed by him who is desirous of being trained in divine learning, while retaining in its integrity the rule of the Catholic faith.
You have to go to church every Sunday, Sunday night and Wednesday night, church of Christ say everyone who is not in the church of Christ is going to hell! So if you are Baptist or whatever they will say you are going to hell but not us we are church of Christ! Women do nothing but listen to stupid judgemental old men whine about how everything is sin and blah blah blah! Women wash the communion cups, take care of babies and gossip about everyone! Missionaries are loved and go around bragging what a great job they did and you get annoyed if you are a missionary child and get your parents helped reach sinners in Romania! Yeah ok because they brag about it all the time! You get pressure to go on mission trips to help poor sinners out! And if you work Sundays you get you must not work on Sunday you are sinning! Church of Christ do communion every Sunday! I refused to take it anymore and got well you are going to hell and must not be baptized! Musical instruments are not allowed and you hear crappy songs like way beyond the blue, be with me Lord, and other crappy funeral songs! My grandpa was a church of Christ elder and when I left he said I was baptized in the church of Christ and should come back or go to hell! It is a cult of judgemental arrogant, self righteous people who think we are better because we were baptized in the church of Christ! They look down on everyone who is not church of Christ and say they are not saved! I argued with these old bats that Jesus had music and they said well music is sinful and i said everyone is sinful to you and you are a cult and I will never be back! And got you are going to hell and I said no you are by judging everyone and saying you are going to hell! And church of Christ love uplift, winterfest because it is church of Christ! !!!! I went and was lonely because everyone was church of Christ! !! I was in a cult but left the church of Christ and all my mom family is in the church of Christ and won’t even talk to me now! I am the bad apple because I left the church of Christ! !! It is a cult
A couple of us got tired of the way churches were ran. We created our own in my living room and read from the bible. My best friend was the pastor and his mom was COC. When my best friend past away, his mom had the COC pastor to do his funeral. This man barely said anything about my best friend and all he talked about was the mom and their church. for 99.9% of the service. I was literally sitting there waiting for my dead friend to roll over in this coffin. Worst funeral ever!
I believe one thing. These two guys forgot something and what is that?
It’s not about you.
The purpose of there life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, there peace of mind,
or even there happiness. It’s far greater than there family, your career, or even there wildest dreams
and ambitions. If they want to know why they were placed on this planet, they must begin with
God. They were born by his purpose and for his purpose.
Believe me they said the opposite about church of Christ cos I believe church of Christ is the only place you get answer to your questions. I learned a lot after watching this video and this the point I have quite on this "single story" theory rather believing things i see in the internet. They laid bad impression about church of Christ but in reality it’s not so. I’d liken everyone who’s interested in knowing what the church is all about to go the church and see and experience it for yourself.
Mark has no idea what he is talking about when it comes to the Lords church! Mark is a guy who doesn’t like the fact that the bible does not support his gay decision and is salty about that. The Lords church has no governing authority outside it’s own congregation, why not have someone that actually knows what the Church is about instead of people that left the body at 19. Agnostic….Psalms 14.1 A fool says in his heart there is no God. The only command on dress in the bible is to be modest. The church does reach out to denomination to tell them truth from the bible.
The three monotheistic religions might be harmful but most religions aren’t necessarily harmful.
Good thing occultism doesn’t have a doctrine.
I am an active Church of Christ member and have been to more than five different Church of Christ ministries throughout Texas. My parents raised me in the church and I am currently 19 years old and just finally made the decision to get baptized after 19 years. It is really interesting for me to hear someone’s opinion on the Church of Christ since I only know people who are raised in it and others do not even know that this religion existed. I think it is safe to say for almost all religions that just because a Church implies they are a certain denomination- it does not mean they are teaching the proper values and biblical meanings that they were founded off of which even my preacher forgets is " every sin is equal / do not point out the speck in your neighbors eye / DO NOT JUDGE it says word for word which not even the preacher has the right to cast judgment but to stand with the brother or sister who is in need of saving or situational help. I am in awe because I could never imagine someone feeling suppressed in my church even as a guest or neglected in the least bit. For me, this religion focuses on the Bible and abiding by it with no twist put on it by some guy like Joel Osteen. Yes, the bible is strict to most people but the only thing it is trying to promote is holding yourself to higher standards which create overall better self-esteem and mental.health if at the proper church. But it also says in the Bible that Jesus forgives our sin in which they all are equal. At the end of the day, I think I would have left the churches that both of them were attending as well because I think that is completely suppressed but I think it is more about the kind of people who are in it that will create the atmosphere. I just heard more complains from them in the podcast about how the people cast judgment on the churches, not really like strong context about what the church is actually standing for!! Great interview!! Yall have me really thinking
xoxo
I’m an evangelical Christian. It is terribly sad how many people are born into cults or just attended one for years. If a group has to use the BITE model to force their beliefs about God, that doesn’t sound like a genuine relationship with Jesus. The churches of Christ message is applealing but fundamentally little different than Mormonism, Scientology, JWs, etc. I do pray you guys will find the Lord, but I can’t say I’m surprised agnosticism/atheism is the next step when groups like these are the front of Christianity.
Church of Christ preach a false gospel.
They don’t rely on the finished work of Christ on the cross, they trust in their own piety
This church of Christ bash as a whole is pretty unfair. I’m not saying what these two guys experienced isn’t true, it probably is, but one of the main characteristics of church of Christ is that each congregation is autonimous. No two are exactly alike, or even have the same beliefs. That said, there are a set of core beliefs, that date back to the Stone/Campbell restoration movement, in reality that goes to a central statement – Reject the creeds of men, the bible is the only creed.
In fairness to this interview, there are some churches of Christ that are berserk, and just like what these two gentlemen experienced, but those churches are beginning to receivie their just rewards for it too.
I am a life long member, of the church of Christ. I grew up in Abilene, Texas, where one of those church of Christ Universities is and there is a church on every corner-not all church of Christ. There is just about every flavor of church of Christ you can imagine in Abilene from ulra-conservitive, to very liberal. Some have instrumental worship, some don’t. Some do only acapella, only because the church likes it, some do it only because they somehow twist scripture into saying God hates instruments. Some allow women in leadership roles-even preach, other’s believe women should be submissive and play no role at all. Some work with and even worship with Baptist, Methodist, etc.., others honestly believe the other guys are condemned to hell unless they become a hard core Church of Christ member.
My point is, you can’t lump them all together, because they are all so different, just like you can’t condemn all Baptist bacause some are racists KKK, or Westboro.
I attend a church of Christ in the Dallas/Ft Worth area, that has instrumental worship, women in leadership roles, Celebrate Recovery, works with the Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian church next door on community outreach. Our youth group enjoys combined gatherings with one of the largest Baptist churches in our city. We even host a local spanish speaking evangelical church in our worship center every Sunday night because that church doesn’t have a formal place of their own to meet otherwise. And we wear the church of Christ signage outside our building.
One thing I’ve noticed in the church of Christ is that the more "hard core" like what is described here, a congregation is, the deeper it is on life support. I’ve seen many of these churches grow old, die off, and wither away. Where the more mainstream a church of Christ is, the more alive and vibrant it is.
All I’m asking is, do more reshearch, and don’t condemn the group as a whole because they have some bad apples among them.
I’m an Ex-Mormon that went on a mission in Arkansas and I ran into Church of Christ members all the time. The beginning of my mission was in West Memphis and one of our investigators was a Church of Christ preacher.
I grew up in the Church of Christ, baptized at about 12,and we had a very powerful minister. I am so hesitant in saying anything against them, because during my growing years, this church really was like my home away from home, everyone was greeted as brother or sister, even the minister too, and each church ended, we gave mostly everyone a hug and a kiss on the jaw. I really felt love from this church, and to this day vividly remember the faces of all the elderly people, who have gone on, who always showed us a smile of kindness. There was even one elderly woman, who I’ll say myself adopted us. We had no grandparents, or daddy, my mother was a single woman, with 4kids, who always seem to get help from others, because she had a kind heart, and was a hard worker. But this elderly woman, we called Grandma Mann, and we kids would spend nights at her neat and clean cottage style home. I loved her, and she treated us like we were her’s. With that said, I had no problem with the church, growing up, and my week would seem blessed when I went to church, and if I missed a Sunday seem like I ran into trouble. But it seems I was just going for the habit, and not really getting the full understanding of it all. I guess some are quicker to grasp than others. But my mama told us when I was grown that just because she raised us in COC we were free to try other churches, she just wanted us in a church. So I did stick my toe, into the waters, testing our some other churches. A couple I dropped because of their beliefs. But the first time I went to a Baptist church, with their instruments, and people shouting, clapping, and praising the Lord, I said. THIS IS IT! It was the feeling I got within, like for the first time my spirit was ALIVE. I said this is HOW you are supposed to feel in church. Then further down the road, in my life, I ran into a huge obstacle, that was bringing me to tears, and I happened to turn on my car radio, and COGIC Bishop G.e.patterson was on, and his words brought the best comfort to me, then they played Shirley Caesar’s song, and she became my favorite gospel artist, because I could feel the love and care in her words, and these two helped me get past that obstacle. Now I can listen to just about ANY church and receive the message, as long as we are on the same foundation. That was one thing, when I got grown, that I didn’t like our COC minister doing was saying just by having COC on the doorpost meant they were the only ones going to heaven. And seem like he would preach this, like clockwork, when we had visitors from other churches there, like at a funeral. By then I was wise enough to know he was trying to pull them to our church, but 9 times out of 10, it only made them pissed off, and they never returned. The true church is your heart, and to get into heaven, you got to have love in it. Hate is not allowed. But what really pulled me to your site, was today is Christmas, and I pulled out my COC hymn book, I’ve had for years.While I don’t sing Santa Claus songs, I do still recognize this as the Saviours birth, but the hymn book had no Christmas songs. I know as a child we sang many of them, but I’m seeing sites that say COC don’t believe or celebrate Christmas. They must have just started. Christmas and Easter use to be the 2 biggest days, in our church. The church would be in overflow where xtra chairs were brought in. I really don’t see COC as a growing church. The same church I grew up in, when I left about 20 years ago, had about 100 members, and still have about the same amount. Right now, I am very content watching Bishop T.D. Jake’s. This man has helped me on my journey so, and shows me how to break apart words from the Bible, and find the jewels hidden beneath. I have honestly learned more from 1year of watching him, than in the 20years of growing up in COC. But like I said I don’t like talking against them, because one good thing I learned from them, was showing brotherly,and sisterly love, for everyone, all races, creeds, beliefs, whatever. We are all in this boat together, some just don’t know it yet. And we are here to help, not hurt others. And God always leave that door of forgiveness open, because He truly loves us.✌❤🙏
I am noticing that these gentlemen are not Biblically sound at all. As a Church of Christ member I am saddened for these guys to be our representatives. I pray for people who grew up in such strict and harsh congregations. I would love to hear a discussion with a Church of Christ minister who is biblically sound and only sticks with the doctrine of Christ. We stress the importance of salvation because we never know when Jesus will return. I am 24yrs old and seek knowledge through the scriptures and I encourage you all to do the same.
Instrumental music is not recorded in the New Testament. It is recorded in the Old Testament. However, the only people allowed to use a particular instrument were the brethren Levites -1 Chronicles –15:16–. We are not Levites and today that is not applicable to Christianity. Jesus change the priesthood/law after Melchisedec- Hebrews 7:11 -12. That was under the Mosaic law/old testament. The New Testament teaches that there is no life in instruments- 1 Corinthians 14:7-15. God wants us to worship him in Spirit and in Truth which is life-John 4:20-24. God authorizes us to sing hymns- Mark 14: 16 and use our lips for praise- Hebrews 13:15. Old law/Mosaic law/Old testament has been for filled Luke 24:44. Jesus teaches that we cannot have 2 Testators in effect. It’s either the mosaic law or The New Testament which is grace- Romans 6:14-17, Galatians 5:3-4, Hebrews 9:15-17. I pray this helps. Much love.
I use to attend a church of christ in NYC, they didn’t seem to be cult like. They had their problems, but overall they were ok. I’m no longer religious, I don’t believe in God, I guess I’m a atheist.
I consider ‘agnostic’ to have 3 definitions:
1. The one Telltale gave, where you just don’t know if there is a god.
2. You don’t know whether to believe in a god (i.e. not atheist or theist).
3. You believe that it’s impossible to know whether there is a god.
I don’t see the 3rd one much nowadays, but it is a thing. Ideally, i’d give all of these different terms, but idk what other terms to use.
It’s been a year and I haven’t seen if you made any other videos about the Church of Christ but I would absolutely love to skype with you and give you accurate Church of Christ views using the Bible to back them up. I’m a student in a Church of Christ Bible institute so I’m studied and actually know what I’m talking about. Not everything these guys said was wrong, but they didn’t use scripture to back anything up. They also compared Lonnie Jones to Hitler… He is a great loving guy that is a swat chaplain in his spare time. I’ve never heard him preach a message of hate or anything so I’m not really sure where that guy was coming from. Especially at a friends and family event where all the speaker is doing is encouraging the church
It’s easy enough to get facts and educate yourself on denominations in the United States. Get a copy of Frank Mead’s book, "Handbook of Denominations." Your local library probably has one. They put them out every couple years. You can buy one used. I think it’s ridiculous you’re calling these folks a cult, however. These folks can walk out at any time once they become adults, for crying out loud.
These guys been thru it😪
I grew up with a Hellenistic mom and her parents converted to Church of Christ when she was about 12-15. They kept forcing her and I to go even when my mom was in her 30’s as a way to "show respect to them and their beliefs." I wish I was exaggerating when I said that EVERY TIME we got dragged in (maybe once every month?) the pastor had prepared a sermon about witchcraft and queers (i’ve been trans since I popped out pretty much) because my grandparents would tell him the service before we got brought in. I have a JW in the family too, but I’ve never seen worse emotional blackmail to do to an 8 year old who already grew up a "freak" because of my family’s faith.
Even worse is that they forced my 40 year old father with PTSD related to JW religious abuse and the pastor had prepared a sermon with extra fire and brimstone and my dad was hyperventilating in the back by the end. They called that succeeding in the first step of conversion. FUCK COC.
This is old I know but I also grew up church of Christ but I also went to a baptist church quite a bit as well (one grandma was coc and the other missionary baptist) what these guys are describing reminds me more of a baptist church. The coc church I went to did not call meetings revivals they called them gospel meetings. They would not want to invoke and emotional response out of people.
Landmarkism and The Restoration Movement/ Barton -Stone Movement
“The Trail of Blood,” was a 1931 propaganda pamphlet by James Carroll which sold over 2 million copies. This pamphlet promoted the Landmark theory or “Landmarkism” that the Baptist Church was founded by John the Baptist. Landmarkism was a theory made up by James Graves in 1851 that the Baptist Church dates back to the Apostolic period. James Graves was a founding member of the Southern Baptist convention and was the editor in chief of the first Southern Baptist newspaper. He used this newspaper to write articles on his new theory of Landmarkism. Graves came up with this idea in reaction because of a recently formed movement called the Restoration Movement or Stone-Campbell Movement. There was no proof of this “Landmark” idea and because there was no proof, the Southern Baptist Convention in a written declaration in 1859 denied Landmarkism and separated themselves from this Baptist sect called the Landmark Baptist. The Southern Baptist Convention in it’s declaration states that it’s Baptist Denomination was started in 1609 by John Smyth. Unfortunately some Southern Baptist’s still believe this propaganda because it was passed on from generation to generation “as gospel”.
The Restoration Movement or Stone-Campbell Movement was started by Protestant Barton Stone, a former Presbyterian minister, Protestant Thomas Campbell, a former Presbyterian minister and his Protestant son Alexander Campbell, a former Baptist minister. These 3 Protestant men merged their new movement idea together in 1834 into a Church called the “Disciples of Christ.” The idea of this movement was that this newly found Denomination called the Disciples of Christ, was a Bible only denomination and that these men say they date back to an Apostolic Founded Early Church that was not the Holy Apostolic Catholic Church. They do not go by Christian traditions either. A Protestant family called the Lipscomb’s heard about this movement, went to one of its tent revivals and decided to join. Granville Lipscomb and his family lived in Franklin County, TN and were members of the Bean’s Creek Baptist Church, a church that the family left to join this recently formed Disciples of Christ Denomination. The family later moved to Nashville, TN and started farming on the Cumberland River at Neely’s Bend. Granville had many children including William, David and Granville Lipscomb Jr. In 1873 William Lipscomb founded the the 1st Church of Christ called the Neely’s Bend Church of Christ in Nashville near their family farm, a new division of the Disciples of Christ Church. Granville Lipscomb Jr, David Lipscomb’s brother, founded the 2nd Church of Christ Church in Weakly County, Tennessee in 1878. David traded the family farm on the Cumberland River for a smaller farm on Granny White Pike in Nashville where David and another man named James Harding went on to found the Nashville Bible College in 1891 in Nashville Tn, which today is called Lipscomb University. In 1906 David Lipscomb petitioned the US government to recognize the Church of Christ as an independent Church from the Disciples of Christ Church because the Church of Christ denomination had become more conservative in it’s doctrine than the Disciples of Christ.
I went to Church of Christ for 15 years. I left and no one stopped me and if I wanna go back I’ll go! no one has control over you unless you allow it.
I was a member until I started doing investigation of the world around me and educated myself through books and college…I remember one time in a service a preacher said he should spot in the congregations face for their sins.. I remember being ten at that time …standing up and saying give it a try and see what happens 👌🤣😭😭 the rest was history lol.
Is this iglesia ni cristo in the philippines??
Wow .. the mention of Lonnie Jones here sent shivers down my spine. This man was the only "counselor" my ex-wife would meet with after I deconverted. I never got to meet him, and she had 1 "session" with him. 1 session. 45 minutes, and he told her to seek an annulment or divorce because I was a lost cause. He told her I was a Narcissist or an Engineer, and my ex-wife replied "he’s both".