First Christian Church is nondenominational. Our program is the restoration of the New Testament Church in its teaching, ordinances and life. The ideal New Testament Church is one teaching and practicing what the Holy Spirit commands in the New Testament and refraining from doing what He forbids. The only creed required is the New Testament. We believe the Bible is the inspired work of God, and, t
herefore, accept as true the miracles of the virgin birth and resurrection. “Where the scriptures speak, we speak, where they are silent, we are silent.”
The New Testament Church has just two ordinances:
1. This is the command of Christ. Matt. 28:18-20. This baptism is by immersion only. Acts 8:36-39; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12.
2. The Lord’s Supper. 1 Cor. 11:23-25. The early church observed this ordinance every Lord’s Day. Acts 20:7. Since the first day of the week comes every week, we observe the communion weekly. The laws of admission into the New Testament Church are identical with the steps in conversion. They are:
1. Faith in Christ as the Son of God. Mk. 16:15-16. Heb. 11:6.
2. Repentance. Acts 2:38. Acts 17:30.
3. Confession. Lk. 12:8. Rom. 10:10.
4. Mk. 16:16. There are two types of offices in the new Testament Church. The elders exercised spiritual oversight. Acts 20:17-28; 1 Tim. 5:17. The deacons were entrusted with benevolent affairs. Acts 6:1-6. 1 Tim 3:8-11. Their duty and authority was limited to the congregation of which they were members. The New Testament Church had no super-organization, exercising authority, either administrative or otherwise, over a group of churches or over a certain territory. Such forms of church government are fatal to congregational liberty. Therefore, we shall remain free of all ecclesiastical control. We are absolutely independent of all other congregations, being responsible to the Lord alone. Our missionary money goes directly to the missionary. Our object is Christian unity. John 17:20-21. The unity for which Christ prayed can be brought about by individuals, uniting in restoring His church as it was in the beginning. When love for Christ transcends love for “party” and when individuals become “Christian only” in the one great church, as Jesus planned it, denominationalism will end. Our motive for this program is founded in John 17:21, “That the world may believe” that God sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world. If these facts appeal to you as Scriptural and right, you are urgently invited to membership with this congregation.
