What does the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) believe?
The
Bible
is a guide for
Christian living and faith and truly reveals God’s purpose in the
world. The witness of early Disciples was “where the Scriptures
speak, we speak; where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent.” It
was out of the commitment to the concept of restoring the unity of
the church, based on the New Testament, that many traditional
beliefs and practices took shape and continue to be a part of our
identity as a church today, including weekly celebration of the
Lord’s Supper, baptism of believers by immersion; and the right of
self-government by congregations.
Doctrines and
human differences should not be allowed to divide believers from
each other. God is revealed in many ways, mainly through Jesus.
There are no set beliefs about God—all experience the deity
differently. There is a unity of all Christians in the love of
Christ.
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There is an
Inclusive Ministry in the life and work of the church. All members
are “ministers“ and are entitled to interpret the Scriptures and
perform church functions.
Baptism is for individuals mature enough to make their own
decisions. Just as
the baptism represents the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus
Christ, it symbolizes the death and burial of the old self, and the
joyous birth of a brand new being in Christ. Those who founded the
Disciples movement taught baptism by immersion as the accepted form.
Baptism, as a gift of grace, received by faith, expresses its
meaning in a variety of images: new birth; a washing with water; a
cleansing from sin; a sign of God’s forgiving grace; the power of
new life now and the pledge of life in the age to come. The meaning
of baptism is grounded in God’s redemptive action in Christ, it
incorporates the believer in the community in the body of Christ,
and it anticipates life in the coming age when the powers of the old
world will be overcome, and the purposes of God will triumph.
The
Lord’s Supper is the heart of our worship. It is celebrated in
remembrance of Christ and His life on earth; it draws the
congregation closer together; it is an act of thanksgiving for the
forgiveness of our sins and the renewal of our life; and it is a
rededication to Christ’s way.
The Lord's Supper or Communion is celebrated in weekly worship. It
is open to all who are followers of Jesus Christ. The practice of
Holy Communion has become the central element of worship within the
Disciples tradition.
Disciples' observance of the Lord's Supper emanates from the upper
room, where Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples on the
eve of his crucifixion. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the
living Christ is met and received in the sharing of the bread and
the cup, representative of the body and blood of Jesus. The presence
of the living Lord is affirmed and he is proclaimed to be the
dominant power in our lives.
Membership in the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) means freedom and diversity.
In Worship
- Prayer and devotion are a
Christian’s greatest source of strength. We have no set doctrines or
uniform rules. Each person can find the methods that suit him/her
the best.
In Service –God has given each of us
unique gifts and talents. The church offers many and varied
opportunities to put them to use.
In Fellowship – Church members join
together in many ways, sharing each other’s joys and sorrows and
helping each other follow Christ’s way in our daily lives.
The Mission of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
To be and to share
the Good News of Jesus Christ, witnessing, loving and serving from
our doorsteps “to the ends of the earth.”
(Acts 1:8)
The Vision of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
To be a faithful
growing church, that demonstrates true community, deep Christian
spirituality and a passion for justice. (Micah 6:8)
