Are You Seeking an Alternative?
- The churches of our society are becoming more social, more carnal and less spiritual every day.
- Money that is contributed for use in the Lord's work is spent for recreational facilities and play. Less is available to educate men on the saving gospel so desperately needed!
- Big organizations are rapidly replacing the personal and individual evangelistic zeal that characterized the early Christians.
- Is there an alternative?
- Let us invite you to read of a church that is different.
A Church that Exalts Christ
May we introduce you to an unusual group of Christians in the Columbus, Georgia area? These Christians are not a part of any denomination. They have no denominational name, creed or headquarters; nor are they a part of any denominational organization, conference, association or synod. They are simply Christians, meeting together regularly, recognizing Christ as their only Head and the Bible as their only creed.
The activities of these Christians are financed by free-will offerings contributed each Sunday. They do not beg from the world; nor do they raise funds for the church through business enterprises, car washes or cookie sales. Rather, in keeping with the teaching of scripture, “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:2), they give liberally of their own prosperity once a week. They decide for themselves the use that they will make of these funds, carefully distributing them according to the guidance of the New Testament in the three-fold work of preaching the gospel, caring for their needy and edifying one another. No funds are sent to central organizations or headquarters for distribution.
The emphasis of these Christians is spiritual. Their building contains an auditorium conducive to spiritual worship and classrooms for Bible study periods. No gymnasium or game room or dining area is provided, however. You see, these Christians are convinced that the church’s purpose is to help people get to heaven rather than to provide for their physical, social or recreational needs. Individually these Christians enjoy friendships, eating and socializing with one another in their homes, but they believe the church's primary purpose is to help people get to heaven by teaching and encouraging men to know God and obey His Word.
Their worship is quite simple with congregational singing, prayers, the preaching of the word and weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper. In their worship they are participants, not spectators, and all activities are conducted “decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). A spiritual worship which focuses upon God and His Son Jesus Christ is the emphasis.
This group of Christians believes in the power of the gospel to draw men to Christ. They refuse to cheapen the gospel through offering food, games or free trips to recreational parks to draw people to their services. They, in fact, refuse all types of promotional gimmicks, believing that all such practices tend to detract from Christ and spiritual values.
In short, this group seeks to exalt Christ, through preaching His word, through following His teaching, through doing only that which He authorizes, through wearing only His name, through making Him the center of their affection and adoration, through recognizing Him as their only Head, Lord and King.
Who are these Christians? They are men and women in your community much like yourself. They are school teachers, Army officers, painters, repairmen, credit managers, insurance salespeople, etc. who are seeking daily to please the Lord in their lives. They are a happy people, enjoying life, partaking freely of the abundant blessings which flow from the Lord. And in their group activities, they are seeking to pattern themselves after the teaching of the New Testament, to be truly a church that belongs to Christ in your community.
Are you wondering if there really is such a group? We invite you to “come and see.”
The activities of these Christians are financed by free-will offerings contributed each Sunday. They do not beg from the world; nor do they raise funds for the church through business enterprises, car washes or cookie sales. Rather, in keeping with the teaching of scripture, “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:2), they give liberally of their own prosperity once a week. They decide for themselves the use that they will make of these funds, carefully distributing them according to the guidance of the New Testament in the three-fold work of preaching the gospel, caring for their needy and edifying one another. No funds are sent to central organizations or headquarters for distribution.
The emphasis of these Christians is spiritual. Their building contains an auditorium conducive to spiritual worship and classrooms for Bible study periods. No gymnasium or game room or dining area is provided, however. You see, these Christians are convinced that the church’s purpose is to help people get to heaven rather than to provide for their physical, social or recreational needs. Individually these Christians enjoy friendships, eating and socializing with one another in their homes, but they believe the church's primary purpose is to help people get to heaven by teaching and encouraging men to know God and obey His Word.
Their worship is quite simple with congregational singing, prayers, the preaching of the word and weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper. In their worship they are participants, not spectators, and all activities are conducted “decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). A spiritual worship which focuses upon God and His Son Jesus Christ is the emphasis.
This group of Christians believes in the power of the gospel to draw men to Christ. They refuse to cheapen the gospel through offering food, games or free trips to recreational parks to draw people to their services. They, in fact, refuse all types of promotional gimmicks, believing that all such practices tend to detract from Christ and spiritual values.
In short, this group seeks to exalt Christ, through preaching His word, through following His teaching, through doing only that which He authorizes, through wearing only His name, through making Him the center of their affection and adoration, through recognizing Him as their only Head, Lord and King.
Who are these Christians? They are men and women in your community much like yourself. They are school teachers, Army officers, painters, repairmen, credit managers, insurance salespeople, etc. who are seeking daily to please the Lord in their lives. They are a happy people, enjoying life, partaking freely of the abundant blessings which flow from the Lord. And in their group activities, they are seeking to pattern themselves after the teaching of the New Testament, to be truly a church that belongs to Christ in your community.
Are you wondering if there really is such a group? We invite you to “come and see.”