Our central value is a person -- the resurrected Jesus.
Without him, the rest is mere words.
The way that he gave for us to identify with him is by being immersed into his death so we could share his death and resurrection. By doing this, we are "in Christ." If we fail to take that step for that purpose, we are not in Christ, no matter how loudly we proclaim otherwise.
Once we are baptized, we are in the church.
History of The
Church of Christ
The Church began on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem around
the year A.D. 30 (Acts 2). The church was established by Christ and
is based upon the fact that He is the Son of God (Matthew 16:16-18).
He is the Church's only Head and final Authority (Ephesians 5:23).
Although Jesus desired unity in the Church (John 17:20-21),
over years several hundred denominations have been created as the
result of social, theological, traditional and personal differences.
This is, of course, most unfortunate. However, during the 19th
century, several men decided to put aside all denominational creeds,
names and differences and to unite upon the basis of the New
Testament. This movement became known as the Restoration Movement (or the Stone-Campbell Movement)
because it represents an attempt to restore the first century Church
in all essential matters as revealed in the New Testament. The Minnehaha Church of Christ is a part of this movement. Our plea is for "all Christians to unite on the basis of the
New Testament, to restore the New Testament Church, and to take the
Gospel into all the World." The Restoration Movement has some noteworthy statements that
describe our goal: "Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the
Bible is silent, we are silent." - "in essentials, unity; in
opinions, liberty; in all things, love" - "No book but the Bible, no
creed but Christ, no name but Christian." It is our belief that the New testament is our only rule of
faith and that man does not have the right to make creeds that overrule God's Word. It should be noted that no one "joins" the Church, but when
you become a Christian, God adds you to the Church (Acts 2:47).
Christians throughout the world belong to Christ's one Church.
Government of The Church of Christ
It is very important to realize that Churches of Christ (or Christian Churches) are not a denomination. That is, there is
neither an individual nor a group (other than Christ Himself)
outside of the local congregation that exercises authority over any
congregation. Each Church is completely independent of all other
churches. There is no Biblical authority for such a denominational
structure ruling over the Church that belongs to Christ. Each
congregation will be under the oversight of men known as Elders,
Bishops, Pastors, or Shepherds. These are all the names for the same
office. Any man who meets the qualifications found in I Timothy 3
and Titus 1 and desires the position may become an Elder of the
congregation where he attends. He has no authority over any other
congregation. Each congregation will be served by men known as Deacons. Any
man who meets the qualifications found in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1
and desires the position may become a Deacon. The Minister, Evangelist, or Preacher's role is primarily
that of a proclaimer of the Gospel to the lost and to exhort and teach
Christians the Word (II Timothy 4:2). Every Christian is expected to serve in whatever area he or
she has been gifted in by the Lord (Romans 12:3-8).