Nana Yaw Aidoo
When Jesus Christ said in John 16:12-13 that “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come,” He meant that the teaching of the apostles would be the pattern for believers at all times and in all places since they were guided into and proclaimed “all the truth.” As Frank Pack aptly noted, “If we carefully note the works of these Apostles, we shall be able to find out what New Testament Christianity was and what the Lord wants us to do.” It is with this attitude that I approach the Bible to set forth some characteristics of the church of Christ to answer the question of what it is that makes any church a Church of Christ.
Characteristics of the Church of Christ
As far as the church of Christ is concerned, some things are fundamental, essential, and non-negotiable.
The first characteristic is the terms of admission into the church. Frank Pack observed that “the terms of admission into the New Testament church are very clearly revealed, for these terms are the terms of salvation.” Leroy Brownlow also wrote,
Most denominational preachers say that man does not have to be a member of the church to be saved. If they mean denominations, the institutions of which they are members, they are right. If they mean the church purchased by the blood, they are wrong….Any church which is not essential to man’s salvation is not Christ’s church, because membership in his church is indispensable to salvation.
When one turns to the Bible, it is evident the foregoing observations are correct. In Acts 2:47, it is written that “…the Lord added to them [the church – KJV] day by day those that were saved.” Therefore, that which saves sinners is that which makes them members of the church of Christ. By carefully studying the Bible, one finds out that sinners were admitted to the church of Christ after they had heard the gospel preached, believed it, repented of all their sins, confessed their faith in Christ, and allowed themselves to be baptized unto the remission of sins (cf. Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:37-38; Rom. 10:9-10). All the cases of conversion in the Book of Acts show the working of these principles.
The second characteristic is the creed or rule book of the church. The church of Christ had no man-made creed or rule book except the Bible. The reason is that the Bible was and is sufficient in perfecting a man unto all good works (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3). Frank Pack thus quipped, “What other creed do we need? What other rule book is necessary if the man of God will be completely furnished unto all good works by following the scriptures?”
The third characteristic is the organizational structure of the church. A careful study of the writings of the apostles leads to the conclusion that “no elaborate organization characterized the early church.” In the Scriptures, each congregation or church of Christ had a plurality of elders, also known as bishops or pastors, who were charged with overseeing the local congregation as subordinate shepherds (cf. Acts 14:23; Php. 1:1; 1 Pet. 5:1-3). Serving under the elders were deacons. All who served as officials in the church were of the male gender (cf. 1 Tim. 2:8 – 3:15).
These elders and deacons formed the officials of the local congregation. The evangelists who preached the word had their special work to perform, but in the last analysis all were but brethren. No great distinction nor high and holy offices existed to separate the masses of the people from the clergy class. These classifications came into being much later.
The fourth characteristic has to do with the names of the church and its members. The New Testament says nothing about official names “worn to separate one body of believers from another.” In one place, the church of Christ is called by Jesus Christ “my church” (Matt. 16:18). In another place, it is called “the church of God, which He purchased with His blood” (Acts 20:38). In yet another place, it is called “the churches of Christ.” These names are neither denominational identifiers nor are they names applied to churches to indicate different sects or parties. The individual members were also called Christians (Acts 11:26) and “saints” (1 Cor. 1:2). “Isn’t it strange that there are so many different names worn by professed followers of Christ today, when these names in the Scriptures would be sufficient, and a basis of unity?”
The fifth characteristic has to do with the worship of the church. In line with the fact that God has always required that men worship Him according to His prescribed order (cf. Lev. 10:1-3), the New Testament reveals that the church of Christ worshipped with sincerity of heart and in accordance with God’s order (John 4:23-24). Items of worship present in the church of Christ included congregational acapella singing (Eph. 5:19), instruction in the teaching of the apostles, prayer, giving, and communion (Acts 2:42). All of these were done on the first day of the week, which was the special day on which Christians gathered to worship in community (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2). In a letter by Pliny the Younger to Emperor Trajan, written circa A.D. 112, Pliny incidentally bore witness to the worship of the church of Christ in Bithynia:
They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and to sing responsively a hymn of praise to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to do some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust, nor refuse to return a trust when called upon to do so. When this was over, it was their custom to depart and to assemble again to partake of food—but ordinary and innocent food.
Also, a Christian by the name of Justin Martyr who lived just a generation (c. A.D. 100-165) after the apostles gave an account of a worship service in his day in his defense of the Christian faith addressed to the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius:
We always remind one another of these things [our teachings]. Those with possessions provide for all those in want. We are always together with one another. And for all the things with which we are supplied we bless the Maker of all through his Son Jesus Christ and through his Holy Spirit. And on the day called Sunday there is a gathering together in the same place of all who live in a city or a rural district. The memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits. Then when the reader ceases, the president in a discourse admonishes and urges the imitation of these good things. Next we all rise together and send up prayers. And, as I said before, when we cease from our prayer, bread is presented and wine and water. The president in the same manner sends up prayers and thanksgivings according to his ability, and the people sing out their assent saying the “Amen.” A distribution and participation of the elements for which thanks have been given is made to each person, and to those who are not present it is sent by the deacons. Those who have means and are willing, each according to his own choice, gives what he wills, and what is collected is deposited with the president. He provides for the orphans and widows, those who are in want on account of sickness or some other causes, those who are in bonds and strangers who are sojourning, and in a word he becomes the protector of all who are in need (Apology I, 67).
The sixth characteristic concerns the work of the church. The church of Christ preached the word to the lost (Acts 8:4) and to the saved (2 Tim. 4:1-5), ministered to the needs of saints (1 Cor. 16:1-3; Jam. 1:27) and all people (2 Cor. 9:12-13), comforted, loved, admonished, and encouraged one another as brethren (1 Thess. 4:9, 5:14), and, most importantly, did all things to the glorification of God (Eph. 3:21).
The final characteristic has to do with the attitude of the church towards the Scriptures. Like her Master, Jesus Christ, the church of Christ held that all of the Scriptures were inspired (2 Tim. 3:16-17) and that this inspiration was verbal. She held that the Scriptures could be understood (2 Cor. 1:13; Eph. 3:3-4) and understood alike (1 Cor. 1:10). The church of Christ regarded the Scriptures as the absolute truth (John 8:32) even to its historical portions, considering these portions as facts (cf. Matt. 19:4; Luke 17:26-27; Matt. 24:15; Matt. 12:40). The church ascribed legal authority to the entirety of scripture, understood Scripture to be propositional in nature and held the Scriptures to be reasonable in content.
These characteristics are essential to any proper understanding and identification of the church of Christ. Yes, I know that all the foregoing characteristics are external, and in the next section of this article, I will deal with an objection that is usually raised in this regard. Suffice it to say, however, that when a group of people- regardless of country, race, status, or gender-put these characteristics or externals into practice, they, like the churches of the first century, constitute nothing but a church of Christ.
Answering an Objection
I am well aware that some have suggested that restoration is an ongoing process. Others have also pointed out that there isn’t the need for a restoration, nor is it possible. This latter group does not concern me at this moment but the former. The former argues as it does because, according to this group, we have not restored the personal, spiritual characteristics of the church. Some years ago, I heard this argument made by an older brother at the now-defunct National Lectureship of the churches of Christ at the Nsawam Road church of Christ. While I understand the argument, I respectfully disagree that restoration is an ongoing process or that the goal of restoration is yet unrealized.
If spiritual growth is the focus, then restorationism is indeed a process because personal, spiritual growth will always be an ongoing process. Even the apostle Peter had to grow in some areas (cf. Gal. 2:11-13). Would we then aver that the church of which he was a member wasn’t a church of Christ? Thus, restorationism as I understand it is not about spiritual or moral attitudes but the externals or those elements that relate to what I have set forth under the characteristics of the church of Christ. It “has to do with the Divine element—the church as the Lord built it through the preaching of the apostles.” Who would affirm that there was no church of Christ in Corinth simply because there was “sin in the camp?” As well might we say that an automobile isn’t one simply “because some of its passengers are drunk.”
Just as Moses was given a pattern for the Tabernacle, so the Lord has given a pattern for His church (cf. Heb. 8:5-6). Notice that by following that pattern, Moses was able to erect the Tabernacle with God filling it with His glory at its completion (Exo. 40:1ff). Following the pattern had a beginning and an end. Also, the tabernacle was still the tabernacle, the flaws of the humans who erected and used it notwithstanding. The fact that the high priest had to atone for his sins (Lev. 16:6) didn’t make the Tabernacle something else. It was the tabernacle the same.
In like manner, by faithfully following God’s divine pattern for His church, we most certainly constitute the church, even as it existed in the first century. We will still need to press on towards the prize of God’s high calling (Php. 3:13-14) and always need to diligently grow in the Christian graces (2 Pet. 1:5-11). But even if we fail, as we shall, from time to time (Eccl. 7:20), insofar as we have faithfully followed God’s divine pattern for His church, we are His church. Our struggles as far as personal, spiritual growth is concerned do not make the community anything other than the church. If you disagree, then ask yourself why, despite their many moral failings, the Corinthians were still identified as “the church” (1 Cor. 1:2)? What were the grounds for such characterization if we can’t be the church unless we have achieved moral perfection?
This kind of thinking assumes that the early Christians were “higher than the heavens” or superhumans in relationship to their personal, spiritual growth. One only needs to read the Acts and the epistles to learn that nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, they were great men but men nonetheless. The Jerusalem church had liars (Acts 5:1-10), was hit with internal conflict (Acts 6:1), and lacked evangelistic zeal in those early years, but it was still called “the church” (Acts 8:1). Sexual immorality plagued the Thyatira disciples, but the community was still “the church” (Rev. 2:11). There was lukewarmness in Laodicea, but it was still known as “the church” (Rev. 3:14). Why were they thus identified even with all their moral failings? Evidently, while spiritual growth is required of the child of God, restorationism centers not on personal, spiritual characteristics but on externals or certain identifying marks. To speak of restoring the church apart from these external, identifying marks is just like “expecting the police to find a stolen car without knowing its make, color, year of manufacture, license number, or how many doors it might have…how might one ever know if he had or had not found it or whether he was or was not in it?”
I am by no means suggesting that personal, spiritual growth is unimportant. God Almighty has declared that those in the church of Christ who unrepentantly walk in the flesh will by no means receive the victor’s crown (cf. Matt. 13:47-50; Gal. 5:19-21). What I am affirming is that restoring the church of Christ in our day does not depend on it. Neither am I suggesting that simply because a group claims to be a church of Christ it is one. That is the point of this article, to discuss what makes a church of Christ according to the Sacred Writings. That said, I maintain that the New Testament church of Christ, the beautiful bride of Christ, and the body of which He is the Savior exists today, and I am a member of it.
Conclusion
By keeping in mind these essentials of the terms of admission, organization, worship, work, and attitude towards the Scriptures, and lending the weight of their lives to them, a congregation of believers will be nothing more or less than a church of Christ, that great institution for which Christ gave His life’s blood.
Works Cited
Brownlow, Leroy. Why I Am a Member of The Church of Christ. Brownlow Publishing Company, 2008.
Ferguson, Everett. Early Christians Speak: Faith and Life in the First Three Centuries. Abilene Christian University Press, 1999.
McClish, Dub. “Has the New Testament Church been Restored?” Scripture Cache, 2012, https://thescripturecache.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Has-the-New-Testament-Church-Been-Restored.pdf.
Miller, Dave. What the Bible Says About the Church of Christ. Apologetics Press Incorporated, 2007.
Pack, Frank. Lessons in Church History. Cole Printing Company, 1940.
“Pliny’s Letter to Trajan.” Christian History Institute,
https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/study/module/pliny, accessed June 17, 2025.
