We—at the Chestnut Mountain church of Christ—desire to love God and to love our neighbors. We believe to accomplish this we must follow the standard of the New Testament.
Jesus teaches against those who follow man-made traditions that conflict with the commandments of God (Mark 7:6–9). Peter teaches that if anyone speaks, he ought to speak as the words of God (1 Peter 4:11). And the apostle John gives a strong warning to those who do not abide in the teaching of Christ (2 John 9).
What sets the church of Christ apart from other religious groups? We trust in the absolute authority of the Holy Bible. Of course, this makes us distinct from non-Christian groups. However, it also makes us distinct from groups that claim to be followers of Jesus.
There are Christian organizations that place human tradition above the Bible, personal revelation above the Bible, or church leadership above the Bible. In short, they follow what people say first and what God says second.
We in the church of Christ suggest this is backwards. Instead, we ought to follow what God says first.
Jesus lived a sinless life. He willingly laid down His life to free us from sin. And He lives today as the mediator between God and humanity. Considering His love and selflessness, we ought to value His words more than the words of men. Therefore, in the church of Christ, we endeavor to follow the Bible without adding to its teachings or subtracting from its teachings. We do this to love God and love our neighbor.
Minister,
S. J. Michael