Who or what is the church of Christ?

Because our churches are not well known in Holland people ask us if we are Catholic, Protestant, Jehova's witness or Mormons. Not to pad ourselves on the shoulder or look down at others we can say yes, we are catholic in the original sense of being 'general', for everybody. Yes, we are protestant in the original sense of protesting against corruption in the church. Yes, we believe in the God called Jehova, but no we have nothing to do with organisations such as Jehova's witnesses or Mormons (ask them).

Characteristics of the churches of Christ

These are the result of searching how to be the church that God wants it to be. That involves a lot but when it comes to how you organise church this is what we practise:

- we are independent churches

we have no central organisation

- we as members are equal and responsible

we have no separation of clergy and laity

- we have the Bible as source of truth

we have no extra books or dogma's

- we have freedom in Christ

we are not saved by rules, laws or doctrine

- we want God to lead us

we don't want to follow humans, human beliefs or tactics

- we want to praise and honour God

we don't want to glorify ourselves

Characteristics of faith

Most people going to church hold fundamental important truths. Some people don't know what their church actually teaches. We invite you to take a look at some of the important truths that we find in God's Word.

- we believe God sees all newborn babies and little children as pure and innocent

we don't believe in original sin

- we believe God gives people the right to believe in Him or not

we don't believe in the doctrine of having no influence on your salvation or damnation

- we believe God wants people at an accountable age or capacity to believe, repent and be baptised

we don't baptise newborn babies

- we believe baptism is God's means of forgiveness of sins, of obtaining a new spiritual life and of receiving the Holy Spirit

we don't baptise as an outward ritual or as placing a membership only

Conclusion

In short, we want to be the church that God wants it to be today. Holy, alive, loving, meaningful and true. We believe we have a reason to be here and that all churches should desire to be the church that God wants it to be. We are not for the idea that churches should seperate themselves from others and be different. We are therefore for a general basis of church in truth and freedom, accessible for everybody. Is this an unrealistic concept? We don't think so. This concept exists at least 300 years and about 5 million people practise it today.

If you want to live your life the way God intends it for you and if you want to be part of a church that strives to be the church God wants it to be, please study our principles or come and meet with us.

Cordially,

The Hague church of Christ