Church Of Christ Services Waco Beliefs And Practices

By Patrick Allen


Most often, individuals whom identify as religious often seek out a church home. While this can be easy in big cities, it can often be more difficult in smaller cities and towns. When it comes to Church of Christ services Waco, there are plenty of congregations which one can visit or join within city limits.

Unlike other denominations, the Church of Christ was one of the first independent congregations to form during the restoration movement. While this is the case, it was the advocate, James O'Kelly whom represented the Methodist Episcopal church which withdrew from the Baltimore Conference in 1793.

The primary reason for the withdrawal was to establish a place of worship which would focus on the Bible as being the only text used for study and worship. For, the Episcopal and other branches had added study guides such as the Common Book of Prayer and others. As such, the movement started by O'Kelly was one of the earliest in the nineteenth century.

Most records show, that initially there were more than six thousand members whom withdrew from the original place of worship. After which, these individuals along with religious leaders set up a more pure form of Christianity, based solely on New Testament teachings. Later, the Baptist congregation of New England followed suit when Elias Smith and Abner Jones started a similar movement.

During this time, many congregational leaders were concerned about alternative creeds and denominational names which had occurred in earlier the movement. As such, the Baptists followed suit by viewing the Bible as the only true creed and word of God. In addition, the Baptists were also one of the first to view all believers as simply as Christians.

As the movement grew, the Presbyterians followed suit in teaching and preaching solely from the Bible. After which, Thomas and Alexander Campbell were the last to make such changes. Leaders and members of the Disciples of Christ, the two were in agreement with many others with regards to preaching and teaching only from the New Testament.

Most all religious leaders which lived during this early religious movement became a strong focus for Christians. While this is the case, the originating members of the movement had no intention of starting a new branch of Christianity. Instead, the idea was to return to a more primitive aspect with regards to places of worship as described in biblical teachings.

When it comes to acceptance and differing beliefs, there are some member churches within each denomination which are more welcoming of LGBTQ+ individuals than others. In most cases, these are congregations which have withdrawn and set up new and contemporary churches while still holding onto to original belief systems. In most cases, Episcopal and Unitarian Universalist houses of worship host welcoming congregations. Although, there are some Baptist and Church of Christ congregations whom if not accept, at least tolerate alternative lifestyles.

In most cases, the Episcopal and Unitarian Universalists are going to be the most open minded when it comes to welcoming these individuals and fighting for issues associated with the LGTBQ+ community. It should be noted that there is a distinct difference between a welcoming congregation whom provides a place of worship and other services versus those which suggest tolerance. For, while one may tolerate difference, this in no way suggest that individuals would be welcome or could obtain the same services as others.




About the Author: