The problem is people look for the true church by their own standards but arent looking for Jesus. I did the samething and finally i heard the Gospel and Christ saved me.

I am a Christian. Simple. Let Jesus deal with the politics. Thank you Jesus

Your testimony is profound and courageous. Your position is scriptural. God bless you and your family.

👏👏👏👏 you are brave and a true follower of Christ. I have great respect and love for you brother. The Spirit has truly done a work in you and your family and I am so happy for that.

I was converted to Christ's church from catholicism every question I had was answered with scripture. the church of Christ is the Church of Christ

God bless you, Paul. Thank you for sharing this. I knew nothing about the Church of Christ, but I'm going to visit one tomorrow morning at the request of a friend. I'm a member of a Reformed Baptist church and hold to the convictions of essentially what the 1689 LBCF says. I was looking at different things online to try to get a feel of what I'm gonna step into tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to open up some dialogues with my friend. Thank you for sharing your heart.

As a retired CoC preacher, I say that your salvation does not depend on what others say or do, it depends on your individual relationship with Jesus. Why bind your salvation to men? You can be free and stand on your own. That being said, these are just people who are trying to do what is taught in the Bible. Remember that these are the hurt and wounded from the world who came to Jesus and are trying to find their way.

i keep hearing Marshall Keebles words " can you imagine Peter being a baptist and John a catholic? Mathew an assembly of God member and Luke a presbyterian?" it is not about doctrine its always about the Bible. it's simple. and every challenge or argument is solved in the Church with the Biblical example of erring to the weaker brother " if eating unclean food offends your brother, spit it out" One Church. One Savior. One Way. Let's get back to the basics of winning lost souls to Christ!

I'm a member of the CoC. I'm noticing that a lot of the churches are different. Leadership are allowing the world to infiltrate the body.

God gives us free will, and discernment. You are amazing!!! I know it feels like you lost your family at first, but you have grown, and have learned. Keep learning, and preaching!!!

I was in the Church of Christ in junior high school through my mid twenties. I went to Freed-Hardeman College (now University). There are just 4-5 people from college that have remained my friends after I left the Church of Christ. It is so sad.

God blesses you brother that God opened your heart and mind in reading His words. As a father to you go ahead for we are on the right track to His kingdom

I am sorry that you had such Abad experience,my family joined when I was nine, I think I was old enough where I could understand,that you should not shallow everything just because.I was baptised at thirteen and still faithful today, I still question presumptions to this day. If you don't question,you will not get answers and sometimes the person you question might be able too see a different point of view, as a brotherhood we should be able to agree to disagree,just remember that God doesn't want you there if don't want to be there so don't feel guilty about something you not feel guilty àbout. May God bless you in your future

I grew up in a fundamentalist church of Christ myself, lots of hell fire and brimstone preaching. At some point we all have to make the Christian faith our own. For me that was rejecting fundamental COC ideas of telling others their destination or arguing over one or multiple cups at communion. While I have visited some cocs that still teach like that the vast majority of cocs today are much different. I personally reject Calvinistic ideas myself because it eliminates free will, but I also acknowledge that an all powerful and knowing God will know my choices before I’m born. I have talked with several preachers from Florida college and think they are way to rigid in their thinking. If you don’t interpret the scriptures the way they they do then you’re wrong…. I have to say however that all churches are full of broken people with good intentions. For those with bad coc experiences forgive them and do not hold on to your bitterness, that is not who we are called to be. Peace to you all.

hi, I'm Brazilian. I spent 23 years of my life among members of that sect as a member. I was a Baptist Christian before and now I am, getting back to my roots. Collecting material to learn more about the movement and its origins. to warn and teach my brothers about the evil indoctrination of this church. There I learned that it was the remnant church in direct succession from the early church. sorry for my english everything depends on google translator. but I'm glad you left this sect.

Stay strong, brother. My journey has been a long one, finally ending up in the Reformed faith, where it's actually ok to say, "I was an idiot, am an idiot, and will be an idiot!" Through ongoing sanctification though, I hope to be less of an idiot tomorrow than I am today. I must say that I believe that anyone who believes in Christ is saved, but if it is at all expected of me to have much at all to with it, then I'm like Paul: "Oh wretched man that I am- the very thing that I should do, that I do not!" If I have to be dependent on personal willpower, it seems that I'm already defeated.

It was great at first. I was baptized in 1991 and stayed until 2003. My husband and I even became bible talk leaders. This is when I saw a little bit more of the control tactics used by the leaders towards the congregants. This did not sit well with me from the beginning. I remember crying so hard because I felt trapped. I felt I could not leave and still be right with God, let alone loose my friendships in the Church. It was such a part of our lives that to imagine our life without it was scary, but after a while I had to do it. It was ruining me and the lives of others. Boy! was this the best decision I've ever made lol My husband kept going because he thought I was a little off my rocker. Besides, they were the only people to get me back in line if he and I were to argue with one another lol! But thank God for the *"Henry Kreit letter"* and I was able to leave and be confident about it.

i really cant believe this. I was raised in the church of christ, everything you have said i relate to. That church really caused me many years of confusion. its a very hard church.

God bless you sir ❤️

I’m glad I ran across your channel. Im a preachers kid that was raised in the COC. The older I got the more I realized that something wasn’t adding up. I am a substance abuse counselor and seen hundreds of addicts that aren’t members of the COC get saved and turn there will and life over to God. It’s very hard for me to fathom that God is going to send certain people to hell because they are not a member of the church of Christ.

Hello Paul Day. You popped up in our feed this morning so we watched. What is 5 years ago to you is like 5 minutes ago to me. May I ramble a bit as I confess and admit that I am no authority. My bg was in the other branch of Cambellites so called, the First Christian Church. I was raised in that. Before I turned 20 I was completely bored with church and a bit later for about 15 years I couldn't go because of work. When I did return the thing had moved so far left that I didn't recognize it, so I was churchless for another 20. As I hit middle age the call to church became more pronounced and because of a chance (miraculous?) happening I got back into church. The church that I KNEW I'd never even visit was the Church of Christ. This, Paul, because of what I had seen growing up. The CoC's around here at that time were hard core. Some even said that if one did not go to THEIR particular church, hell awaited. That was complete frobish in my mind. And then there was a young man I worked with for 6 years. He was a sweet guy, but not all there. He got hooked up with a local COC and being receptive became in my estimation completely brainwashed. That church obviously took advantage of his weaker mind. I despised that viciously! And though I never danced when in school because I thought it was silly I rankled when the elders of a certain CoC forbade it to their members. Draconian in my view. They'd have spies at school functions to rat out offenders. Jeez. So the LAST place I was EVER going to visit was a CoC. Ever! Controlling rascals! Then one day a guy I grew up with stopped by the house....and I mean out of the blue! and said some church or the other was giving away free food. I hadn't seen him in decades! He saw me fooling around in my flower bed and turned into the house. We were up against it at the time and could use some but I felt like others needed it more and tried my best to talk him out of it. Failing, we loaded up in my truck and went and got our free groceries. So happened that I passingly knew the preacher, as our paths crossed at that job I mentioned years ago. So when I got home, grateful but embarrassed I called him to see if they needed any help with the food program. He told me to come on by to work on it the next month. (The food program give away was once a month.). I did. My need to get back into church was still growing. (I was mystified!)....and there was this church and the people were SOOO nice. And they kept pecking away. So after a year or so I asked my wife if she'd be interested in visiting. She yelped yep right away. That was a little surprising. (She's always been a better and way smarter Christian than me.) So the next Sunday we went. I frankly told the preacher that this was a test. He replied, "Hey, you're on probation too!" I kinda got a chuckle out of that. By and by I learned that the elders were not some kind of doom tribunal, their way or the highway like I had seen growing up. There were no hellfire and damnation sermons. To this day I have found no cliques in this church. Being a third gen Disciple of Christ, it was a BIG deal to me, changing churches. After a few weeks I formally had my letter moved. I guess this is kinda out of date today, but I did it because I was serious. Well, that was 10 years ago now and if you haven't guessed already I belong to an independent Church of Christ. I'm as happy as a pig in slop. Good people, good messaging, my kind of place. A positive place. Paul, you prolly wouldn't be happy there. Nor, I think would you be happy at another nearby CoC which still clings to many of the things that got you out of the church. We have all sorts of CoC's around here....one for every taste, some more conservative and opinionated than others, but all enamored to the point that the operating manual is what the Bible says, and not the whims and inventions and trends of men. Don't take away. Don't add. What I'm hearing from you my friend is that your early experience (in your estimation) is of the old school argumentative to a fault, always ready to ruckus, more focused on comeuppance rather than salvation model. Really down in the weeds. Well, that way lies hurt feelings and badness. It also fundamentally skips the prime lesson and ignores the golden rule which is the essence of the example set by Christ. Heck, even Paul, the original Paul went to teach...not to debate. Thing is Paul, one can win the debate and still come off as an insufferable know-it-all. That is what happened for much of the Church of Christ history. Luckily in recent years many congregations discovered the amazing notion that one can catch more flies with honey rather than vinegar. Preaching and listening to the good news on the other hand yields pleasant fruit much unlike our way or the highway. My church works hard at being non-controversial while sticking to the essentials. Best thing I can tell anyone is read the Bible for yourself. The NIV is perfect for that. Using my handy Kindle I have been through the whole thing at least 5 times, and my favorite parts many more. I thought I knew the Bible before, having been raised in church, but in truth you don't know it at all if you don't go through it cover to cover. Many times...and even then you keep finding new things. From my study the CoC gets it the best...at least when they aren't being lordly and fussy, pushy, and ready to judge and fight. That's the old way. Times and methods change even as the Bible stays the same. I'm glad you found something that makes sense to you and something you can stick with Paul Day. God bless.

God bless your efforts to follow Jesus in His word.

Indeed, I left the Church of Christ because of the lack of love. They are friendly inside the walls. I was unchurched for many years. I stumbled on a Bible Church in Fort Worth where for the first time I witness "love one another" put into play. We do fellowship everywhere in or outside the church walls. One secret to this is to work together, humans bond when performing a task together i.e. serving the widows and orphans and many other outreach programs.

Good on you Paul Day.... God opens your eyes to see the truth... Sometimes HE needs to break you before HE can build you up and restore you even better than before..... "they shall all be taught by GOD" Persue Truth, love GOD, cry for Christ.. He has done ALL for us. Amen.

Thank you for your testimony Brother!

I haven’t heard you say one word about Jesus Christ. You need to seek Him. He’s wonderful!✝️

.....see to it that no man misses the grace of God. St. Paul We are all sinners, and only by the grace God we are saved. Wish the best for you young man.

God bless you.

I've studied predestination myself but came to a different conclusion. In short, I believe Paul was referring to God's plan from the beginning of time to give salvation through his Son rather than specifically answering who is being saved. Would you mind sharing the books you've read that changed your mind?

Growing up as a preacher’s kid in The Christian Church since 1965 I didn’t have much experience with what was going on in sister Stone-Campbell churches. My uncle preached at a merged church in Kansas called Church of Christ Christian. I always thought this redundant name strange, yet I suppose it was meant to show a sense of unity. Since then I’ve learned there are multiple groups named church of Christ and it is interesting how many are terrible controlling cults. Even the Mormon churches in Independence MO have multiple variants of the name now to seem more legitimate. In the Christian Church fellowship there is a phrase, “Not the only Christians, just Christians only”. Basically a take on what Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 1&3, not being “of any man”’s doctrine. This may be why I never really learned much, if anything about Stone or Campbell. Though there are colleges and seminaries, The Christian Churches are all independent, generally encouraging independence in thought. While at Ozark Christian College myself studying Acts, I decided against the idea of what might be called baptismal salvation. As encouraged by the brother above, I pray that you recognize an ability to be “in Christ” without men’s doctrines designed years after the apostles who were only followers of “the way”, which was Christ. It’s more important to be a part of the New Testament church by the Spirit of God than to be a member of any specific modern organization. There is no Gospel or grace in the dangerous eisogetical calvanistic false “doctrines of grace”. May the Lord bless your life. kzfaq.info/sun/PLY2G1Gk_v1wOFzOk5PogZnPCioanrblrz

I'm a third generation Church of Christ member. I'll be the first to tell anyone we have been a very fractured and legalistic wing of the Restoration Movement but I have yet to give up on it because I believe there is more good than harm that comes from it.

I also left the church of christ because I couldn't stand how they always kept looking down their noses at me. I tried to be open and honest with who was ever Discipling me but when I confessed my sins they would tell everyone else what I did. They all just kept giving up on me and thought I was never good enough to disciple anyone. So finally on one Sunday even before the sermon was over I just said "I quit just write me off as a fall away!" Then I walked out and went home.

Baptism today is mere symbolism - in Jesus's day it was a statement of life or death. You actually put your life on the line by being baptised and indicating you were one of "those people".

I think the NASB is the best translation. If you study the new testament and accept everything it teaches you won't line up completely with any church and thats because very few people completely understand what the goal of Christianity actually is. It is far more than just being justified before God. It includes that but the primary goal is union with God. The truth that we are nothing apart from God and accepting predestination is part of that. When a persons eyes open to the truth they realize that absolutely everything goes back to God. God gives us faith, repentance, forgiveness, sanctification and has already seated us in the heavenly places in Christ and there is no sin in Christ we no longer have a consciousness of sin, and we are sealed in the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption. I spent several years going to other churches and comparing what they teach to the bible and none of them line up completely so I just go to church and live according to the Bible as best I can according to how I understand it but I don't think any one group of people has everything figured out. We all fall short at some point therefore we are all on the same ground. In the end it will all be according to God's mercy.

Wow I experienced this for myself

It doesn’t matter how many cups you drink out of. Or if it’s one loaf of unleavened bread. You are missing the point. I’m a Christian and I well be happy to explain Alexander Campbell was just a member of the lords church. Not the founder. The lord is the founder

The Apostle John in his gospel and his letters makes it so simple. It is a shame that folks get caught in doctrinal disputes from hundreds of years ago. The bible tells us what defines an anti-christ, i.e. one who denies that Jesus the Christ came in the flesh. It describe how people responded when they heard the gospel. Paul describes clearly how we should live our life as jars of clay, vessels of Christ, parts of the body of Christ. I know that we are born in a place and time, sometimes our family has it wrong, sometimes the people around us has it wrong, the culture for sure has is wrong, and we get it wrong. We must come to Christ as little children he is our all in all, our everything. We have to admit that we are not big enough to answer some of these questions. Do we believe that Scripture is the inspired word of God, then that is most of battle to understanding. John goes into all of this, but to Love God is to obey him and how we can we love God if we don't love our brother who we can see. At least twice it was said in so many words, by Jesus and then by Paul, If they preach Jesus, then let them be. Predestination, election, free will what have you all I know it says, For God so love the world that he sent his son. And later He doesn't want any one to be lost. Yet there is bad soil and good. Paul and Apollos plant/water, but God provides the increase. These things are all very straight forward just believe them on face value, instead of say "well so and so is saying something different than so and so and one had 5 verses and the other had 8." And "Well my whole family since my great grandad believed the first so and so, and it can't be that such good people had it wrong or missed something to their credit." We are called to do our part. It is like when Jesus told Peter at the end "feed my sheep" then Peter said "what about him" Peter points to John, Jesus said "what is that to you if he is alive until I return" Our relationship is first with Jesus, not Campbell, Stone, Calvin, mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, husband, or wife, friends. I know we have to find relationship with those around us and everyone comes at this differently and they push against us, but that is when we find strength in Jesus, be slow to speak and quick to listen. Do we love God, love one another and obey His teachings that were written down. Also is the final chapters of the gospel of John, Jesus describes beautifully, "he knew where he came from and where he was going and he loved the Father" Perfect confidence and no fear what a glorious example.

Good Morning. I left that organization 21 years ago after being there for 6 years. I did meet come cool people there, but I got tired of being disrespected, seen members show favortism to bible talk leaders, and their assitants. I even had 3 physical altercations where 3 leaders had grabbed me during an arguement. Plus I had grown tired of the dating. Since leaving I've had ups and downs, but I'm doing better and I was blessed with 2 partial scholarships and was able to graduate from college. Karma got some people who did me wrong

Very encouraging, brother. :-)

Thank you Paul for your testimony. It's eerily similar to mine in certain ways lol. I grew up in it for 20 years and then left only to become full-blown Calvinist within the next couple years. God's Sovereign Grace is amazing!

Thanks for sharing new friend, Like 👏🏾

My wife has a hummingbird feeder and she makes the sugar water available by her own hands , she places it on the hook. The birds come freely to drink, however the birds chase one another away and many times none get a drink of the free water available to them because they fight over who has the right to the free gift. This is a picture of what religious institutions have done . Break free from religion and come to Christ freel. We are all sinners and deserve judgment but the price has been paid in full. Just come and to that you don't need a great big mind. You just simply believe. Now you guys can fight over that and who has a right to drink. Some of us are done with organized religious institutions that have all their doctrines laid out in anxiety order. But jesus says come freely . I'll choose jesus Christ every time over man-made doctrines that brings men into bondage. Or doesn't allow some to simply believe but attacks and keeps men from just receiving what is free for them. MMabry you have a degree in some college but that doesn't qualify you. You learned calvinism through someone. Now you can't even see that that's a doctrine made up by John calvin. That's what religion does it is the blind thinking they see leading those that they think are blind. Salvation is now only for those who follow a certain man made doctrine that claim salvation is in Christ alone and simply be living but exclusive as long as you staybin the reformed doctrineds. To lift up chauvinistic doctrines is blatant idolatry. Jesus is the only way truth and life. May calvinism decrease and jesus be lifted up for all to see and all to free choose to come or freely choose to walk away. God chooses no man to perish as calvinism teaches. No matter how they spin it just isn't found in the truth of Jesus own words. I used to be in the reformed circles they do teach and expose false teachings but calvinism is the idol of reformed theology and how an love their idols .

hello paul idk if you will see this, but i had a similar struggle, well at least in the theological sense, with the ICC, their doctrine seems on point w the way they explain & im young in the faith, i didn’t know how to refute it, & the more they explain it, the more right they seem yet something is holding me back in buying into their theology, any help?

Wow, you went from one frying pan into another.

I'm just very thankful that I am born again and that I don't need any teachers because I have the Holy Spirit in the word of God, I've been to many different types of churches and doctrines of men I am currently not attending a church because of the divisions of the denominations, everyone thinks they got it figured out but if you read the Bible they are so far away.

I will gladly talk with you about your concerns. The biggest problem I keep hearing is your reference to Campbell. The Lord’s church is not Campbell’s church. Calvinism is false doctrine. Do not be misled.

It’s good to ask questions and raise topics, like the Bereans, I guess! Yet it’s always good to examine your motives in such things and pray about it too. For example, if I open a business and understand it’s for my own gain then on the other hand advertise it for the purpose of others, surely, I deceive myself!? Regarding the one loaf aspect I think that in past days it was easier to make one loaf on an industrial scale than it was to make smaller pieces as we have today. And the aspect of taking sacrament still honours the tradition of examining your heart, above all else. With the purpose solely on that! Plus, the bread and wine made in the right conditions! In a sense you were predestined to be born within the circle of your parents, God in his wisdom sort that. Yet as with the angles and humans we still have free will, this includes removing ourselves from a predestined path. King Saul was predestined to be king; nothing could have stopped that, yet in his actions he chose to separate himself from god, freely form his own doing! The most important matters in modern Christian life are repentance, baptism, evangelism, faith, and deeds and remaining on the path (i.e., living by all scripture) and even at the end of life, God still has the unequivocal right to decide whom enters heaven or not! Kind regards

amen brother stand with the gospel

I was born and raised in the Church of Christ . I was a Deacon and my Father an Elder. I now subscribe to The Reformed Doctrine as The Lord has shown me that it is the Truth of Scripture.

Thanks for your testimony brother. I left the church of Christ after having been raised in it and attending for nearly 30 years. When I 1st left I did not have clear scriptural answers for many of the church of Christ's talking points, I just knew in a broad thematic way that they were getting the gospel wrong. The difficult thing about groups like the COC is that it's not just 3 or 4 verses they have wrong. They have interpreted huge swaths of scripture in a slightly scared way and then woven all of their misunderstandings together to form what seems on the surface to be a very cohesive biblical view of things. It took several years for the Lord to unravel all of that to where I can see how everything actually fits together. I would love to chat with you some time.

Thanks for sharing. I am going to visit a Church of Christ soon, after leaving a pre-mil Calvinist+ church. My beliefs are something in the middle, or rather, both views seen from different angles (God's point of view and Man's point of view). Hopefully our family will do well but I take your experience into advisement as well. Peace be with you.

I want to say that you should keep in mind that first, you are a "Christian" purchased by Jesus with his own blood; and that a denomination (which you have changed) is where you choose to fellowship. Bearing this in mind, anytime there is a conflict, you will remember that you will always belong to the Body of Christ and that some people and Christians (none of whom saved you) can sometimes fail to represent Him well. That is, never let any disappointments with "them" be anything that causes you to separate from "Him" who will never leave nor forsake you (betray nor turn His back on you). Your "relationship" with Him is most important and is what keeps you spiritually anchored. God Bless you.

Calvin was a monster. They were burning 🔥 people (almost 70) at the stake for disagreeing with his recipe for Christianity in his city. He wasn't trying to save those people. TULIP is a nightmare. I just went to church of Christ for the first time this week. Let's see what happens.

I too am a recovering Campbellite. But my path would not have followed this course, because I also gave up biblical literalism. Paul, you seem to have kept that literalism, but used it to arrive at different conclusions. One foundation--perhaps THE foundation of the so-called "Restoration" movement is that the New Testament can be read like a blueprint to "restore" the New Testament Church in modern times. Nobody in the C of C ever seems to ask whether that's a good idea, or grounded in the Bible itself instead of being yet another manmade precept. More formally, I also attended a Church of Christ college, Freed-Hardeman. It was a senior-level Bible class there that really sowed the seed for my eventual departure. It's the intellectual underpinning of biblical literalism that the Bible is all of a single piece. That the New Testament in particular is a unified, internally consistent whole. Proof texts to that effect are among the most basic things taught (and memorized) in Church of Christ preaching and Sunday school. But this does not fit historical facts or even logic. Not logic, because the First Century church did not itself have the New Testament. In fact nobody did. The very first known list, by a Roman named Marcion, in the 2nd century, included only Luke from among the Gospels, for example. Our present canon (list) was not finally set until the Council of Nicea in 325-326. Up till then the list varied from place to place. Some works that were once considered scriptural (Gospel of Barnabas, 1 Clement, Shepherd of Hermas, etc.) were eventually rejected. Others that were long disputed (2 Peter, Jude, Revelation, etc.) were eventually let in. That's no way to make a blueprint! The other discipline that undermines the kind of microcopic, grammatical analysis you refer to is called "textual criticism." That is the study of what makes the most accurate wording, the closest to the original. Here too there is endless variation, although often not effecting the overall meaning. Sometimes a spelling is diffferent, a preposition, a whole word occasionally. At others, whole sections are found in some early copies and not others, such as most of Mark 16, John 8 ("the woman taken in adultery" section), two or three different endings for Romans, etc. You see footnotes in most modern editions of the Bible pointing out these things. It's not that truth cannot be found in these writings. It's that you can't nail down everything in an absolute way, making every point of faith what a Bible teacher of mine used to call "a bliss or torment" issue. But that's what the Church of Christ does, and did to you, when you came to different conclusions from its, ahem, oral tradition.

I believe you are being truthful about your experiences. It should be noted, as you’ve expressed, that the congregation you grew up in represented a minority belief system among churches of Christ. Less than 10% of the members hold to such teachings. There certainly is no security of the believer taught. Any and every sin committed immediately separates you from salvation and a confession of that prayer and a prayer specifically asking for forgiveness must be said. Thus those who believe this see themselves going in and out of salvation throughout the day-like a frog in a pond. I don’t see how anyone can live believing that. Calvinism leaves me feeling helpless as well. My eternal salvation or damnation was determined long before I was born and there is absolutely nothing I can do to change that. No need to have spent my life in Nigeria preaching the gospels to pagans-God had already determined all their actions. This way it seems as if creation is no different than watching a movie. Nothing I do will ever change one scene, much less the ending of the film. Knowing the end, why did God even start it. Maybe He should have just jumped all the way from the garden to eternity and prevented so much heartache? Keep up your battle for faith.

Unfortunately, I had a bad experience with I guess an old school CoC member. I believe salvation comes first, usually by the preaching of the word and a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit. Baptism is a command and a sign to show my new brothers and sisters in Christ what has happened to my inner man. However, the CoC gentlemen adamantly believed that you are only officially saved after baptism. I had been immersed in the baptist church but he did not recognize it as valid and offered to baptise me again at the Coc church under their witness. He explained to me that I was not a Christian without the proper baptism and that the new life I thought I had was a deception. This was funny because he openly confessed that he had been baptized 3 times in his life so that he could be sure he was saved. Odd, I had learned from the bible that it was the testimony of my mouth (confessing that Jesus is Lord and fulfilled all that was written) and that I would be known by my fruits. I did not know mortal men could see into the hearts of men and know if they are the Elect of God, but I guess this fellow could. He never could come to calling me a brother in Christ.

I’m not defending church of Christ especially since Roman’s 8:1 there’s no condemnation for those in Christ. But as far as election I really believe the parable of the marriage supper sheds light on what the apostle Paul believed. Christ being the first born among many brethren and knowing that one must be born of the Spirit for salvation is a must for salvation. I’m not gonna say too much but many are called and few are chosen so the gospel is the call for me and the Lord prepared the gospel. Gentiles pre planned for many generations even from the beginning.

Now, I see where you are coming from. I once thought I had been mistreated by "the church of Christ" and slowly went into the wilderness for 40 years, and attended and studied many doctrines. I have since returned and see the glorious truth and light iwithn the churches of Christ. It is worth it, to me, to support it and the spirit of restoration wholeheartedly. Are we there yet? No. But we are Christians who try to work out our own salvation, with a little fear and trembling, knowing that our Faith, without works, is dead. We walk in truth, knowing that being in Christ, loving Him by obeying His commandments, we are continually washed in His blood. We also know that we can depart from The Faith, and when we find ourselves in such a state, we repent as a prodigal son. The Way is narrow, and few there be that find it. In the end, at the judgment, we shall be judged by the Word. That judgment will be just. I will not be judged by John Calvin or Alexander Campbell. I will be judged by the Lamb of God on His throne who came to earth and died and was resurrected for me. I will be judged by my faith and my works therein. I will know that I obeyed him in baptism, had my sins forgiven and whether or not I chose to continue to live in Him. I've been harsh with you. Forgive me. But, like the prosperity gospel, the calvinist gospel is false. T = Totally free will; U = Under God's Will; L = Love of God; I = Internal call can be resisted; P = Perhaps I depart. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gdd-g5R12NXHj6s.html

Sorry to hear this brother...if I can help in anyway let me know...its easy to get confused...the church is very important for its the body of Christ..im in Mississippi if that helps..sincerely Brad

great testimony brother. Soli Deo Gloria.

1 Cor. 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

I'm not COC, but I am an ex-Calvanist. Ephesians 1 is talking about Christians. Who is Paul writing to? The church in Ephesus. Who does God predestine? Believers. Does he predestin individuals to salvation or does he predestine the group of believers to have the benefits of being His children? We in the west tend to read ourselves into the Scriptures and take an individualistic view, where the culture in which they were written understood things in a community or group mindset. Try reading Ephesians 1 with that in mind and see if it is more in-line with the Bible as a whole, such as Colossians 2:12 (faith precedes regeneration) and 1 Timothy 2:4

How about you read Dave Hunts " What love is this" and make video on the things you "learn" from that book.

What you read in God’s word is what you should obey . Not by what people say or what your opinion is. Only what God says!!❤

It is extremely hard. I’m 58 and have been in the church of Christ my entire life. I do not agree with all of their positions by any means. My wife is Anglican. Why do I remain in the coc? One will never find a church which fits perfectly with our own takes on scripture. You might be right about predestination. But the moment you establish a home church or join another sect, there will be differences in baptism, communion, end times, role of elders, music…on and on. While the coc is not perfect they seem to be right on the gospel and our response to being “in Christ.” I have also had run ins with bully elders and narrow minded hard heads. Not fun. My wife’s family hates the coc for good reasons. Someone was unloving with my mother in law and it left a scar. However these things happen in all churches. So, I remain in the coc because on most of the big issues such as the gospel, church leadership, autonomy and the like we match up. I guess a man must study the word and do what he believes is best. Hang in there.

The restoration movement started with a good idea. Restoring the church back to what we see in Acts in the early church. Getting back to teaching what the Bible teaches not the doctrines of man. Along the way many restoration leaders began to formulate their own teaching and have now become like Pharisees, creating new requirements for salvation that God never placed on man. I still go to a church that is loosely based on the restoration movement but we don’t hold to everything from that movement and we don’t call ourselves COC. As a result some COC leaders in the area have disassociated from us. It’s sad. We are instrumental and have a female worship leader. We do still hold that Baptism is essential for salvation. We try to be accepting and welcoming of all but yes there are still some in our church that would prefer to be exclusive. We are going through some changes that frankly may lead the congregation to closure. And that’s ok if it does. If a church isn’t evangelizing then they are a church. They’re just a country club and that doesn’t please Jesus.

COC is as important to me as my own children. My minister in Madill, Ok is an incredible mentor and teacher. They have brought my whole family in and welcomed us into the greatest congregation possible. All they do is teach the bible, nothing else but the bible.

Like this video.. Thanks for sharing..

Mr. Day, In listening to your reasons for leaving, I was curious about your journey into reformed theology, the doctrine of restricted and limited access to salvation in Christ, by God's own sovereign choice of individuals as I understand it. Particularly in view of passages that speak of unlimited access for those who choose to come to faith("For God so loved the world..."). For example, in Revelation 22:17b..."Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely"; Verses such as II Peter 3:9b.."God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance"; I Tim. 2:4..."who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth". It seems to me, if totally left up to God, no soul would be reprobated. However, because of man's involvement(faith), the unbeliever who "opts out" of faith that does not obey God's commands is making his own free choice to not come to God.

Thank you for explaining. They kicked us out because we were divorced and remarried. Im so offended that I will never attend another Coc!

Why the darkened room? Was there a local electric blackout ? What about personal evangelism and daily personal prayer time?😢

Each church will be judged independently. Look at each church itself and see if it lines up with the bible.

I also am a member of the Church of Christ. It does get very disheartening to not have good in-depth Bible study where all intelligent questions can be asked, answered from scripture in a way that makes sense, and doesn't just leave you scratching your head confused. There are many places where the Church of Christ Campbellite movement is doctrinally wrong. But the pride and arrogance that they have acquired will not allow them to reconsider what they believe and teach. The way that they immediately want to shun and cold shoulder anyone who disagrees rather than sitting down and having real Bible study is the reason they have been deemed a modern-day cult. Often, they choose to accept the explanation of some teacher from Pepperdine, Sunset School of Preaching, or Harding over what the scriptures actually read. With explanations like well, this is what brother so-and-so taught in his lectureship, if you had attended, you would understand. Anyway, if we read the seven letters that John was dictated to pen to the seven churches in Revelation 2,3. You will notice that five of the churches had problems. They had problems with their doctrine, with their deeds, with their motivations, with their sincerity and focus. Still, Christ did not disown a single one of them .he challenged them to change. He appealed to the churches as a whole and even down to just any single believers who would still hear him. But he never to the members to forsake their assembly or to go somewhere else instead. Sometimes, being family hurts. Be patient, endure, and be humble when you disagree. Love and pray for your family, even when you know that they are dead wrong. Paul told Timothy to reprove in 2Tim 4:2. Which means just showing them again what the scriptures actually read. But pride doesn't allow some people to accept reproof. They see it as a challenge to their authority. It's very sad that they can't simply take the time to lovingly show you how you are mistaken from the scriptures if you are mistaken. If I am wrong, I want to know. I want to get it right, I want to teach it right, and I want to live it right. I would encourage you to stay with the KJV. That is a worthy study within itself. The translations that have been contaminated by Wescott and Hort should be avoided. If you are having difficulty reading and understanding the KJV. I would suggest that you consider bringing Alexander Scourby kjv up on KZfaq and follow along as you listen to him read the scriptures. You can also buy his DVD very reasonable at christianbooks.com I love you, brother, I respect your honesty and commitment and pray that I will see you on the other side. Consider watching Chuck Missler learn the Bible in 24 hours and also on KZfaq.

Don’t let my name scare you. I’m not a Campbellite. My grandfather was CoC but didn’t approve of their doctrine with salvation by baptism. He always told me he read the right Bible and we’re all called by God and must have faith in Jesus to be saved. Man doesn’t have the right to approve someones salvation, only Jesus can. He was thinking of all his sheep like us while dying on the cross. Therefore corporate election is real. God bless you brother.

My Brother Please Listen and watch Dr. Myles Munroe on the Kingdom. Trust me you life will change in a dramatic way

The Holy Spirit...the Bible calls "The Spirit of Truth" b/c He will lead you into all truth.

I reciently left the COC. I was not raised in the COC and could buy into the "campbellite" doctrine that was being pushed. Whenever you have a sect like this teaching they are the only ones on the correct path to heaven that is a major red flag!

Wow, it is 10.23.2020 and your video helped me have a clearer look inside the CoC. Our neighbor has been asking my husband if we would like to visit her families church which is the CoC and I just felt uneasy about it. I am a Holy Spirit filled speaking in tongues, “God’s Heavenly language”. and an ordained minister of God that is a child of my Father in Heaven and Holy Creator of all life. Your testimony helped me to know that the CoC is not for me and our family but it doesn’t stop me from loving my neighbor and family. If I don’t go to her church or convert is she required to shun me and my hubby as the Jehovah Witness do? How can I talk to her about the CoC without offending her ? He hubby and her were married in the church and have college age children now? What points can I bring up scripturally not to be confrontative but what I studied to show myself approved in scripture. My prayer is that you and your family are well, connected into a healthy, spiritually mature, scripturally correct body of Jesus Christ. 🙏🏼

I’m sorry you feel so badly about your experience. I have been in the church since birth. I am 39 just learning the term campbellite. I am a descendant of John M. Lemons who was critical in the restoration. You must remember there is no perfect church or members. Having a close relationship with God is key. This is what I am building.

CoC believes that baptism you need to be saved ,I texted that wrong from above Because Baptism will not save you You must be BORN AGAIN….

I love my friends in the Church of Christ and Christian church so much. There were several passages of scripture that challenged my belief in that particular theology. One was the conversion of Cornelius. He simply heard and was filled with the Holy Spirit BEFORE baptism. Secondly, the argument of Paul in Romans 4 and in Galatians… how Abraham was justified by faith alone… BEFORE he had any works to “prove” it. It all made sense that my faith and trust should be in Christ alone and not in myself or my works/obedience. When I placed my trust in Christ alone I immediately had assurance of my salvation. But to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly his faith is counted as righteousness. Romans 4:5

It's Okay Kid. Martin Luther was treated the same as You in 1517AD

Did you ever feel the holy spirit while in the church of christ?

“Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”” ‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭27‬ ‭

I just left the COC and am currently being harassed by them. I have heard stories about the JW's doing this but this is much worse. I was blessed by this video and am looking forward to watching more. I will be on the Tuesday night broadcast on the Berean Perspective Apologetics channel. I hope to see you there.

so did you leave a particular congregation or did you leave the coc entirely. If you were baptized according to the gospel then you are a member of chirsts church correct? I only just started watching your videos and it started with the muscle and a shovel. I have seen many coc split over the years all because of doctrine interpretations and it is sad. I have worshiped with many that have done things I disagreed with so left quietly and worshiped with another. I have seen some leave my current congregation saying we just aren't trying hard enough. Did you try another congregation? What was there opinion on your beliefs? What doctrine do you not agree with in the coc.

Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ?

@Recommended: Assembly of Called Out Believers!!!

What do you mean by candle light theology?

I am much older than you but lived through a similar story but with a different outcome. I dont believe in any of it but do believe its a great story book with some really good moral stories in it if you remove the hate

So far I've heard what you didn't like what is your scriptural reason for leaving 😢

@ReformedOudeis you look like you're still a very young man and you say that you've accepted Calvinism. Can I suggest something to you. Read the Bible through from Genesis to Revelation making notes on scriptures that in any way relates to any of the five points of Calvinism (TULIP). Reading it from cover to cover gives you a much better feel for who God is and what he wants than just reading books or chapters or verses randomly. I read it through the first time many years ago and as I was completing it I got very concerned about baptism (baptismal regeneration) and started immediately to read it through again taking notes on anything I considered at all relevant to it like, works, belief, faith, grace, repentance etc and came to the conclusion that baptism was not necessary for salvation. I did it again on Once Saved Always Saved. I don't think you can accept a belief without taking what the whole of the Bible (God) has to say on it. In any case I consider you my brother and I'm glad you've left the Church of Christ. God Bless you.

Will you describe Paul as a conservative Christian?

"Upon this rock I will build MY church" (Mt 16:18; emp. added); what does that mean? People who have been brainwashed with denominationalism just don't get that the terms "church of Christ" or "churches of Christ" (Rom 16:16) are simply descriptions, NOT names of a particular group of believers. "Car of Mark" = "Mark's car", and neither is an attempt at naming a vehicle. Christ's true church is not only nondenominational, but anti-denominational. It is against dividing believers up with labels or names (1Cor 1:10-13), but instead preaches unity (Eph 4:3). I'm glad and grateful to God to be a member of Christ's church, the church/body that I was baptized into (1Cor 12:13; Eph 5:23). And based on six of the seven churches of Christ in Asia that Jesus wrote to (Rev 2 & 3), I will never be surprised that any church of Christ has some serious, potentially damnable problems. I'll never leave Christ's church simply because some people who also claim to be Christians are hypocrites or depart from scripture. Where I believe there is error in a local church, I do my best to teach against it when given the opportunity (ref Ac 18:25-26). Oh, and baptism? "Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the gospel about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?'” (Ac 8:35-36). Now where did the eunuch get the idea to be baptized? It's obvious. That was part of the gospel message Philip preached to him (ref Mk 16:15-16). The eunuch understood the extreme importance of baptism and thus wanted to be immediately baptized (ref Ac 22:16). When churches other than Christ's true church preach the gospel, baptism is never mentioned, especially in terms of saving anyone (1Pet 3:20-21). These other churches preach a different gospel which does not include the command to be baptized for the forgiveness of one's sins in order to be saved (i.e., to enter God's kingdom)--and do so at their peril (Gal 1:6-9; ref Ac 2:38). Because baptism saves, it is so important that when I detect that a disciple has been improperly baptized, I immediately will bring it to their attention with the hope that they will immediately obey the command to be properly baptized with the one true baptism Jesus commanded--just like the apostle Paul did (Ac 19:1-5; 10:47-48; Mt 28:19-20; Eph 4:5; ). If you pro-denominational people won't believe the Bible when it comes to baptism, maybe you'll believe what the earliest members of the church of Christ believed on the matter, based on the scriptures. I will also relate the manner in which we dedicated ourselves to God when we had been made new through Christ; lest, if we omit this, we seem to be unfair in the explanation we are making. As many as are persuaded and believe that what we teach and say is true, and undertake to be able to live accordingly, are instructed to pray and to entreat God with fasting, for the remission of their sins that are past, we praying and fasting with them. Then they are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. For, in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the universe, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they then receive the washing with water. For Christ also said, “Unless you be born again, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (John 3:5) - Justin Martyr (ca. 150 AD). Why do I bring up the subject of baptism? Although not the only way, it's usually an easy way to determine if a church is a true church of Christ.

If God authorized another Church other than the Church of Christ I'd sincerely love for someone to point it out to me in scripture.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

I’m glad you left the campbellite faith. The church of Christ, the church Christ died for, the church we can all read about in the Bible, His church, is not the campbellit faith.

Praise God!

You may have jumped out of the frying pan into the fire. One denomination is often as problematic as the next one. If you really want change you may need to go a non-denominational route. Legalism in any form will keep you under the curse of the Law. You sound sincere ( and depressed) but you need to be freed. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed. John 8:36

I also left the COC cult.