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THE CENTURY CHURCH OF CHRIST IS NEITHER CATHOLIC, PROTESTANT NOR JEW The Century church of Christ is made up of those who are just Christians – nothing more – nothing less. We have not subscribed to any human doctrines, nor are we members of any denomination of man. We have studied our Bibles, found that we are under what the New Testament Gospel teaches. This is accepting Christ according to Christ’s own words and deeds (John 20:30,31). This is salvation by grace through faith and that not of ourselves (Eph. 2:8,9). We have received it from the Lord Jesus Christ by way of his word and have obeyed Him because he is the author of eternal salvation (Heb. 5:8,9). 1. The Century church of Christ is not Catholic – either Roman or Greek. They say they are the oldest Christian religions and each claim to be the original church. Roman Catholics especially claim authority, basing it upon Peter giving authority to the Roman Bishop. Thus they say that the miraculous powers of inspiration passed down to the Popes and others of the Catholic church. So they think they have the right to make laws and change things as they see fit because they claim they are led by the Spirit. This is not so because Christ said the original apostles, (including Peter), sit on thrones judging spiritual Israel (Mat. 19:28). This they do by the word that they have revealed. Also the claims of the Bible are that it is complete and cannot be added to nor taken from and still be acceptable to God (Jude 3; 2 Pet. 1:3; Rev. 22:18, 19). Catholic authorities have changed many things that are taught in the New Testament. Matthew 28:18 teaches that Christ has all authority in heaven and in earth, but Catholicism says the Pope is over the church on earth. Matthew 1:25 and 13:55,56 teach that Mary was the regular wife of Joseph after the birth of Jesus and that they had at least six children, but Catholicism teaches that Mary was a perpetual virgin. I Timothy 2:5,6 teaches that Christ is the one mediator between God and man but Catholicism encourages people to pray through Mary. We could notice many other things but the Century church of Christ believes that the Bible is an all sufficient guide in religion (2 Tim. 3:16, 17), so we cannot be Catholic for they believe in teaching things different from the Bible. 2. Neither is the Century church of Christ Protestant because modern Protestantism does not believe the Bible is our Pattern to follow in religion. The Protestant movement gave the Bible back to the people and we appreciate this so much but upon examining the Bible we find that it authoritative for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). 2 John 9 teaches that if we abide not in the doctrine of Christ we do not have God, but Denominationalism says that it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you acknowledge Jesus as the Christ and your Savior. Revelation 22:18, 19 teaches that we cannot add human doctrines to the Bible nor take away from the Bible without God punishing us. Protestantism says that different religious practices are all right and man needs to do in religion what he feels led to do. The Sword of the Spirit is the word of God (Eph. 6:17) but in Protestantism there is the teaching that the Holy Spirit operates directly on people. Various teachings of miracles, claiming of tongues, prophecy and the other gifts are given. Romans 1:16 teaches that the gospel is the power of God to salvation. The Century church of Christ follows the scriptures only and therefore they are not Protestants. 3. The Century church of Christ is not of the Jewish religion because they reject Jesus of Nazareth as being the Messiah, the Son of God, the Christ and the Savior. Jesus said if we believe not that He is Christ we will die in our sins (John 8:24). There are just too many proofs that he is the Christ and we believe this at the Century church of Christ. The Jewish religion rejects the New Testament but it is the covenant we are under and the message of salvation is found in it (Rom. 1:16: Heb. 10:9,10). So we certainly cannot follow the Jews religion. We are Christians only! We welcome your investigation!
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