Bones to pick with "Church of Christ."

[Archangelwolf]

Upon some advice from a fellow member, I have decided to discuss my "obstacles" to different denominations and religions in separate individual threads. So here goes:

I was once approached by a co-worker that belonged to this denomination. They handed me pamphlets, and said, with sincere intent, "we are the only denomination that is called Church of Christ." I felt so much pity for this person. They were willing to believe in something just because of its name.

Except for this person, most of the Church of Christ members I have met have been the most vain, cold, and counterfeit people I have ever met. They seem to put a lot of emphasis in success IN THIS LIFE. But, ironically, that is not my biggest complaint.

#1. I am a musician. I play the piano mainly, but I also play the trumpet. I have not been a member of a church for some time now, because of my disillusionment; but when I was, I enjoyed playing special music for my congregation. (My favorite was playing Via Dolorosa on Easter, or O Holy Night on the Sunday before Christmas.) The Church of Christ frowns on this practice, because they believe that services should be done without any accompaniment of any kind; save the human voice. My problem with this is that I believe my musical ability is a gift and blessing from God. I feel that I should be given the opportunity to give it back to Him in any way possible. I fail to see how this is dishonorable to Him.

#2. Denial of the supernatural. The Church of Christ believe that the Holy Spirit is just a feeling of camaraderie among believers. They do not view Him as an existent Being protruding from God Himself. In fact, they deny the existence of all supernatural things; which in my eyes is a contradiction.

God Himself is not natural. God created all things that are natural. God is supernatural. To deny the supernatural, is to deny God. I do believe that there is a supernatural world that our human minds fail to comprehend. I believe in spirits, demons, and angels. The Church of Christ tries to explain supernatural events in the Bible as symbols, or exaggerations. Man, are these people gonna freak when the Anti-Christ starts his magic show.

Later,

[Shirley]

Not all members of the Church of Christ are like this. You know the author Max Lucado? He's Church of Christ and he is far from cold. His writings are so inspiring that they can only come from the Holy Spirit.

[redeemedchild]

I was a member of the CoC first. It took me about 2 years to decide the things they taught were a little off. I never agreed with the music thing, too many places in scripture that talk about musical instruments in worship. There were other things too, like baptism being what saves you, or taking "The Lord's Supper" every Sunday, or you might not be forgiven of your sins that you may have committed since the previous Sunday, and about them being the only ones going to heaven....
On the other hand, I do know some who are not cold, dead christians. I do not think that they are the only ones going to heaven, but I do believe that alot of the ones I know are saved and going to heaven, I just think they'll be surprised when they see who else makes it in