This document discusses whether the Church of Christ is a cult or denomination. It begins by defining what constitutes a cult and denomination. It then argues that the Church of Christ does not fit the definition of either, as it traces its origins back to the original church established in Acts and aims to follow the teachings of Christ alone, not any man. It acknowledges some divisions within the Church of Christ but asserts the true church seeks truth and salvation above all else.

1. Those who would be added to the church His body,(Eph 1:22-
23; 5:23) of which He is he Savior of has been in decline for
quite sometime. Those who seek truth have become fewer
even rare.
I believe the decline is due in part to the stigma attached to
the church of being a “cult” or even rogue.
So, we must deal with the task of defining terms right away.
The first definition is that of a “CULT.”
The second would be that of a “DENOMINATION.”
"Is the Church of Christ A
Cult/Denomination?

2. CULT DEFINED
•A religion regarded as unorthodox or
spurious ;
•A satanic cult
•A great devotion to a person, idea,
object, movement, or work
•A system of religious beliefs and ritual
•A formal religious veneration

3. EXAMPLES OF CULTS
• Jim Jones----
• James Warren Jones was an American religious cult leader
who initiated and was responsible for a mass suicide and
mass murder in Jonestown, Guyana.
• David Koresch----
• David Koresh was the American cult leader of the Branch
Davidians sect, believing himself to be its final prophet.
• Heaven’s Gate----- (Marshall Applewhite)
• Heaven’s Gate made the headlines in March of 1997 when
39 members of the cult killed themselves, in hopes of
reaching a spaceship which was following in the wake of
the newly-discovered Hale-Bopp Comet.

4. DENOMINATION
• A Christian denomination is a generic term for a distinct
religious body identified by traits such as a common
name, structure, leadership and doctrine. Individual
bodies, however, may use alternative terms to describe
themselves, such as church or fellowship. Divisions
between one group and another are defined by doctrine
and church authority; issues such as the nature of Jesus,
the authority of apostolic succession, eschatology, and
papal primacy often separate one denomination from
another. Groups of denominations often sharing broadly
similar beliefs, practices, and historical ties are known as
branches of Christianity.

5. EXAMPLES OF
DENOMINATIONS
• Christendom------The worldwide body or society of
Christians the Christian world. --2.42 billion
• Catholic Church – 1.285 billion.
• Protestantism – 920 million.
• Eastern Orthodox Church – 270 million.
• Oriental Orthodoxy – 86 million.
• Restorationism and Non-trinitarianism – 35 million.
• Independent Catholicism – 18 million.
• Minor branches – 1 million.

6. AN AFFIRMATION
• The church which Jesus said He would build conforms to
neither of these, “cult” or “denomination” definitions.
• He said “I” will build “my” church (Matthew 16:18) 1
• Eph 4:4-6 complete harmony with Matt 16:18 (1)
• 1 Cor 12:13 (1)
• Eph 2:16 (1)
• 2 John 9,11 (1 doctrine)
• Gal 1:8-9 (1) There is no other Gospel
• 1 Cor 3:11 (1) No other foundation
• All this equals the TRUE CHURCH, unique, to which I(we)
belong.
• True New Testament Christians follow NO MAN.

7. ANSWERING THE CHARGES
•For the first portion of this study, I want
to break down the charges made
against the church in the same order
they were made.
•First, “WHO IS THE CHURCH OF
CHRIST?”
•Second. “WHAT DO THEY BELIEVE?”
•Third, “ THEIR TACTICS”

8. WHO IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST?
• They claim that they can trace their roots back to the
original New Testament church.
• The Church of Christ doesn't claim an actual physical
lineage, but claim that they are an exact duplicate of the
original church.
• The reality is that in 1906 the Church of Christ
denomination broke away from the Christian Church
which was established in the mid 1800s by Alexander
Campbell. (Brian Cooper ex coc preacher)
• They claim that they are not a denomination, but rather
they are the TRUE Body of Christ!

9. OUTLANDISH: Mr Cooper
goes on to say
•To justify this outlandish claim, they rest
very heavily on the notion that they have
the only biblically correct name of any
church.
•They look down on other denominations
for naming themselves after a man
•We need go no further only show from
scripture the fallacy of this charge.

10. ANSWERING THE CHARGES
• THE TRUE CHURCH’S ROOTS
• ACTS 2: 41-47
• We believe the TRUE CHURCH BEGAN ON AD 33
• This is affirmed by scripture not man (2 Peter 1:20)
• Therefore it is no empty claim, it is backed by the word
of God (Matthew 15:8-9)(1 Thess 5:21)
• Acts 4:4 The church continued to grow (5000)
• Vs 12; the church grew by the “AUTHORITY”
• The TRUE CHURCH follows JESUS and only HIM
• John 10:27; 1 Peter 2:21

11. THE CHURCH’S NAME
• What was THE CHURCH CALLED?
• Matthew 16:18 “My church.” The word “MY” is a
personal possessive adjective showing ownership
• Acts 8:1 we are told that a persecution arose against
“the church.”
• It is merely referred to as “the church.” Then, of course,
there was just one church.
• I Cor. 1:2, we read, “Unto the church of God which is at
Corinth.”
• Paul was addressing himself to the disciples who
constituted the church in Corinth and calls them the”
church of God.”

12. THE CHURCH’S NAME
• Romans 16: 16 Paul says, “the churches of Christ salute you.”
• Again, he is referring to the various local congregations of
the church in that vicinity
• And as “the church of the living God” (I Tim. 3:15).
• Any or all of these designations are scriptural. They are
divine and not human.
• They may be found in the word of God. Can this be said of
the church to which you belong?
• Isaiah 62:2 A NEW NAME WAS TO BE GIVEN WITHIN GOD’S
HOUSE
• New means FRESH.

13. THE CHURCH’S NAME
• THE NEW NAME GIVEN WAS TO BE AN EVERLASTING NAME.
• THE NEW NAME TO BE GIVEN WAS FOR BOTH GENTILES
AND JEWS.
• THE MOUTH OF THE LORD WAS TO GIVE THIS NEW NAME
• Acts 9:15 “bear my name before the Gentiles,”
• If we can find Paul bearing a name in the house of God, or
church, to Gentiles and Jews alike, we will have located the
name given by God.
• Acts 11 :25-26 “called Christians first in Antioch”
• The divine God-given name is “Christian.”

14. THE CHURCH’S NAME
• Acts 26:28 “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
• Further proof 1 Peter 4:16 “Yet if any man suffer as a
Christian”
• This is the name in which we are to glorify God. We should
wear it with humility and gratitude. It is the new name
selected by God for His people. All other human
designations must be rejected.
• The true church believes one should investigate the church
of Christ, and all other so called “church’s” because it is your
eternal salvation that is at stake.
• The true church wears scriptural names and designations
found in the word of God.. Don’t be deceived by the
doctrine that there is nothing in a name. There most
certainly is.

15. WHAT IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
• From the scripture we learn;
• They are neither Jew nor Greek. Eph 2:16
• They are the called out. 1 Peter 2:9
• They are the saved. Mk 16:16; Acts 2:47; Eph 1:23;5:23
• They are the faithful. 2 Peter 1:1
• They are a chosen generation. 1 Peter 2:9
• They are Christians only. Acts 11:26
• They follow no man. John 10:27
• They believe no other doctrine. 2 John 9,11

16. IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST A
DENOMINATION/ CULT?
• Brian Cooper, former preacher for the church of
Christ;
• “ Even though there does seem to be some light at
the end of the tunnel, most Church of Christ
denomination still adhere to the same doctrines that
they have taught for the last 100 years. One shining
exception is Max Lucado. Max is a prolific author and
rarely gets into the divisive teaching of the Church of
Christ denomination, even though he is a Church of
Christ denomination pastor/preacher.”

17. TO ANSWER
• If you follow Max Lucado, and you can see no difference in the
true church and what is taught from Max, you are following a
cult/denomination.
• If the church which you read about in the New Testament does
not meet your needs and you follow man made doctrines, you
are following a cult/denomination. (Gal 1:8-9)
• The true church seeks for authority in all we say and do.(Col
3:17)
• The true church is only concerned with saving souls, not
placating man. Acts 4:19; Acts 5:29;Gal 1:10
• In all this have you noticed a pattern?
• No other “church” has been found, given instructions, or said
to be legal. (Matthew 15:13)

18. THE TRUE CHURCH
• They are seekers of truth
• 2 Thess 2:10-12
• Lovers of God
• John 14:15
• 1 John 5:3
• John 12:48
• Preach the Gospel
• 1 Peter 4:11
• Contenders of the faith
• Jude 3
• 2 Tim 4:7-8

19. THE REAL TRAGEDY
• Some who call themselves “church of Christ” have left
the faith and truly become a denomination(1 Tim 4:1)
• They seek credibility or recognition from the very ones
whom they claim to have nothing to do with or are
different from. (2 Tim 4:3)
• They seek the numbers, no one is converted, most are
only wet, they have become like the nations.(Matt 3:9)
• For this reason it has become more difficult to reach the
lost. ( 2 Samuel 12:13-14)
• The lost can see no difference between the CHURCH OF
CHRIST, and the denominations.(Not a peculiar people)
• (1 Peter 2:9)

20. WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN?
• You can just like they did on the day of Pentecost
• Acts 2:38-47
• Gladly received means they were thankful they heard
what to do
• Rom 10:17; Heb 11:6
• Believed what they heard. John 8:24; Mark 16:15-16
• Repented of past transgressions. Luke 13:3
• Confessed belief in Jesus as Son of God. Acts 8:37
• Were baptized to wash away sins. Acts 22:16
• Be faithful. Rev 2:10
• ARE YOU READY?