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Congregation:
We, the Disciples of Christ, wishing to be in
complete accord and agreement with the
doctrine of Christ, set forth the following
principles, which have been the focus of the Church for
more than a century.
Minister:
General aim of the Church.
Congregation:
Restoration of the New
Testament teachings and practices.
Minister:
Plea of the Church.
Congregation:
No creed but Christ, no
book but the Bible; no name but the Divine.
Minister:
Where the Bible speaks,
we speak.
Congregation:
Where the Bible is
silent, we are silent.
Minister:
In
essentials unity.
Congregation:
In nonessentials,
liberty; in all things, charity.
In 1809, Thomas Campbell, a Presbyterian minister, became displeased
with the doctrines of both the Presbyterian
and Baptist Church and decided that he would oversee a new
congregation at Bush Run, Pennsylvania.
He organized this Church of Christ on one principle, "Where the
Scripture speaks, we speak;
where the Scripture is silent, we are silent." From that statement
came our Aim and Plea.
The Aim and Plea of the Church of Christ is not a statement that
seeks to define God, Christ, or the Holy
Spirit, for the Bible has adequately done this. It is a statement
that clarifies and reminds all Disciples
who we are. This petition is scripturally sound and should be
studied and learned by all
Disciples.
We, the Disciples of Christ, This statement
identifies us by name. "So shall ye be my Disciples" (John 15:8).
Christ calls us His Disciples.
Wishing to be in complete accord This
refers to the unity of the Church on the matters of government as
well as faith. The early
Church was not divided. It was united in
Christ (Ephesians 4:4-6). Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians,
condemned divisions in "the body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:10).
And agreement with the doctrine of Christ, The
Church agrees on the principles and precepts that Christ left for
all of His followers (Matthew 28:20,
John 7:16).
Set forth the following principles which have
been the focus of the Church for more than a century. We
understand that the Church has a history of followers in between
Apostolic times and the present day
who lived and died to hold the light of Jesus (2 Thessalonians
2:15).
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