The "Disciples of Christ" call themselves "Christians," "Churches of Christ," "Disciples of Christ," using only authorized scriptural designations for themselves, and refuse all sectarian appellations as disloyal to the Lord and productive of divisions among His people. Believers were forbidden by the Apostle Paul to call themselves by the name of Cephas, Apollos or Paul, or to indulge a sectarian spirit. Loyalty to Christ requires both His name and His spirit.

      The seventeenth chapter of John records the prayer of Jesus that all His followers may be one, not in any human leader or creed, but in Him and the Father only, in order that the world may believe.

      The Church is called the bride of Christ and should be known only by the bridegroom's name. It is called the body of Christ and should bear only the name of its Head.

      The "Disciples of Christ" are not satisfied with mere human reformations, but seek the complete restoration of the Christianity of Christ and His inspired apostles in teaching and in practice. They believe that Christians should be Christians only--plus nothing, minus nothing, divided by nothing--that where Christ speaks they should speak, and where He is silent they should be silent; binding nothing on men's consciences He has not bound, loosing nothing He has not loosed. [2]

      The Disciples of Christ emphasize the following among other scriptural considerations:

      1--A faithful declaration of the Word of God only, as vital to salvation and all-sufficient for doctrine and discipline, without the aid of human creeds as tests of fellowship.

      2--The terms of admission into the Kingdom of God, as given by the Lord and His inspired Apostles, without any human modification.

      3--The observance of the Divine ordinances--baptism and the Lord's supper--according to the spirit and letter of the New Testament practice.

      4--The Church of Christ as a thorough democracy in all matters of expediency, but an absolute monarchy whereinsoever the King hath revealed His will.

      5--The indwelling of the Spirit of Christ, in fullness and power, working the Father's will, the unspeakable privilege of every obedient believer.

      6--The enjoyment of all the liberty granted in Christ, both in doctrine and conduct, without any sectarian license or limitation.

      7--The unity of all believers in the Father and in the Son in order to the world's salvation, as pleaded for by the Savior.

      If the Apostles were again on earth and again inspired they would doubtless preach the same simple gospel they preached in the beginning; they would tell sinners as they once told them what to do to be saved; they would establish churches and call them Churches of Christ as they called them at first; they would keep the ordinances now as they kept them then--baptism as a sacred [3] burial, in water, of a believing, repentant sinner, "into the name of Christ"; and the supper, as a holy memorial and symbolical feast for all Christians on the first day of every week; and they would also urge all believers to keep "the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace."

      The Disciples of Christ endeavor to present the Divine plea only, which may be summarized as follows:

      1--To sinners, dead in "trespasses and in sins," it cries: "Come unto me alone and obey and your souls shall live."

      2--To those having come it says: "Abide in me only as the branch in the vine--living, fruitful, free, united and inseparable--and ye shall glorify my Father."

      3--To all thus joined and abiding in Christ--and filled with His spirit--it declares: "All authority is given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye, therefore, into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be condemned."

I. J. SPENCER.

Lexington, Ky. [4]

[WDCPT 1-4.]

      The electronic edition of I. J. Spencer's What the Disciples of Christ Practice and Teach (Cincinnati, OH: The American Christian Missionary Society, ca. 1901) has been produced from a copy of the leaflet held by the Disciples of Christ Historical Society. The text has been scanned by Colvil Smith and formatted by Ernie Stefanik.

      Pagination in the electronic version has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Created 1 May 2001.