Was there ever a time that the churches of Christ taught that artificial birth control was always sinful?  Can you tell me the earliest teaching you can identify within the churches of Christ that teaches that artificial birth control is permissible?

Sincerely, History Lessons

Dear History Lessons,

Your question assumes that the title ‘church of Christ’ is the name of a denomination with a unified creed and leadership - it isn’t. The name ‘church of Christ’ is taken directly from the Bible (2 Thess 1:1). The church belongs to Christ because He purchased it with His blood (Acts 20:28). Though some groups that use the title ‘church of Christ’ are denominations, our congregation professes to only stand by the Bible and nothing else, just like the churches of the first century. Each congregation was independently led by elders and commended to the Lord’s guidance (Acts 14:23). Many people have attempted to classify these kinds of churches as another denomination (a quick Google or Wikipedia search shows the ways people have tried to define these congregations), but ultimately they are simply groups that have all independently asserted to use the Bible (and the Bible only) as their standard of measure.

The New Testament’s teachings on birth control (see this post for more on that topic) are the only place I can direct you to regarding the church of Christ’s teachings on the topic. Each individual person and congregation must study the Scriptures and rightly divide the Word concerning the subject of birth control (2 Tim 2:15)… as we seek to on any topic. There is no board of directors, theological center, or creed book that decides for us. God’s people should be beholden to His Word and His Word only. A faithful congregation turns to the Scriptures and imitates the first century church seen in the Bible. May Christ alone be our head and guide (Eph 5:23).

5 minutes a day 5 days a week All the New Testament in a year

Is it possible for a strict New Testament christian to have "liberal" political views? Lately, I've run into a couple of fellow christians that consider themselves liberals; one even is a self-described "flaming liberal" and is in support of gay marriage. Doesn't that contradict what the Bible says?

Sincerely, Not In A Blue State of Mind

Dear Not In A Blue State of Mind,

It is possible for a christian to have various attitudes towards how a government should be run financially, legally, etc., but it is flagrantly sinful for a christian to support immoral government. Some christians want big government; some christians want small government. Some christians want tax cuts; some christians want tax increases. Some christians want more regulations; some christians want less regulations. All christians should want godliness for their nation (Pr 14:34).

Homosexual marriage, the right to abortion (i.e. the right to kill babies), freedom of worship, etc. are issues that, regardless of other political views, a christian must stand firm on. A christian that supports homosexual marriage is supporting and endorsing sin. It is no different than Solomon building idolatrous temples for his wives – he sinned in condoning their sin (1 Kgs 11:4-9). A christian that supports abortion condones the slaying of innocent children and has joined himself in the cause of the wicked. Christians should be vexed, like Lot was (2 Pet 2:7-8), at the immorality they see in the nation around them. We shall give account to God for even the most idle words we speak (Matt 12:36); how much more so for deliberate words and actions that support and endorse sin?

If christians cease to be the salt of the earth that preserves the morality of a nation… what good are we (Matt 5:13)?

5 minutes a day 5 days a week All the New Testament in a year

I was baptized at age twelve (Baptist Church), but my husband was sprinkled in his Methodist Church when he was a baby.  He is wondering, should he be baptized as an adult?

Sincerely, Sprinkled, Poured or Plunged

Dear Sprinkled, Poured or Plunged,

There are two important elements to baptism:

1. Why you are baptized
2. How you are baptized

God requires that we be baptized for the right reasons. Baptism should be for salvation (Mk 16:16, 1 Pet 3:21). When we are baptized, we must be baptized under Jesus’ authority and for His reasons. Being baptized for membership into a church, as “an outward sign of an inward grace”, for public recognition, as an infant, etc. are not Biblical baptisms. An easy way to find out why you were baptized is to ask your preacher why your congregation baptizes people. Even Paul re-baptized people who hadn’t been baptized under Christ’s authority (Acts 19:3-5). The great preacher Apollos was also re-baptized when he found out he hadn’t been baptized for salvation (Acts 18:24-26). We must be baptized for the right reasons, or we are just getting wet.

We must also be baptized in the right way. This wasn’t much of a problem for the first century christians because they understood what the word ‘baptize’ meant. The only reason we have trouble today is because many religious groups have twisted and altered the Scriptures. ‘Baptize’ comes from a Greek word that means ‘to immerse’; it is the same word that the Greeks used for a ship when it had sunk. Baptism has nothing to do with sprinkling or pouring water on someone. Baptism is a full immersion under water; that is why John baptized where there was “much water” (Jhn 3:23). The whole symbolism of baptism as a burial would make no sense if baptism were sprinkling (Rom 6:4). Biblical baptism is full immersion in water for the remission of sins.