Frequently Asked Questions

Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20), and the Apostle Paul adds, “Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17).

We believe that a Church named after the man belongs to that man, but that a Church named after Jesus belongs to Him, as long as it is founded on His precepts, and bears evidence of His gifts and love.

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As we are all part of the Family of God and “affectioned one to another with brotherly love” (Romans 12:10), the titles “brother” and “sister” are certainly appropriate.

Jesus showed preference to His followers over His own natural family when He announced, “Whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in Heaven, the same is My brother, and sister” (Matthew 12:50, Mark 3:35). If Jesus was willing to call His followers brothers and sisters, then we will do the same.

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The Church of Jesus Christ accepts the Bible (King James Version) and The Book of Mormon as divinely inspired holy scriptures.

This is one of the most frequently asked questions about the Church. If someone believes in the Old Testament, that does not automatically make that person a Jew. Similarly, if someone believes in the Bible, that does not mean that person is a Catholic, Baptist, or Pentacostal. The Church of Jesus Christ has no affiliation or connection with Mormonism. Many aspects of Mormon doctrine are not supported by The Book of Mormon nor are they part of our beliefs.

The Book of Mormon is a record of Jesus Christ in the land of North, Central, and South America. Its scriptures go hand in hand with the Bible, as Christ set up His Church the same in Palestine as He did in the Americas.

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These men are elders (ministers), responsible for the spiritual well-being of the Church. In Acts 14 and 15, Paul traveled throughout the Church, ordaining elders in different locations to look after the Church’s needs in each area. Our elders serve a similar purpose.

Women play an important role in The Church of Jesus Christ. In addition to the ordained office of deaconess, women serve the Church through Sunday school, the Missionary Benevolent Association and the Ladies’ Uplift Circle, and they hold various operational offices at the local and national levels of these support organizations.

As stated, The Church of Jesus Christ follows the example of Christ in setting up the Church. Our Lord and Savior did not call women into ordained offices such as apostles, elders or teachers, and we adhere to that order.

While the elders of The Church of Jesus Christ prepare for sermons by studying scripture and going to God in prayer, they speak from no prepared text. Rather, our elders speak under the inspiration of God, allowing the Spirit to direct their words, such that the congregation may be fed spiritually. Paul wrote to Timothy, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The elders are not paid any money. Each holds a regular job to make a living for himself and his family. Jesus said, “Freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). Paul faced this situation with the Corinthians, “Have I committed an offense in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? I robbed other Churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man” (2 Corinthians 11:7-9).

A man does not choose to become an elder; only those who are called by God are ordained into the ministry; “And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God” (Hebrews 5:4). God reveals to the priesthood of the Church who should be called and ordained into the priesthood.

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Jesus instructed His disciples how to pray: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in Heaven” (Matthew 6:9). We pray to God the Father, but we do so through Christ, His Son. As Jesus said, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

The testimony portion of the meeting gives the congregation the opportunity to praise God openly for what He has done for them. As David wrote, “Praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders” (Psalms 107:31-32).

We make time for testimony on a regular basis because God blesses us continually and should be praised as often as possible. “I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more” (Psalms 71:14).

Everyone has a reason to praise God, so all are given the opportunity to testify. “Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud Him, all ye people” (Romans 15:11).

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A person becomes a member of The Church of Jesus Christ by obeying the words of Jesus, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Anyone who wants to join the Church must have faith and believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, repent of his sins and be baptized (born of water) for a remission of sins, after which the elders pray that the baptized person receives the Holy Ghost (born of the Spirit).

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ are baptized in the same way Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist; they are completely immersed in an open body of water. John the Baptist said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance” (Matthew 3:11). “And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto Him” (Matthew 3:16). See also Acts 9:26-39.

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The purpose of communion — also referred to as sacrament or The Lord’s Supper — is to remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, that His body was broken and His blood spilt to atone for our sins and give us the opportunity to gain eternal life with God. When Jesus set the example at the Last Supper, He stated the purpose very simply “This do in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).

Jesus used bread to represent His body and wine to represent His blood, so we use bread and wine as well. We see no reason to deviate from the example Jesus set the night before His crucifixion, “He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you” (Luke 22:19). “And he took the cup and gave thanks and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of God shall come” (Luke 22:17-18).

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The elders serve the bread and wine only to active members of The Church of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote, “He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” (1 Corinthians 11:29). None are worthy of themselves; Jesus makes us worthy. Until a person becomes a baptized member of The Church of Jesus Christ under our priesthood authority, they cannot receive communion from our elders. We do not mean to cause any offense among our visitors.

In the Church, it refers to when the elders apply a small amount of blessed oil to the head of a sick person and pray for a healing. We model this on James 5:14-15: “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the Church; and let them pray for him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick; and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him” Elders can anoint someone at any time, not just during a Church meeting.

Oil is used if the person is physically ill. James 5:14-15 explains how the early apostles used oil when praying for the sick, and we follow this example. If the prayer is for spiritual uplifting or anything other than sickness, then oil is not used. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).

By washing each other’s feet, we demonstrate humility and our feeling that one person is not better than another. We follow the example set by Jesus at the Last Supper: “He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded” (John 13:5). When He was finished, He told them, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15).

When Peter, at first, refused to participate, Jesus answered him, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me” (John 13:8).

The General Church asks each branch location to perform feet washing four times per year. This is usually done in conjunction with a Sunday service.

When someone speaks in an unknown tongue, this is known as the “gift of tongues,” and it is generally followed by an interpretation in the language that is native to the person who is given the interpretation. The gift of tongues and the interpretation are listed among the spiritual gifts in Paul’s writing to the Corinthians: “To another [is given] divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:10). The gift of tongues communicates a message from God, which generally comes in the form of instruction, admonishment or encouragement to His servants.

When someone stands and speaks in the Spirit, they are speaking under the influence of God. Many of the Bible’s prophecies came while prophets were speaking in the Spirit. Isaiah said, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me” (Isaiah 61:1).

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We invite you to go to God in prayer and ask Him to direct you in regard to decisions about the Church. James said, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). Many of our members came to The Church of Jesus Christ in this way. God will not mislead you; put your trust in Him!

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