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HAVE YOU HEARD?
Have you heard
about the group of Christians in this community that is not at all like
the denominations so often encountered? Some have wondered about this
difference and even remarked about it. This group is different in a
number of ways but space permits us to consider only a few of these, and
then only briefly.
1.) DIFFERENT, IN ATTITUDE TOWARD THE BIBLE: These
Christians believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible,
complete, authoritative Word of God, and that the New Testament is
the final expression of that Word. This faith is based upon such
Scriptures as (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:3,4,21; Rev. 22:18,19; Jno.
10:35). But, do not all Protestant denominations believe this as
well? There was a time when they did, but now many of them will tell you
unhesitatingly that they no longer do. Even those denominations which
are known as "Fundamentalists" are guilty of dividing the commandments
of Christ into "essential" and "non-essential" commands. This, in
effect, nullifies the authority of the Scriptures because it will let
every man decide for himself what is essential and what is not. But not
these Christians! They believe that man shall live "by every Word
that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4). Is this what
you believe?
2.) DIFFERENT, IN ATTITUDE TOWARD HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN:
Since their faith in the Scriptures is such that it will not allow them
to divide the commandments of Christ into essential and non-essential
commands, this group of Christians insists that because every man has
sinned and separated himself from God (Rom. 3:23; Isa. 59:1,2)
man's only hope of benefiting from the blood of Christ is to do all that
Christ has commanded men to do in order to reap these benefits. This, of
course, involves faith in Christ as the Son of God (Jno. 8:24;
20:30,31; Mk. 16:16). But since the Scripture says that our faith
avails only when it works by love (Gal. 5:6; Jas. 2:24) they also
repented of their sins (Acts 2:38; 17:30), confessed with their
mouth what they believed in their heart (Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:9,10)
and gladly obeyed the command of Christ to be baptized, i.e. immersed
(Rom. 6:3,4; Col. 2:12), in water (Acts 8:36) for the
remission of their sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16) or to be saved (Mk.
16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). When one has done all of these things--and not
until then--the Bible reveals that he is saved, a child of God by faith
(Gal. 3:26,27), and a member of the Lord's church (Acts 2:47;
18:8; 1 Cor. 1:1,2). Is this what you have done?
3.) DIFFERENT, IN INSISTING ON BEING SIMPLY A CHRISTIAN--NOTHING
MORE, NOTHING LESS, AND NOTHING ELSE: Every religious group teaches
that a person can believe all the truth, obey every command of God, be a
Christian while he lives, and go to heaven when he dies without
belonging to any denomination whatsoever. Since this is true, this group
of Christians, that we are highlighting in this article, sees the
unimportance of any and every denomination and hence have not joined any
of them, nor became a part of any of them, but are simply
Christians--nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else! Furthermore,
since the Bible reveals that it is wrong and sinful to divide the people
of God into different categories, and be called by different religious
names (1 Cor. 1:10-13) this group is satisfied with the name
given in the New Testament, i.e., the name Christian (Acts
11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16), and pleads for all believers to be one
even as Christ prayed in (Jno. 17:20,21). They are satisfied to
be simply members of the Lord's church and just Christians. Can this be
dangerous? Can it be anything but safe? Is that what you are; or are you
a "Christian plus another name as an adjective to facilitate what type
of Christian you are"?
4.) DIFFERENT, IN ITS ATTITUDE TOWARD CHURCH WORSHIP AND WORK:
Since the New Testament commands Christians to assemble together to
worship (Heb. 10:25) these do so, but such does not make them a
denomination in any sense of the word. Such is simply the congregation
of the Lord's people; the congregation devoted to and belonging to the
Lord; or the church that belongs to the Lord, hence the church of Christ
or church of God (Acts 20:28; Rom. 16:16).
Since these Christians have the confidence in the Scriptures
already mentioned, they accept the New Testament as the divine, verbally
inspired, and authoritative blueprint for the church throughout all
ages. Whatever acts this blueprint reveals that Christians did when they
thus assembled is the pattern for them and to it they cling tenaciously.
Since the New Testament reveals that Christians are to assemble on the
first day of the week to break bread or eat the Lord's supper, to give
of their means as they have prospered, to sing, to teach the apostles'
doctrine, and pray together (Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-3; Eph.
5:19), that is exactly what this group of Christians does. Since the
Bible forbids adding anything to what is revealed (Rev. 22:18,19)
these Christians do not do anything else in church worship. Is this
unreasonable? Can it be anything but right? Is this what you do?
The New Testament also tells that the church is to preach the
gospel, edify itself, and care for its needy (1 Tim. 3:15; Eph. 4:16;
Acts 6:1-6). This group is glad to do just that and that only.
5.) DIFFERENT, BECAUSE IT HAS NO ECCLESIASTICAL OR
DENOMINATIONAL HIERARCHY: Since this group accepts the New Testament
as its blueprint for the church, it is happy to follow the pattern
therein given for church organization. The New Testament reveals no
ecclesiastical authority higher than the local congregation, except
Christ as the Head of the universal church and thereby the Head of each
and every congregation (Eph. 1:22,23). The local congregation
being overseen by elders (Acts 14:23; 20:17,28; 1 Pet. 5:1-3; Ti.
1:5-9; 1 Tim. 3:1-7) with deacons serving under the oversight of the
elders (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8-10) and is not governed by any
conference, association, synod, pope, or council, but is simply free
under God to do the Will of Christ. It has no denominational machinery
or earthly headquarters but is a free, independent, and autonomous body
of Christians. Is the church of which you are a member like this?
This group occupies a unique and enviable position, indeed! It is a
position based upon and produced by the infallible Word of God. This
group does not occupy this position merely as their opinion but because
the Word of God tells them and all others to do so. Wouldn't you like to
do the same? For more information about this group of Christians who
insist on calling Bible things by Bible names and doing Bible things in
Bible ways, you are cordially invited to attend with these Christians in
your area. Why not check it out? You'll be glad you did. Basically, you
will find this group meeting in buildings with a sign that indicates the
Church of Christ meets at that place.
---- Hiram Hutto via The Elgin Hills Examiner,
Vol. 2, No. 8, Aug. 2007.
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