|
Just Christians
You can be just a Christian! Does this sound
strange? With about 300 religious bodies in our country it might
appear impossible to be a Christian without being a part of a
denomination. It is not only possible, but there are actually millions
of “Christians only” in this and other nations.
The churches of Christ
Who are these people who seek to be on Christians? The congregations of
which they are a part usually know as "churches of Christ." This
term is not used in a sectarian sense, but is intended to denote their
desire to belong to Christ’s church. The Bible says, “All the churches of
Christ greet you.” (Romans 16:16) However, it is just as correct to
describe the church of which we read in the Bible as “the church of
God” (1 Corinthians 1:2), “the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27), or “the
household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). These and similar Biblical phrases are
not proper names, but descriptive expressions which show how the church
is related to Christ and His Father.
Individually Christ’s followers are known as
"Christians" in the Bible. “The disciples were called Christians first
in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). “ If a man suffer as a Christian, let him
not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.” (1 Peter
4:16) Never does a human name prefix this God given name. Paul was
one of the greatest of all Christians, but he did not want disciples
to be called "Paulites" or “Paulite Christians” (1 Corinthians 1:10-17).
A Distinctive Plea
Churches
of Christ have a distinctive plea. Of course, in many ways we
agree with others striving to follow Christ. We believe in the divine
inspiration of the entire Bible and that it is sufficient to guide us
in all matters of faith; in the death of Jesus Christ and His
atonement for our sins; and that after death all men will be
rewarded or punished in another life for the way they have lived
here. And with all people a real religious conviction we insist
that the moral principles of Jesus are absolute truths to be
exemplified in the personal righteousness of the child of God.
The Bible ONLY
However,
we not only believe that the scriptures are inspired, but also are
convicted that the New Testament must be our ONLY guide in religious
faith. God’s Word frequently warns us against changing the divine
message. (See Galatians 1:6-9) We, therefore, have no creed or
catechism to present, but accept Christ as our only creed and the
Bible as our only guidebook. In this way we are never prevented by an
erroneous creed from accepting any truth which may be learned from
God’s Word.
Restoration Rather Than Reformation
It is
obvious to thinking people that the religious world is badly divided.
Great leaders such as Martin Luther and John Calvin sought to correct
erroneous teachings and practices. But the reformers often started at
different points and thus arrived at different conclusions. Division
rather than unity has resulted.
Churches of Christ, on the other hand, plead for
the restoration of apostolic Christianity rather than a reformation
of existing religious bodies. Since all can agree that the early
church was right, we should also be able to agree that we cannot
be wrong if we succeed in reproducing that church today in every
essential part. While many things have changed in the twentieth
century, the teachings of Jesus and His apostles have not. Truth is
absolute and unchangeable. God’s Word is truth (John 17:17) and can
save today as surely as in the first century if applied in the same
way. “ The truth will make you free.” (John 8:32)
Should you visit one of the churches of Christ
you will find it worshiping God as did the early disciples—“in spirit
and in truth.” (John 4:24) You will observe that it partakes of
the Lord’s supper, or communion, every Sunday. This is because we are
following the example of the early Christians who assembled every
first day of the week to “break bread”. (See Acts 20:7) Likewise, in
every other way churches of Christ seek to reproduce New Testament
Christianity— in organization, in work, and in other areas of
teaching.
How to be Just a Christian
In few places is there so
much disagreement as in answering the Bible question, “What must I do
to be saved?” (Acts 16: 30) Here again churches of Christ reply by
going to the scriptures for their answer. The Bible teaches that
Christ shed His blood for our sins (Matthew 26:28), and that without it
we cannot be saved. (Hebrews 9:22) But what does Jesus required of us if
we are to appropriate that sacrifice? Those who crucified Him
were told to “know assuredly” or believe that Jesus is “both Lord and
Christ.” (Acts 2: 36) When these people on the day of Pentecost then asked
for further information, they were told, “Repent ye, and be baptized
everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your
sins.” (Acts 2:38) Today we teach as did the apostles then that for
Christ’s blood to remove our sins we must as believers in Him repent
and be baptized. As we are thus saved from our sins, the Lord
adds us to His body, the church. “And the Lord added to the church
daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2: 47) “ For in one Spirit were
we all baptized into one body.” (1 Corinthians 12: 13) The saved, then, are in
the body or church of Christ; one cannot be saved and be outside the
body.
The early disciples were Christians only.
Although we live 1,900 years later, we too can be Christians only if
we will follow the same teachings given to these first followers of
Jesus. Christ said, “The seed is the word of God.” (Luke 8:11) Just
as surely as a planted acorn will produce only an oak, so God’s
Word will produce Christians and nothing more. We invite your earnest
consideration to this plea.
|
