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Just Christians
You can be just a Christian! Does this sound strange? With about 500 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 only Christians? The congregations of which
they are a part are usually known as "church 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
if 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 we should have 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
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 against changing the divine message. (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.
Restoration Rather
Than Reformation
It is obvious to 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 worshipping
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" (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 answers. 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 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 our earnest consideration to this plea.
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