Most people do not understand that the church of Christ,
the body of Christ, or the church that we read about in the New Testament is
not a denomination. As a Christian and Bible believer, I am against division in
the body of Christ. In theory, denominationalism says that it is acceptable to
God to worship in the various denominations which treat different doctrines
from each other, and therefore, different doctrines than those in the Bible.
It cannot be the case that the Bible teaches
contradictory doctrines. The very concept of denominationalism justifies and
supports the teaching of error. Any organization, group, or theory that
justifies error and contradicts the Word of God is an organization, group, or
theory that a Christian should have nothing to do with. As Christians, we are
not in fellowship with any denomination, neither do we intend to be.
Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:15: "But sanctify the Lord
God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that
asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." One
must realize that true Christianity is undenominational and be ready to defend
that fact.
In the Bible, God teaches us that there is only one
church, body, family or kingdom over which Christ is the head or ruler. This
church or kingdom takes its orders or commands from Jesus Christ by means of
the words of the New Covenant or New Testament. Christ is not the author of error
or doctrines that contradict the Work of God.
Jesus promised to build His church in Matthew 16:13-20.
We read in verses 18 & 19: "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of
heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." The Lord said "my
church." He didn't say churches or denominations that would contradict one
another. Christ is the builder of the only one church and it belongs to him. "Take
heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy
Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath
purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28).
When a man is saved in obedience to the gospel of Christ,
he is immediately added to the church of Christ, body of Christ, or kingdom of
Christ. We read in Acts 2:38-41: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto
you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the
Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort,
saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly
received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them
about three thousand souls." And in verse 47 of the same chapter: "Praising
God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church
daily such as should be saved."
The church is the body of Christ, and since there is only
one body, there is only one church in the Bible. I do not expect you to take my
word for this, but the scriptures teach us in Ephesians 1:17-23. "That the God
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of
wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding
being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what
the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the
exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the
working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him
from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far
above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that
is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath
put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to
the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."
And we read in Ephesians 4:4-6: "There is one body, and
one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one
faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through
all, and in you all."
Christ is the one head of the one church or the one body.
"For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the
church: and he is the saviour of the body" (Ephesians 5:23). "And he is the
head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the
dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18).
Let us never be ashamed to teach what the Bible teaches
about the church or any other subject.
