‘What the Church of Christ is Not’

Churches are on every hand, every sort and every kind! Among that multitude of competing bodies stands the one church purchased by the blood of Jesus (Acts 20:28), and established in Jerusalem following his resurrection (Acts 2:1 – 47). We often read of the spiritual characteristics of the church, but there is another side, consisting of what the church is not.

·         Christ’s church was not established by uninspired men as were the various denominational bodies (Matt. 16:18). Joseph Smith founded the Latter Day Saints Church; John Wesley founded the Methodist Church.

·         His church is not a denomination, i.e., a part of the larger body of Christ. It is the spiritual body of Christ (Eph. 1:22; Rom. 12:5). It is his kingdom (Matt. 16:15 – 16) and his family (1 Tim. 3:15).

·         It is not a social center. It exists to serve Christ and lead lost humanity to salvation (Mark 16:15 –16). While members of the church enjoy many social blessings, such is not her reason for existence.