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One
can be just a Christian! Does this sound strange? With over 300 religious
bodies in our country it might appear impossible to be a Christian without
being 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 "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." However, it is just as correct to describe the church of
which we read in the Bible as "the church of God" "the body of
Christ", or "the household of faith." 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 ." "If a man
suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this
name." 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."
A
Distinctive Plea
Churches
of Christ have a distinctive plea. Of course, in many ways we agree with
others striving to follow Christ. We firmly believe both in the inspiration of
the entire Bible and in its sufficiency 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 of 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. (Read 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 and can save today as surely as in the first
century if applied in the same way. "The truth will make you free."
Should
you visit one of the churches of Christ you will find members worshiping God
as did the early disciples"in spirit and in truth." You will observe
that they partake of the Lord's supper, or communion, every Sunday. This is
because they are following the example of the early Christians who assembled
every first day of the week to "break bread." (Read 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?" 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, and that without it we cannot be saved. But what does
Jesus require 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." When these people on the day of Pentecost
then asked for further information, they were told, "Repent ye, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of
your sins."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."
"For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body." The saved,
then, are in the body or church of Christ; one cannot be saved and be outside
this body.
The
early disciples were Christians only. Although we live 1900 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." 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.
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