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Paul wrote these interesting words in Romans 16:16-17, "Salute one
another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you. Now I
beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and
occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and
turn away from them." The reader should take note that Paul warns
against those who would cause "division" and "occasions of
stumbling."
Religious division is denounced in the Scriptures on a number of occasions, either directly (as here) or indirectly (2 John 9, Gal. 1:6-9). Our Lord prayed for unity the night before He went to the cross (John 17:20-21). Paul wrote on unity in Ephesians 4:4-6 ASV: "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all." Of particular interest is the reference to "one body." Since the body is the church (Eph. 1:22-23), then the only sensible conclusion we can come to is that there is one church. But let's go back to our passage in Romans. Of particular interest in Romans 16:16 is Paul's reference to "the churches of Christ." The "churches of Christ" are the collective body of the various congregations of Christians regardless of where they might be located. "Churches of Christ" can only consist of a number of single congregations that are identified in kind with the whole. This is a basic principle in language. To illustrate, if I were to make reference to a barrel of "apples," it is understood that the whole consists of only those items of like kind. In other words, each individual item in the barrel is "an apple." If we speak of a bushel of corn, the whole (bushel) is made up of individual, single, like items (ears of corn). By the same token, when reference is made to the "churches of Christ" it is implied that each individual "church" is "a church of Christ." In order to understand the significance of Paul's statement, one should consider the nature of the church as set forth in the New Testament. We trust that those who are reading this article are lovers of truth; that they are interested in doing what the Bible says, not what the preacher says, or what family says, or what men think. The word "church" is used in the New Testament in only two senses. First, the Bible speaks of the church in a universal sense. For example, Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build my church" (Matt. 16:16-18). Paul wrote that Jesus is the head of the church, which is His body (Col. 1:18). Second, the Bible speaks of the church in the local sense. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth (1 Cor. 1:1-2). Jesus sent letters to the seven churches of Asia, each church located in a particular city (Rev. 2 and 3). Paul wrote to the church at Colossae (Col. 1:1-2). Unfortunately the religious world views the "church" in a way different than that described in the New Testament. Were you to ask the average person to explain the nature of the church, likely they would answer something like this: "The church is the universal body of those who claim allegiance to Christ. This universal church is made up of various denominations, all held together by one common belief in their Lord." To illustrate this "concept" of the church [albeit an erroneous concept], please imagine a circle sliced into wedges. The circle represents the church, the wedge-shaped pieces represent the various denominations. Each of these "denominations" is actually a "whole" of the various congregations claiming to be a part of that particular affiliation. Now please pay particular attention to this point. A "denomination" is larger than any single local congregation, for every denomination is made up of all the congregations that hold to the common beliefs of that particular denomination. But at the same time, a "denomination" is smaller than the universal church, being only a portion of the church universal (as illustrated in the circle and wedge-shaped pieces). Please pay close attention to this undeniable truth. Now, please compare the generally accepted concept of the church with what the Bible teaches about the church. When someone asks you what "church" of which you are a member, how do you answer? If you claim that you are a "Baptist," or a "Methodist," or "Episcopalian," et al, you are referring to neither the church universal nor the church local. You are, in fact, referring to a "concept" of the church that is completely foreign to the plain teaching of the New Testament. Does that not bother you just a little? When those 3,000 souls were baptized on the Day of Pentecost in 33 A.D., what "church" were they added to (Acts 2:47)? When Saul was converted, and obeyed the gospel, to what church was he added? All would answer that these souls, as well as the other cases of conversion listed in the book of Acts, were simply added to the "church" (universal), and worshiped and served in some "local" congregation of that universal church. Why can it not be the same today? We are convinced that it can be the same today. In fact, not only can it be the same today, it must be the same today if we are to be pleasing to God. Listen to these inspired words from the apostle Paul: "And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Col. 3:17 ASV). Is there authority to speak of the church in a "universal" sense? Indeed, there is. Is there authority to speak of the church in a "local" sense? Again, there is. But where, dear friend, is the authority to claim membership in some religious organization that is neither "universal" nor "local" in its concept? To ignore these passages and the plain teaching of our Savior is to put ourselves in a precarious position. Our Lord warned, "Every plant which my heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up" (Matt. 15:13). Paul told us that Christ "is the head of the church, being himself the savior of the body" (Eph. 5:23b). It is in His body, the church, where all spiritual blessings reside (Eph. 1:3). Why would I want to be a member of any organization that is in such conflict with the plain teaching of the New Testament? Our plea in the churches of Christ is for men to come out of denominationalism, lay aside every humanly devised name, and have no creed but the Christ, no book but the Bible, and no name but the divine name, religiously speaking. We invite you to investigate. We stand ready and willing to give answer to every man who asks for the reason of the hope that is in us, yet with meekness and fear (1 Pet. 3:15). |