Which Church?
To the best of my knowledge there is not a city, town, or municipality in this country in which there’s not a church building, or where a church meets. This is stated in this way because there is a huge difference between the church building and the church. It seems that the children’s little exercise in which they interlace their fingers inward, fold their hands, and bring the index fingers to a peak even confuses the two. They say: “Here’s the church; here’s the steeple; open the door (as they unfold their hands with fingers still interlocked), and here’s the people”.
Today, there are many churches. This is evidenced as those, seeking to determine other’s ‘religious preferences’, ask a series of questions such as: “Do you go to church?” If the reply is “yes”, they usually follow with: “Which one?”. It is also readily apparent upon driving through a city, town or municipality while noticing the huge differences in the ‘names’ that are associated with the various structures in which these people meet to carry out whatever religious services they endorse and follow.
How sad it is that folks rarely, if ever, consult God and His Word in their search for a church. Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom and foreknowledge has simplified things for man if man would only read and follow. Peter and John were being ‘grilled’ by the Sadducees for preaching “through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” In Acts 4:7 the council asked: “By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?” Acts 4:12 gives us the inspired response the Holy Spirit provided Peter, and which should guide our search for “church”. He said: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” In verse 10 we see this is speaking of Christ, whom they (the Jews) had crucified and Whom God raised from the dead. Should we not search “which church” by the authority of Christ?
Christ has not authorized any other name. Why then are there so many ‘churches’ that bear the names of men? From Acts 2:21 (when the church was established) to 1John 5:13, penned approximately 55 years afterward, there are about 37 references to “the name of” the Lord, or Christ, or the Son of God. Every one of these means “by His Authority”. The miracles in the ‘babyhood’ of the church were by His authority. The teaching and the preaching of the gospel was done by His authority. Those who were immersed, were baptized “into Christ” by His authority. Any other ‘baptism’ is unauthorized.
A case in point is Acts19:1-5 as Paul traveled to Ephesus where he found certain disciples. These were questioned regarding their baptism, and it was discovered they had only submitted “unto John’s baptism (vs 3). Perhaps they “felt” that this was permissible as the baptism of John was valid at one point and had a purpose. John’s baptism was only to Israel, and as we read in Acts 19:4 was “the baptism of repentance”. And as they were baptized of John’s baptism, he told them “they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” Upon hearing the preaching of Paul, “they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” per verse 5. It is only in the baptism “into Christ” where one contacts the blood of Christ, and is added to “the church” (Acts 2:47).
Paul, directed by the Spirit, condemned the ‘party spirit’ that had arisen among the Lord’s church in Corinth in 1Cor 1:12-13. Various factions had begun, and some attempted to follow men. This needed to be corrected then and needs correction now. The Spirit had Paul write: “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? ” In Acts 20:28 we find how the church came to be. It was “purchased” with the blood of Christ. The blood of Christ was shed on the cross of Calvary. Paul, Apollos, Cephas (Peter), nor any other, including John the baptizer, could die to purchase the church. Why then do some ‘churches’ wear the name of Luther or Westley? I suppose they can since “their churches” belong to them.
In Matt. 16:18, just after Peter ‘confessed’ Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Lord told Peter “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” His death on the cross would not prevent the purchase of, the establishment, nor the victory of His church. His church belongs to Him and He has full authority over it. Jesus told His apostles in John 8:32 “ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”. The truth would make them free from sin (only if they followed it). In John 16:13 He then told them that the Holy Spirit will “guide you into all truth”. He has provided these instructions for His church in the New Testament.
Then why do so many seek to ‘worship’ as they wish? It is because they follow the ‘doctrines of men’. Matt. 15:9 tells us what this produces. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Can the “churches” founded by John Calvin, Roger Williams and John Clark, Joseph Smith, or a score of others be “the Lord’s church”? By whose authority did they build their churches? In their churches, they have their doctrines and according to the Lord Himself, this yields “vain worship”.
Which church? Man’s church or the Lord’s church? You decide.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
