Just A Christian!
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesIn today’s religious world, many people are growing disenchanted with man-made religious organizations which originated during the middle ages and have since become meaningless. There is so much growing displeasure with denominational structures and dogma, that some have even decided that Christianity and the church is not relevant today. One of the reasons they have made that decision, is because they are not sufficiently acquainted enough with the Scriptures to be able to distinguish between the relevant gospel of Christ, and what men over the centuries have attempted to add to it.
Dear reader, if some of these things have troubled you and you have felt a yearning to return to the simple, uncomplicated religion of Christ, stripping away all the nonessential elements of religion and simply abiding by the truths of Christ – truths which transform the soul and bind it to God, let us suggest that it can and has been done.
Looking at the New Testament, we learn that among the followers of Christ in the first century, there existed no man-made denominational organization whatsoever. All of these organizations began at a later time than the Lord’s church (A.D. 33 – Acts 2:1-47). In the New Testament, we see people hearing the gospel (Romans 10:17) and obeying the conditions of God’s grace (Romans 10:9-10; Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30). Being thus saved from their sins, they were added to the Lord’s people, the church (Acts 2:36-47). As the gospel spread, we find them assembling together in congregations in various localities. Each congregation was under its own elders (Acts 14:23) and no one else. These elders could not make laws and be masters (1 Peter 5:1-3). They were given the responsibility of tending and caring for the congregation as shepherds would a flock (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-3). The only headquarters those disciples knew was heaven (Hebrews 12:23), where Jesus was and presently is their head (Hebrews 1:1-3; Ephesians 1:22-23).
Their worship was something in which to participate, not something to merely watch. On the first day of every week, they would observe the Lord’s supper and hear preaching (1 Corinthians 11:23-29; Acts 20:7), they would all sing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16), they would all pray with various men leading (1 Corinthians 14:15; 1 Timothy 2:8), and they would share in their mutual responsibilities by sharing their prosperity (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). We find no contributions being collected on any other day than the first day of the week, and no hierarchy taxing them or telling them how much to give. They had no man-made organizations clamoring for their support. They gave as they individually purposed in their own hearts (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). They were all necessarily involved, for each saved person was a priest (Revelation 1:5-6). No one could perform his or her service or worship for another (John 4:23). They lived godly lives, demonstrated by their care for the poor (Acts 2:45; Acts 4:34-35; . They taught others the saving gospel of Christ (Acts 8:26-40; Acts 20:20-21). They taught others in far communities with simplicity of faith and fervor (Acts 8:4; Acts 17:6). Without organized machinery, the gospel was preached to the whole of civilization in a short time (Romans 10:18; Colossians 1:3-6; Colossians 1:23). These disciples of Christ were known simply as “Christians” or individually, “a Christian” (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). They wore no sectarian names. Their religion was not materialistic or sensual. They did not seek to impress men with pious ceremony. Rather, they sought to impress God with the only thing that has ever impressed Him – contrite obedience (1 Samuel 15:22; cf. Psalm 34:18; Psalm 51:17; Isaiah 57:15). Their appeal was not social or recreational. They offered the simple gospel of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:1-5), because they knew it was God’s power to save (Romans 1:16), and any other appeal was foreign to them.
Today, many folks sigh and say, “Oh, if we could only have such today.” Dear reader, the church described in the New Testament is here today! Free men and women all over the earth have despaired of denominationalism, seeing in it neither necessity nor relevance, but only a cause of division (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). They desire the simplicity of what Christ authored, and their number is increasing. They are related and connected only “in Christ” (Gal. 3:26-28) and not in some organization with machinery to keep a tally. We will not try to number these faithful followers – but the Lord knows (2 Timothy 2:19; cf. John 10:14). What is important, is that a group of such people meet just minutes from where you live. They are just Christians. They worship and serve God in the same way the early disciples of the first century did. Christ is their only creed and the Scriptures their only guide. They are not members of any human organization – they are simply a congregation of the Lord’s people, or church of Christ (Romans 16:16). They, in turn, would like to share Christ and His teachings with you and with all the world (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16).
Dear reader, you too can become “just a Christian” and serve God without belonging to any denomination, bound by any denominational laws or obligations. If such freedom appeals to you, please contact the church of Christ nearest you.