The Christians at North River are always happy to answer questions regarding the beliefs and practices of the churches of Christ. We endeavor to respect the Lord’s command in Colossians 3:17, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of [by the authority of] the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” It is for this reason that we classify ourselves as neither Catholic, nor Protestant. We are simply Christians, the same as the men and women we can read of in the New Testament. We hope that you will take a few moments to read and honestly consider the following article, which is adapted from an essay written by brother Paul M. Tucker. We have a free Bible correspondence course available to all who express a desire to further study these matters.

“Christianity is Undenominational”

We are living in a highly sectarianized and denominationalized world. On every hand, there are sects, parties, denominations, and religious groups of many colors, shades, brands, kinds, and sorts of doctrine and practice. These different religious groups exist primarily because of the desire on the part of the members of the various groups to emphasize and continue in some particular doctrine they have espoused.

Conditions Mold Language

Most religious people have come to recognize a denominationalized “Christendom” as very acceptable. They seem to think it is highly desirable that we have many churches wearing different names, believing different doctrines, and practicing different things. It is said to be very desirable that we have different churches so a person can become a Christian, then look around him, seek out a church that fits his mold of religious thought, then join “the church of his choice.”

If a person expresses a desire to become a Christian, many questions may be asked him. “What is your denominational preference?” “What church are you going to join?,” as if to say, “What kind of Christian are you going to be?”

Both the though and the language have been coined to accommodate the divided state of so-called “Christendom,” and with many it seems to be a foregone conclusion that a person cannot be a Christian without joining one of these denominational bodies. The condition that fathered the language (the divided state of professed believers) should have never existed. It is diametrically opposed to every principle found in the New Testament.

The Name Christian

The religious conduct of many is very confusing. Many of our friends claim to be Christians. On Sunday morning many of them enter a church building with a certain name over the door, and go through a certain form of worship that reflects the heart of their faith. Others of them enter another building a few doors away, over which is another name, and they go through a different form of worship that somewhat reflects the fundamentals of their faith. Other groups of our friends go elsewhere, and do differently, and so on and on. Often, even, the father of a family goes to one church, the mother to another, and the children, so as to show no favoritism to ward either parent, either split time, go to a third church, or nowhere! Certainly, this should not be!

The divided religious condition of our world today should cause a thoughtful person to question, “Is it not possible to be a Christian, a disciple of Jesus Christ, a child of God, without becoming affiliated with some particular denomination or sectarian group?

In Acts 11:26 we read, “The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” Well, what kind of Christian were those in Antioch? No kind. What sort were they? No sort. What type were they? No type. They were just Christians; that was all. Of what denomination were they? No denomination; denominationalism was not yet born.

WWJD?

Jesus was not a sectarian. The Jewish world into which He was born was divided into sectarian parties. There were the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, Essenes, Zealots, and others. Jesus could have spared Himself much persecution had He aligned Himself with one of these parties, but our Lord refused to do so. He refused to be sectarian, and we should refuse to be sectarian.

Why Should Christians Be Differentiated?

On the great western plains, the cattlemen of the various ranches brand their cattle as a mark of identification. The particular brand denotes the owner, and distinguishes one man’s cattle from another.

Many people seem to want distinguishing marks for Christians that separate some from others. As the brand on the cattle does not determine the quality of the cattle, they think the particular name that distinguishes one “Christian” from another is of no consequence; we are all Christians anyway, so they say. Of course, this argument is based upon the rash and un-Biblical assumption that there are Christians in all churches, that one group is as good as another, and that between the denominations we have only minor differences that are insignificant, yet are adequate to the satisfaction of personal preferences.

But who delegated authority to any man or group of men to sit in council and pass legislation distinguishing one group of Christians from another? If, as it is claimed, there are Christians in all churches, from where does the authority come to “herd” off one group of Christians into one lot, separate them from the fellowship of other Christians, erect walls, partitions, and barriers that prohibit their cooperation and fellowship with other Christians, most of whom, it is claimed, are equally acceptable to God? What logic, Scripture, or reason dictates such action? By what authority do religious conferences, conventions, synods, and church councils assume unto themselves the power to differentiate so-called “Christians?”

Furthermore, why should one Christian want to be distinguished from another Christian? If two men are Christians, why should they want to erect barriers (such as are generally thought to be of no importance) to fellowship? Why should they not want to shake hands, and then together march under the blood-stained banner of Jesus Christ, united in heart, task, and purpose? The wide-spread ecumenical movements of our day notwithstanding, as long as denominational identifications and distinctions exist, Biblical unity cannot be achieved (1 Corinthians 1:10).

How Can We Classify You?

When churches of Christ object to being classified as a denominational group, people ask, “How can we classify you?” “How can we distinguish you from other groups?” The answer is, we seek no classification separate from other Christians, if such there could be. New Testament Christians object to being distinguished from other New Testament Christians. They seek the fellowship and cooperation of all who are truly Christians. Those who are not New Testament Christians are not Christians at all. Christians seek to win those to Christ the Lord.

Name a sampling of the popular denominations today; it matters not which one you name. Who dares to classify Peter, Paul, James, and John with any of these groups? Who dares to put the present-day sectarian brands on these men? The apostles would not be accepted into the pulpits of present-day denominational churches as “ordained pastors.” Their teachings given in the New Testament would not be acceptable in most pulpits today.

Some Truth In All Churches

Someone will say, “But there is some truth in every church.” This is admitted. But why should anyone insist that a person join some particular denomination in order to have access to the portion of truth taught by that denomination?

In order to be a denominational church and accept whatever morsel of truth that denomination teaches, a person must also accept the many errors taught by the denomination. It is, after all, the point of error that makes each denomination distinctive. There is not a single mark of distinction of any denomination on earth that came from the Bible. The things that distinguishes the denomination is what men have said, and what men have made the denomination to be. Why should a person be called upon to accept the errors, whether few or many, in any denomination?

To be a New Testament Christian is a grand and glorious privilege. We enjoy liberty in Christ, and freedom from the dictates of men, the authority of ecclesiastical councils, and would-be religious lords.

How To Become A Christian

Next, we inquire, how can a person become a Christian? Not a Christian according to denominational creeds or handbooks, but according to the Bible. What is God’s definition of a Christian? We turn to the New Testament for the answer.

God’s children in the first century were Christians, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. The thing that made them Christians will also make us Christians now.

The first requirement of the gospel is faith. A person must believe in Jesus Christ as the son of God to be saved. Jesus said in John 8:24, “If you do not believe that I am He, you will dies in your sins” (compare with Acts 8:37; Hebrews 11:6). “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
The Lord requires repentance (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38). Repentance involves Godly sorrow, which leads to a change of mind, resulting in a reformation of one’s life (see 2 Corinthians 7:9).
A confession of faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is prerequisite to scriptural baptism (compare with Acts 8:36-38; Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:10).
In New Testament times, no one was recognized as being “in Christ” (where salvation is found, see Ephesians 1:7) unless one had submitted to the commands of baptism (immersion) for (or unto) the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-11; Acts 22:16; Galatians 3:26-27). There is absolutely nothing denominational in any way whatsoever about that. But men denominationalize these teachings; they say we are saved by faith alone (which is not true, see James 2:14-26). Men say baptism is non-essential; the Bible says baptism “saves us” (1 Peter 3:21), and that it is the place where we access the blood of Christ which is the cleansing power (Acts 22:16; Romans 6:4). False teachers denominationalize the truth by saying sprinkling and pouring are just as good for baptism as immersion. The Bible teaches we are buried and raised in baptism (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).

Undenominational Worship

The churches of Christ plead for undenominational Christian worship. People should introduce and use in Christian worship only those things authorized in the New Testament (Colossians 3:17). The New Testament authorizes:

Preaching or teaching the word (Acts 20:7).
The use of our voices in singing praise to God, and in teaching and edifying one another (Ephesians 5:19).
The observance of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).
The prayers of the saints [Christians] (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Contributing to the collection, which is used to support the work of the church, upon the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

There is nothing denominational about these avenues of worship. But men have denominationalized church worship. Without divine authority, they have introduced the use of mechanical instruments of music in the worship, the counting of beads, the burning of incense, the washing of feet, the adoration of Mary, the worship of images, praying to the saints instead of prayers of the saints, and many other things not found in the New Testament. In all of this, and more, leading religious bodies of the world (numerically) have departed from the simplicity of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3).

Undenominational Organization

Churches of Christ plead for undenominational organization. Christians should have no religious organizations except that authorized in the New Testament. In New Testament times, every congregation of disciples was independent of every other congregation. Congregations were not linked nor bound together by super organizations of any kind. During the first century, the whole civilized world was evangelized (Colossians 1:23), and that without super organizations or headquarters. God’s plan of church organization was sufficient to accomplish the divine purpose in the first century, and the same plan is sufficient today to accomplish His purpose.

In New Testament times, elders and deacons were appointed in the churches (see 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9). The elders were also called presbyters, pastors, and bishops. They had no authority outside their own local congregations (compare with Acts 20:17, 28; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-10; Titus 1:5). Churches of Christ plead for this simple, sufficient, scriptural plan now.

What Is A Church Of Christ?

A church of Christ (Romans 16:16) is simply a group of baptized, penitent believers (Christians) who assemble to work and to worship God according to the New Testament. Their mission is to preach the gospel to every creature, to remember the poor, and to glorify God in life. They propose to establish in every inhabited locality a congregation of New Testament Christians. A more noble purpose could not be known; this is a divine purpose. Churches of Christ do not claim to be perfect, but their members strive day by day to become more and more like Him who is our Savior and Lord. Unto Him be glory, praise, dominion, and power in and through His church (Ephesians 3:21) now and forevermore.

Kind reader, are you in some denominational church, held in bondage (though it may not seem so) to the doctrines and precepts of men? “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations -- "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," which all concern things which perish with the using-- according to the commandments and doctrines of men?” (Colossians 2:20-22). Would you not like to enjoy the liberty that is in Christ Jesus? (Galatians 5:1). “Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty’” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).

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