WHY WE EXIST AS A CHURCH?
Thank you. What a pleasure it is to be invited into your home
this morning, with the opportunity to think together with you about
things which are eternal. We are not dealing with trivial things,
such as the weather, home town news, social events, or entertainment;
but, with matters dealing with the eternal destiny of the souls of
mankind; yours and mine. You see, I am responsible unto our God for
the things which I say. And you, the listening audience, are
responsibly for what you believe. I understand the tremendous
responsibility entrusted upon me to speak only where the Bible speaks
and to remain silent where the Bible is silent. I feel a continual
person responsibility to base my statements upon a "thus saith the
Lord." I hope and pray that you, too, have that desire.
Now to our thoughts for this morning. I call your attention to a
passage of scripture found in First Peter, the third chapter and verse
fifteen. Peter states, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and
be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a
reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear."
This passage tells me that we should be ready to give every man
reason why we are what we are religiously. Many people have asked the
question why do you folks exist as a church separate and apart from
all other religious bodies? And this is a legitimate question. Surely
we should be able to give a reason why we are separate and distinct
from other groups. If there is no spiritual reason, then we should
unite with some other religious body. However, if there is a
scriptural reason why we maintain a separate existence, then we are
duty bound to tell people what that reason is.
You will notice that I have been using the word "WE." "Why we
exist as a separate religious body." When I say WE, I have in mind
that body, or group of people known as the church of Christ. And
specifically, the church of Christ that meets at Route 1, Box 502,
Anahuac, Texas, known as the White Park church of Christ in
Anahuac. For you see, I can speak for none other that this group of
people. This body of people endeavors to do only what the children of
God did under the direction of the apostles of Christ Jesus. We strive
to be exactly what they were, without addition or subtraction. It is
the purpose and aim of this group of Christians to restore primitive
Christianity in it's purity and simplicity. We believe, teach and
practice what the early disciples believed, taught and practiced.
That this body of people have been misunderstood, misquoted,
criticized, ostracized and even slandered; cannot be successfully
denied. Much of this is due to the fact that people do not understand
what the members of the church of Christ believe. This discourse this
morning is an effort to inform the world why we stand separated from
other religious bodies.
First, I would like to say that we ask the world to do nothing
that those who believe in the principles of Christianity, will say is
wrong. That is; in our worship and service to God we do nothing that
is considered wrong by the religious world as a whole. Our position is
that we are upon safe and solid ground. Even those who oppose us will
tell you that we are right in doctrine and practice. If fact, if
anyone will show me where I preach or practice anything contrary to
the scriptures I will gladly acknowledge my wrong and give up the
practice. Is this not fair? Will you be that fair?
We do not exist separate from other religious bodies just in
order to be different. Neither is it because we want to be exclusive.
If these are our reasons then we forfeit our right to exist at all.
Jesus said, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also
who shall believe on thee through their word; That they all may be
one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they may also be
one is us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me" (John
17:20-21). Thus we see our Saviour praying that we might be one. Jesus
did not want the people who believe that he was the Christ to be
divided into fussing, fighting factions. And yet, look around you.
What do you see. At the latest count, hundreds of differing religious
bodies, and increasing daily. The Holy Spirit, guided the apostle Paul
to say, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no
divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the
same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10). Hence, the
Holy Spirit pleads through the apostles that the church of our Lord in
any city (or place) should be perfectly joined together, that they
should all speak the same thing; that there be no division among them.
I ask you dear listener, in the light of these passages, do you think
the divided condition of religious people today is pleasing to God?
Yet, in spite of what Christ prayed for and the apostles pleaded for,
there are many who condone and contribute to division. It is not
uncommon to hear people thank God that there are so many churches and
that they can join the one of their choice. Does that sound like the
prayer that Christ uttered? Or the plea that Paul makes? What about
the church of Christ's choice? How can knowledgeable students of the
Bible who are honest express joy over the divided religious world as
we now see it?
Thus we do not exist just in order to be different. But we are
forced to stand alienated from other religious bodies because they
contend that division is all right. We MUST plead for the unity of all
of God's people. This is what Christ prayed for and that Paul pleads
for.
Next -- We desire to be scriptural in NAME. If anyone should ask
us what we are religiously we can answer simply with a thus saith the
Lord: "I am a Christian." Would this identify you religiously? In Acts
11:26, we read, "and the disciples were called Christians first in
Antioch." Here we see that the disciples of the Lord were called
"Christians." Acts 26:28, 29, reads, "Then Agrippa said unto Paul,
Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to
God, that not only thou, but also all them that hear me this day were
both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds." In this
statement, Paul freely admitted that he was a Christian and was
pleading with others that they be likewise. This is exactly what I
would ask you to be. Another passage for your consideration, "But if a
man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify
God in this name" (1 Peter 4:16). We are to glorify God in the name
Christian. Is this the name you wear? Or do you have some other name?
Or, are you identified as some kind of a Christian? Why not just be
what the disciples were in the days of the apostles? A CHRISTIAN. Do
you know anyone that opposes this name? Would anyone say that we are
wrong in wearing the name Christian? Are we contributing to division?
Indeed not. This the only name we may wear and not be causing
division. Since it is spiritual and every one will agree that it is
all right; then to wear any other name would be not only presumptuous,
but it would be dividing those who otherwise might be united.
We might add that no one opposes the name church of Christ. But
there are many other names on church buildings that some people do
oppose. Why not be safe and wear a name that you can read in the Bible
and that no man will condemn. By doing this we can all unite in God's
service.
The church for which I preach insists that the Bible is our ONLY
guide in things religious. This is not promoted by a desire to be
unkind to others, but is based on our desire to do exactly as God
demands of us. If we should abide by the rules and regulations set
forth in some Creed, discipline, manual, confession of Faith or
Catechism there might be others who would be opposed to the teachings
found therein. However, no one will oppose the teaching of our guide-
-the Bible. That no one who believes that Christ Jesus is the Son of
God.
The Holy Spirit says, "All scripture is given by the inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness; That the man of God may be perfect
thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). From a
study of this scripture we learn that the Bible, the Word of God, will
furnish us all that we need to be pleasing unto God; it will furnish
us unto every good work. Would it not be next to blasphemy to say
that we cannot understand what God has said in His Book, the Bible?
This would be the same as saying that God failed in His effort to
reveal His will unto man. But, man comes along and says, "I can do
better than God, I know what man wants." If a creed or discipline
contains more than the Bible, it contains TOO MUCH. If it contains
less than the Bible, it contains too little. If it is precisely the
same as the Bible, then it is non-essential, not needed. We can all
unite on the Bible as our guide; if mankind is willing to accept the
Bible, and it alone, as our guide in religion. Is that not the safe
way? Who can speak evil of one who desires to do nothing more nor
nothing less that what the Bible says? That is a position upon which
everyone can agree. What do you think, my listening audience? Do we
need something more than the Bible? If so, why?
Many churches insist on incorporating into their services things
which are not authorized in God's Word. The church for which I preach
strives to abide in the teaching of Christ. Thus it is evident that we
cannot unite with those who practice things not found in His teaching.
It has been said by some, "Well, the Bible does not say NOT to do this
or that." But my friend, we cannot go on the silence of the
scriptures. If we bring in one thing not mentioned in the scriptures,
then someone else has the right to bring in something else, and
another something else; and there is no end to what might be brought
into the house of God. John states, "Whosoever goeth onward and
abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath NOT God.." (2 John 9). We
must abide in the teaching (or doctrine) of Christ. If a thing is not
in the teaching of Christ and we go and do that thing, the Bible says
that God is not with us. An example of this may be found where people
insist on the use of mechanical instruments of music in their worship.
Not one time can we read of it in the teaching of Christ or of His
apostles. So, to use it we MUST "go onward" or beyond the teaching of
Christ. We prefer not to do that. God tells us to SING (Ephesians
5:19; Colossians 3:16). If we PLAY on a mechanical instrument then we
do that for which we have NO authority. When we sing we do exactly
what God commands. Do you know of anyone who thinks it is wrong to
sing without the accompaniment of some mechanical instrument? All
agree that we are doing what God demands. Singing certainly does not
divide those who believe in Christ. Since some insist on doing that
for which they have no authority (playing on a mechanical instrument),
we are forced to stand apart from them in order that we may be
scriptural.
Acts 20:7 tells us, "the disciples met on the first day of the
week to break bread." When the first day of the week (that's Sunday)
comes around, the disciples of Christ Jesus "break bread." That is
they partake of the Lord's Supper. The supper that was instituted by
Christ Himself just before His crucifixion. Who would say that this is
sinful or wrong? All agree that it is right to break bread on the
first day of the week? Why? Because we have an approved example of the
early disciples doing just that. But, man comes along and says we can
partake of the supper on a quarterly basis, or once every three or
four months. We must stand apart from that for which there is no
scriptural authority.
There is much more that should be said just here, but our time
has slipped away from us. We sincerely desire the unity of those who
believe in Jesus Christ, and we shall continue to preach and practice
ONLY that which God commands. But, by doing that we must oppose all
things that are not commanded by the Lord. May the Lord help us to lay
aside our opinions and accept the truth as taught by our Lord and
Savior.
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