We are Simply Christians

     We read with interest the reports on every hand of the growing
disenchantment with present religious bodies which have originated in
the recent past centuries and have become meaningless. We hear of
displeasure with the denominational structures and their
pronouncements which reflect only the preferences of an influential
elite, ignoring the convictions of the masses. Because of these
aspects of modern religion some have decided that Christianity is not
relevant to this day and age. Many have rebelled against the present
day denominational divisions seen around us. I believe that many have
so decided to cast aside religion because they are not sufficiently
acquainted with the scriptures to be able to distinguish between the
gospel of Christ, and what men have added to religion; things which
indeed are not relevant to serving God.
     If some of the things which you see practiced and done in the
modern denominational world have troubled you and you have felt the
urge, or perhaps even a yearning, to return to the simple
uncomplicated religion of Christ; to strip away all of the non-
essential elements of religion and simply abide by the truths of
Christ Jesus, truths which alone can transform the soul and lead it
to God, allow me to suggest that such a possibility actually does
exist.
     Let us begin with one essential fact. Jesus Christ is the Son of
God. His coming, His mission, and His message were all foretold in
the Old Testament. Better than 350 prophecies were made concerning
the coming of the Christ, with each one being fulfilled when Jesus
came upon the scene of humanity almost 2000 years ago. Some of these
prophecies were of the most minute detail, but He was the fulfillment
of each and every one of them. Prophecies such as Isaiah 53 and
Jeremiah 31:31-33, as well as others. Jesus came to establish a new
covenant with mankind. Listen to the Hebrew writer in chapter
9,verses 15-17: "And for this cause he is the mediator of a new
covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the
transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have
been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For
where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him
that made it. For a testament is of force where there hath been
death: for it doeth never avail while he that made it liveth."  The
New Testament, as we now know it, is the word of Christ. By studying
it we become aware that among the followers of Christ in the first
century, no denominational organizations existed whatever. All such
denominations began at a much later date. You just do not read of
denominations in the Book we call the Bible. Have you ever read about
this denomination, or that denomination, in God's Book?? If they are
not found in the Bible, then were did they originate?? They must have
come in the minds of men.
     When we read from the Bible, God's Book, we see people hearing
the gospel preached and in faith obeying the conditions of God's
grace. That is, they turned to God, that's called repentance,  and
were baptized in order to be forgiven of their sins.  Being thus
saved from past sins, they were added to the Lord's people, the
church. You can read about this in Acts 2:34-47. As the gospel
spread, we find them assembling together in congregations in various
localities. Yet, they all believed the same thing and practiced the
same things. The apostle Paul states that he preached the same
message in every place he went. Listen to the great apostle, "For
this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved and
faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my
ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church
(1 Corinthians 4:17). He would not preach one thing in one place and
something different in another place. Can you imagine, in your
wildest dream, that Paul would teach that Baptism is a burial in
water when he went to Rome, but when he goes to Corinth, he would
teach that Baptism could be done by sprinkling water over the
candidate?  Yet, that is exactly what we see about us today.  Groups
teaching different things and practicing different things. In the
first century, each congregation was under its own elders, or
overseers.  Acts 14:23 states, "And when they had appointed for them
elders in every church..." These elders did not make laws.  They were
given the responsibility of tending and caring for the congregation
as shepherds would care for a flock. So states Paul in Acts 20:17, 28
and Peter in 1 Peter 5:1-3. Hear him, "The elders therefore among you
I exhort, who am a fellowelder, and a witness of the sufferings of
Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight,
not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; nor
yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as lording it over
the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the
flock." That's reading through verse 3. There were no earthly
headquarters over these congregations.  The only headquarter those
disciples knew was in heaven, where their head, Jesus Christ, was and
is.
     Their worship was something to participate in, not something to
watch. They were participants, not observers. They were there to give
honor and glory to Christ Jesus, not to be entertained by
professionals. On the first day of each week they partook of the
Lord's Supper and engaged in the study of His Word. So states Luke in
Acts 20:7, where he says that "Upon the first day of the week, when
we were gathered to break bread, Paul discoursed with them..." These
early Christians shared their mutual responsibilities by sharing
their prosperity, and we find contributions being collected on no
other day. You can read about that in 1 Corinthians 16:1,2. As
stated, each one was involved in their worship, because each one was
and is a priest in God's house. So states John in Revelation 1:5-6,
"and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn of
the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth, Unto him that
loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood; and he made us
to be a kingdom, to be priest unto his God and Father..." No one can
perform his service or worship for him.
     These early disciples were commanded to live godly lives. They
cared for those who were destitute among them, or the poor saints.
They taught others the word of God. They sent out preachers when they
could not go. The gospel was preached throughout civilization in a
very short time. Paul states in Colossians 1:23, "if so be that ye
continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away
from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all
creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister." And all
of this without any organized machinery, not so much as the need for
centralization. The disciples were known as Christians. Acts 11:26;
Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16. They were not different kinds of
Christians. They wore no sectarian names. Their religion was not
sensual nor materialistic. They sought to impress no one, except God.
And God is impressed only with an obedient heart. We impress God, not
by shouting and hollering, but by complying with His Word. Their
appeal was not social or recreational. They offered the gospel to a
troubled world for it was, and is, God's power to save. Does not Paul
state, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of
God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16).  Nothing else can do what the
gospel can do. It does not need the machinery of man to accomplish
its end.
     Someone might say, "If only such could be found today." I
answer, It can be. Men and women over the earth have despaired of
denominationalism, seeing it as a cause of division and as a
deterrent to the simply gospel of Christ Jesus. They desire the
simplicity of what Christ gave. They desire a removal of those things
which divide the world religiously. My friends, there is a group of
people who meet within minutes of where you live who are pleading for
just that. They worship and serve God in the same way the early
disciples worshipped and served God. Christ is their only creed and
the scriptures their only guide. They are not members of any human
denomination, they are simply a congregation, or church, of Christ.
They would like to share Christ with you and with all the world.
     You, too, can be just a Christian and serve God without
belonging to any denomination, bound by no denominational laws or
obligations. If such freedom appeals to you, please contact us. We
would be more than happy to hear from you. God's word can be studied
and discussed in reasonable and understandable sessions. Are you
willing to take the Bible, and nothing but the Bible as your only
guide from earth to heaven. If so, please contact us.  You have
nothing to lose, unless it be your soul, the most precious possession
which you have.

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