Articles
Just Christians
In a world filled with a multitude of religious denominational bodies the concept of being just a Christian is difficult to communicate. But, a careful and honest reader of the New Testament cannot deny that Jesus did not die so His followers could be divided into sects. Jesus died to reconcile all men in “one body” to God (Eph. 2:16). Belonging only to Christ, having been baptized into the “one body” of which He is Savior, is altogether different than belonging to any one of the hundreds of religious bodies in this country (1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:23).
1)There is only one body or church. The Bible plainly states there is only “one body” and “one faith,” just as there is only “one God, one Lord, one baptism, and one hope” (Eph. 4:4-6). The “one body” is Christ’s church (Eph. 1:22-23) built by Jesus (Matt. 16:18), not men (Heb. 8:1-2). This “spiritual house” is made up of Christians (1 Pet. 2:5), citizens of God’s kingdom (Col. 1:13), and saints of God (Col. 1:2); those “born of water and the Spirit” into God’s family (Jn. 3:5; Eph. 2:19). Christ is the “foundation” upon which His church is built (1 Cor. 3:11), it is not built upon the sands of denominational creeds, catechisms or traditions. Jesus is the head of His church (Eph. 1:22) with all authority in heaven and in earth resting in Him (Matt. 28:18), leaving no room for Popes, Presidents, councils, synods, and conventions. Jesus built the church according to the divine pattern (Heb. 8:2). A house built by any other is not recognized by God, for “Except Jehovah build the house, they labor in vain that build it” (Psalms 127:1; cf. Matt. 15:13). Jesus condemned the various sects and parties of His day (Mk. 7:6-9, 13) causing great offense to those sectarians (Matt. 15:12). Does the New Testament’s appeal to be just a Christian interest or offend you?
2) Simply Christians. When folks on the first Pentecost after Jesus’ death complied with the conditions of grace for salvation (Acts 2:38-41) “...the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47). To which “church” did the Lord add them? Were they added to the Lutheran Church? or was it to the Baptist Church? Was Peter a member of one denomination and John another? When Saul (Paul) was baptized (Acts 22:16) did he become an Episcopalian or a Methodist? Do these questions seem absurd? Certainly, because no one would claim that those baptized in Acts 2 or any of the apostles were anything other than simply Christians! If these folks were alive today no denomination could claim them, for the apostles’ teaching made men and women just Christians, not the members of any present day denomination. Isn’t that simple?!
3) The “Seed” Principle. Jesus said, “Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up.” (Matt. 15:13) How do you get plants? You must first plant seed. Everyone knows if you plant corn seed you get corn plants, and if you plant tomato seed you get tomato plants. The Bible says the seed producing Christians “is the word of God” (Lk. 8:4-15). Paul said it was his duty to go about sowing this seed (1 Cor. 3:5-7). Fair reader, what did the seed that Paul planted produce? Did it produce members of any denomination? No, it produced just Christians, because the seed he planted was “the word of God” and seed always produces after its kind! Remember, to get corn one must plant corn, and to get tomatoes one must plant tomatoes. Thus, to get Methodists one must plant the Methodist Discipline, to get Baptists one must plant the Baptist Manual, to get Catholics one must plant the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The true and pure seed of God’s word produces just Christians never “hyphenated-Christians”! Why can we understand this simple and inviolable principle when it comes to tending our farms and gardens, yet so many reject these principles when it comes to the plain teaching of God’s word?
