A--Christianity_Is

Have you ever considered if it is possible for one to accept Christ, be saved from his sins, worship God according to the scriptures, live a faithful life as a Christian, and go to heaven when this life is over - all without ever joining a denomination??

   Of what denomination was the man in Acts 8 a member after he heard the gospel, confessed his faith in Christ, and had been baptized? (Acts 8:26-39). I encourage you to read the account and see if you can find out of which denomination he was a member.

   The Bible also tells us that when one is saved he is added to the church (Acts 2:47). Which denomination is he added too? If you study your Bible very much you know that the church to which the Lord adds the saved is not a denomination. This is the church that Jesus talked about in Matthew 16:18, when He said "upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it." Did Christ establish denominationalism? Certainly not, but He did purchase His church with His own blood (Acts 20:28). No Christian that you read about in the Bible was a member of any denomination but they were all members of Christ's church. Think about it!

   In the New Testament, religious division such as we have today in denominationalism was condemned. Jesus prayed for all believers to be one (John 17:20-21). Do you see oneness in denominationalism today? If all who desire to follow Christ would obey Him the way that He established without joining the denominations that men have established through the years, we could have undenominational Christianity today just like they did in the first century!

   Christianity is not difficult to understand except as man has made it difficult. The saved have been added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:47). The church is the spiritual body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23) and there is only one body (Eph. 4:4). Christ is the head of the body, the church, and every member is a member of the body (Col. 1:18; I Cor. 12:12). You will not find a headquarters of the church on the earth. The headquarters are in heaven, where Christ rules.

   In the New Testament, congregations of saved people existed wherever the gospel had been preached and obeyed. Each congregation was overseen by mature men known as Bishops (overseers) (Phil. 1:1). These men were also called Elders, Pastors, and Shepherds (Acts 20:17, 28; Eph. 4:11; I Peter 5:1-4). These men served only in their local congregations and were never over a plurality of churches (I Peter 5:2).

   Also, in each congregation there was a plurality of men known as deacons. They were "ministers" or "servants." (Phil. 1:1).

   The church of Christ makes a plea for undenominational Christianity. They teach the same plan of salvation as was taught by the inspired apostles in the first century and they are organized in the same simple undenominational way. You are invited to worship with the church of Christ and see that Christianity is undenominational!

                                                                       --Shane Williams