Can We Just Be Christians
Craig Thomas
In a world filled with religious traditions and denominational churches, the concept of being simply Just a Christian is difficult to communicate. Yet a careful reader of the New Testament will realize Jesus did not die so His followers could be divided into sects and parties (John 17:20-23). Jesus died to reconcile all men in one body to God (Ephesians 2:16). To belong only to Christ, to have been baptized into the one body of which Jesus Christ is the Savior, is something altogether different from belonging to any one of the over 30,000 or more religious bodies in this country (1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:23).
The Bible teaches there is only “one body” and “one faith,” just as there is only “one God, one Lord, one baptism, and one hope” (Ephesians 4:4-6). This “one body” is Christ’s church (Ephesians 1:22-23) which Jesus built (Matthew 16:18), not men (Hebrews 8:1-2). This spiritual house is made up of Christians who are “living stones” (1 Peter 2:5), citizens of God’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13), and saints of God (Colossians 1:2). They have been born again “of water and the Spirit” into God’s family (John 3:5; Ephesians 2:19). The church of Christ is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 2:20), not on the sand of denominational creeds and traditions. Jesus is the “chief cornerstone” (1 Peter 2:6-7; 1 Corinthians 3:11) and the only head (Ephesians 1:22) and “all authority” in heaven and on earth rests in Him (Matthew 28:18). This leaves no room for Popes, Presidents, councils, synods, conventions or so-called “latter-day prophets.”
Jesus built the church according to God’s divine pattern. A house built by any other (e.g., Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, Joseph Smith, Ellen White, Mary Baker Eddy, the Popes of Rome, the Watchtower Society, etc.) is not recognized by God. “Except Jehovah build the house, they labor in vain that build it” (Psalms 127:1; Matthew 15:13). Jesus condemned the various sects and parties of His day (Mark 7:6-9, 13) causing great offense to those sectarians (Matthew 15:12). Does the appeal to be simply Just a Christian interest or offend you?
Simply Christians
When people on the first Pentecost after Jesus’ death complied with the conditions of grace for their salvation (Acts 2:38-41; cf. Romans 5:1-2) “…the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47) To which church did God add them? Were they Lutherans? Mormons? Roman Catholics? Was Peter a member of one denomination and John another? When Paul was baptized (Acts 22:16) did he become an Episcopalian, Methodist, or Catholic? Do these questions seem absurd to you? Certainly, because no one would claim that those baptized in Acts 2, or Peter, or John or Paul were anything other than simply Christians! If they were alive today, no denomination could claim them for the apostles’ teaching made people Just Christians, not Protestants or Catholics.
The “Seed” Principle
In Matthew 15:13 Jesus makes this statement: “Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up.” How do you get plants? Everyone knows the first step in the process is to sow seed. Furthermore, everyone knows if you plant corn seed you get corn plants, if you plant tomato seed, you get tomato plants. The Bible says seed also produces Christians. What type of seed? “The seed is the Word of God” (Luke 8:4-15; 1 Peter 1:23) . In 1 Corinthians 3:5-7 Paul tells us it was his duty as a minister of God to go about sowing this seed, the Word of God. (also see 1 Corinthians 2:6-13) Now I ask you fair reader, “What did the seed Paul planted produce?” Methodists? Presbyterians? Baptists? Catholics?
No, it produced Just Christians, because he simply planted the Word of God. Remember, seed always produces after its kind. Recall, to get corn one must plant corn, 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. Why can we understand this inviolable principle in tending our farms and gardens, but can’t when it comes to the plain teaching of God’s word?
Do You Realize What This Means?
It simply means that all the creeds, traditions, “revelations,” and institutions of men that have cropped up over the past 1900 years to clutter the religious scene and confuse our minds are at best unnecessary; unnecessary to life and godliness, and unnecessary to the hope of heaven. But it also means the whole concept of modern denominationalism is not part of the true Christianity originating in the mind of God, revealed by the Holy Spirit, and preserved in the New Testament. God purposed the church of Jesus Christ before He made the world (Ephesians 1:3-4; 3:10-11). Did He purpose the Lutheran Church or the Episcopal Church from eternity? Did anyone ever become a Jehovah’s Witness or a Mormon simply by obeying the scriptures only? Did the Holy Spirit, who guided the apostles in the first century into “all truth” (John 16:13), reveal to them the doctrines, teachings, and names that make the Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, and Catholics distinctly different denominations?
Can We Be Simply Christians?
Certainly! No one ever became anything else by following the Bible and Jesus. Follow the Word of God as it stands, not after it has been filtered through the human-written creeds and doctrines of men. Let God’s Word make of you what it will. It will make of you what it made those in the book of Acts. Those who continued in the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42) were believers, disciples, saints, Christians; it made a group of them the church of God or the church of Christ, and that is all the apostles’ doctrine will ever make of anyone.
Our Claim and Our Aim
We do not claim to have a special knowledge of God’s Word others cannot obtain. Paul instructed that man can understand God’s Word (Ephesians 3:1-5). All men can understand God’s Word if they will simply read it with an open mind (Acts 17:10-12) and recognize Jesus and His Word are the source of all truth (John 14:6; 16:13; 17:17). The only worship to God followers of denominational doctrines, traditions and teachings can offer is vain (empty/useless) worship (Matthew 15:9). Regardless of how good it may seem, it is sheer folly to listen to and follow these doctrines, traditions and teachings. For these reasons: our love for God and men, the shortness of life, and the certainty of judgment; we will use great plainness of speech. We speak this way, not with a purpose of offending, but to challenge you to “examine yourself to see if you are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5).
Our claim and our aim are neither boastful nor arrogant. We are Just Christians, nothing more and nothing less. We are not associated with, and have no allegiance to, any denomination; because the concept of denominationalism is condemned in God’s Word (1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 3:1-4). Denominationalism is in opposition to the singular nature of the church Jesus built (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4; Colossians 1:18). The church to which we belong has no earthly head and reports to no earthly headquarters. Its head is Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:20-23), and He resides at the right hand of God in heaven (Hebrews 1:3; Eph. 1:20). Our aim and sole desire is to imitate those in the New Testament who were members of Christ’s church (Acts 2:42, 47). To this end, we use God’s Word as our only guide (1 Peter 4:11; Colossians 3:17) for we believe, as Jesus Himself said, that “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him; the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48).
Won’t you join us in following the Bible alone and letting it make all of us Just Christians?
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Bring Joy to My Soul
(Psalm 86:4-5)
Mike Johnson
Psalm 86 consists entirely of a prayer by David during a time when he was greatly distressed. The details of his difficulties are not revealed, but verse 14 points out that a group of proud and violent people, who had no regard for God, were seeking his life. Yet, amid his trouble, the Psalmist approaches God in prayer with complete confidence that the Lord will be merciful and deliver him.
Verses 1-7 contain a formula. First, the Psalmist makes a request of God and then gives God a reason(s) why He should fulfill it. For example, in verses 1-3, he asks God to hear him, preserve his life, and be merciful to him and then offers reasons for God to respond. Then continuing in verses 4-5, he gives God four reasons to fulfill his next request after making it.
The request is for God to “bring joy” (NIV) to his soul. He pleads, “Rejoice the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.” Consider a closer look at the reasons he gives for granting this request.
- I lift up my soul (4b). This statement implies his earnestness, faith, and trust — he lifts his very being to God. He calls himself God’s “servant,” and only to Him could he call out. Further, recall earlier in the prayer (2b), he refers to himself as “Your servant who trusts in You!” Elsewhere, “lifting up” the soul is associated with prayer. In Psalm 143:8, he said, “ . . . for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.” Also, note the correlation of the concepts in Psalm 25:1-2a “To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You . . . .” With complete sincerity, he lifts his heart and soul to God, whom he trusts!
- You are good (5a). God is good! Elsewhere, Psalm 145:9 states, “The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Some may not understand why a good God allows so much evil in the world. However, people are free moral agents and not robots. God never promised that everything would be easy in our lives. If we think this, we are confusing life on earth with heaven. Of course, the ultimate way we see God’s goodness is when he sent His Son to die for our sins (Rom. 5:8).
- You are ready to forgive (5b). Associated with God’s goodness is His willingness to forgive. The Bible teaches that God wants everyone to be saved (2 Pet. 3:9). Also, in the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Lk. 15), Jesus taught this principle. He said that a man has 100 sheep and loses one; the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to find the lost sheep, and his friends and neighbors rejoice with him when he finds it. Then Jesus says, “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” (7). Consider another reason cited.
- You are abundant in mercy for all who call upon you (5c). God’s mercy doesn’t simply exist, but it is abundant. (The ESV translates as “abounding in steadfast love.”) However, a condition is attached: “for all who call upon you.” Thus, His abundant mercy is for those who call upon Him. (Note also Rom. 10:9-13.)
The Bible connects God’s goodness, mercy, and readiness to forgive in other places besides verse 5. Consider, for example, Exodus 34:6-7. “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin . . .”
Thus, David is asking God to help him — to bring joy to his soul. Why should he do so? David says it is because I lift up my soul to You; You are good, ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy. So, today, God can bring joy to our souls if we let Him!
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A Hairy Problem
Roger Shouse
A person between the ages of 20—30 has about 615 hair follicles per square centimeter. A person 50 years of age has around 485 hair follicles per square centimeter. Typically, most people have somewhere between 100,000 —150,000 hairs on their head. By the way, the average hair loss for an individual is 50—100 hairs per day. As a result, there is no way you can tell accurately how many hairs you have (in fact, unless you are going bald, most of us don’t really care). But God knows.
Jesus said: “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31). This passage reveals three interesting truths.
First, God knows more about us than we know about us. That is a humbling thought. When we sometimes feel like no one understands us or grasps our situation, we forget that God does. God knows your personality. God knows your strengths. God knows what motivates you. God knows when you stumble. God knows what you like and don’t like. God knows the real you. Therefore, when God declares something worthwhile, He knows what He is talking about. When God warns about danger, He knows what He is talking about. When God tells us that we should do something, we need to do it, because He knows us better than we know ourselves.
God is a God of detail. How insignificant are hairs and sparrows to us. Yet God is aware of them. He is a God of details. The motives, attitudes and heart behind our actions are as important to Him as the actions themselves. It does little good to give, if you have left out the detail of being a cheerful giver. Singing fails if we neglect thankfulness in our heart. Let us be a people of details, as God is.
God cares about you. This is why Jesus referred to sparrows and hair. We are of value to Him. Christ was not sent to save the whales, the environment, or the endangered species, but mankind. Man has value! Stress and worry often make us wonder if God cares. These two simple illustrations remind us that He does.
From the Market Street Messenger; Athens, AL
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How Are You Using Your Time?
Greg Gwin
Have you wondered why there never seems to be enough time to get everything done? Well, we may now have the answer. According to an article in U.S.News, an average American, in his lifetime, will spend:
– 6 months at stoplights
– 8 months opening junk mail
– 1 year looking for misplaced items
– 2 years unsuccessfully trying to return telephone calls
– 5 years waiting in line
– 6 years eating
Other recent studies suggest that we will spend as much as 20 years watching TV and even more time sleeping!
Now, to put this in its proper perspective, think of this: if you attend every service of the church (Sunday Bible study, Sunday morning and evening worship, and Wednesday night Bible study), you will spend only about 1.5 years total. That’s only slightly more time than you will spend looking for misplaced items and only about twice as much time as you will spend opening junk mail!
But, some Christians will not do even this much. Over and over again, we return to Hebrews 10:25 – “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.” God commands us to assemble. Why? The context of this verse clearly shows that it is for our own benefit. Are you taking advantage of this great blessing?
Christian, how are you using your time? If you don’t regularly attend all of the services, you may be spending more time opening junk mail than worshipping God. Isn’t that a terrifying thought?
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Preacher’s Point
I would rather have thousands to say to me at the judgment, “We heard you preach and You hurt our feelings,” than to have just one lost soul to say, “I heard you preach, but you did not tell me the truth.”
John T. Lewis
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Editor: Mike Johnson
www.seekingthingsabove.org