THE GREENWOOD BULLETIN
A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST
VOLUME 3 NO. 29                                       September 10, 2006

“JUST A CHRISTIAN”

BY FRANK HIMMEL

Is it possible to be a follower of Christ without being involved in Catholicism, Protestantism, or some other ism?  Can one be just a Christian?  The answer is yes and according to the Bible, not only is it possible, it is essential.

UNITY ENVISIONED

Jesus' desire was that all His followers be one.  When He promised to build His church, He used a singular term, church, not churches (Matthew 16:18).  He spoke of all His sheep being one flock (John 10:6).  Shortly before His death He prayed, “I do not ask in behalf of these (the apostles) alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as Thou, Farther, art in Me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me.” (John 17:20-21).  Nothing anywhere in Jesus' teaching indicates He intended His followers to be divided into groups teaching and pacticing conflicting doctrines.

UNITY PRACTICED

The book of Acts is a historical record of the first followers of Christ.  They practiced what Jesus envisioned.  They were one.  In city after city, the apostles taught the same message, people believed the same facts and obeyed the same commands, and were added to the same church -- the only church there was.

Jesus' followers were called different things:  believers (Acts 2:44), the saved (Acts 2:47), disciples (Acts 6:1-2), brethren (Acts 6:3), saints (Acts 9:13), Christians (Acts 11:26), etc.  These names did not distinguish some from others.  They are descriptive terms, as applicable to one as to another.  There is a conspicuous absence of terms such as Catholic, Lutheran, baptist, etc., terms which reflect division and difference.  No one wore the name of a man, a doctrine, or a place.  Nothing anywhere in the book of Acts suggests Jesus' followers were or should be divided into groups teaching and practicing conflicting doctrines.  Denominationalism is opposite the picture.

UNITY DEMANDED

The church at Corinth did begin to divide.  While the basis of that division is uncertain, the divine disapproval of it is unmistakable.  Paul wrote them, “Now I exhort you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgement” (I Corinthians 1:10).  He went on to ask if Christ had been divided.  Had the various men they were starting to exalt been crucified for them?  Were they baptized in the name of these men?  Obviously not; therefore, there was no justification for forming parties around them.

Division is more than just ill-advised.  It is sinful.  Galatians 5:19-21 catalogs a number of works of the flesh.  Those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God (v.21).  Notice what is included in verse 20; disputes, dissensions, factions.  These are the sins of division.  They are just as serious to God and fatal to us as fornication, drunkenness, and idolatry.

Read your New Testament through.  Nothing anywhere in the New Testament indicated that Jesus' followers were or should be divided into groups teaching and practicing conflicting doctrines.

UNITY TODAY

It seems redundant to say it, but one becomes a follower of Christ by following Christ.  You do that by listening to His instructions recorded in the New Testament (either given personally or through His apostles), believing them, and obeying them (see Luke 6:46).  That makes you a Christian; nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.  No one ever became of some human “ism” by following the Bible!

All you will ever be by following only Jesus is a Christian.  That is all you need to be.  It will make you one with others doing that same thing.  Isn't that what Jesus prayed for?  Isn't that the Bible picture?  Isn't that enough?

“GOOD LISTENER”

BY ROGER BANKS

God is interested in our hearing.  The Jews heard, but they did not hear!  Many today hear, but they actually do not listen.

There are different kinds of hearers and listeners.  One can listen to criticize; they can pick the words, sentences, or facts apart.  They hear errors but not the truth.

Then there are those who listen in resentment.  They hear with hate; with hostility.  Truth does not change their intellect, but fire their passions.

Some listen in superiority.  This is snobbery at its worst.  These people do not listen but hear your words to be polite.

Some though listen to learn.  They are seeking, knocking, and asking.  These people will hear and obey the truth and then they will grow rapidly.  They are blessed because they are good listeners.

“THE GOSPEL”

FROM MINUTE MESSAGES VOLUME III

Listen to this simple explanation of the gospel of Christ and how it works in our lives today.

  1. Hearing the gospel destroys interest in sin.
  2. Believing the gospel destroys the pleasure of sin.
  3. Repenting destroys the practice of sin.
  4. Confession destroys allegiance to sin.
  5. Baptism destroys the guilt of sin.

“Ye have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” (Colossians 3:9-10)



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