Attend the Church of Your Choice by Heath Rogers Often times the appeal is made for men to attend the church of their choice. While we certainly appreciate the noble sentiment behind this appeal, we deny that such is in harmony with the Word of God. What does the Bible say about attending the church of your choice? The Bible gives us some choices that we can make. We are to choose life over death (Deuteronomy 30:19), choose whether or not we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15), choose the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:29), choose our friends (Proverbs 12:26), and choose what pleases the Lord (Isaiah 56:4). The Bible says nothing about choosing the church we will attend. For one thing, the Bible states that Jesus only built one church. “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Notice that the words “church” and “it” indicate that what Jesus would build would be singular in nature. There was only one church in the first century; thus there was no choice. Secondly, becoming a member of the church is not a matter of choice. It is something that happens to us when we choose to be saved. “…and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). The church is the body of saved people. The moment we are saved we are made a part of that body. The religious world teaches that once we have been saved, we should find a church and join it. However, the Bible teaches that the very act that saves us automatically puts us in the church. The Bible says nothing about joining “the church of your choice” because no such choice is offered in the Bible. There was, and is, only one church. The appeal to attend the church of our choice is contrary to the Bible’s plan for unity among believers. The religious world is full of different churches teaching different and conflicting doctrines. Some churches want to overcome these differences by simply overlooking them. With an attitude of “you believe what you believe, and I’ll believe what I believe,” we are told to embrace and celebrate our doctrinal differences. We are to recognize one another as brethren, while respecting our differences. This kind of unity is based upon doctrinal compromise, which is not the unity that is prescribed in the New Testament. Jesus prayed that believers would be united as one upon the word of the apostles (i.e., upon doctrinal matters). “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:20-21). Paul urged believers to be one. “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). When it comes to matters of doctrine, we are to speak the same thing, and be perfectly joined together in the same mind and judgment. We are not to be divided doctrinally. In Ephesians 4:3-6, Paul set forth the grounds for the unity of the Spirit: “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” The seven “one’s” of this passage are non-negotiable. There must be agreement in these seven areas in order for believers to have the unity of the Spirit. Unity that is achieved by compromising one or more of these areas is not the kind of unity that pleases the Lord. Among the seven “one’s” is the “one body.” As we have already pointed out, the church is the body of saved people (Ephesians 1:22-23). So again, the Bible shows that in the first century there was only one church. Another of these “one’s” is the “one faith.” The word “faith” is used in the New Testament as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it is the act of believing. As a noun, it is that which is believed. It is used in this passage as a noun, signifying the body of doctrine that is to be believed and accepted by Christians. Denominationalism unashamedly admits to having different faiths. There is a Catholic faith (doctrine), a Baptist faith (doctrine), a Methodist faith (doctrine), a Pentecostal faith (doctrine), etc. This was not the case in the first century. Paul said that he preached the same thing in every church. “For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church” (1 Corinthians 4:17). Paul could not do that today. Churches in every community have different teachings on significant subjects like baptism, the Lord’s Supper, women preachers, speaking in tongues, the Godhead, the authority of traditions, prayer, the rapture and the thousand year reign of Christ. Paul could not speak the same thing in every church today because no one can. In short, there is no Scriptural ground for doctrinal division among believers. The Bible tells us what to do with those with whom we have doctrinal differences. Consider the following Scriptures. • “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (2 John 9-11). • “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness… From such withdraw yourself” (1 Timothy 6:3, 5). • “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them” (Romans 16:17). • “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8-9). We are not allowed to maintain unity and fellowship with those who remain in error. Those who deviate in doctrine have caused division. We cannot overlook one’s doctrinal differences without partaking in his evil deeds. We are not to receive them, withdraw ourselves from them, mark and avoid them because they are accursed. This being the case, we have no grounds upon which to encourage others to go and become a part of them. We cannot agree with the appeal to “attend the church of your choice.” This view may fly in the face of the ecumenical spirit of modern day denominationalism, but it is our conviction that the church that Jesus built in the first century is the only church that the Lord will recognize as His own today. This church cannot be found by tracing history, or by a majority vote (i.e., the church with the largest membership), but rather by looking at the pattern of the church that is set forth in the New Testament. Denominations divide believers by subscribing to creeds, councils, catechisms, and conventions. We simply try to follow the teachings of the Bible alone. Until we can find different kinds of churches in the Bible we cannot encourage men to attend the church of their choice. Who is the Rock? by H.E. Phillips It is an admitted fact that someone built the church of the New Testament. It did not just happen without some intelligence and power creating it. Paul said, “For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God” (Heb. 3:4). The church is called the “house of God” (1 Tim. 3:15). Christ is called God (Heb. 1:8; Isa. 9:6), therefore, the “house of God” is the same as the church of Christ. The Psalmist said: “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it” (Psa. 127:1). The church, if not built by the Lord, would be labor in vain. Christ is the builder of the church. In response to the statement of Peter that Christ was the Son of God, Christ said, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). Christ promised to build his church, and he said it would be built upon “this rock.” What was the rock upon which Christ was to build his church? A foundation is essential to the erection of any structure, and no structure is stronger than its foundation. If the foundation be weak, the building will be weak; but if the foundation is sure and firm, the building is likely to be as strong. There has been a great deal of dispute as to what or who is the foundation upon which the New Testament church is built. We have been told that it was built upon Peter as the rock. We can be certain from Matthew 16:18 that a rock is the foundation. Christ asked the apostles what they thought of him in contrast to what other men thought. Peter spoke out and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This was a truth - a fact demonstrated to the apostles by God. Christ then said, “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18). Only two things could be the rock upon which the church was built: 1) Peter or 2) Christ - the truth that he is the Son of God. Let us put these two to the test and determine which is the foundation. Isaiah prophesied concerning the foundation to be laid in Zion when he said, “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation” (Isa. 28:16). The prophet could only refer to Peter or to Christ, since Christ said he would build upon the rock when he spoke to Peter. We can easily ascertain which of the two is the rock. 1. A Tried Stone. Both Peter and Christ were tried by the tempter. Christ said to Peter just before he was betrayed, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:31-32). This concerned Peter’s denial of Christ. The Lord said, “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren,” indicating that Peter needed converting. By reading further in Luke we learn that Peter denied the Lord and succumbed to the tempting of Satan. If Peter is the rock (foundation) upon which the church was built, it is not the rock that stood the trial of Satan. He would not fit the prophecy of Isaiah that a “tried stone” would be laid for a foundation. But Christ was also tried by Satan in the wilderness. (Matt. 4:1-11). He did not yield to a single temptation, thus proving that he was the tried and sure foundation of which Isaiah spoke. 2. The Precious Corner Stone. Certainly no one who believes Christ to be the Son of God would contend that Peter is precious as a corner stone above Christ. The Psalmist said Christ: “The Stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner” (Psa. 118:22). Jesus is also called the “chief corner stone” (Eph. 2:20). Peter is never called precious nor corner stone. Christ is called both. 3. The Sure Foundation. Christ said the gates of hell would not prevent the building of his church. If the foundation could be crushed by the gates of hell, surely the building could not be completed. “Gates” is the symbol of entrance into and exit from a place. Gates of “hell” must refer to the entrance into and exit from the grave. Christ must die before the foundation is sure against the gates of hell. Christ died but the gates of hell could not hold him, and on the third day he arose from the grave. Satan held the keys of the gates of hell when Christ died. “That through death he (Christ) might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb. 2:14). But now because of the victory of death, Christ holds the keys to death and hell. “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Rev. 1:18). Peter is still locked in the gates of hell and will remain there until the general resurrection. If Peter be the rock upon which the church is built, it is not a sure foundation, and the gates of hell have prevailed against the very foundation of the church. This establishes beyond question that the foundation was not Peter but Christ. Furthermore, the church could not be built until the foundation was tested and tried and made sure by the gates of hell. Christ said the gates of hell would not prevail against the “building” of his church. That means that the “gates of hell” stood between the time the statement was uttered and the building of his church. Peter had not entered the gates of death when the church was built, and if he was the foundation, the church was built before the foundation was made sure. Peter did not die for a number of years after the church was established. It has been argued that the term Peter means rock, which proves that Peter was the rock of Matthew 16:18. The “rock” to which Christ referred as the foundation of his church was the confession made by Peter that Christ was the Son of the living God. This truth cannot be destroyed, and as long as it stands, the church will stand. The kingdom (church) which rests upon Christ can never be destroyed (Dan. 2:44; Heb. 12:18). But even more evidence that Christ is the Rock or foundation upon which the church of Christ was built is found in expressions in the New Testament that call him the Rock or Foundation. The household (church) of God is built “upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (which means the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets) Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Eph. 2:20). Here Christ is said to be the corner stone. Speaking of the Israelites drinking from the rock in the wilderness, Paul says, “And that Rock was Christ” (1 Cor. 10:4). Paul settles the matter forever with these words: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11). Christ is not only the foundation, the tried and sure rock, upon which the church is built, he is the only one - no other can be laid. That includes also Peter. - Searching the Scriptures, Nov. 1963
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 10:54:15 +0000