Marvin L. Weir
Not everyone is happy with the fact that the Lord’s church is different! Those of denominational persuasion are quickly upset when the difference is noted between the Lord’s church and the churches built by men. For those who may not know, the Lord promised to build His church (Matt. 16:18), and it had its beginning in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost (A.D. 33) as prophesied by godly prophets (Isa. 2:2-3; Micah 4:1-2). The apostle Paul makes it abundantly clear that Jesus Christ is the “head over all things to the church, which is his body…” (Eph. 1:22-23). Notice that the Lord’s church is “his body” and not some man-made body.
Even sadder is the truth that not all members of the Lord’s church are happy that it is different from all other religious institutions. The goal of many who profess to be Christians is to extend open arms of fellowship to any one who claims to believe in the deity of Christ. Those who are eager to loose where God has not loosed (cf. Matt. 16:19; 18:18) are not impressed with the distinctiveness of the Lord’s church. Their goal is to compromise and change to the point that churches of Christ cannot be distinguished from any denomination. This blending and mixing of religion is what they allege that the Lord had in mind for His followers. One will never find such religious non-sense in the Holy Scriptures! Thus, an ever-growing number of folk are quick to allege what they believe, but they are arrogantly adamant at not desiring to prove their allegations by the word of God!
The Bible still teaches, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). The above verse of Scripture is just as true today as it was when first penned by John. God’s Word is truth (John 17:17), and it is by that Word that one can prove truth from error. Three Scriptures will suffice to prove (for those who believe the Bible) that the Lord does not intend for His church to blend in and be a part of all man-made churches. First, Jesus prayed that there be unity and not division in religious convictions. The words of the Master ring loud and clear in praying,
Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me (John 17:20-21).
Second, the apostle Paul admonishes,
Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10).
This is one of those “un-get-over-able” and “un-get-around-able” verses of Scripture that so many prefer to ignore.
Third, the Holy Scriptures declare,
Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you (2 Cor. 6:14-17).
The principle contained in these verses is eternal—there can be no fellowship between righteousness and unrighteousness, between light and darkness, or the temple of God and idolatry. This is a call for God’s people to be separate, to be unique, and to be distinct from the world and all man-made religion that is in competition with and in opposition to the Lord’s church!
The battle with Satan begins with the mind. This is why the apostle Paul pleads, “If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth” (Col. 3:1-2). Jesus likewise had taught,
…Are ye also even yet without understanding? Perceive ye not, that whatsoever goeth into the mouth passeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings: these are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not the man (Matt. 15:16-20).
It is impossible for one to succumb to “politically correct” thinking and live like a Christian. The truth of the matter is that distinctive and unique thinking is the only thing that will lead to distinctive and unique living! It would be well for all to remember that if the gospel is veiled it is because “the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them” (2 Cor. 4:3-4).
One who so desires can know the truth and that truth can free him from the bondage of sin (John 8:32). The Bible unashamedly declares that there is only “one body…one spirit…one hope…one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all…” (Eph. 4:4-6, emph. MLW). God’s will has always been distinctive as His thoughts are not our thoughts and neither are His ways our ways (Isa. 55:8-9).
A faithful child of God will always rejoice in the truth that the Lord’s church is distinctive, different and unique, and he will never compromise or apologize for the church of Christ or the glorious truths she should stand for.
