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Why You Should Be a Member of the Church of Christ
C. D. PLUM
I have a number of friends, dear friends, scattered throughout the United States and the Province of Canada, who are not members of the church of Christ. It is with the hope of reaching these, and others in like condition with them, that I sincerely dedicate this article.
You, my friends, should be a member of the church of Christ, because Jesus built it. The following words of Jesus should be a warning to your heart and sweet music to your ears. Of the church he spoke: "Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matt. 16:18.) "My church," says Jesus not the church of some man, not a human church that wears a human name. No, none of these; but "my church," says Jesus. Not my denominations, with denominational names; but I will build "my church." When you become members of the church of Christ, your church name will honor the Christ, even as the individual name "Christian" does so. "The churches of Christ salute you." (Rom. 16:16.) "The church of God which is at Corinth." (1 Cor. 1:2.) Jesus, you will recall, is also called God; hence the name "church of God." (Isa. 9:6; Heb. 1:8.) Denominational names honor men, places, and ordinances. But the names worn by the church of Christ honor Christ, the husband. Such names as "Andrew's Church," "Saint John's Church," "Nazarene Church," "Baptist Church," and all human names, do not give glory to the Lord. These names glorify men, places, and ordinances. Why should you wish to glorify such things?
And by being a member of the true church you have the honor of being a member of the church over which Jesus himself rules supreme. God's prophet of old predicted of Christ: "The government shall be upon his shoulder: (Isa. 9:6.) And the New Testament says Christ was given "to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body." (Eph. 1:21-23 ) Jesus rules over his church through his word. "Scripture inspired of God" that is it, and by this your conduct will be regulated. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17.) No group of men will write creeds, disciplines, manuals, and confessions of faith for you. You are free people under Christ. Not in any sense are you creed bound, so far as human creeds are concerned. You will be judged by the words of Jesus. (John 12:48.) This feature you will appreciate more and more as you sever connections with human churches and human creeds. You will be free under God to take and study the Lord's word and to conform yourself to his teaching. Jesus is your "head" and "lawgiver." And the security of your position in the church of Christ is enjoyed in none other. Of his word our Savior spoke: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (Matt. 24:35.) Creeds and dogmas written by men will fail. Not so with the word of our Lord; it remains. Even the Old Testament Scriptures were temporal, so far as their binding power was concerned. They were written to bring the Jews to Christ. Of the Jews, and of the law of Moses, Paul wrote: "But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Gal. 3:23-25.) Hence, the law of Moses was the Jews transportation system to bring them down to Christ, the teacher. "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth [gospel, Rom. 1:16] came by Jesus Christ." (John 1:17.) Since from the time of your obedience to Christ until your death you will be under this law of Jesus which will never pass away, your position is secure as long as you obey the Lord. Unlike the creeds of men, written to govern man-ordained churches, which change every few years and keep those who try to follow them in the dark, the law of the Lord will not change; so the truths of his book may be more easily mastered, also remembered. This is a feature not to be lightly overlooked.
The way of entrance into this church you will find is easy. You do not have to agonize for days and weeks to find salvation. You are not expected by the Lord to give an experience of grace. You do not have to hear so-called "still small voices" today, nor testify that you saw a light. All you need and do in the world to become a member of the church of our Lord is easily outlined. Let us outline it for you:
- You hear the gospel preached in its simplicity, purity, and power; for Jesus said to his chosen apostles: "Preach the gospel." (Mark 16:15.)
- This gospel you must believe, for the Scripture says: "He that cometh to God must believe." (Heb. 11:6.)
- Of your sins you must repent, for Jesus said: "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3.)
- You must confess Jesus to be the Son of God, for the Scripture says: "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 10:32.) The eunuch confessed: "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." (Acts 8:37.)
- And you must be buried in baptism in order tn he translated from the old life tn the new.
The Scriptures declare: "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him
through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." (Col. 2:12.)
A complete record of such obedience may be found in the book of conversions, the Acts of
Apostles. So it just sums itself up like this: "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we
keep his commandments." (1 John 2:3.) Yes, friends, it is just that simple. The Lord in his
word tells us what we must do; and when we do it, he promises to save us from our alien sins.
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." (Mark 16:16.) In our obedience we simply trust the Lord to keep his promises. And the Lord never fails. And, friends, as members of the church of Christ, your worship of God is not a showy display of talent. Humble worshipers all; singing his praise (for the New Testament authorizes singing only in the worship: Heb. 2:12), with equal privilege, for it is an equal command to all. (Eph. 5:19.)
Your Christian life, too, is simply a life of living "soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." (Tit. 2:12.) You will find many kindred spirits to share with you your joy and your sorrow if you are one of us. It is God's family on earth, rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep.
And being God's family on earth, while we partake of the divine nature, many of us are pretty human too human. We are not without our faults and mistakes. Not all of us always do as well as we should as onward through life we go. As when Jesus was on earth, there are some Judases to be found among us; some Demases who love this present world ton much; some Alexanders who do much evil; some Diotrephes who want to have the pre-eminence. But, all in all, we are a pretty fine sort of people. We want you to become saved and to help show us the way; and we firmly believe that if you will come with us, "we will do thee good."