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The Distinctive Church
Clarence DeLoach, Jr.
The church is the family of God. Peter describes this family as "a peculiar people," i.e., a people for God's own possession. (1 Pet. 2:9.) The church is composed of individuals who have heard and heeded a distinctive message. The distinctive gospel makes of them a distinctive people.
Jesus was different! He did not measure up to the Jews expectation. His teaching was different, because he taught as one having authority. His disciples were different! The chief priests detected that Peter and John "had been with Jesus." Because of the distinctiveness of the first century church, Luke records that "it was everywhere spoken against." (Acts 28:22.) They were spoken against because they bothered the world! The church was militant! They were aggressive! Luke describes this as he mentioned in the first part of Acts, "that all Jerusalem was filled with this teaching." But, in the latter part of Acts, the enemies charged, "these that have turned the world upside down have come hither also." Paul described our warfare as, "mighty toward God to the pulling down of strongholds." (2 Cor. 10:4.) They viewed Christianity not as a way among many acceptable ways, but as the only way to God. To them it was not just a way of looking at certain things, but a certain way of looking at all things.
Contrary to the New Testament description of the church, the ecumenical movement of the Twentieth century is a sickly conglomeration of tolerance and compromise. It has humanized God and deified man! The ecumenical movement has stripped away the vital factor in the power of the church, i.e., the gospel of Christ.
In a time when distinctiveness is viewed as a curse, and to be like others a virtue, the mention of the distinctive church is repulsive to many. However, the church of Christ is different, and the church makes a difference.
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The church is distinct from paganism because of the affirmation of "one, true and living God." The message of one God was not watered down or compromised to make it relevant to the idolatrous Roman Empire. There was a head-on collision! When Paul came to Aphesis, the headquarters for the goddess Diana, the preaching of one God created a stir! The great city knew of Paul's presence! For two years he confronted the pagans! The church was influential, because "all they that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks." (Acts 19:10.)
Even as the church collided "head-on" with the old paganism of the first century, it is to do the same with the "new idolatry" of the twentieth century. While our people are too enlightened to worship images of gold, silver and stone, many feel that man has "come of age" and consequently does not need God. Man can point to his accomplishments in the scientific world! Man's space exploits, automation, the computer and his anticipated creation of life in the laboratory make him feel that he is astride the world. The spiritual element is set aside and everything is viewed with secular value. This is the paganism of this century! The church is composed of individuals who have recognized their insufficiency, and have come to the Savior. The message of repentance of sins is a direct confrontation to man's self-sufficiency.
- The church is distinct from Judaism because of the affirmation that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God. The Judaism of the
Old Testament was planned and purposed by Jehovah to be a "temporary system to bring man to Christ and Christ to man." Paul said of the
law, "It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made." (Gal. 3:19.)
Judaism has been loosed! To bind this system now is a perversion of God's order. There can be no compromise in the church toward Judaism. Present day Judaism repudiates the very foundation of the church. Christ has come! He lived, died and arose! He is alive at God s right hand! He is coming again! How could anyone in the name of ecumenism compromise the essential characteristics of the church?
- The church is distinct from modernism because of the acceptance of the Scriptures as the authentic, verbally inspired, and all- sufficient revelation of God to man. This is the basic point of issue! The church and the modernistic philosophy cannot co-exist! There is no compatibility! Compromise with liberal philosophy will destroy the church. Many have already been disillusioned! The forces of liberalism are insidious and work like cancer in the body. Brethren should be aware of what it is and what it will do. When the church "earnestly contends for the faith," there will be a head-on confrontation with every ideology that threatens the distinctive nature of "the faith once delivered." Liberalism threatens to be the greatest and most appealing stronghold the "banner of Christ" has faced. But remember, "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty toward God to the pulling down of strongholds." (2 Cor. 10:4.)
- The church is distinct from hedonism because
Her constituency has accepted the Lordship of Jesus over their lives, and look to him as the perfect example of living. The focal point of
hedonism is self-gratification. Man becomes his own lord. He does as it pleases him! "Eat, drink and be merry" is his motto.
The contrary Christianity has as its focal point Christ! The Christian seeks to put Christ first and himself last. Self has been crucified! (Gal. 2:20.) His life is one of self-denial.
Hedonism appeals to man's lower nature while Christ appeals to the highest potential of man's immortal spirit. Fleshly gratification is only for a season, while "godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." (1 Tim. 4:8.)
There can be no peace between followers of Christ and the philosophy of hedonism. These are two Masters and to love one is to hate the other. The aged Paul expressed the proper attitude of Christians when he said, "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Tim. 2:22.) Notice the contrasts! Flee from lusts; follow after righteousness. Purity of heart is contrasted with lusts of the flesh.
And so the battle goes on! We cannot retire or retreat. Perseverance is the key to victory.
The distinctive characteristics of the New Testament church are not man-made! Human traditions and divine distinctives are two entirely different things. Adherence to human tradition produces and perpetuates human institutions. Adherence to the New Testament produces and perpetuates in any age the New Testament church.
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