[Biblemat] A) WE ARE SIMPLY CHRISTIANS

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Wednesday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my files:

WE ARE SIMPLY CHRISTIANS
WITHOUT BEING MEMBERS OF ANY DENOMINATION
YOU CAN BE TOO!

     We read with interest the reports on every hand of the growing 
disenchantment with present religious forms which
originated in the middle ages and have become meaningless.
We hear of displeasure with denominational structures and
their pronouncements which reflect only the preferences of 
an influential elite, ignoring the convictions of the rank and 
file.  Because of these aspects of modern religion some have
decided because they are not sufficiently acquainted with the
Scriptures to be able to distinguish between the relevant gos-
pel of Christ, and what men have added to religion since, and
which truly are not relevant to serving God.

     If some of these things have troubled you and you have
felt an urge, or even a yearning, to return to the simple uncomplicated 
religion of Christ, and if you have felt the desire to strip away all non-essential 
elements of religion and
simply abide by the truths of Christ, truths which alone can
transform the soul and bind it to God, let us suggest that such a possibility 
actually exists.

     Let us begin with one essential fact.  Jesus Christ is the 
Son of God.  His coming, His mission, and His new message
were all foretold in the Old Testament (Gen. 49:10; Isa. 53; 
Zech. 6:13; Jer. 31:31-33), which Jehovah used to govern
Israel until the Christ should come and establish the New for
all mankind (Gal. 3:19,23,24).

     The New Testament is the Word of Christ.  It reveals the
religion of Christ (Heb. 9:15-17).  By studying it we become
aware that among the followers of Christ, no denominational
organizations existed whatever.  All such began at a later time.  We see 
people hearing the gospel and in faith obeying
the conditions of God's grace.  That is, they turned to God 
and were baptized in order to be forgiven of their sins.  Being
thus saved, they were added to the Lord's people, or church
(Acts 2:36-47).  As the gospel spread, we find them assemb-
ling together in congregations in various localities.  Each con-
gregation was under its own elders (Acts 14:23) and no one
else on earth.  These elders could not make laws or be masters.  They were 
given the responsibility of tending and
caring for the congregation as shepherds would a flock (Acts
20:17,28; 1 Pet. 5:1-3).  The only headquarters those disciples
knew was heaven, where their Head, Jesus Christ, was and is
(Eph. 1:22,23).

     Their worship was something to participate in, not some-
thing to watch.  On the first day of the week, for instance, they would eat 
the Lord's supper and hear preaching (Acts
20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-29).  They would share their mutual respon-
sibilities by sharing their prosperity, and we find contribut-
ions being collected on no other day than that (1 Cor. 16:1,2).
Incidentally, no hierarchy could tax them or tell them how much to give.  
They had no organizations clamoring for their
support.  They gave as they individually purposed in their own hearts (2 Cor. 
9:6,7).  In their assemblies they all would
sing (Eph. 5:19), and all pray with various ones leading (1 Cor. 14:15,16).  
In all of this they were all necessarily involved
for each person was a priest (Rev. 1:5,6).  No one could per-
form his service or worship for him.

     They lived godly lives.  They cared for their poor.  They
taught others.  They sent out preachers where they could not
go.  With simplicity of faith and fervor there was no need of 
centralization.  Without organized machinery the gospel was
preached throughout civilization in a short time (Col. 1:23).
These disciples were known as Christians (Acts 11:26; 26:28;;
1 Pet. 4:16).  They wore no sectarian names.  Their religion
was not sensual or materialistic.  They sought to impress God with the only 
thing that ever impresses Him -- contrite
obedience (1 Sam. 15:22).  Their appeal was not social or rec-
reational.  They offered the gospel to a troubled world for it 
was God's power to save (Rom. 1:16), and any other appeal
was beneath them.

     "If only such could be today," many say.  But it is!  Free
men and women over the earth have despaired of denominat-
ionalism, seeing in it no necessity or relevance and only a
cause of division.  They desire the simplicity of what Christ
authored, and their number is increasing.  How many have
taken such a stand?  Who knows?!  They are related and con-
nected only in Christ and not some organization with machin-
ery to keep a tally.  Periodicals such as Time Magazine have
listed the number in this nation alone in excess of two and a
quarter million.  We will not assess their estimation and try to
number a people spiritually belonging only to God.

     What is important is that a group of such people meet within minutes of 
where you live.  They worship and serve
God in the same way the early disciples did.  Christ is their 
only creed and the Scriptures their only guide.  The are not
members of any denomination, they are simply a congregat-
ion, or church, of Christ.  They would like to share Christ with
you and with all the world.

     YOU TOO CAN BE JUST A CHRISTIAN and serve God with-
out belonging to any denomination, bound by no denominatio-
nal laws or obligations.  If such freedom appeals to you, please contact us.  
 ------ Dale Smelser
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