The Bible presents Jesus Christ as the Son of God. His coming was predicted in the Old Testament which God used to govern His people until Christ came and established the New (Jeremiah 31:31 – 33; Galatians 3:19, 23 – 24). That New Testament reveals the truth about Christ. By studying it we learn all there is to know of the way of Christ.
We learn that among the early followers of Christ there existed no denominational organizations whatever. The denominations began at a much later time. In the New Testament we see people hearing the gospel and obeying the conditions of God’s grace. Being saved, they were added to the Lord’s people, the church (Acts 2:36 – 47). As the gospel spread, we find Christians assembling together in congregations in various localities. Each congregation was under its own elders (Acts 14:23) and no one else on earth. These pastors could not make laws and be masters.They were given the responsibility of tending and caring for the congregation as shepherds would a flock (Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Peter 5:1-3). The only headquarters those disciples knew was heaven, where their head, Jesus Christ, reigned as king (Eph. 1:22 – 23).
Their worship was something in which to participate, not something 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 Corinthians 11:23 – 29), they would all sing (Ephesians 5:19), and they would all pray with various ones leading (1 Corinthians 14:15 – 16), and they would all share in their mutual responsibilities by sharing their prosperity (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).
They lived godly lives. They cared for their poor. They taught others the good news regarding Jesus. They sent out preachers to teach others in far communities. With simplicity of faith and zeal there was no need of centralization. Without organized machinery, the gospel was preached to the whole creation in a short time (Colossians 1:23). These disciples of Christ were known as Christians (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). They did not wear the names of men or religious practices or organizational designs. Their religion was not materialistic or sensual. They did not seek to impress men with pious ceremony, but they sought to reach out to God with contrite obedience (2 Samuel 15:22). Their appeal was not social or recreational. They offered the gospel, for they knew it was God’s power to save (Romans 1:16), and any other appeal was beneath them.
You may think, “Oh, if only such could be today.” But it is! Men and women over the earth have despaired of denominationalism, seeing in it neither necessity nor relevance but 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 connected only in Christ and not in some organization with machinery to keep a tally. A group of such people meets within minutes of where you live.
They are just Christians. They worship and serve God in the same way the early disciplesdid. Christ is their only head and the Bible their only guide. They are not members of any human organization; they are simply a congregation, or church, of Christ. They in turn would like to share Christ with you. You too can be a Christian and serve God without belonging to any denomination, or by being bound by denominational laws or obligations. If such freedom appeals to you, please visit us!