One Church Removes Bad Raps
Church of Christ. The church is the body of Christ, Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:24. Christ is the one head
over His one body, Ephesians 4:4; 5:23. As there is “but one body” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13,20), so there is one
church.
The one head of the one body, Jesus (Colossians 1:18), said it is “my church” in Matthew 16:18. It is His (“my”)
church, and no other one's name will ever be on the church. However, many other names are on many vain
religions, showing that they are not the church. Acts 4:10-12 is one of many scriptures showing that there is “none
other name” than “Jesus Christ”, by which men are saved. God “adds” to the church those that are saved by
obeying the gospel (Acts 2:47).
So God “adds,” that is, God has “set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him” (1
Corinthians 12:18,27). Likewise, God can to any unfaithful member “cast forth as a branch, ... and cast them into
the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:6). God adds, or cuts out, or restores a member, as it pleases Him.
The biggest diabolical deception is that the many religious sects, denominations, branches and innovations are
viewed as “many churches" (some 20,000 plus worldwide according to World Christian Encyclopedia, Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 1982). These are impossible contradictions and the unraveling of reasonable thinking.
The Holy Scripture warns of many false religions of men (1 Timothy 4:1-3; Matthew 7:13-15; 1 John 4:1ff). While
there are many members in many congregations (“churches of Christ” are congregations, Romans 16:16), in all
the world there is "yet but one body" (I Corinthians 12:12-13,20; Hebrew 12:23), the church of Christ. It is “the true
tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man,” Hebrews 8:2. The truth, when obeyed, “shall make you free”
(John 8:32,36) from all lies and sins. Obeying the truth also makes you stand strong against the devil's scandals
and “spiritual wickedness in high places,” Ephesians 6:10-12. The truth removes all the charges and bad raps
against God, Christ, scripture, church and Christians, and puts the blames where they belong – on Satan and on
sinful man, on wicked, ignorant, fanatical, lazy and deceived people, on false religionists and sectarians.
Many are called but end up in false religion or no religion, yet a few are chosen in true religion, Matthew 22:14;
James 1:22-27. When people go to charging and blaming God and “all religion” for the problems in the world, they
show they are fools, and they reflect why there is a hell. Job lost all his children and his possessions. But Job did
not lose his cool or his trust in a redeeming God. “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly” Job 1:22.
Then, Job was smitten by Satan “with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown” Job 2:7. Well, Mrs. Job
just went off, saying to her husband: “...curse God and die.” Job then told his wife, “Thou speakest as one of the
foolish women speaketh.” Job said to trust God, receiving adversity with the good (Job 2:9-10).
The many ways of the devil are directly opposed to the truth. Satan gets people to say “To each his own” and “It
doesn't matter what you believe if ... “ and “I know good people who are atheists” and “Look at all the religious evil
done during the middle ages” and “I have my own philosophy,” etc. etc. etc. Lie, Lie Lie. “There is a way which
seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” Proverbs 14:12. The only way for people to
be truly one with God and with each other is to obey the truth of Christ as God has given in His word. The Lord
God invites, but being a Christian is voluntary, Revelation 22:11,17; Leviticus 1:3. Few will seek and find, and
many will be lost, Matthew 7:13-14,21-23. The Word of God stands and is sure.
Reprise. On September 11, 2001, nineteen brainwashed suicide mass murderers used four airplanes to crash the
World Trade Twin Towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington,D.C., and another plane that ended up
crashed in Pennsylvania. Killed were about 3000 souls, including some Muslims. Afterwards, some enemies of the
cross of Christ used this event as yet another excuse to lump together all religious believers, including
“Christians,” as misguided or downright harmful. The reality is precisely the opposite. “9/11” is a monumental
example of what can happen when men reject Christ, and follow false prophets and false religions. Yet, those who
falsely call themselves “Christians” but who are mind-blinded sectarians, in turn confuse and distract and repel
those of the world away from the oneness in Christ (read Jesus' words in John 17:20-21).
In a tract it said a preacher went to Africa and was preaching against religious “denomination.” A local leader
there thought he said “damnation.” But after they were finished with the teaching of Christ, they realized it's the
same thing. If people of “Christendom” bring a hundred different contradictory ways, then how can they expect to
guide those of non-Christ religions, to the way worth changing and living and dying for?
The identity of the church and of Christians, and the honest defense of good over evil, will prevail. In Matthew 7:
15 Jesus said: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening
wolves." Jesus said that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled (Matthew 5:6) and that those
who seek His truth shall find it (Matthew 7:7; John 8:32,36). Salvation in Christ is in the church of Christ.