Christ promised to build His church (Matthew 16:18), and, according to the historical record found in the New Testament, the church came into existence in the city of Jerusalem on the first Day of Pentecost following the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ when "those who gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day about three thousand souls were added to them" (Acts 2:41). (For a detailed account of the church's beginning, one should read the entirety of Acts 2).
While it began in Jerusalem, the church was designed and intended by God to be a universal spiritual kingdom "beginning at Jerusalem"and spreading in time "to the end of the earth" (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8).
As the church spread, independent, autonomous (self-governing) congregations (local churches) were established throughout the Greco-Roman world. Christ was the only head of the church, but each congregation was organized with elders (also called pastors and bishops), deacons, and, of course, the individual members (see Philippians 1:1). In no instance did a group of churches constitute a diocese, conference, or synod. Each local congregation was governed, shepherded, overseen by the elders of that one church (I Peter 5:2). Nor were these local churches grouped into different denominations. In New Testament times there was "one body (the church), and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:4-6). It never occurred to a first century Christian to ask another Christian, "Of what denomination are you a member?" for there were no denominations until many years after the establishment of the church. The oldest protestant denomination (the LutheranChurch) is less than five hundred years old, having been established in Augsburg, Germany in 1530.
Today, the churches of Christ strive to occupy the same undenominational stance as the congregations of which we read in the New Testament. We seek to be simply Christians only, without any denominational affiliation and with no desire to attain denominational status. Each local church of Christ is independent of every other church of Christ, though we are bound in Christian love and fellowship with all who strive to honor Christ by preaching, teaching, worshiping, and living as the New Testament instructs.
Unfortunately, some within churches of Christ in recent decades have not clearly perceived the undenominational and non-sectarian ground that we occupy. Some among us are now saying that the churches of Christ are a denomination and that we should acknowledge our denominational status. They want to tag the church with an exclusive, patented name and not accept the fact that undenominational Christianity is possible even in the 21st century.
This effort to corral the churches of Christ and pen them up in a denominational stall is being resisted by those who understand the true nature of the church as revealed in the New Testament. Because of this resistance, there is a growing tension within the churches of Christ. The only solution to the problem is a return to the New Testament and an adherence to it with reference to how one is saved from sin, how local churches of redeemed people are to be organized and governed, how one is to acceptably worship the Lord, and how one is to live so as to be pleasing to the Lord.
I am a Christian, a disciple (learner/follower) of Christ, a member of the spiritual body (church) of Christ, and a member of an autonomous congregation of saints (Christians, though not sinlessly perfect people). But I have never joined any denomination, and I have neither the desire to do so nor the intention of doing so.
Hugh Fulford
June 28, 2011
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