What’s In a Name?
By Laurel Head
“I’m a ____________, what are you?” This is a question I am frequently asked and I am sure some readers have been asked this question as well. It’s not a difficult question to answer, it is simply hard to phrase and hard to explain in a short amount of time. Let’s look at what we are and how we can explain this to our friends that ask us.
What is a Christian? The word Christian literally means follower of Christ. The term Christians is only used 3 times in the Bible: Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, and 1 Peter 4:16. Followers of Christ were first called Christians in Antioch by Gentiles, later Paul says that Christians should be proud to be called this. Why should Christians be proud to be called followers of Christ? Because as stated in John 14:6, Jesus is the only way to get to Heaven; no man can provide a way of salvation, only the Son of God can.
Is the Church non denominational? I have always thought that the phrase “non denominational” meant that the Church didn’t belong to a man made religious organization. However, that isn’t necessarily what this phrase means. The phrase “non denominational” has been around since the latter part of the 20th century. I have heard it many times when talking about different religions and I have been asked if I am “non denominational” several times. However, there are some misunderstandings about what this phrase means and the history of the Church. The Church was started in AD 30 by Christ on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Even though some in the Lord’s Church refer to it as a “non-denominational church,” we have to understand that the Church of Christ is not a denomination. Also, the church is not “non-denominational,” for all of the “non-denominational churches” today have been established by and ordered by man-made doctrines. Even though the Bible was written by men, it was inspired by God or literally “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). There is no human explanation for a book that was written by about 40 men, was written over a few thousand years, contains 66 books and hundreds of fulfilled prophecies, and yet there are no errors or discrepancies to be successfully found. There is no explanation, unless you add in a Divine Being who is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent.
In conclusion, the Church of Christ isn’t a denomination; it wasn’t founded by a man. Similarly, it isn’t non-denominational; it wasn’t founded by a man and it doesn’t adhere to any rules made by man. The Church is simply the Church. 1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” The Church isn’t confusing or misleading, it is simply the Church founded by Jesus Christ and has the only way of salvation if someone follows and obeys the Bible, which is God’s Word. A Christian isn’t anything but a Christian. We are simply those who follow Christ and obey his commands.