Through the years, Billy Graham's My Answer newspaper column has provided interesting and often helpful reading. But his answer to one inquiry was not at all helpful:

QUESTION: In our city there are 35 different denominations. From my reading of the Bible, I cannot believe that Christ founded all these different religions. How can I tell which one of the thirty-five is the one founded by Christ?

Billy Graham's reply appeared to be influenced by a desire to try to defend the existing denominational system. He made statements that have no Bible basis, such as...

We speak of the church visible and the church invisible.... But within every denomination there are committed Christians. These comprise the church invisible ... If you are trying to find the true church, don't look to any one in particular - look in all of them.

COMMENTS: Graham speaks of "the church visible and the church invisible" but the Bible does not. The New Testament speaks of but one church and it was certainly visible.

Billy Graham tells the questioner that if he is trying to find the one true church, he should "not look to any one in particular....” But if the inquirer finds the true church, it will be "one in particular." Jesus established only one! Jesus said, "I will build my church..." (Matthew 16:18).

 

Finding The Church Founded By Jesus

There is just one way to answer the question: Go to the New Testament. Disregard the many conflicting claims of men. Conduct your own investigation.

Jesus said: "The seed is the word of God" (Luke 8:11). Whenever and wherever the word of God is proclaimed and obeyed in its original purity, it will bear the same fruit.

Seed produces after its kind. This assures that when the Bible is followed in every matter of faith in our time, it will produce a church identical to the New Testament church of the first century. It will be the same church. It will be the Lord's church.

So, in conducting your own investigation, go to the New Testament. Jesus' church was referred to most often simply as the church. Individual congregations were just called "churches of Christ" (Romans 16:16).

Members of the Lord's church were just Christians, not a particular kind of Christian. "And the disciples were called Christians..." (Acts 11:26).

The worship of the Lord's church consisted of singing (Ephesians 5:19), praying and teaching (Acts 2:42), and, upon the first day of every week, the Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7) and giving of their means (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

The plan of salvation the church proclaimed was that the gospel must be heard (Romans 10:17), and believed (Mark 16:16). Believers must repent (Acts 2:38), confess their faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God (Romans 10:10), and then be baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27) to have their sins "washed away" (Acts 22:16).

Then the Lord added the saved each day to His church (Acts 2:47). They did not join any denomination.

Jesus promises an eternal home in heaven to all who obey the gospel and then live the pure, faithful life of a Christian (Rev. 2:7,10).

These are just some of the things an investigation will reveal. Time and effort will be needed, but it can be done. The Bible was written so that every responsible person can understand it well enough to believe it, obey it, and be saved.

 

For Additional Copies Or Further Information, Contact:

East Hill Church Of Christ                or Garland Elkins                   or James McGill

P. 0. Box 329,                                      1190 Estate Dr.                        7414 Bridle Dr.

Pulaski, TN 38478                               Memphis, TN  38119               Nashville, TN  37221

931-363-2777