Where In The Bible Will I Find:

Christians But Not Members Of The Lord's Church?

Some people are trying to make their way to heaven and not be a member of the Lord's church. They wish to just live an individual, autonomous "Christian??" life free of any church affiliation. They think by keeping the ten commandments, abstaining from any really evil practices, donating to some good charities, being good family members and good citizens, will obtain the favor of God and will be awarded eternal life. It is readily conceded that one may be a Christian and not be part of any denominational church. In fact, the Lord never authorized, nor approved of, anyone being a member of a denominational church.

This is a far cry from admitting that one can be a Christian and not be a member of the Lord's church. His church was inaugurated on Pentecost in the year A.D. 33 and everyone that believes and obeys Him is added to HIS church (Acts 2:47). The Lord's church is NOT a denominational church. The Lord's church is His body, He gave His life for it, He purchased it with His blood (Acts 20:28). Those who have not been baptized INTO Christ (Gal. 3:27), are not IN Christ and, therefore, not a Christian in any sense.

By obeying the commanded to "be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38), there will be NO "joining some denominational church," because the Lord adds all the saved to HIS church (Acts 2:47). The saved are the only ones who are Christians and they have not been added to any denominational church.

Many people view the church as a kind of social club, an organization to hand out food from the pantry to anyone who asks and to pay rent and utility bills for those who over spend their budget and get themselves into a bind. They see it as a fallible (even hypocritical) people whom one may voluntarily choose to associate with, or he may choose not to. They see that it makes demands of its members and place obligations on them of which they desire to be free. They fail to see the church as the Bible pictures it: the blood bought body of Christ wherein are all the save (Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:23), the object of Christ's love (Eph. 5:25), a part of God's eternal purpose (Eph. 3:10,11), the product of God's planning and inseparably tied into God's scheme of redemption (Eph. 1:22,23).

The church is so important to God that he have His Son to die for it. How can anyone treat it as unimportant or optional? Just as in the days of Noah, all the saved were in the ark, those not in the ark were lost. All the saved are in the Lord's church, those not in His church are lost. The church is His body, He is the Savior of his church (Col. 1:18, 24; Eph. 5:23). Denominational churches are NOT His body, He is not the savior of any denominational church.

I.D. Byars