One would have to be pretty naive not to realize that there is much confusion and disorder in the religious world. A major contributor to this lack of unity is Protestant denominationalism. Denominationalism is the product of dissatisfaction. Martin Luther was dissatisfied with the Catholic church (which had apostatized from the true church) and so began the Lutheran denomination. This mindset started the domino effect, and so we have present-day full-blown denominationalism! What should we do about this religious division that causes confusion and disorder?
We should go back to the New Testament and pattern ourselves after the church found therein. That is what the church of Christ is all about. We are not simply another denomination. We are the church that you read about in the Bible. We do not claim any church founder other than Jesus. We do not have any church creed other than the Bible. We do not have any religious practice other than what the Bible authorizes. We simply claim to be members of the church that Jesus established.
Many times people in the religious world call members of the church of Christ “Campbellites.” By this they mean followers of Thomas and Alexander Campbell, who were men who were tired of the confusion and disorder of denominationalism and simply tried to go back to the New Testament for their doctrine and beliefs. However, we are not “Campbellites” because the church of Christ existed hundreds of years before the Campbells. Furthermore, we are not followers of the Campbells because we are not to follow men, but Christ (Mt. 16.24; 1 Peter 2.21). And, that is what we are encouraging everyone to do today.
How can you go wrong if you follow Christ? How can you go wrong if you seek to become a member of the church He established? How can you go wrong if you put off the yoke of denominationalism for simple New Testament Christianity? If everyone would do this, then confusion and disorder would disappear, and unity would be the grand result! That is for what Jesus prayed (John 17.21). Why not become a simple New Testament Christian? Think about it!
Kevin Williams
