WHY NOT BE JUST A CHRISTIAN?
By Harris J. Dark
Jesus prayed on the eve of his death, "I do not pray
for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me
through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father,
are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that
the world may believe that You sent Me." (John 17:20-21).
Religious people seem to realize more keenly than
before the importance and even necessity of Christian unity.
"Every Christian is bound to pray and work for the reunion of
Christendom....Divisions hinder the work of Christ; unity
advances it" (Dummelow's Bible Commentary, 1908, p. 804).
"Admittedly, the divided church is in many ways a scandal"
(Bible Knowledge Commentary, 1983, p. 333).
Yet, before we can have the unity which the Bible
teaches and demands, some practical means of attaining it must
be employed. It seems to me that it would be well to begin by
emphasizing some points of agreement. In other words, let us see
how close together we are, at present, and then we will be in
better position to discuss the points of difference. I believe
in religious debates and have engaged in such myself, but in
this tract I want to emphasize the truth upon which most
religious people are already agreed.
POINTS OF RELIGIOUS ARGUMENT
I believe we can say that many of those who claim to
be followers of Christ are agreed upon the following points:
1. General Statements: (1) God is (Genesis 1:1;
Romans 1:19-20). (2) The Bible is His word written by men as
they were guided by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter
1:19-21). (3) Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God
(Matthew 16:16). (4) The world needs a Savior and has no power
by which to redeem itself from sin (Romans 3:8,23; 6:23). (5)
Redemption or salvation is to be had through Christ and only
through Him (John 1:29, 10:9, 14:6)."There salvation in any
other; for there is no other name under heaven given among men,
by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
2. The Plan of Salvation. If we agree upon these
five points, then, we also agree that there is a plan of
salvation, for these points imply such a plan. It may be that we
can get closer together upon the items of this plan than you
have thought we could. We will all agree that faith is the very
foundation of the plan (John 3:16). All accept the fact that
repentance is essential (Acts 17:30). Everyone agrees that the
plan of salvation includes the confession that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of the Living God (Matthew 10:32, Acts 8:37,
Romans 10:10). Some make additions to this simple Biblical
confession, but I have never heard of anyone's subtracting from
it. When the comprehensiveness of the term "Christ" is
understood, it is obvious that no additions are needed.
Everyone who agrees on the foregoing will also agree
that Jesus commanded baptism and promised salvation to those who
believed and were baptized. "He that believes and is baptized
shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned" (Mark
16:16). We will all agree that Peter said, as the Holy Spirit
prompted him, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). We will agree
that Ananias said to Paul, "And now why do you delay? Arise, and
be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the
Lord" (Acts 22:16), and also that the Holy Spirit said through
the Apostle Peter that "baptism does also now save us (not the
putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (I
Peter 3:21).
It is also generally agreed that when one has been
immersed he has been baptized (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).
There are some who believe that sprinkling or pouring will do as
well, but all agree that immersion is safe. Furthermore, it is
generally agreed that when one believes and repents, confesses
his faith, and is immersed for the remission of sins in the name
of Christ, he is saved. Some believe one is saved before
completing this program, but all will agree that he is saved
when he has completed it. So here again we find the ground of
unity.
3. Christian Worship. The next question is, "What
should one do by way of worship and Christian service after
becoming a Christian?" In these realms, also, there are many
important points of agreement. In reference to public worship,
all will agree that it is proper for Christians to meet together
upon the first day of the week and sing psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs and make melody in their hearts unto the Lord
(Acts 2:42; Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19), lay by in store as
they have been prospered (1 Corinthians 16:1-2), pray unto their
Father in heaven (Acts 12:5), teach and be taught (Acts 11:26;
15:31-32), and eat the Lord's supper in memory of Him who died
for them (Acts 20:7).
Some dare to add to these items of worship, some
dare to subtract from them; but all agree that they are
scriptural and sufficient. When Christians come together upon
the first day of each week and perform these five Biblical items
of worship to God, doing so "in spirit and in truth" (John
4:24), they know that their worship has pleased their Maker and
Redeemer.
This, then, is the ground of unity in our worship on
the Lord's Day. In such a program all Christians could take part
and go away believing that they had done all that was required
and nothing that was condemned.
4. Christian Living. In reference to Christian
living, there is general agreement upon the broad principles
that should govern. In treating others, everyone ought to
subscribe to the Golden Rule (Luke 6:31) and to the Royal Law
(James 2:8) . We agree that denying ungodliness and worldly
lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this
present world (Titus 2:12), that we should love our neighbors as
ourselves (Mark 12:31), and that we should do unto others as we
would have them do unto us (Matthew 7:12).
THE SUFFICENCY OF THE PLAN
The above is a brief outline, then, of points upon
which there is very general agreement. Let me ask you, dear
reader, if you can think of anything essential to salvation that
is not covered, at least in a general way, in this outline. If
one follows the plan presented here, with the Bible alone as our
only guide, do you not agree that he will be saved in heaven at
last? Can you think of anything else that is needed to insure
one's eternal salvation? I believe you cannot.
Upon the sufficiency of this plan I am sure we are
agreed. This being true, would it not be wrong to include
anything else? Would it not be wrong to insist upon adding
something to this simple Bible plan and thereby cause division
and destroy the possibility of the unity that the Bible requires
(John 17:20-23)? If the above plan is sufficient to take one to
heaven, what more do you desire? Why add anything to it? Would
it not be wrong to add anything else and "exceed what is
written" (1 Corinthians 4:6)?
Another question: "What will the following of this
plan make of one?" I am sure we will also agree that it will
make him a Christian and only a Christian. "If any man suffer as
a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in
that name" (I Peter 4:16). So, why not be just a Christian?
Let is be noted that one can do all that is
suggested above and which we have agreed to be sufficient unto
salvation without belonging to any human denomination. You can
believe, repent, confess your sins, and be baptized without
belonging to any denomination. You who have done so can meet in
groups upon the first day of the week and worship God as the
Bible directs without becoming members of any denomination, and
you can certainly perform your duties in the field of Christian
service without joining any denomination, of which we read
nothing in the Bible.
MORE POINTS OF AGREEMENT
But while we are in this agreeing business, let us
take it even further. In this country there is a large religious
community known as the Baptist Church. This group includes may
fine people. Many of them are honest, intelligent, cultured, and
good citizens. They have taken their denominational title from
their emphasis upon immersion as being the only scriptural
baptism, in contrast to those who accept something else. I agree
with the Baptists that immersion is baptism and that nothing
short of immersion will meet the definition of baptism found in
Romans 6:4 or Colossians 2:12. I agree with them that the Greek
word baptidzo is properly translated by the word "immerse." But
I can agree with them upon this great truth without belonging to
the Baptist denomination. I can fully accept the very truth from
which the Baptist Church has taken its name and still be just a
Christian.
The Methodist Church is one of the largest in this
country. I have more kinspeople in that denomination than in any
other. For all of their good points I give them due respect and
credit. Because of their insistence upon method and system in
their religious work, they were nicknamed Methodists many years
ago. This name was later accepted by them as their
denominational title. I agree with the Methodists that system
and method are important. I endeavor to be systematic and
orderly in every phase of my work and activity. I believe that
the Lord's work should be carried on orderly. "Let everything be
done in decency and in order" (I Corinthians 14:40). We should
use order, then. We should use the Bible order. But one can
certainly do this without belonging to the Methodist Church. Why
should one exalt the name of this one aspect of Christian
activity to the point of adopting it as a religious title? One
can be methodical without being a Methodist. Just as one can be
systematic without being a Systematist. One can be just a plain
Christian and practice everything the Bible teaches in reference
to order and system. So, why not be just a Christian?
When I was attending the Union Theological Seminary,
one of my professors told me that the New Testament churches
were "congregational presbyterian." He explained his statement
by saying that each congregation was independent of all other
congregations and that each was overseen by a group of men known
as elders or presbyters. I agree with him exactly. According to
his explanation his statement was entirely correct. Yet, I am
not a member of the Presbyterian Church. One can believe all the
Bible teaches upon the presbytery and practice the same without
belonging to the Presbyterian denomination. Why should this
characteristic of church government of organization be exalted
by using it as a religious or denominational title? One can be
just a Christian and still believe and practice what the bible
teaches in reference to the presbytery. One does not have to be
a member of the Presbyterian Church to obey God in reference to
the presbytery.
One can believe in the Bible's truth concerning the
universal church or universality of the Gospel without being a
Catholic (Universalist). One can believe in the second coming of
Christ without belonging to the Adventist denomination. One can
teach and practice holy living without belonging to the Holiness
Church. If one had to join the Baptist Church because he
believed in baptism and the Methodist Church because he believed
in method and the Presbyterian Church because he believed in the
presbytery of the local congregation (I Timothy 4:14) and so on
down the list, what would he be when he had finished? One can
agree with the denominations on the very truth from which they
have taken their names, insofar as they have taken their names
from truth in the Bible, without belonging to any of them.
SOME IMPORTANT CONCLUSIONS
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall
enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My
Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). One can believe all truth
and obey every commandment of God without belonging to any
denomination. Can you think of an exception to this statement?
Can you think of any truth that you cannot believe or any
commandment that you cannot obey without joining a denomination?
I don't believe you can. Can you think of any truth that you
cannot accept or any commandment that you cannot obey while
being just a Christian? Isn't it sufficient to be just a
Christian? Isn't it wrong to be something different from or more
than a Christian? Since one can be a Christian without joining
any denomination, then why join one? Would it not be wrong to
join one, since denominationalism is division and division is
wrong (Romans 16:17)? "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same
thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be
perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same
judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:10). Let me emphasize the
statement that I can believe all truth either in the Bible or
out of the Bible and obey every commandment of the Lord without
joining any denomination.
This being true, what then does it take to make one
a member of a denomination? Believing truth will not make one a
member of a denomination, because he can believe all truth on
the outside. Obeying God will not make one a member of a
denomination, because he can obey God on the outside. If
believing truth and obeying God will not make one a member of a
denomination, then what will do so? To become a member of a
denomination, it is obvious that one must believe something
besides the truth or do something besides obey God. Since
believing all truth and obeying all God's commands will not put
one in a denomination, then he must believe something different
from the truth and do something that God has not commanded or
leave off something that He has commanded, in order to become a
member of a denomination. It seems to me that these conclusions
are inevitable and unanswerable.
It may be that some of my readers are already in
some denomination; hence, I raise this question: "What must you
do to get out of a denomination?" The answer is, retrace the
steps that you took in going into it. Some seem to think that in
order to give up denominationalism and to just be Christians
that they will have to forsake all that they have ever held as
dear and precious in the field of religion. This is a mistake.
Believing truth did not put you into a denomination. In order to
come out of it, you will not have to forsake any truth. It will
only be necessary for you to reject the error that you accepted
in becoming a member of a denomination. In order to come out of
a denomination, you will not have to cease obeying God upon any
point. It will only be necessary for you to change your conduct
on those points where you have been disobeying Him. Since
believing truth did not put you in, you will not have to forsake
truth in coming out. Merely give up the error that you accepted,
believe the truth revealed in the Bible and obey God; then you
will be Christian, not a denominationalist. In order to come out
of a denomination, you will not have to quit believing that God
is, that the Bible is His word, that Jesus is His Son and the
Savior of the world. You will not have to quit believing in, and
teaching, and practicing, faith, repentance, confession, and
baptism as the conditions of salvation. You will not have to
forsake any of the five items of congregational worship outlined
in the Bible. You will not have to forsake any scriptural
service to your fellow man.
Again, I repeat, you can believe all truth, obey
every command of God, be a Christian, live the Christian life,
die in the Lord, and be saved forever without belonging to any
denomination. Since it is unnecessary to be a member of a
denomination, it is wrong to be so. Any nonessential that causes
division is wrong. "Come out from among them and be separate,
says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing; and I will welcome you"
(I Corinthians 6:17). Amen. Please contact us at WFrankWalton@juno.com.
(Augmented By W. Frank Walton, 1996)
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