Write The Author
By Neal Griffin
Some time ago someone read Mark 16:17f and concluded that snake handling was essential to salvation, and consequently the Snake Handling Church was born. From those same verses someone concluded that tongue speaking was a sign of salvation, and consequently the Holiness Churches came into existence.
During that same era someone read Matthew 26:27 and concluded that since Jesus said, "this cup", therefore (in the Lord’s Supper) only one cup should be used, and consequently the One Cup Church of Christ was born.
According to W. Carl Ketcherside someone during that era noticed that the word, "cup", was used, and since cups have handles the Lord’s Supper should be observed using only cups with handles, and consequently the Church With Handles Church of Christ originated.
Someone concluded that a pope was necessary to rule the church and consequently the Roman Catholic Church began. Others drew different conclusions and consequently the Lutheran Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Baptist Church, the Christian Church, the Methodist Church, and others came into existence, all bent on proselyting members into their particular religious organizations. Dear reader one does not need a degree in Theology to see the absurdity in all of this.
It all began at Corinth: "I of Cephas"; "I of Apollos"; "I of Christ"; and continues into our day: "I of the Catholic Church"; "I of the Church of Christ"; "I of the Baptist Church"; and et cetera. It all sprang from the erroneous conclusion that believers needed to distinguish themselves from other believers. In opposition to this Paul wrote, "Is Christ divided?" The distinguishing signs and denominating church names erroneously announce to an enquiring world that Christ’s body is divided and made up of disjoint parts. Such distinguishing signs are abominations before God. Almost with His dying breath Jesus prayed that we might be one as He and God were one, but the denominating signs of men demonstrate to the world that the denominations do not care one whit whether or not all believers arrive at being one in Christ Jesus. Satan has the denominational world in the palm of his hand, and in Jesus’ prayer it appears that He is pleading, "Come ye out from among them and be ye separate. Be one as I and God are one!"
Denominating signs demonstrate the promotion of something other than Christ. The claim is made: "We promote Christ", but denominating names and distinguishing signs belie where their effort is directed. Christ plays second fiddle to their major effort &151; promoting their particular denominated, distinguishing church. We should all be promoting the Christ of the church rather than the church of our choice.
Please prayerfully consider these thoughts. I believe them to be true to the Word. Your servant by reason of Calvary, Neal Griffin
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