| The "uniqueness" of
the churches of Christ
In a day and time in which so many people extol the virtues of diversity, it’s
not surprising that those who emphasize their uniqueness might be considered
“mean,” “politically incorrect” and generally outside the bounds of what is
considered fitting and proper. In terms of what the “world” thinks, the idea of
being “unique,” or “distinctive” in one’s actions and beliefs goes against the
very grain of what so many are trying to accomplish. In the world,
distinctiveness often leads to an attitude of bias and prejudice toward those
who are not “the same as we.” Indeed, this all-too-human tendency has led to
more problems in the world than we can even begin to number.
However, when one leaves the “worldly” realm and enters the “religious” realm, a
different set of criteria must apply. In so-called “Christendom,” the
denominational world has chosen in most cases to also strive for “unity in
diversity.” In doing so, they mirror the attitudes of the world around them. The
question we must ask in terms of Christianity is, “What does God want?” It does
not matter what the attitudes of the world around us might be toward the idea of
uniqueness. What truly matters is God’s opinion, and as far as being unique is
concerned, God desires and commands His people to be just that - unique! In 2
Cor. 6:17, we read where God commands Christians to “be separate.” In fact, this
section of Scripture addresses specifically the idea of not being joined with
“unbelievers,” which isn’t surprising, since the concept of Christians being
apart from the sinful world is not hard to understand.
One
idea in particular will come to the forefront - God has placed salvation from
sins in one particular group of people:“Christians”
Where the difficulty comes
in for so many is in the idea of uniqueness where it applies to which is the
“correct” church, and how that affects who will be saved from their sins. When
someone says that Christians need to be separate from the world around them,
living a unique kind of life apart from the sins of the world, there is little
argument. When someone says that in order for you to be saved from your sins,
you must be a “Christian” in a certain specified way, there will be howls of
protest from all sides of “Christendom.”
If one studies the New
Testament with the goal in mind of understanding fully what God requires of
mankind in order to receive salvation from sins--if that student is sincere and
honest--if that student puts aside all denominational biases and preconceived
ideas, then several things will become evident. But, one idea in particular will
come to the forefront - God has placed salvation from sins in one particular
group of people - “Christians.” Studying further, one will find that the first
evidence of these “Christians” is in the book of Acts. Indeed, these saved ones
were members of the church which was founded by Jesus Christ Himself on the Day
of Pentecost all the way back in the first century. This church, known as the
church of Christ, is composed of those who are saved. “And the Lord added to
them day by day those that were saved.” (Acts 2:47).
When one studies His Word and learns that there are certain things one must do
to be saved; to become a Christian; to be added to the Lord’s church, then it is
not "mean" to teach these things.
When those in “other”
churches make the charge that the church of Christ is somehow “mean” because we
teach that salvation is unique to the Christ's church, is this charge true? Is
it somehow “mean” to be unique; or to want to be unique? If this “uniqueness” is
based upon wanting to be only what God commands that we be through the words of
the New Testament, then we must maintain that “uniqueness” must be equated with
being right in the eyes of God. When one studies His Word and learns that there
are certain things one must do to be saved; to become a Christian; to be added
to the Lord’s church, then it is not mean to teach these things. Indeed, when
one teaches that salvation from sins is only in the church which Jesus founded,
that one is only repeating what is found in the New Testament. To teach
otherwise is to deny the truth. To deny this truth is in fact the true
“mean-ness.”
Being unique in the eyes of God is a very desirable characteristic because it is
what God desires. Read the following passage of Scripture and see if you think
that uniqueness is “mean.”
“But ye are a elect race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a people for (God's) own possession, that ye may show
forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous
light: who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had
not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy”
(1 Pet 2:9 10).
When you consider what it means to be “unique,” please realize that there is no
“meanness” involved. In fact, what a wonderful picture is painted by the apostle
Peter: those who are unique in God’s eyes are “now the people of God;” they have
“obtained mercy.” Uniqueness in the eyes of God is a marvelous thing; a thing to
be sought after; a great and wonderful prize!
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