Craig Thomas

In a world filled with denominations, the concept of being just a Christian is difficult to communicate. But careful and honest readers of the New Testament find that Jesus did not die so His followers would divide into sects. Jesus died to reconcile all men to God in "one body" (Eph. 2:16). Belonging to Christ, being baptized into the "one body" of which He is Savior, is entirely different than belonging to any of the hundreds of religious bodies in this country (1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:23).

There Is Only One Body Or Church.

The Bible is very clear. There is only "one body" and "one faith," just as there is only "one God" and "one Lord" (Eph. 4:4-6). The "one body" is Christ's church (Eph. 1:22-23), built by Jesus (Mt. 16:18); not men (Heb. 8:1-2). This spiritual house consists of Christians (1 Pet. 2:5), citizens of God's kingdom (Col. 1:13), saints (Col. 1:2); those born again into God's family (Jn. 3:5; Eph. 2:19). Christ is the "foundation" upon which His church is built (1 Cor. 3:11); not the sands of denominational creeds or traditions. Jesus is its head (Eph. 1:22) and all authority rests in Him (Mt. 28:18), leaving no room for Popes, Presidents, councils, or conventions. Jesus built His church according to the divine pattern. A house built by any other (Luther, Calvin, Wesley, etc.) is not recognized by the Lord, for "Except Jehovah build the house, they labor in vain that build it" (Ps. 127:1; Mt. 15:13). Jesus condemned the various sects and parties of His day (Mk. 7:6-9, 13) greatly offending them (Mt. 15:12). Does the New Testament's appeal to be just a Christian interest or offend you?

Simply Christians.

When folks complied with the conditions of grace (Acts 2:38-41), "the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47). To which "church" did the Lord add them? Were they added to the Lutheran Church? Or was it the Baptist Church? Was Peter a member of one denomination and John another? When Saul was baptized (Acts 22:16), did he become an Episcopalian or a Methodist? Are these absurd questions? Certainly, because no one would claim those baptized in Acts 2, or any of the apostles, were anything other than just Christians! If they were alive today, no denomination could claim them, for the apostles' teaching made men and women Just Christians; not Protestants or Catholics.

The "Seed" Principal.

Jesus said, "Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up" (Mt. 15:13). To get plants, you must first sow seed. All know if you sow corn seed, you get corn plants; if you sow tomato seed, you get tomato plants. The Bible says the seed producing Christians "is the word of God" (Lk. 8:4-15). Paul's duty was to go about sowing this seed (1 Cor. 3:5-7). Fair reader, "What did the seed Paul planted produce?" Methodist? Baptist? Catholics? No, it produced just Christians, because the seed he planted was the word of God and seed always produces after its kind! Why can we understand this simple and inviolable principal when it comes to tending our farms and gardens, yet so many reject these principals when it comes to God's word?

Let's abandon sectarianism, return to the Bible and be just Christians.