[Editor’s note: This article is the text of a tract being used to introduce a new work coming to Sunbury-on-Thames, south west England.]

Constant Coulibaly

Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron once famously said that Britain is a Christian nation. Indeed, the presence of church buildings across the country serves as a reminder of the nation's Christian heritage. From cathedrals to parishes to small meeting houses, the Christian faith has been shaped by various cultural and historical factors, including immigration, over the course of many centuries. But just how many churches are there in the United Kingdom? The answer is hundreds, representing a diverse array of denominations. With such a great number of churches, it’s normal to wonder which one is the true church.

Origins

The origin of most church organizations, including the largest among them, can be traced back to a human, whether a man or woman, who started it. A quick search on Google shows that the Baptist church was started by a man named John Smyth. The Church of England was created in the 16th century when the English king, Henry VIII, decided to separate from the Catholic Church. The Methodist church is connected to the teachings and influence in the 18th century of brothers John and Charles Wesley. The Salvation Army was founded in London in 1865 by William Booth. The Quakers, founded in the mid-17th century by George Fox, emerged during a period of religious turmoil.

In this landscape of numerous churches, there is, however, a unique church that was not founded by any man. It has a divine origin, meaning it was created by God, not by man. This church was founded in the 1st century by Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus promised to build His church, and this promise was fulfilled in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). There is no doubt that only one church came into existence on that Pentecost day.

When Jesus made the promise to build His church in Matthew 16:18, He said, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The word "church" is used in the singular, which indicates that Jesus did not promise to establish hundreds of churches or denominational organizations. He promised to build only one church. It is important to note that the term "church" in this context refers to a universal entity, in contrast to its usage for a local congregation in other places in the New Testament. This universal church, established by Christ, is the church He promised to build and love (Ephesians 5:25-2).

Unique

Every reality in the world has its own features that make it unique and different from others. Take a car, for example. When you look at a car from the outside, you can see it has a hood-like body shape, a steering wheel, wheels, bumpers, front and rear lights, and so on. These unique parts and features set a car apart from other objects. The same principle applies to the church. The essential characteristics of this divine institution are outlined in the New Testament. Just as a car's unique features distinguish it from other things, the distinctive qualities of the church as described in the New Testament set it apart from all other organizations or institutions.

Therefore, one must search for the church that exists today which has the same essential characteristics described in the scriptures. When you find a church that matches the biblical model, you will have discovered the church Jesus built. It is referred to in the New Testament with various names, such as the “body of Christ” (Ephesians 1:23), the “kingdom of God” (Acts 20:25), the “bride of Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2), the “household of God” (Ephesians 2:19), and the “saints” (Colossians 1:2).

Characteristics

The church Jesus built is described in New Testament scripture as having the following characteristics.

Head
Christ is the head, meaning He is the supreme authority over the church (Ephesians 1:20). There is no earthly headquarters involved.

Doctrine
Only Christ’s words are its doctrine, which we learn from the Apostles through their teaching, recorded in the New Testament (Acts 2:42).

Membership
Individuals become members of the church by being baptized and added to the church by Christ (Acts 2:47).

Worship
Its worship includes 5 acts: singing (Ephesians 5:18-19); praying (Acts 2:42, 1 Thessalonians 5:17); preaching (Romans 1:16), giving every Sunday (1 Corinthians 16:1-2, 2 Corinthians 9:7) and the Lord's Supper every Sunday (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

Work
Its work or mission is threefold, focusing on the spiritual needs of man. This threefold mission is to save souls through the preaching of the gospel (Philippians 4:14-18), provide for its poor (Acts 4:34, 35; 6:1-7; 1 Timothy 5:16), and worship and edify itself (Ephesians 4:11-16).

Organisation
Local churches or congregations are referred to in the New Testament as “churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16). Each one is autonomous in its decisions and work (Acts 14:23). They are independent of each other and of any central authority, such as a pope or a board, with Christ being the only head. God has appointed leaders in local churches, who are called by various titles depending on the aspect of their role being emphasized - pastors or shepherds, bishops or overseers, or elders or presbyters. Pastors function as shepherds under Christ, "the chief Shepherd,” responsible for the salvationof the members committed to their care (1 Pet. 5:1-4). Pastors also oversee the work of the local church. A church that has a governing body greater than a localized arrangement, such as a regional or national organization, is not the church described in the New Testament.

Funds
The New Testament teaches how the local church should fund its work. The members of the local church are instructed to give as they have been prospered, on the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). These monetary contributions from the members are then collected and placed into the church’s treasury. The Bible does not authorise a local church to gain funds through investments, business operations, community solicitation, or other means.

Focus
Its focus is heaven, for to heaven it will go (1 Corinthians 15:24, 1 Peter 1:4) and in heaven it will remain (1 Thessalonians 4:17). We invite you to explore the Bible and discover the church described on its sacred pages. Look for the church that matches that biblical description, doing so with an open searching heart. We would be happy to help you in your search.