Brother Rushmore, I am a member of the Church, and have been all of my life. I am thankful for your appeal to the truth of Scripture. I read an article you wrote on Denominations, and I have a question. What about churches that do everything according to the Scripture and have a strong foundation regarding the inerrancy and authority of scripture, BUT do not have “Church of Christ” in their name? Mike Hays, Boyd Church of Christ, Boyd, TX
The name “Church of Christ” (Romans 16:16) is one of a few scriptural designations that appears in the New Testament to identify the Lord’s church. For instance, “Church of God” (1 Corinthians 1:2) is just as scriptural as “Church of Christ.” Due to denominational confusion, though, the churches of Christ generally do not represent themselves by other even scriptural names lest the Lord’s church be misunderstood as being a religious organization of manmade rather than divine origin. It would not be sinful for a local congregation of the Lord’s church to be known by another biblical designation. Yet, it might not be practical for distinction from other churches by fellow Christians and congregations of the Lord’s church, by denominational people and even non-religious persons, and by government and legal perspectives.
It has been rumored from time to time that congregations have been discovered which have achieved the duplication of New Testament Christianity without being aware of other congregations of the Lord’s church previously. Certainly, that is entirely possible, and in fact, that did occur throughout the United States and elsewhere around the world during a period referred to as Restoration History.
Usually, however, congregations that are nearly like the churches of Christ in so many ways are either one of two types. A local church may be independent and evolving toward restoration of primitive Christianity. On the other hand, several churches of Christ over the decades through the present were once clearly identified with the Lord’s church; more recently, they have opted to drop the reference to “Church of Christ” as they feel more closely drawn to the denominational community than do they sense a desirable affiliation with the churches of Christ. For some of these, “Church of Christ” is viewed more as historical heritage than representative of convictions pertaining to the church of the Bible.
Doctors are unable to satisfactorily diagnosis symptoms over the telephone, and often physicians experience enough difficulty accurately analyzing ailments in person owing to complexities and variables. Likewise, I cannot definitively assess religious aspiration in absentia either. Of course, nobody on earth is charged with the responsibility of assigning an eternal destination to anyone else (James 4:12). At best, we are fruit inspectors (Matthew 7:20). We and others need to follow the Bible roadmap from earth to heaven (2 John 4).
