Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 12/20/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hello! Mr. Carpenter.

I just wanted to speak with you in reference to the Baptist Church. I want you to please realize that you are in the wrong church. I am not trying to criticize you in any way. I have much respect for you! I am just trying to show you the truth about God's word. Don't harden your heart, and please really think about the Baptist Church and realize that the Church of Christ is the 1 true church.

If your church was founded by man, then it's wrong all together- as Christ is the head of the Church. "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."(Ephesians 5:23)

If Christ established the church, then that means that it is his church!

Therefore, you should bare no other name except Christ's name. Hence, the "Church of Christ", not "Baptist" not "Methodist", not "Mormon"!

You can NOT be a Baptist and also be a Christian!

A Christian is a follower of Christ. If you are not worshiping Christ the correct way that was laid out in the Bible, then you are worhshiping in vain!

Matthew 15:9- "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

Mark 7:7- "Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

The Church of Christ is the only church that can be found in the bible!

Romains 16:16- "Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you."

I know that there are tons of other religions, churches, organizations and institutions who all claim that they are the 1 true church.

But the Bible specifically states "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat" (Matthew 7:13)

As a result, to confirm that the Church of Christ is the only church that Christ will return for is accurate and proven in the Bible, you should study yourself so that you will see the truth and not go by what any man says!

2 Timothey 2:15- "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

If you have any additional questions to prove to you that the Church of Christ is the ONLY true church, then please feel free to reply. I will be more than happy to show you what the word of God says, and not what I think!

God bless you!

ANSWER: Hi Calvin,

THank you for this very thoughtful little article.  I must take issue witht he premise that because the phrase "Church of Christ" is used in the Bible, then somehow this is a Biblical sanction of the denomination that bears the same name.  By that flawed logic we would make a couple of arguments:

1.  The true church is the penticostal sect:  The Church of God.

1 Corinthians 1:2
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Aparently the church at Corinth was not Church of Christ.

2.  If you want to use verses to claim denominations in the Bible, rather than the doctrine taught... who baptized Jesus?


Matthew 3:1,13

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Who was it???  John the BAPTIST.  By that same logic, you could say that Jesus was not baptized by John the Presbyterian or John the Methodist,,, Jesus was baptized Baptized, therefore Jesus' church is a Baptist CHurch.

Here is where the rubber meets the road.... denominations are lables worne by folks who embrace a certain doctrine.  Rather than looking for a name taken our of context in the Bible, you need to examine doctrine and accept or reject a denomination based upon the doctrine that it teaches, not the name it wears.

Ephesians 4:13-14
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:   14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sorry for the long delay in replying.

Actually, here is where the rubber meets the road…

@Proof #1@

John the Baptist was "paving the way" for Christ. If you read John 1:6-36, you will realize that the BAPTIST church is not ordained in any way over Christ's church- the Church of Christ…. All of the below verses are from the NKJV.

~John’s Witness: The True Light~
  
Verse 6- There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

Verse 7- This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.

Verse 8- He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

Verse 9- That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.[b]

Verse 10- He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

Verse 11- He came to His own,[c] and His own[d] did not receive Him.

Verse 12- But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

Verse 13- who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

~The Word Becomes Flesh~
  
Verse 14- And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Verse 15- John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”

Verse 16- And[e] of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

Verse 17- For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Verse 18- No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son,[f] who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

~A Voice in the Wilderness~
  
Verse 19- Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

Verse 20- He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

Verse 21- And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
And he answered, “No.”

Verse 22- Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”

Verse 23- He said: “I am


     ‘ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
     “ Make straight the way of the LORD,”’[g]
     as the prophet Isaiah said.”

Verse 24- Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees.

Verse 25- And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

Verse 26- John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know.

Verse 27- It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”

Verse 28- These things were done in Bethabara[h] beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

~The Lamb of God~
  
Verse 29- The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Verse 30- This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’

Verse 31- I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”

Verse 32- And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.

Verse 33- I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

Verse 34- And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

@Proof #2@

~The Bible clearly states that CHRIST is the head of the Church. ~

1 Corinthians 3:11- “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 2:20-21- “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

@Proof #3@

~THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE CHURCH IS NOT A DENOMINATION. ~
A. Many believe that there is nothing wrong with denominationalism.
1. They think that there are many parts of the one "mystical church"
2. But there is no support from the word of God for this "mystical church."
B. The Bible clearly states that there is only ONE CHURCH.
1. Jesus promised to build only One Church.
a. Matthew 16:16-18
2. Ephesians 4:4-"There is one body..."
3. What is the one body?
a. Ephesians 1:22-23
b. Colossians 1:18-"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."
c. Therefore, there must be only one church.
C. The Bible condemns the very principle that denominationalism is built upon-division.
1. John 17:20,21-"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That there all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."
 
2. 1 Corinthians 1:10- "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."
3. Ephesians 4:3-"Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
4. I Peter 3:8-"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous."
5. Matthew 15:13-"But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up."
~ THE CHURCH OF THE BIBLE HAS NO EARTHLY HEAD, ONLY A HEAVENLY ONE. ~

A. Many churches have different heads.
1. Presidents, Bishops, Prophets, Popes/Patriarchs

B. But the church of the Bible recognized only one head-Christ.
1. Ephesians 1:22-23- "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, {23} Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."
2. Ephesians 5:22-23- "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. {23} For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."
3. Matthew 28:18
4. Romans 7:4-"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God."
~THE CHURCH OF THE BIBLE HAS DISTINCTIVE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS. ~

A. Many different ways of salvation for different denominations.
1. Many believe that you "get saved" and then join the church.
2. Many vote on their prospective members.
3. Some make the initiates go through long class to study and give approval to man-made creeds.
B. But the church of the Bible doesn't vote on it's members.
1. Acts 2:47-"...the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

C. The action that makes one a Christian also make one a member of Christ's church.  
1. Romans 10:17
2. Hebrews 11:6
3. Luke 13:3,5
4. Romans 10:9,10
5. Acts 2:38
6. After doing these things the Lord himself adds you to the church of the Bible.
~THE CHURCH OF THE BIBLE HAS IT'S MEMBERS WEAR ONLY ONE NAME- CHRISTIAN. ~

A. Denominationalists wear various names.
1. They are named after some founder or practice.

B. The name Christian is the name the New Testament uses to describe the followers of Christ.
1. Isaiah 62:1-2- "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. {2} And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name."
2. Acts 11:26- "And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."
a. The word "called" here literally means a divine calling.
3. I Peter 4:15,16-"But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."
4. Denominational names are by their nature divisive, the name Christian is a name we call unite on.
~THE CHURCH OF THE BIBLE WORSHIPS IN THE WAY AUTHORIZED BY SCRIPTURE ~

A. The church of the Bible follows the five items of worship found in the New Testament.
1. I Timothy 2:8- prayer
2. Acts 20:7- preaching and teaching
3. Ephesians 5:19- Singing
4. I Corinthians 16:1,2- giving
5. Acts 20:7- the Lord's Supper
B. Two areas where many deviate from the New Testament pattern.
1. Singing
a. No authority for instrumental music in the worship of the New Testament church.
b. Bible command singing- is silent when it comes to instrumental music.
2. The Lord's Supper
a. While the New Testament authorizes it's partaking each first day of the week, many celebrate whenever they please.

~CHRIST HAS A PATTERN FOR HIS CHURCH.~

A. God has always had a pattern for his people.
1. Hebrews 8:5- "Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount."
2. Romans 6:17-18- "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
a. The same Greek word that is translated pattern in Hebrews 8:5 is translated form in Romans 6:17. It could just have easily been translated "pattern of doctrine."
3. Matthew 28:20

B. God's attitude toward those who refuse to follow the pattern.
1. II John 9-11
2. Matthew 15:7-14
Mr. Don Carpenter, it is very wise to read all the verses of the subject matter to get a clearer understanding of the TRUTH.

The Bible is right. Those verses I quoted above show PROOF that Christ’s church is the ONLY church not John the BAPTIST, or any OTHER church or Organization, but the Church of Christ.

Answer
I agree that Jesus Christ is the Head of the true church.  This church is not a denomination like Baptist, Church of GOd, or Church of Christ, but rather is a living organism, founded by our Savior, based upon the Bible.  If the church preaches the Gospel as written in the Bible, then it is Christ's church.

Just because a denomination like the Church of Christ wears a particular name, does not mean that this name automatically elevates them to a status of acceptance and perfection.  The Church at Sardis had the right name according to Jesus, but their doctrine made them dead.  Do not rest in a name, anchor your faith in doctrine.

Rev 3:1  And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it

1Ti 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

I hope that this helps.

In CHrist
Pastor Don