IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST A SECT? (PART 2)

(Link to Part 1)
 
Now, before you write this author off as some sort of radical nut, let’s reason together. Following the good confession of Simon Peter (Matt. 16:16), Jesus told Peter and the apostles, “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18b, ASV). Please take note of the phrase, “I will build my church.” Each word in that string of words is significant. Let’s consider each of these.
 
First, Jesus said “I, will build my church.” Jesus is the builder. He paid the price for the church by shedding His precious blood on the cross. As the builder He has all authority to build it precisely the way He wants it built (Matt. 28:18). Our obligation is to examine the “blueprint,” the word of God, so as to determine what the features of that church are, and then to make sure we do not deviate from that pattern. If it is important for a contractor to comply with a blueprint in building a house, what makes us think we can even attempt to build the church of our Lord in this day and age and ignore the blueprint? Is it sectarian to read and study the blueprint that God has given, and appeal to that blueprint for authority in building God’s church today?
 
Second, Jesus said, “I WILL BUILD my church.” At the time Jesus lived upon the earth, the church was yet future so far as its existence was concerned. It was only after Jesus died on the cross that the church came into existence. Most Bible students recognize that Acts 2 signifies the beginning of the church. Luke recorded Peter’s stirring words on that day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-35). Not only did the apostle establish undeniable proof of the deity of Jesus, he convicted the multitude of their sin and set forth the terms of pardon. Once they complied to those terms of pardon they were “added” to the church (Acts 2:41,47). Let this point sink into your hearts. A man does not “join” the church; he is “added to it” by compliance to the commands of God. If it is sectarian to claim I have been added to the church Jesus built, then so be it.
 
Third, Jesus said, “I will build MY church.” The emphasis here is upon possession and ownership. When someone says, “This is my house,” he is expressing ownership. When referring to ownership of a piece of property one says essentially the same thing whether he says, “This is Mr. Jones’ house,” or, “This is the house of Mr. Jones.” If the church belongs to Jesus, and it does, then it is proper and right to refer to that church as “Christ’s church” or “the church of Christ.” You have said essentially the same thing. Now, dear friend, is it sectarian to use precisely the same terminology that Paul used in referring to the Lord’s church and thus claim that I am a member of the “church of Christ” (Rom. 16:16)?
 
Fourth, Jesus said, “I will build my CHURCH.” Notice the singular nature of that word. Jesus never promised to build 2,000 or 200, or even 2 churches. He said He would build His church. Is it sectarian, therefore, to claim to be a part of that one church He built and for which He died? What is the alternative? Would someone dare claim, upon compliance to the will of God, that he is not a member of the church for which Jesus died? The law of the excluded middle demands that I am either a member of the church for which Jesus died, or I am not a member of that church. Why am I accused, therefore, of being sectarian when I claim I have been added to that one church for which our Savior died?
 
It is sad that the religious leaders of our age would suggest that what I have written, and the subject I have addressed, is not really that important. Before you buy into that deceptive lie, let me impress upon your mind the importance of this issue we are discussing. Since the church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23), and since Paul wrote, “For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the savior of the body” (Eph. 5:23 ASV), I want to make sure I am in the correct church, i.e. Jesus’ body, so as to lay claim to that salvation. There is no salvation outside of Christ (2 Tim. 2:10; Eph. 1:3). I must be a part of that church for which He died.
 
The devil has built many counterfeit churches, but only the church of our Lord will enjoy the blessing of salvation. So you see, it is an important issue. In fact, it is so important an issue, that your very salvation depends upon the church of which you are a member. Think about it!

Tom Wacaster