This is copied from the April 15, 1973 edition of Reminders which was published by the Moundsville Church of Christ in Moundsville, West Virginia and was edited by Paul C. Keller. The give original credit to The Cleburne Teacher. Charles L. Morton wrote it.
The division of denominationalism is so taken for granted that the fact of one church becomes offensively repugnant to many. However, several facts are offered for consideration.
1. The Old Testament prophesied one church. Isaiah foretold, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow into it" (Isaiah 2:2). Peter said the "last days" began on the Pentecost of Acts 2 (Acts 2:16-17) and "all nations" were involved when the church began on Pentecost (Acts 2:5). Isaiah spoke of "the Lord's house," foretelling the building of but one church.
2. Christ promised but one church. (Matthew 16:18, John 10:16) Nowhere did Christ promise more than one church. Some might contend that Christ authorized denominationalism when He spoke of the "vine and branches" (John 15:1-6). An examination of this passage however, reveals that the "branches" are individuals and all persons who would be saved must be attached to the one vine, Jesus Christ.
3. Christ prayed for one church. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, are one in Me and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou has sent Me" (John 17:20-21).
4. The New Testament reveals the existence of one church. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians 4:4-5). "And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body..." (Ephesians 2:16). The Bible says that the "body" is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23, Colossians 1:18).
5. The New Testament universally condemns division. (1 Corinthians 1:10; Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 3:3) This one church under consideration is not a denomination. It is simply the church built by Christ (Matthew 16:18) and described in the Divine pattern, the New Testament (Hebrews 8:5). Why not renounce the errors of denominationalism (Matthew 15:6-9) and obey the simple gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16) to be added by the Lord to His church (Acts 2:47)?
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