The church which wears these Bible names, and only these, is the right church as far as the name is concerned. But, friends, any church that calls itself by any other name, any name not in the Bible, is not the right church because the Bible is right. When a church has a name upon their building which cannot be found in the Bible, they need not claim that they are taking the Bible as their one and only guide, for the very name on the church building denies that claim. Just think how foolish it is for a preacher to stand up and say, “We take the Bible as our guide,” when, out in front of the building, in great big letters, is a name which cannot even be found in the Bible! That’s one reason I think we had better examine a man’s claim to follow the Bible. Here’s what the Bible teaches on the name, and the Bible is right. The church that wears these names and only these is right on that point.
But merely wearing the right name will not make a church right. It may wear the right name and still be wrong in other respects. I used to preach in a town where there was a great big church building which had a name in bold letters that you could see almost all over town—Central Church of Christ. But if you went to their worship, you’d find something that’s not listed here at all (speaker refers to section of outline on board). They were not following the Bible on worship. They had the right name but they didn’t have the right worship. They were right on one point but wrong on another. There are churches over the country called “Churches of God.” That’s a good name, but they have items of doctrine that cannot be found in the Bible. For instance, they preach that you have to be baptized in the Holy Spirit in order to be saved, and that’s not in the Bible. Consequently, they are wrong on doctrine; and to merely wear the right name does not atone for their false teaching on what one must do to be saved.
VII
Organization
Just one more item or two and then we’re through. Number 7 here refers to the organization of the church. According to the Bible every local congregation is entirely independent under God to manage its own affairs, with its elders overseeing its work. Acts 14:23: “When they had ordained them elders in every church and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” Acts 20:28 says, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” In addressing the church at Philippi Paul speaks of all the saints at Philippi “with the bishops and deacons.”
According to this simple but effective organization of God’s church, every local congregation is entirely independent, supervised and tended, under God, by a group of men known as overseers or pastors or elders. Now, that’s what the Bible teaches on church organization. The church which follows this plan is right on that point. Wherever you see a group of congregations tied together by some inter-congregational organization, that group’s wrong on their organization. I know some groups that maintain congregational independence, but are wrong in some other way. Remember that in order for a church to be the right church, it must be right on all these items.
VIII
Charity and Missionary Work
And then, finally, the Bible teaches that God’s church should be active in beneficent and missionary work. It is the duty of the church to feed the poor and to preach the gospel unto the entire world. I have a long list of Scriptures here which authorize this statement (Acts 11:27-30; 12:25; 24:17; 1 Cor. 16:1-4; Acts 11:19-21; 11:22-26; 13:1-4; etc.). Even though a church may be right in every other way, including Christian living, including the name, and including the organization, if it doesn’t do what it can to take care of the poor, and if it doesn’t make a scriptural effort to preach the gospel to all the world, it lacks that much being right, and cannot justify its claims to be known as the church of Christ!
Now, friends, let me repeat again that here’s what the Bible teaches. The church which does these things is right, because the Bible is right; but the church which deviates from these, leaves off some of them or adds something to them, lacks that much being right. And even though a church followed this plan in every item except one, it would still be wrong.
IX
Conclusions
What practical application shall we make? Simply take your Bible and follow out this plan, study it for yourself, see that this is what the Bible teaches, and then identify yourself with the congregation which does the same. You say, “Maybe I cannot find one that follows the Bible plan.” I believe you can in this town, but I’ll admit there are some towns where you can’t. Then what would you do? The answer is very simple—just start one! That’s one of the easiest things in the world to do. Study your Bible, follow its simple pattern, and the result will be a church after the New Testament order. If you can find even one person who is willing to follow this plan and work it with you, then you’ll have a congregation which pleases God. Jesus says, “Wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, there will I be in the midst of them.”