What does this indicate? The seventh day Adventists have their Ellen White, The Mormons have their Joseph?

Question

Smith, the Christian Scientists have Mary Baker Eddy, the Branch Davidians had their David Koresh, the Catholics have their Pope, on and on. The Church of Christ thinks their correct because of their correct name and no musical instruments.

Answer 1

Uh?

And yes, Mormons have Joseph Smith and we are thankful to him.

Answer 2

That is rather a stretch of a question, but here is what I think of it.

"To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20 NKJV)

"By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7:16 - 20 NIV)

In other words, one cannot just assume that one group or a leader of a group is wrong because everyone seems to thik that they are; we must be informed and judge for ourselves. Find out if what they are teacing agrees with the Bible; see what kind of fruit they produce.

Answer 3

I guess it indicates that people like to have leaders. And some think it's important to have the right name and a lack of musical instruments.

Hmmmmmmm. Not sure what you're asking here.

Answer 4

The "Church of Christ" is not mentioned in the Bible.

Psalms 150 tells us to worship the Lord with musical instruments and 1 Corinthians chapter 14 tells us to worship God in the New Testament church using the Psalms.

So we have proof that the church of christ isn't what it claims to be even tho they don't have a false prophet like so many other false cults have.

Pastor Art

Answer 5

...and on and on, all the way back to Jesus, back to Moses, back to the Phaorohs, etc.

What does it indicate? It indicates that people will follow (religiously!) any silly ideas presented by charismatic con men (and women). No matter how illogical, how extreme, or how self-destructive those ideas are.

It indicates that there are an awful lot of people who can't think for themselves, and rely on charismatic leaders to tell them what to do.

And it indicates just how delusional all religious people are. Sad, but true.

Peace.

Answer 6

On most of the above churches, you listed who they follow. There is the source of the problem.

Jesus said He has “all authority” and the apostles were to teach the things He had commanded! (Matthew 28:18-20) Paul told Timothy, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires.”

This is a question of who has authority to establish doctrine in your religion. Whose instructions do you follow?

When you mentioned the Church of Christ, however, you deviated away from your pattern. Instead of who the church follows, you pointed to what they believe.

I am a member of the Church of Christ. We indeed do believe that it is important to have a scriptural name, but this is just one point that distinguishes the church. (After all, there are also other groups that have scriptural names.) (Church of God, Disciples of Christ, etc.)

Please let me explain this teaching further.

Are names important? Sometimes they are. Who’s name do you want on your paycheck? Does it matter if someone else’s name is on the title of your car or the deed to your home? You work hard to purchase these items, you own them, and, therefore, you want the proper name on the documents that show this ownership.

Our Lord also made a purchase. He bought the church at a very costly price (Acts 20:28). He built it and called it “my church” (Matt.16: 13-18). He has rightful ownership.

Other references to the church in the Bible show this ownership. These include “the churches of Christ” (Rom.16: 16), and “the church of God” (Acts 20:28), etc. But, unlike these names, many churches today have names that are not found in Scripture, and that do not identify the owner and builder.

But notice, Christ did not purchase a building. The church is made up of the His followers.

When we wear the name “church of Christ”, we name Him as the “head of the church” (Eph.1: 22-23) and we identify ourselves as a group that is trying to follow the “doctrine of Christ”(2 John 9). In contrast, a member of a denomination is identified by name as one who follows the leadership and teaching (doctrine) of that denomination.

Christ’s headship over the church is compared to a marriage relationship (Eph. 5: 21-32). Jesus loves the church and it is called the bride of Christ. The bride, the church, shows honor to the groom when she agrees to wear his name.

Suppose, for example, Mr. Smith asks his girlfriend to marry him. She agrees, but says, “Our friend Mr. Jones is a good man, so when we get married, instead of being called Mrs. Smith, I want to be called Mrs. Jones.” Would Mr. Smith have a reason to question her loyalty to him? Would he feel honored? Why would a bride wear another man’s name? Why would a church want to wear a man-made name?

We don’t have to wear man-made names. Just as the church is called several names in Scripture, we as individuals are given names we can wear. Followers of Christ are simply called things like “saints” or “disciples”.

But there is also a specific name given. 1 Peter 4:16 says, “If a man suffer as a Christian… let him glorify God in this name”.

Since the Bible gives us a name to wear (Christian), we do not need another name, but some are not content to be known simply by “this name”. Some want to add another name, but we were never meant to be hyphen-named Christians.

The Corinthians had this problem. Some were Paul-Christians, Apollos-Christians, and Cephus-Christians. (1 Cor.1: 10-13). Because they were divided by these various names, they were called “carnal” and not “spiritual”(1 Cor.3: 1-4). You see, a single name promotes unity, but multiple names encourage divisions. We should be content to wear the name God has given. (Isaiah 62:2)

So, is a name important? Names show honor, identify ownership, promote unity (or division), recognize leadership, signify submission, denote doctrine, and demonstrate loyalty. If these are important, then names are also important.

Please see the link below for an article that discusses some ways the Church of Christ is and is not the only church.

Thanks for your good question!

Answer 7

To me it says we all like to have a leader we can see. Each of these individuals feel they are representatives of Divinity.

Answer 8

Ok.. and your point is? I don't get the question at all.. so everyone has different leaders. What does that indicate? We are all different.. hmm.. maybe!

Answer 9

It all sounds like trans-fats to me. I sometimes go to Red Lobster for their AYCE shrimp specials and these are bottom feeders. Oh my, God please forgive my over-indulgences and worldliness. Is it still OK to read Edgar Cayce? (The Sleeping Prophet) He wasn't right all of the time either.

Answer 10

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)

10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.