The church is distinctive in its design and very nature. In order to live up to its identity, the church must maintain its distinctiveness.
Jesus told Peter, "I will build My church" (Matt. 16:18). There was distinctiveness in that statement. Jesus declared that Hewould do the building and that it would be His church. If anyone else builds (establishes) a church, it is not the Lord's church, The Lord established His church not the first Pentecost following His death, burial and resurrection almost two thousand years ago. Any church established since that day cannot be His church.
The Lord himself, by God's distinctive design, is the only head of His church (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). Any church that has any other head, including some governing board or body, cannot be the true church of the Lord.
The church is distinct in what it stands for. It is described as being "the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Tim. 3:15). Therefore it must stand on, and uphold, the truth of God's word (Jn. 17:17). Truth is narrow; that's what distinguishes it as truth. Jesus emphasized that narrowness of truth and the importance of living one's life in the truth (Matt. 7:13-14).
The church should be distinct from every other philosophy in that it stands on the truth of God's word. Truth stands out from error, exposes error to be error. It matters what the church believes and teaches and practices (Eph. 4:4-6). It is the truth that offers mankind freedom from the guilt of sin (Jn. 8:32). Only by living according to the truth of God's word can a person be a true disciple of Christ (Jn. 8:31). A person who does not live "in the doctrine of Christ does not have God" (2 Jn. 1:9).
The church is distinct in how it worships. Worship is directed toward God and is primarily intended to express adoration to Him. The true church will submit itself to worship God in the ways that God has instructed in His word that He wants to be worshiped. the scriptures teach that we are to worship through prayer (1 Tim. 2:8), singing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16 -Instrumental music is nowhere authorized as part of New Testament worship), giving (1 Cor. 16:1-2), partaking of the Lord's Supper (1 Cor. 11:20-29) and preaching/teaching from God's word (2 Tim. 4:1-4).
The church cannot allow itself to become just another denomination within the broad realm of denominationalism. To do so would indicate that it has lost its distinctiveness. The church is supposed to stand out as a shining light on the hillside, lighting the way for all the world to see the path to eternal salvation (Matt. 5:14-16). We must maintain and judiciously guard our distinctiveness as the Lord's church...
The Lord himself, by God's distinctive design, is the only head of His church (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). Any church that has any other head, including some governing board or body, cannot be the true church of the Lord.
The church is distinct in what it stands for. It is described as being "the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Tim. 3:15). Therefore it must stand on, and uphold, the truth of God's word (Jn. 17:17). Truth is narrow; that's what distinguishes it as truth. Jesus emphasized that narrowness of truth and the importance of living one's life in the truth (Matt. 7:13-14).
The church should be distinct from every other philosophy in that it stands on the truth of God's word. Truth stands out from error, exposes error to be error. It matters what the church believes and teaches and practices (Eph. 4:4-6). It is the truth that offers mankind freedom from the guilt of sin (Jn. 8:32). Only by living according to the truth of God's word can a person be a true disciple of Christ (Jn. 8:31). A person who does not live "in the doctrine of Christ does not have God" (2 Jn. 1:9).
The church is distinct in how it worships. Worship is directed toward God and is primarily intended to express adoration to Him. The true church will submit itself to worship God in the ways that God has instructed in His word that He wants to be worshiped. the scriptures teach that we are to worship through prayer (1 Tim. 2:8), singing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16 -Instrumental music is nowhere authorized as part of New Testament worship), giving (1 Cor. 16:1-2), partaking of the Lord's Supper (1 Cor. 11:20-29) and preaching/teaching from God's word (2 Tim. 4:1-4).
The church cannot allow itself to become just another denomination within the broad realm of denominationalism. To do so would indicate that it has lost its distinctiveness. The church is supposed to stand out as a shining light on the hillside, lighting the way for all the world to see the path to eternal salvation (Matt. 5:14-16). We must maintain and judiciously guard our distinctiveness as the Lord's church...
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