If the Church of Christ is not divided, if the Church of Christ is only One, Why are there so many churches? The answer is simple: every “church” has come out of the heart of man. Men – most of them non-believers – have created and established their own churches. They have created their own rules and regulations to organize their congregations.
That is why we have so many different Christian churches. Some practice “ordinances”; others call it “sacraments”; some view the atonement as particular; most see it as universal; some call themselves Bible believers; others do not care about the Truth of the Bible.
We could spend a lifetime describing all these different church practices and beliefs, but it would be easier to see what all of these churches have in common – and it is not the Gospel, they all collect mandatory offerings and tithes and the most “powerful” sermon of the year is stressing the “importance” of these collections. This should be a good warning to us to discern if those who practice this are a true church of God.
As believers, we have the responsibility to search and know that if the church we are part of is a true church of God or if it has been formed by the “inspiration” of men instead of the Holy Spirit.
How do we check and be sure the church we belong to is a true church of God? God gives us the answer: “Try the spirits whether they are of God…” (1John 4:1) We try the spirits with the Truth of the Word of God. As believers, we should be able to discern the Truth from the lie. How can we know we are saved or are we deceiving ourselves? This is crucial to know. Are we walking with Christ or are we walking in one of the thousand false ways of the world? Is the church we belong to a true church of God? Do they preach the True Gospel?
In order to answer these questions, every believer should have a working knowledge of the Truth of the Scripture. Among these Truths regarding the church, we can name a few: Christ said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) Also, “You are the temple of God” (1Cor. 6:19) Also, Revelation 21:22 speaks about a glorious future with NO temple. With these statements, Christ is dismissing the idea that we need a particular kind of building or place to congregate and become a “church”.
The grand Jewish temple was yet standing when Christ and Paul uttered those words and they were signaling to the destruction of that temple (Matthew 24) and the opening of the very “throne of Grace” (Hebrews 4:16) where the believers can enter boldly to obtain mercy and grace in the time of need. Now, all true believers, have access to the very Throne of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Then, as we test the spirits with God’s Word – our precious Spiritual Sword – we must realize that if Christ is with us in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23)Â if we are called to worship God in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:24) if He is in our midst when two of us (husband and wife; one family) are gathered in His Name, if our bodies are the temple of God, and if we are allowed to come boldly to the Throne of Grace, then we really do not need a cathedral, or chapel, or sanctuary, or any tangible building to come before the very presence of the Living God.
The true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in continuous communion with God, anywhere and everywhere; no need of building, no need of offerings, no need of holidays, because WE are the true church of God.