It is our intention to just be the church you read of in your Bible. We are not trying to be another denomination among many. Jesus said He would build His church (Mat. 16:18). You can read about its beginning in Acts 2. The gospel of Christ was preached and the people asked what to do in order to be saved (vv. 22-37). They were told to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins (vv. 37-39). About 3,000 obeyed and God added them to His church (vv. 40-41). This was only the beginning. Everyday souls that were being saved were added by the Lord to the church (v. 47).
 
Today, as then, when people hear that same message and respond in that same way God will add them to that same church. It is not a man-made denomination. It is the church of Christ that you read about in your Bible (Mat. 16:18). It consists of all those souls who have been purchased by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28). It is the one body of which Jesus is head and Savior (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4; 5:23).
 
Are you a member of this church? Have you heard the gospel of Jesus Christ?  At the cross, He provided the perfect sacrifice for our sins so that we might be forgiven (2 Cor. 5:21) and in His resurrection from the dead He gives us assurance of victory over sin and death (1 Cor. 15). Have you obeyed Christ in order to obtain the salvation He has made possible for us? When you by faith in Christ turn from sin to righteousness and upon confession of your faith in Christ are immersed in water for the forgiveness of your sins you are saved and added to Christ’s church (Mat. 28:19; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 8:35-39; 22:16; Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Pet. 3:21). In baptism, you are united with Christ and His church of saved souls (Rom. 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:26-29).  You are not a member of any denomination. You are a Christian (Acts 11:26; 26:27-29; 1 Pet. 4:16) and a member of the church of Christ (Rom. 16:16).
 
You can become a Christian and a member of the church of Christ without ever becoming a member of any denomination. By definition, denominationalism is division. Each religious denomination claims that they are a part of the church of Christ.  They have their own names, terms of entrance, worship, organization and creeds which set them apart from one another.

Of course, Christ never intended for His church to be divided in this way. He prayed that all His disciples "be one… that the world may believe" (John 17:20-21). In the congregation at Corinth the members had divided into various groups which were identified with various preachers. Paul categorically condemned this division: "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, 'I am of Paul,' or 'I am of Apollos,' or 'I am of Cephas,' or 'I am of Christ.'  Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name" (1 Cor. 1:10-15).
 
In harmony with Paul's example, instead of condoning and promoting denominationalism, preachers today should call all men out of denominationalism and into Christ's church. Such undenominational Christianity was founded by Christ. The name, terms of membership, worship, organization, rule of faith are all determined by Christ (Mat. 28:18; Col. 3:17). Such is not a man-made institution, but the church of Christ you read about in the Bible (Mat. 16:18).
 
Can we have undenominational Christianity today? Yes, by taking the Word of God without addition or subtraction (1 Cor. 4:6). What is the name we should wear? Christian (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16). What are the terms of membership? Hear the gospel, believe on Christ, repent of sin, confess faith in Jesus as the Son of God and be immersed for remission of sins (Mat. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 8:12-13, 35-39; 16; 18:8; 22:16; Rom. 6; 10:9-10; 1 Pet. 3:21). What is the worship prescribed? Preaching, giving, partaking of the Lord's supper, praying and singing (Acts 2:42, 47; 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Eph. 5:19). What is the organization of the church? Christ is head (Col. 1:18), elders in every congregation (Acts 14:23; 1 Pet. 5:1-3) with deacons (1 Tim. 3:1-13), preachers (1 Tim. 4:6) and other members (Rom. 12:1-8). What is the rule of faith? The inspired Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
 
Undenominational Christianity is illustrated by the law of the seed. Every seed "yields fruit according to its kind" (Gen. 1:11-12). "Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" (Gal. 6:7). Apple seeds produce apples. It is impossible to get anything else but apples from apple seeds.  In the spiritual realm, God's Word is the seed we are to sow in the hearts of men (Luke 8:11). God's seed produces God's church. Man's seed produces man's church. It is impossible to take only God's Word and be part of a denomination because denominationalism is not found in the Bible, but rather condemned by it (1 Cor. 1:10-13; Mat. 15:9, 13).

You can be a part of undenominational Christianity today just like those we read about in the New Testament. When you hear the same word, believe the same word and obey the same word as they did then the Lord will add you to the same church that He added them (Acts 2:22-47). You will be a Christian, a member of the church of Christ, nothing more or nothing less. If you are a part of some denomination you are urged to lay aside any party allegiance, party name or party creed and simply believe and obey Christ so that He might add you to His church.

Written by Robert Dodson