Is one church as good as another, or should we seek out the church of the Bible? We face this question on a regular basis. Our culture is screaming at us that one church is as good as another. "We are all going to the same place, we are just choosing different roads to get there." Television, radio, and newspaper ads herald the slogan "Attend the church of your choice this Sunday." If every church is a part of the one true church, then we have Christ teaching a multiplicity of teachings, simultaneously! He would teach that baptism is necessary for entrance into His kingdom (Mark 16:15-16; 1 Peter 3:20-21), and all you have to do to be saved is say "the sinner's prayer." He would teach that we are to take communion on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7), and you can take communion any time you want. He would teach that we are to sing a cappella (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16), and we can have a musical instrument or a rock band if we choose to do so. He would teach it is not necessary to baptize infants (Mark 16:15-16), and infants must be baptized. Is it not absurd even to think that Christ would teach such contradictory teachings as this? If Christ came back today, would He bless all churches despite all the different teachings? NO. Remember, Christ said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6) "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24) Truth denounces error. Christ cannot and will not bless those that hold to doctrinal error and deny the truth of God's word.

How many churches did Jesus build? "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). There are so many unhealthy views and practices associated with the church that man has almost rendered it ineffective. For many people, the church offers nothing. There are many disgruntled people, today, who think the church is just a waste of time. "I get just as much out of it if I stay home and quietly read the Bible for myself." We need to recover the church that Jesus built. It is time we quit dimming the light on sin and return to calling Bible things by Bible names. Jesus claims ownership of the church of the Bible, and He claims it with power. Nothing will ever destroy it. Paul later proclaimed the ownership of the church as belonging to Christ. "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28) Just as it is impossible for Christ to teach a multiplicity of teachings, it is impossible for Christ to build more than one church. If Christ should return today, He would only bless the church He built.

How many churches were established on the day of Pentecost? Jesus said, "I will build my church." Did this promise come true? By reading carefully Acts chapter 2, we find that it did. Upon the conversion of those that asked, "Men and brethren what shall we do?" (Acts 2:38), God added them to the church as they were being saved. (Acts 2:47) This is not different churches with different doctrines and different creeds, but one church with one doctrine. Therefore, we conclude that there is only one church promised and established by our Lord Jesus Christ. 30 Village St., Waldorf, MD 20602-1837. cocw.minister@comcast.net

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