"I Just Want To Be A Christian!"
by Terry BroomeDid you ever feel that way? Are you tired of the confusion, and all the choice making? "I just want to be a Christian! Will someone please tell me how?" We're convinced that many people have ended their search because of the religious confusion that "addles the brain."
God is infinite in wisdom, and perfect in all His ways. From eternity He purposed a Purpose that all men should be united in Christ Jesus. This gathering of people were to be His separated or called-out ones (the ecclesia) -- the church!
(Ephesians 3:9-11) Disciples were taught the Gospel in keeping with the Great Commission of
Matthew 28:18-20:
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
Those who heeded the call were baptized, and the Lord added them to this "ecclesia", the church
(Acts 2:38-47). In
Acts 11:26 we learn that
"...the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." That's it! That's what I want to be! JUST A CHRISTIAN!
If God, in His wisdom, had willed it so, men would have been instructed in the fine art of establishing "new churches" and in "how to be different kind of Christians." This writer is convinced that an honest inquirer can see from the Bible that it was never, even in the remotest way, in God's plan for man to so divide Christianity. Even though our religious world practices exactly that, we're convinced that it is a Biblical plea to call ALL men back to the Bible and invite them to just be Christians only, nothing more and nothing less. Why should a man have to put a tag in front of his religious name to explain which "kind" of Christian he is?
We need to take a look at this very basic need of man spiritually -- to be
JUST A CHRISTIAN. Our plea should be that of Jesus Himself in the garden in
John 17:20-21: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me."
For years I have believed that this plea was both valid and attainable. Now I'm told by some Ph.D. that it is not, and in fact that those of us who are working toward this goal are merely deluding ourselves into thinking that we are not a part of religious division. Well, I just don't believe it! If I do what the Lord says to do to be a Christian, why does it follow that I must choose which "kind" of Christian I want to be? Why can He not just add me to the church as He did in the First Century? In truth, it does not so follow!! Don't be ashamed of your plea, or your spiritual birthright in Christ. I am not a part of a church that Alexander Campbell founded. In fact, he did not found one. Remember,
"Except the LORD build the church,they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain" (Psalm 127:1). I AM just a Christian!
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The man who expects to go to heaven must take the time to study the route that will get him there.
