What's In a Name?

Nothing can be more confusing than to drive around looking for a new church to connect with.  Nearly on every corner, there is a type of “church.”   A church seeker may asked:  Why so many?  Why so many of the same kind of church? Who is right?  Who is wrong?  Can all of them be right or wrong? 

Does it matter what name is on the marquee to determine whether or not it is the right church?  After all, Scripture called the people of God many names: 

Church of the Gentiles – Romans 16:4

Church of God – 1 Corinthians 1:2

Body of Christ – Ephesians 5:22-23

City of the Living God – Hebrews 12:22

Church of the firstborn – Hebrews 12:23

Bride of Christ – Revelation 19:7

Bride of the Lamb – Revelation 19:7

So, if someone is driving down the road and sees a church sign that says, “Bride of Christ,” would that person stop to attend the group of believers?  It has been my experience that most people only search for a church family to attend based on the name they typically attend in their hometown or family tradition.  I must admit, I am one of those people, too!

In Acts 2, the excitement of the newborn church was the talk of the communities and eventually, the world.  Thousands were accepting Jesus and Scripture declared that God was adding those who were being saved (Acts 2:47b).  What is interesting about the newborn church is the fact they were motived by “the apostles’ teaching,” “fellowship,” “breaking of bread,” “prayer,” “unity,” “meeting needs of the community,” “eating meals in each others home,” and “praising God together.”

Notice how the baby church lived out their faith. They didn’t get caught up on what is the best name for their new church plant; rather teaching, fellowshipping, eating with each other, prayer, helping, and praising motivated them.  That is the kind of church Jesus is proud to call his own. 

Fast-forwarding to 2016, it appears that the name on a marquee has become the focal point rather than Jesus.  Having a catchy name or claiming one particular name is the one and only “true” church name has really become more of a distraction and a hindrance to helping people know about Jesus.  You see, the identity of the church isn’t in the name we call it; rather, it is in the relationship we’ve established with the one who died and resurrected for it.  And, to claim one church name has the market on biblical-correctness has forgotten to look closely at all the other names the believers were called throughout the first couple centuries. 

There are millions seeking to connect with a group of believers who are excited about teaching, fellowshipping, eating with fellow believers, praying, helping others and praising the Father, but are confused about who is right?  After all, there are thousands to choose from.  In my fellowship alone, there are about 25 different types of Churches of Christ.  What is sad is that some will not fellowship with each other because of certain “opinionated doctrines” that cannot be backed up with Scripture.  However, the Churches of Christ are not the only Christian group who has difficulty; they all do. 

We must remember that Jesus isn’t bent on what name we call ourselves on a marquee as he is in how we reflect our loyalty to him, our love for God and neighbor and our faithfulness to living a lifestyle that will point everyone to a savior who is love, hope, grace, forgiveness, kindness, servant, and mercy. 

May every church group be God controlled, Jesus centered, Spirit-led, biblically motivated, community helpers, unity driven, and worship focused.  When each believer makes it a point to follow God’s Word, then and only then will we see changed hearts and Jesus led lives in and out of a church gathering.  May it be said of us a thousand years from now that the believers in the 21^st century made a come back by breaking the barriers of “church” segregation based on names and united as one under the authority of Jesus and the guidance of the Word of God and the leading of the Spirit. 

 

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian