Striving to Practice Simple New Testament Christianity


We live in a world that is divided when it comes to religion. Not only are there numerous religions apart from Christianity, (i.e. Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, etc), but there are also numerous divisions within what we call "Christianity." There are the Catholics, Episcopals, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals, and the list goes on...and on, and on.

Many people look at Christianity as a joke, and this is partly the reason. There is such a lack of unity. In John 17:20-21, Jesus prayed, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all be be one...that the world may believe that You sent Me." Jesus prayed for unity, and He made the point that unity among the disciples will serve as a testimony that will bring others to Christ. The implication is that a lack of unity will prevent others from accepting Christ.

I am a Christian and I support Christianity, but there is a vast difference between the Christianity that we read about in the Bible and the "Christianity" that we see in the world today. Modern Christianity falls short of Jesus' prayer for unity...and it falls short of the Christianity that we read about in the New Testament.

In the New Testament, there were no denominations...at least none that were sanctioned by the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, "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...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?" Religious people today promote the same kind of division that was condemned by Paul in this passage. "I am Baptist," and "I am Methodist," and "I am Full-Gospel." We must forsake this denominational mindset and get back to the simplicity of the New Testament.

How can this be accomplished? We must forsake all denominational names and doctrines. Shred all creed-books and manuals, for they are only instigators of division. If we hold up the Bible as the one standard of doctrine and practice, we will once again achieve the unity for which Jesus prayed. After all, this Book promotes only "one body...one hope...one Lord, one faith, one baptism, on God and Father of all" (Ephesians 4:4-6). Not two, not three, but ONE!

This is what the ZOE CHURCH OF CHRIST stands for. We strive to practice simple New Testament Christianity. Our worship, our works, our organization, our teachings...all line up with what is taught in the New Testament. We believe in providing scriptural reasoning for all that we do or say!

If you have any questions, or if you would like to set up a free in-home Bible study where we could look at these things further, please contact us. We would love to hear from you. And if you're ever in the area, stop by and worship with us!

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