If you have ever watched Sesame Street with your children or grandchildren, you have heard the song, “One of These Things” sung on several Sesame Street sketches. In these sketches, you would see a group of four things, three of which were just alike, but one was different. The little children would have to pick out the one that was not like the others.
Man is faced with this same situation spiritually. There are many churches in the world today, most of which have many of the same major characteristics—same fundamental teachings, organizational structure, and basic beliefs about the work and worship of the church. There is, however, a church in this world that is not like the others. It is the Lord’s church, and it is man’s obligation to pick it out from the rest. Consider a few ways that the Lord’s church is not like the others.
The Lord’s church is organized differently. Your typical denominational church is led by one man, or perhaps a woman, who is generally called the pastor. The term pastor will be worn as a religious title. For example, he will be called “Pastor Joe.” Often, instead of “Pastor,” the term “Reverend” will be used, but some kind of religious title will be worn to make a distinction between clergy and laity.
The church of Christ is not like the others. Our pastors never use the term as a religious title. Members simply refer to them by their names, for while we respect the office that they hold and the work that they do for us, they are just men and are not to be elevated. In condemning the wearing of religious titles, Jesus said, “8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven (Matthew 23:8-9).
Most denominational churches are involved in the social gospel. They involve themselves in recreational and entertainment activities that have nothing to do with Jesus and His sacrifice for us, nor with the gospel of Christ. They set up schools and day-care centers to babysit children and teach them their 1-2-3s and A-B-Cs. Denominations also get involved in social and political issues, often taking stands for things that are contrary to the will of God. In the name of so-called “human rights” and for the stated purpose of equality, some churches support such things as same-sex marriage and transgender rights, etc. Many of their leaders in the pulpit preach on some of these things, even telling members specifically who to vote for politically, depending on the agenda of the candidate. Again, the candidates they are trying to gain support for are often taking positions and promoting agendas that are anti-scriptural.
Faithful local churches of Christ are not like the others. We do not use the Lord’s money for fun and frolic because we have not been given authority to do so by God (Colossians 3:17). We only use God’s money for evangelism, edification, and benevolence because that is all He has authorized in His Word (Ephesians 4:11-12). Furthermore, while many Christians in churches of Christ have strong political views, faithful churches do not preach politics. As a preacher, I will preach against things such as homosexuality and being transgender because God condemns those things (1 Corinthians 6:9-11), but I do not get into the pulpit and tell people who to vote for because that is beyond the work of an evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5).
Let me give you one more example where faithful churches of Christ are not like other churches. It is in the area of giving. Most churches today practice tithing. This practice is based on a commandment that God gave to the children of Israel (Leviticus 27:30-34). It is enforced so strictly that in some denominational churches, the so-called pastor will demand to see the W-2 forms of his members.
The church of Christ is different. We teach what Paul taught—laying by in store as God has prospered us (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). This is God’s authorized way of giving as revealed in the New Testament. When denominational preachers demand in their preaching that members tithe, they are going beyond the gospel of God, and to do that is to lose favor with God (2 John 1:9).
All churches can and should look alike. If we all followed the pattern set forth by the New Testament, we would all be the same. Sadly, that is not the case. Churches today are exchanging God’s will for their own. So, while many of these churches look just alike, there is a church that does not look like the others. It is the Lord’s church, and it looks, acts, and even thinks differently than denominational churches. Find a church of Christ near you and become a member of the Lord’s church. You will be associating with a church that does not look like the others, but it will look exactly like the New Testament church.