James Street Church of Christ

When Jesus came to this earth there were many religions already here. Jesus came to establish not just another religion, rather He came to establish the correct religion. Jesus debated and disputed everyday and almost with everybody, in fac...t we can read where many of His followers deserted Him because they did not like what He was saying (JN 6:66-67). Jesus also instructed His disciples to do likewise (teach the truth without compromise) and as we read the New Testament we can find where indeed His apostles and disciples would argue and debate, so much so that they would end up paying for it with their lives (Acts 7). In fact all of the apostles we can read about engaged everyone and everywhere in like manner. When needed they too would debate, dispute and argue. Here are a couple verses to illustrate the disputing and arguments (Acts 15, Acts 19:9, Gal 2:11-14, etc) *Notice in (Gal 2:11-14) it is the great apostle Peter which was publicly rebuked and exposed, Paul did not want what Peter was doing to be conceived by everyone else as an acceptable way, therefore he exposed the false way before them all.

Here is a religion that argued and disputed daily and regularly, in fact whenever they found anyone teaching anything that is false they would indeed stand and teach, dispute, argue and debate the cause of their religion. What was their religion…Christian! This is the religion of the New Testament. In fact we are taught, even commanded to dispute, argue, teach, expose and even contend for “The Faith” (Jude 3, 2Tim 4:1-5, etc).

What we have today in our society with all the differing churches is nothing even close to the original church which Jesus founded. Today we have a bunch of religious division…That is why we have so many different names and faiths…Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Jehovah’s Witness, etc, etc. Every different name means they have a different faith, one believes this way and another believes it a different way, hence we have divided differing religions, but remember Jesus came to establish the correct religion not a hodge-podge of differing religions all “claiming” to be Christian. When the truth is being taught and practiced then and only then, we will have peace and no disputing or debating.

Yet we know Jesus prayed and taught that we should not be divided (JN 17, 1Cor 1:10, etc). There are many religions that teach, you do not need to be baptized to go to heaven, some teach you must be baptized or you cannot go to heaven. Because of this differing opinion religious division occurs, one group says yes, another group says no, so they divide and create their own religion and call it a different name to depict their different beliefs, BUT all the while there is a truth taught about this subject in the Bible, and if everyone one would take some time to study and read about it, they could see what Jesus taught about it and even what He commanded about it. This would bring religious unity, not division. Going back to the Bible and honestly applying what it teaches would result in the RIGHT religion, the church of Christ (Rom 16:16). Going to the Bible which only teaches ONE way (Eph4:4-6) and not all of these differing ways of denominations, all claiming Christianity, but in truth they are divided and teaching differing doctrines and faith.

The Bible teaches there is ONE FIATH, ONE BAPTISM, and even ONE CHURCH (EPH 4;4-6). Not many faiths, baptisms and churches…Just ONE. This is why I and the true church we read about in the Bible address other religions, to show the difference between what they are teaching and practicing verses what the Bible (Jesus) taught us to teach and practice. No one would ever change if they thought they were right. Why change if you are right? But, if you realize there may be a problem and your religion may be wrong, then you may consider changing. If you are wrong, change you must! God condemns every false way (PSLM 119:104, MT 7:13, etc). No one will change until they see the difference between what they are doing compared to what the Bible teaches.

This is the plea of the church of Christ (notice the church of Christ, not some denominational name, notice you will never find any other “Christian religion” in the Bible, no Catholic, Baptist, Mormon,etc ), our plea is the same plea as Jesus, that we all may be one through the truth (Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; Joh 17:21 That they all may be one). Through the word (Bible) we can and should be ONE not many! This is why I address other religions, because I care enough to let folks know what the Bible truly does say. Just a mere mental accent of belief in Jesus is not enough, nor does this by itself save anyone, it is what we teach, practice, and live that makes us a Christian (John 17:17, John 8:31:32).

Ah, you ask what if I am wrong, what if I am teaching something in error. That is the whole beauty of being who I am, a TRUE Christian, I will change and get right. It is a win, win situation for me, if I am wrong I get right, if I am right I help others to get right and fulfill my obligations as a faithful member of Jesus church! Either way the Lord wins! I want all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth (1Tim 2:4).

If the religion you are a part of is the true ONE church, it should be doing the same thing the church of the Bible was doing, which is what the church of Christ does. Not arguing and debating for no reason, or just too argue and debate, to do so just to be contentious would be wrong (Rom 1:29). I want to help folks see what the Bible actually does teach about the One Church, One Faith and One Baptism because it is so ultimately important. There cannot be many churches, faiths and baptisms and this be right when the Bible there is only ONE.

I hope and pray this helps!

Steve Baisden, 231-425-6044

Make it plain upon the tables (Hab 2:2)