Nameless Institution

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     In the Firm Foundation, issue of July 12, 1960, appears a brief article entitled "A Nameless Institution." Since it is an indication that others are thinking along the line which we will develop in our next issue, we present it to our readers for consideration.

      The expression the dog of Sam describes ownership, but not the dog's name. Sam's dog may be nameless. The expression the church of Christ (cf. Romans16:16) describes ownership, but not the church's name. Christ's church is a nameless institution. The expression my church (Matt.16:18) tells whose the church is, but not its name. The expression the church of God (1 Cor.1:2) describes ownership (cf. Jesus' words to his Father, "All things that are mine are thine; and thine are mine"--John17:10), but it does not name the church. The expression the church of the saints (cf. 1 Cor. 4:33), tells what composes the church, but it gives no name. The expression the church of the firstborn ones (plural in the Greek--Heb. 12:23) tells of the membership of the church, but it gives no name.

     The New Testament church is a nameless institution. If the church of which you are a member has a name, it is a man-made church destined to be rooted up (Matt. 15:13).