Ignorant or Arrogant?

By John Kernan

[Page 173]

     Sometimes it seems that those who claim to practice undenominational Christianity are more denominational than the denominations. In a recent issue of Horizons magazine, an announcement from Salisbury, Rhodesia, quoted a missionary as saying, "There has not been a New Testament church here, so we have taken the task of trying to gather the lost sheep that have moved to the city from the bush."

     There have been missionaries and congregations in Salisbury for more than thirty years. Now there are at least two congregations among the whites, one among the Coloreds, and several among the Africans. I wonder if the missionary made the statement before he investigated the situation, or if he really feels that he is the only "New Testament Christian" in Salisbury?

     When I was in the states three years ago, a minister wrote that there was "only one church of Christ" in a particular town in South Carolina. I know that town, because fifteen years ago I conducted a revival series at a "church of Christ" there--not the church the minister was talking about. And when I was there, there was another "church of Christ," so that makes two. One of these was "instrumental" and the other "non-instrumental." I do not know what kind of a church of Christ is the "Only Church of Christ."

     Brethren, even the denominations are willing to recognize the existence of congregations calling themselves "church of Christ." But it appears that we who use the name are not willing to recognize others who use it. Although we claim to have discarded human names, we have certainly taken the designation "church of Christ" far from its scriptural meaning and use.

     Editor's Note. John Kernan resides at 11 Jannay Place, Nahoon Valley, East London, Cape Province, Republic of South Africa. You may write to him there.