Question #176

Why is fellowship not allowed with churches bearing a different name?

Why is fellowship not allowed with churches bearing a different name than, “_ church of Christ”? Christ’s church is not limited to a specific geographical location is it? Is not the phrase “churches of Christ” referring to the individual ‘ekklesia’ of the Church Universal, rather than a mandated title? For example, in my own home there is an ekklesia, or those ‘called out’ as one may note in Romans 16:5. If the church names itself as, “Greenleaf Christian Fellowship”, why does that damn that group if what is taught from it’s pulpit is indeed scriptural? Note this question may not apply to your particular stance, but the group I find myself contending with do see the name on the door as an issue of disobedience and therefore of a salvific nature.

The Answer:

Fellowship does not depend on what a group is called, but rather depends on whether that group is part of the body of Christ. Those in the body of Christ are in fellowship with each other, but not with those outside the body of Christ. We become part of the body of Christ when we are buried with him in baptism and put on Christ. (See this lesson for more about baptism and see this page for more about God’s plan of salvation.) A faithful congregation of believers follows the pattern for proper organization and worship laid out in the Scriptures.

“Church of Christ” is not the name of the Lord’s church but rather is its description. It is the church that was purchased by and that belongs to Christ. The sign could just as easily read “The Lord’s Church,” or “God’s Church,” or “The Body of Christ,” or “The Church,” etc. It would not be correct, however, to put on that sign some man-made designation not found in the Bible because such would suggest that the church is a man-made organization rather than an eternal kingdom not made with human hands.

Sadly, many who today sit idly by while heresy is proclaimed from their pulpits would rise up in arms if someone tried to change the “name” on the sign outside. There are many groups calling themselves “Church of Christ” that likely lost their candlestick years ago. Conversely, there may very well be groups calling themselves something else (such as, for example, a Christian Fellowship) that are faithful congregations of the Lord’s body. The test is whether they follow the word of God rather than whether they put the right magic words outside on their sign.