This common question has always been difficult for me to answer. The questioner is seeking the name of a human organization around which I gather with other Christians. Though I enjoy the fellowship of gathering with believers, I do not belong to a human organization, and Christ is the only name I gather to.

It is not that I wish to divide myself from others who have put their trust in the blood of Christ alone for eternal salvation. In fact, it is quite the opposite. If I were to claim membership with one human organization, I would thereby be dividing myself in name from believers who claim membership to all other human organizations.

It is not that I see myself as superior to other Christians. It is simply a matter of obedience to what I see from God’s Word:

The only spiritual organization in the New Testament is the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:4).

The only membership in the New Testament is membership into the one body (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:13; Acts 2:41-47).

The only Name to which New Testament Christians gathered was to Christ (Matt. 18:20).

The only names of identity sanctioned by the New Testament are those common to all Christians: "believers" (Acts 5:14), "disciples" (Acts 9:1), "Christians" (Acts 11:26), "saints" (Eph. 1:1) and "brethren" (Phil. 4:1).

These principles are illustrated both in Old Testament worship, as well as, the New Testament Church.

Under the Old Testament economy, there was one and only one place where God chose to place His Name and where the people were to bring their sacrifices – the temple at Jerusalem (see Deut. 12:5,11,14,18,21,26 and 2 Chron. 6). Alternate places of worship, often called the "high places," were typically associated with idolatry (2 Chron. 14:3,5; 31:1: 32:12). On some rare occasions these high places were used to sacrifice unto Jehovah, but even then it was in disobedience (2 Chron. 33:15-17). See also John 4:20-22.

Consider the following reasons which some may have given for going to a place other than the one where God had placed His Name.

This place is more convenient. It takes us only a half day to get there whereas Jerusalem is a 3 day journey.

I enjoy the music and the priests at this place more than I do at Jerusalem.

This place provides many other activities for me and my children.

Those that go to Jerusalem think they are better than we are.

You will recognize at once that all such reasonings pale in comparison to their responsibility to obey the simple command of Jehovah.

Though we often hear the expression, "Go to the Church of your choice," there is no such liberty given to us in the New Testament. Like the Old Testament parallel, the Church has been given One Name to gather to: Christ.

"For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20)

"In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 5:4)

"Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach" (Heb. 13:13)

Gathering to other names is expressly condemned: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you says, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you: or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" (1 Cor. 1:10-13).

"For you are carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are you not carnal, and walk as men? For while one says, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase." (1 Cor. 3:3-6).

Consider a hypothetical situation in which the internal strife among the believers at Corinth developed into external divisions. Consider four gatherings in the city of Corinth each meeting separately: one rallying around the name of Apollos, one around Cephas, one around Paul and one which refused to rally around any name but that of Christ. If you were living in Corinth at that time, which gathering would you attend? Could you in opposition to the mind of Christ justify your gathering by the convenient location? The music? Gifted brethren? Activities? Perceived self-righteousness among those who gather to the Name of Christ alone?

This "hypothetical" situation is not hypothetical at all. It describes the very situation within Christianity today. Monuments bearing every name imaginable consume the land. Large numbers of believers and unbelievers gather to these man made organizations while those who gather simply to Christ are despised and few. So widespread and accepted is the divided condition of things, that the common question, "What Church do you go to?", expects the name of a denomination in response. The concept of gathering to Christ alone seems almost foreign. So much so that those who take this position frequently bear the suspicions of being in a cult.

That concludes my explanation. I am sure it was much longer than you had expected when you asked the question. Often beliefs and practices are revealed simply by supplying a name. Perhaps your purpose in asking was to ascertain my beliefs. Though I cannot satisfy your inquiry by giving you the name of a human organization, I can give you more information about some of the principles upon which I and other believers gather.

"that in all things He might have the preeminence" (Col. 1:18)

"For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord’s death till He come" (1 Cor. 11:26)

 

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:16)

"For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2 Cor. 11:2,3)

 

"Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sits by, let the first hold his peace. For you may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted." (1 Cor. 14:29-31)

"As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God gives; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 4:10,11)

 

"And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints" (1 Cor. 14:32,33)

"Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Cor. 14:40)

 

We receive all Christians regardless of their level of growth or spiritual understanding who are:

pure in walk (1 Cor. 5)

pure in doctrine (Romans 16:17)

pure in associations (1 Cor. 5:6; 1 Cor. 15:33; 2 Cor. 6; 2 John 10,11; 2 Tim. 5:22)

pure in heart (2 Timothy 2:19-22)