(Kent Heaton)
Through the years many authors have penned the stories of their journey of obedience from denominationalism to the one true church. Their examples of courage in turning from what they had known to the truth are inspiring to the souls of the faithful. The perspectives they offer are what it was like to be in religious error and the sad reality that not all men follow Christ. Their conversion is an example of the power of the gospel of Christ in removing the clouds of doubt rooted in religious dogma to the clear light of truth found in Jesus Christ.
Personally, these stories have helped me in many ways in my faith. I am indebted to those who sacrificed so much to share in the good news of Jesus. As I read of their conversion, I reflect on my own life and how blessed I have been as a child of God from an early age. I do not know what it was like to be reared in a home filled with religious error. Both of my parents were Christians, and our home was built upon a Christian foundation.
Growing up in Plant City, Florida was a spiritual blessing. As a family of six, we made our way to services on every occasion the doors were opened. We usually arrived at 803 West Mahoney Street 30 minutes before services. I grew up with preachers such as Morris Norman, Jerry Eubanks, Edwin Britt and Gary Ogden. These men instilled a solid foundation of Biblical truths in me that was only unmatched by the wonderful Bible Class teachers I had as a child.
At home, my parents sought to build our world on God and His word. Before we had a television, we would frequently read Bible stories from Egermeir's Bible Story book; we attended gospel meetings on a regular basis. In the early sixties and seventies on occasion we would make the trip to Temple Terrace to hear that old time gospel preaching in Hutchinson Auditorium at the Florida College Lectures.
From a perspective of growing up in the church, the blessings were abounding. Following a tour in the Army, I attended Florida College and a few years later began to preach on a "full-time" basis. After nearly 21 years of preaching, I find the need to stop and make some examinations. The stories I read of those who left what they knew cause me to consider what I believe. Do I preach what I preach because I was raised in it? Is my faith really based on the faith of my parents and those who early on influenced my life? Can I be sure that I am in the "One True Church?" I believe these are important questions that need answered.
Why have I not left the church of Christ? Can I feel confident that what I believe is the truth? I must answer those questions for myself. My salvation is based upon my relationship with the Lord. I must answer before God concerning what I believe. The training I received from my parents is a valuable treasure I possess, but I cannot secure my hope on the faith of my parents. My system of belief must be my own, and it must be based on the word of God.
It has troubled me through the years to see the religious division that is so common. Many good people are convinced (as I am) that they are doing the right thing. One of the hardest passages in scripture is found in the words of Jesus during His sermon on the mountain. "Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" (Matthew 7:21-23)
We can use this passage to show the error of those who do not embrace what we believe, but do we ever apply this to ourselves? The terror of this passage is to think of one who lives so faithfully for the Lord in what they believe to be truth, and then when standing before God - expecting the blessings of Heaven - receives the horrors of Hell. This must apply to me as strongly as it applies to all men. Why am I a member of the church of Christ? Can I feel assurance in the knowledge of my faith in being a member of the "true church" and in being among the saved?
I have not left the church of Christ because I have examined the history of the denominations and have seen that most of them began less than five hundred years ago. I know that if God can create a world in which such beauty and wonder can be found, then giving man a book that has lasted throughout the ages whereby he can read and understand His will is a comparably small task. I will not embrace any notion that what I am a part of was begun by Alexander Campbell or any other man. I can find evidence of the existence of the "churches of Christ" before Campbell and especially I can find the evidence of God's people in the New Testament. "The churches of Christ greet you." (Romans 16:16)
I have not left the church of Christ because what I am a part of locally is founded upon the promise that we can build the body of Christ from ground up using only the word of God. We have no other authority than the word of God and the church that I am a part of in Trenton is seeking to establish everything we do with the words of Almighty God. Our roots begin in the book of Acts and no other umbilical cord of faith is necessary. "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:47)
I have not left the church of Christ because I can see that Catholicism is built upon the Pope, Buddhism is framed around Buddha, Islam was created from the mind of Mohammed, and Judaism today is not the Judaism of the Old Testament but is just any other religion that denies the fundamental teaching of Jesus. "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." (John 8:24)
I have not left the church of Christ because I believe the Bible is the only guide I need. The Mormons have their "Other Testament," the Jehovah Witness their Watchtower edition of the Bible, the Catholics have their dogmas and decrees and many denominations have their creed books. The trust I have in God is secure in the knowledge that everything I need to know of salvation is found in the words of God protected by His mighty power throughout all generations. "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8)
I have not left the church of Christ because the authority for the organization of the church requires the simple pattern found in the word of God. There is no central organization of earthly authority that directs and determines the work of the church. The work of the church of Christ of which I am a member is autonomous in its nature. We answer to God and not to man. Our pattern is not determined by the publications of men who would impose their beliefs upon the church. The authority of the church is not built upon a party of preachers who determine what is true and what is false. Our autonomy stands upon the rock of God's word and nothing else.
Through the agency of elders who oversee and watch for the souls of which I am a part, the organization of the church is based upon the scriptural pattern of individual congregations fulfilling the work of bringing lost souls to Christ. The Elders will give answers to God for their leadership, but no other pattern of organizational authority exists. The pattern of divine organization is not based upon one man. The wisdom of God's plan is to allow multiple men in the role of leadership in a local body. There is only one head of the church of Christ, and that is Christ. (Matthew 28:18) His will, His word, and His headship is all the authority men may use.
I have not left the church of Christ because the pattern of worship is in complete harmony with scripture. There is nothing done in worship for which a pattern does not exist as demonstrated in the New Testament. No instruments of music are used because there is no pattern for such in the early church. Worship is for the glory of God and not the praise of men. (1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16)
I have not left the church of Christ because the pattern of work is in harmony with the pattern of the New Testament. There is no organization larger than the local church to carry out the work God intended. The church is not a social, recreational and civic club catering to the pleasure driven whims of society. Teaching the lost of the good news of Jesus Christ is carried out by the efforts of the local work as directed by the Elders. There are no benevolent societies, homes for unwed mothers, orphan institutions, or political movements directing the work of the church. The church of Christ carries out its work in full harmony with the pattern of the New Testament church. (Acts 8:4; 4:32-37; James 1:27; Mark 16:15,16, etc.)
I have not left the church of Christ because I know it is made of people who occasionally fail and who often leave undone what needs to be done. The church is in a struggle against the powers of Satan. The New Testament church was beset with a multitude of problems because the church is made up of people. Satan was seeking to destroy the church and plagued the church at Jerusalem with lying, greed, jealousy and pride (Acts 5), neglect, murmuring, prejudice, (Acts 6) and the frailties of humanity.
The church at Corinth was filled with problems as Paul discussed in 1 Corinthians. John, who wrote the Revelation, included the letters to the seven churches of Asia. (Revelation 1-3) The churches of Galatia, Rome, Colosse, and Thessalonica dealt with the problems brought on by people. But the word of God guided these churches to the right path, and so it will today. The church of Christ has problems, and we must deal with those problems with the word of God.
The reason I have not left the church of Christ is because I have sought to diligently study every part of the church of Christ as it is depicted today by the word of God. There are areas of great concern, there are areas of rejoicing, there are things the church must do to remain strong, and there is much work to be done.
I have not left the church of Christ because I have tried to make my faith my own. There are no words to describe the immense humility I feel toward those who taught me over the years and sought to guide me in the true path of righteousness. They also taught me that I must make my faith my own and not rely upon the blessing that I was "raised in the church." I stand alone before God for my faith. I believe in the church of Christ, the church found in the New Testament. I believe that Jesus died for the church, that all things given in His word are true, and that men need nothing else. Why do you believe? Is your faith your own? "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves." (2 Corinthians 13:5)