BEN F. VICK, JR.
A few years ago the cry was made, “Preach the man and not the plan.” It is the sentiments of the world expressed when men say, “Give us Jesus but not his church.” How, according to God’s word, can we separate the Son of the living God from the institution which he established?
This institution was predicted by the prophets of old. (II Sam. 7:12-13; Isa. 2:2-3; Zech. 1:16.) The way was prepared by John the Baptist for this great institution. (Matt. 3:1-2; Mk. 1:1-5.) Jesus said he would build it and fulfilled that promise. (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2.)
How can one separate the church from Christ? Saul of Tarsus “made havock of the church.” (Acts 8:3.) But on the road to Damascus the Lord asked him the question, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” (Acts 9:4.) To persecute the Lord’s church is to persecute him. Jesus, at the judgement scene, will say to those who helped others, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matt. 25:40.) Thus, to help our brethren (the church) in time of need is to render, in a sense, aid to Christ. It is a truth that cannot be denied intelligently that things equal to the same thing are equal to each other. Paul tells us that we are baptized into Christ. (Gal. 3:27.) But he also tells us by inspiration that we are baptized into the body, the church. (I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:22-23.) Therefore, how can anyone think we can separate Christ from the church?
The church is called the bride of Christ. Consider the words of the Holy Spirit through John in Revelation 22:17, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come…” The bride in this verse is a reference to the church. Ephesians 5:22-32 parallels the relationship of Christ and the church with the husband and his wife. Those who desire severing the connection between Christ and his church are counseling divorce between the wife (the church) and her husband, Christ.
It is strange and without scriptural and logical explanation that anyone can think we can have Christ and not his church. The “church” and “kingdom” are used interchangeably throughout the New Testament in reference to the same blood-bought institution. (Acts 20:28; Matt. 16:18-19.) Many claim they want Jesus as the Lord and King of their lives but are not willing to submit to his law and be subjects in his kingdom. If Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords (and he is), then, he must have a kingdom. (I Tim. 6:15.) No one can be a king without a kingdom. But he does have a kingdom, and that is the church. (Col. 1:13; Heb. 12:28; Rev. 1:9.) Those in Satan’s kingdom must be born again into the kingdom of God. (John 3:3-5.)
The church is also called the body. (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:1-3.) Christ, as the inspired writer in Ephesians states, is the head of the church. Those who attempt to take Christ but leave the church, in a sense, are beheading the church. All members; that is, individual Christians, are subject to the head, Christ. Just as the feet, hands, and other members of the physical body move on the impulse and authority from the head, so it should be in the church. Would it not be peculiar to see the feet and hands argue with the head about certain tasks that are to be done? Yet, sometimes such unwillingness to cooperate is seen in the spiritual body of Christ. Then, the medicine of God’s word must be used to heal this problem. (Psa. 103:3; Mal. 4:2; Matt. 13:15; Psa. 107:20.)
The church is called the house of God. (I Tim. 3:15.) When one attempts to separate Christ from his church, he, in a sense, tears the house away from the foundation. Paul wrote, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (I Cor. 3:11.) How long will a house stand without a foundation? (Matt. 7:24-27.) What benefits can be derived from one’s standing upon a foundation with no house on top of it? The foundation would be of no value without the completed building.
Those who want to separate Christ from his church need to study the figures used in the Bible regarding this greatest of institutions.