is one church as good as another?

Is One Church as Good as Another?

TWO CHURCHES – ONE PROTESTANT,

ONE CATHOLIC – UNDER ONE ROOF.

We hear all the time that churches just need to get together & forget their differences.

After all: “One church is as good as another.”

IS ONE CHURCH REALLY AS GOOD AS

ANOTHER?

DIVISION IS ACCEPTABLE

If one church is as good as another,

Today’s religious world is deeply divided. Many say that this is wonderful, for people

have a choice as to how & where to worship.

But, the New Testament teaches that division is unacceptable.Jn 17:20-21.1 Cor 1:10.

The Corinthian church was terribly divided.E.g., who preached better (Paul or Apollos), who had

enough to eat at the Lord’s Supper, who had the best spiritual gift, taking one another to court, etc.

Paul urges them to come back together. The Greek for “united” (ESV), “perfected together”

(ASV), “perfectly joined together,” (KJV) refers to a surgeon’s mending broken bones.

ONE CHURCH IS NOT AS GOOD AS

ANOTHER.

Christians cannot be divided; therefore,

DOCTRINE IS NEVER FALSE

If one church is as good as another,

One can find a church that teaches just about anything he wants to hear.Some will teach that Jesus is the divine Son of

God; some will deny this truth.Some will teach that baptism is essential to

salvation; some will deny this truth. If one church is as good as another, these

views are equally valid.

The Scriptures teach that false doctrine is a reality.1 Tim 1:3-4.

False doctrine ran rampant in Ephesus.Many had “wandered away into vain discussion” (1 Tim 1:6, ESV).Timothy was to reject “irreverent, silly myths” (1 Tim 4:7, ESV).

Timothy’s purpose for being in Ephesus was to defend the truth.

Col 2:8.The churches of Asia Minor dealt with false doctrine.

Rev 2:2. Rev 2:14-16. Rev 2:20-24.

Further, false doctrine causes one to be condemned.2 Jn 9.

The one who teaches false doctrine does not have God.

Those who do not have God have no hope (Eph 2:12).The one who teaches something contrary to

what the apostles taught shall be accursed (Gal 1:8). “Accursed” refers to being condemned for

destruction.

ONE CHURCH IS NOT AS GOOD AS

ANOTHER

False doctrine is real; therefore,

DISAGREEMENTS NEED NOT WORRY

US

If one church is as good as another,

If one church is as good as another, we don’t need a consensus in what we believe.

We can simply agree to disagree.

Yet, Scripture urges us to be of the same mind.1 Cor 1:10.1 Pet 3:8.

Christians must agree.1 Pet 4:11.As we say what God has said, we will agree with

one another.

ONE CHURCH ISN’T AS GOOD AS

ANOTHER.

Disagreements aren’t acceptable; therefore,

DEVOTION CAN BE MAN’S WAY

If one church is as good as another,

If one church is as good as another, it doesn’t matter how we worship.We can use an instrument or not use one.We can take the Lord’s Supper weekly or not at

all.We can allow either men or women to preach.

The Scriptures teach that God cares how we worship.Lev 10:1-2.

Nadab & Abihu believed it didn’t matter how they worshipped.

Yet, fire went out from the presence of the Lord & devoured them.

Matt 15:9.

ONE CHURCH IS NOT AS GOOD AS

ANOTHER

We cannot worship however we please; therefore,

DISCERNMENT BELONGS TO MAN

If one church is as good as another,

If one church is as good as another, man can determine for himself what is right & wrong.

I could have any belief system I chose.

Yet, man is not able to determine what is best.Jer 10:23.1 Cor 1:19-20.Matt 17:5.

ONE CHURCH IS NOT AS GOOD AS

ANOTHER.

Man cannot decide for himself what is right & wrong; therefore,

One church is not as good as another.Jesus built his church (Matt 16:18).Jesus is head of the church (Col 1:18).Jesus gave himself for the church (Eph 5:25).

We need to be members of the church Jesus established.