We’re having a great week in the one and only Morrilton, Arkansas! We are so thankful for life, reasonable health, family, friends, and especially our name and place in Christ’s kingdom, His church. We who believe in Jesus as God’s Son, have repented of our sins, confessed Him, and put Christ on in baptism…We are the church. The Lord Himself adds those who are saved by grace through faith to His church (Acts 2:47). The church belongs to Christ. We can look in the Bible (Romans 16:16) and find the name “churches of Christ.” We do not choose this name by vote, because it sounds good, or because it suits us. In Acts 11:26 we find the name “Christian” in reference to those who follow Christ Jesus. King Agrippa used the name “Christian” when he was almost persuaded to become one (Acts 26:28). Simon Peter wrote about suffering as a Christian in 1 Peter 4:16. I have often thought about the various names that people use when it comes to religion and wondered why people couldn’t just be Christians. I realize why a Hindu calls himself a “Hindu” or a Buddhist calls himself a “Buddhist” or Islamist calls himself a Muslim or someone who will not believe in God calls himself an atheist. I don’t fully understand why people who believe in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and claim to follow His teachings in the New Testament call themselves any other name but “Christian.” Not too long ago I spoke with a person and asked him if and where he went to church. I realize that “going to church” is not the correct way to word this question, but in the world today, people understand what I mean. He answered, “Yes, I am a _____” and went on to talk about the denominational church he was a part of. He asked me about my church affiliation. I stated that I am a Christian and a member of the church of Christ that meets on Harding Street in Morrilton. After my answer his immediate response was “Well, I am a Christian too. I’m a _____ Christian.” My next statement was, “If we believe in Jesus and follow His words, shouldn’t we call ourselves what the Bible calls us: “Christians?” nothing before the word and nothing after the word. I am not a “church of Christ Christian” or an anything else Christian. I am a Christian (simply and only) and a member of the church that belongs to Christ. This church exists all around the world and regularly meets together everywhere in small congregations made up of two or three Christians and in large congregations, some into the hundreds of thousands. I hope you can read this, think about who you are and what the Bible says, understand what I am trying to say, and make the changes you need to make to be what you need to be. Now this is a good question to ask ourselves; “Is the person I am, the person I need to be?” Be a Christian today and always. I can help you.
We are so excited to welcome a new “sister in Christ.” Carla Prysock came before God and the church on Sunday morning to put on Christ in baptism. You can see her confession and baptism online on our Facebook page. What a joy it is to be a Christian. We are so happy to have Carla, her husband, Matt, and sons Kayden and Lucas along with her father-in-law, Mike with us at Harding Street. MB
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