The Churches of Christ
Who are these people who seek to be Christians only? The congregations of which they are a part are usually known as "churches of Christ." This term is not used in a sectarian sense, but it is intended to denote their desire to be Christ's church. The Bible says, "All the churches of Christ greet you" (Romans 16:16). However, it is just as correct to describe the church of which we read in the Bible as "the church of God" (1 Corinthians 1:2), "the body of Christ" (l Corinthians 12:27), or "the household of faith" (Galations 6:10). These and similar biblical phrases are not proper names, but descriptive expressions which show how the church is related to Christ and His Father. Individually, Christ's followers are known as "Christians" in the Bible. "the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch" (Acts 11:26). "If a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name" (1 Peter 4:16). Never does a human name prefix this God-given name. Paul was one of the greatest of all Christians, but he did not want disciples to be called "Paulites" or "Paulite Christians" (l Corinthians 1:10-17).
A Distinctive Plea
Churches of Christ have a distinctive plea. Of course, in many ways we agree with others striving to follow Christ. We believe in the divine inspiration of the entire Bible and that it is sufficient to guide us in all matters of faith; in the death of Jesus Christ and His atonement for our sins; and that after death all men will be rewarded or punished in another life for the way they lived here. And with all people of genuine religious conviction we believe that the moral principles of Jesus are absolute truths to be exemplified in the personal righteousness of the child of God.