His Church
“I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”
— 1 Timothy 3:15b
Perhaps you have wondered why so many different churches, or denominations, exist in the world today. Each group advocates particular doctrines or viewpoints differing on fundamental issues, such as God’s plan of salvation.
It can be frustrating and confusing trying to discern which religious group is truly following the Bible. However, God is not the author of confusion and tells us in the Holy Scriptures that there should be no divisions among us [1 Corinthians 14:33 & 1 Corinthians 1:10]. It is clear in scripture that God’s plan for the church does not include denominationalism [John 17:20-23].
The Lord promised to build His church [Matthew 16:18], and the Apostle Paul informs us that there is only one body, or church [Ephesians 1:22-23 & Ephesians 4:4]. The Lord adds us to His church when we faithfully obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ and are saved [Acts 2:38, 41, 47].
Once saved, we are known simply as Christians [Acts 11:26]. We do not wear the names of men to create sectarian differences, a practice spoken against by Paul in his letter to the church at Corinth [1 Corinthians 1:10-13].
Here at Hayes Street church of Christ in Lebanon Missouri, we are not a building or institution, but a community of baptized believers, dedicated to the mission of Jesus Christ. We have neither earthly headquarters nor man-made hierarchies. Our eternal destination is Heaven and our spiritual leader (head) is Jesus Christ.
As Christ’s body, we strive to humbly serve Him just as the early Christians of the first century. This is done by teaching and preaching the “Good News”, or Gospel, of Jesus Christ to all who may hear. We are committed “…to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints,” Jude 1:3. Our hope and prayer is to follow the pattern laid out in the New Testament scriptures and it is our fervent desire to follow Jesus’ example of loving God and loving others [Luke 10:27].