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A Weekly Devotional from the
South Green Street Church of Christ

 

   

Christians Only
By Steve Higginbotham
August 6, 2005
 

Is it possible to simply be a Christian today, in the 21st century?  Can we avoid being entangled in and weighted down by all the trappings and innovations of man which have found their way into religion over the past 2000 years?

I believe the answer is "yes," and can be accomplished by taking an "island approach" to Christianity.  What do I mean by that?  Suppose there was an isolated island filled with people who knew nothing of Jesus.  However, one day a chest washed ashore and contained therein was a copy of the Bible.  The islanders began reading this book with great interest.  After months of careful study, they came to the point of faith, turned from their sins, confessed their faith in Jesus as the Son of God, were baptized into Christ, and began worshiping God together and committing themselves to the moral standards contained in the Scriptures.

Question:  What denomination were these islanders when they obeyed the gospel?  What "brand" of Christian were they?  It's a silly question, isn't it?  They would not be a part of any denomination, sect, or party.  They would simply be Christians, and Christians only.

Now friends, if people on an isolated island can be "Christians Only," then why can't we be "Christians Only" in our respective communities?  The fact is, we can.  However, it will require that we do what they did...open the Bible, unite on what it teaches, leaving behind those practices and doctrines that are not found therein.

"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." (John 17:20-21).

Copyright © 2005, South Green Street Church of Christ, Glasgow, Kentucky
Permission is granted to copy these articles.