The Church of the Christ and the Christ of the Church
“So we, being many, are one body in Christ…” (Romans 12:5). “…the church of the firstborn…” (Hebrews 12:23). “…church of God…” (I Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:13). And of course, “…the churches of Christ…” (Romans 16:16). These are all identifiers in Scripture for the group of Christians who were assembling and working together at the time of the writing of the New Testament. At first, however, they were known simply as “the Way” (Acts 22:4).
So, why have we settled on “Church of Christ”? There is evidence from church records dating back to the 10th century AD that the moniker was used extensively throughout Europe. But, since it is in Scripture during that 1st century, we can know that it had its origin at the beginning of the Church. In America, its use (during the Restoration Movement of the 1800s) came to be adopted by those who opposed the use of instrumental music during worship assemblies. “Christian Church” was the name of our brethren who chose to use instruments in worship.
Is there any real importance to the name that we use today? The “name” of the disciples in that first century was important enough to God that He named them “Christians” (Acts 11:26). This was prophesied in Isaiah 62:2. If the name of the members who were the individuals in the Church was important, it makes sense to me that the name of the Church is important as well. We are “the Church of the Christ.”
“Christian” is a name that identifies a person as belonging to Christ. It makes sense that the name of the Church over which Christ is Head should bear a name that honors the One who is the Head (Ephesians 1:22-23). Any name that does would seem to have approval from God. After all, Jesus is “the Christ of the Church.”
What principles should “the Church of the Christ” stand upon? She is the Bride of the Christ (II Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:22-33; Revelation 21:2, 9; 19:7; 22:17). Therefore, she should act as His partner having the same goal as He. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, no willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (II Peter 3:9).
Notice Jesus’ last words in Matthew 28:18-20, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Under His authority, He expects the making of disciples (Christians). He intended this command to be handed from one generation of Christians into the succeeding generations of Christians. Baptism is the act initiating them into the group known as Christians. This group of people then submit to the commands of Jesus in everything they teach and practice. This is what “the Church of the Christ” will do to honor “the Christ of the Church.”
— Mike Johnson
