Examining Churches and Religions
Part 2
By Allan E. McNabb

Last week we began a series of articles examining churches and religions, by asking questions.  Through this series of questions we eliminate all false churches and religions, and identify the Lord’s church.

The questions we asked last week were:
Does the church believe Jesus is the divine Son of God?
Does the church believe Jesus is the only way to God?
Does the church teach anything different from the doctrine of Christ?
Is the church a denomination?

By answering these four questions, we’re able to eliminate every religion but Christian, and we’re able to eliminate every church but the Lord’s church.

Now, we continue with questions which will more clearly identify the Lord’s church.

Is the church organized as authorized in God’s word?
Congregations of the Lord’s church are organized with qualified elders and deacons, along with evangelists, and Jesus as its head (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:11; 5:22-24; 1 Tim. 3:1-13).  In the event that the congregation doesn’t have qualified men to serve as elders and deacons, the men of the congregation lead (Acts 14:21-23; 1 Cor. 14:34-35).
Congregations of the Lord’s church are overseen by a plurality of elders, not just one.  The elders overseeing the congregation must be members of the congregation, and only oversee that local group of Christians (Acts 11:30; 14:23;15:2-6; 20:17, 28; Tit. 1:5; 1 Pet. 5:1-5).
Other names ascribed to elders are “pastor” (shepherd) and “bishop” (overseer) (1 Tim. 5:17; Acts 20:29-31; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-2).

Today, we no longer have the offices of apostle and prophet in the church.  These offices passed away with the death of the apostles.
Paul was the last man qualified to be an apostle (Acts 1:21-22; 26:16; 1 Cor. 9:1; 15:5-8).
Christians could only receive supernatural power by the laying on of an apostle’s hands, so no one can prophesy or perform miracles today (Acts 8:17-19; 19:6-7).

As a result, we can tell that a church is not the Lord’s church if one of these situations exists:
If Jesus isn’t the head of the church, it’s not the Lord’s church.
If there is an earthly office other than elder, deacon, or  evangelist, it’s not the Lord’s church.
If a church has an apostle or prophet, it’s not the Lord’s church.
If there is only one elder (pastor, bishop), it’s not the Lord’s church.
If the congregation is overseen by one or more elders (pastors, bishops) who are not members of the congregation, it’s not the Lord’s church.
If the church is a denomination (churches organized under a single administrative head, composed of humans and based upon earth), it’s not the Lord’s church.

Does the church wear a name authorized in God’s word?
Since Jesus is the head of the church, and we are subject to Him in everything, we must wear a name He has authorized (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:11; 5:22-24; Col. 3:17).

Names authorized in God’s word include:
My (i.e., Christ's) church (Matt. 16:18).
My (i.e., Christ's) kingdom (Lk. 22:29-30; Jn. 18:36).
Kingdom of God (Lk. 22:16; Jn. 3:5; Eph. 5:5).
Kingdom of Christ (Eph. 5:5; Col. 1:13).
Church of the Lord, church of God (Acts 20:28).
Church of Christ (Rom. 16:16).
Church of God (1 Cor. 1:2).
Household of God (Eph. 2:19).
The body, the church (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23).
The church (1 Th. 1:1; Eph. 5:23).
Sometimes a particular congregation is distinguished from other congregations by including information regarding its location (e.g., the church of the Thessalonians).
House of God, church of the living God (1 Tim. 3:15).
Household of the faith (Gal. 6:10).
Church of the firstborn (Heb. 12:23).
God's field, God's building (1 Cor. 3:9).
The flock (1 Pet. 5:3; Acts 20:28).

A church that’s not wearing a name authorized in God’s word isn’t the Lord’s church.

Therefore, denominations (churches wearing names not authorized by God) are not the Lord’s church.