The Church Of Christ And The Church Of Men.

Ninyo Omidiji

Did you know?

The "Organized church" is not essentially the same as the Church of Christ. 

For many, and for the most part,  the difference between the Church of Christ (the Organic Church) and Church Organizations (religious organizations of men) is blurry. Here is an attempt to make some distinctions between the two. 

However this is not exhaustive but it can help someone to know where he truly belongs.  

By way of introduction, It is possible to belong in the church organization and not be a member of the church of Christ. It is also possible to be a member of the church of Christ and you aren't registered with any church organization. Hard truth!  

I hate to admit that much of what dot our landscape today is not the church of Christ. They are organizations.  

Church organizations are registered on earth with the Corporate Affairs Commission of the governments of the earth, while the church of Christ is the "church of the Firstborn registered in heaven".

Church organizations are many and diverse, divided along denominational lines but the church of Christ is one, undivided and indivisible body, even when they are in different locations. 

Church organizations have many heads.  Some general overseers put themselves out as the highpriests of their church. However, the church of Christ has one head, Christ himself, the only Highpriests of our faith.  

Church organizations are fraught with racism, tribalism and classism but in the church of Christ, there's no schism. No Jew or Greek, no male or female but the "spirits of  just men made perfect" by Christ's sacrifice. 

Church organizations are more keen on the numbers and the crowds but the church of Christ is more interested in the souls of men and their welfare. 

Church organizations are keen on packing the auditorium full of people but the church of Christ is keen on impacting the streets, filling men with the love of Christ.  

Church organizations are keen on building personal empires and making a name for themselves ostensibly in the "name of the Lord" but the church of Christ is keen on community impacts and projecting Christ alone.  

Church organizations need to organize regular "special programs" with diverse themes and advertise solutions to human problems to keep people coming but in the church of Christ,  men and women are moved by the love of Christ to gather and fellowship with one another. 

Activities in church organizations can really drain you and wear you out but being a member of Christ's Church gives you rest, even in the midst of life's troubles.  

Church organizations are keen on image laundering. Inviting big names in the "church industry" in the guise  of "impartation" has become a tool for image laundering for them. But the church of Christ would not be bothered with such. She is only keen on one thing, the image of Christ.  

Anything to draw the crowds and get the numbers, from comedians to popular gospel artists will do it for the  church organization.  

Many Church organizations are "personality cults" with adulation (excessive admiration) and excessive devotion to their various human heads, but in the church of Christ, this is not so. Complete loyalty is to Christ.  

Church organizations are keen on both personal and cooperate gains. They suppose that "godliness is gain" and will turn the Bible on it's head to convince you. "Godliness with contentment" is alien to them.  But for the church of Christ, "what things were gain to me I have counted loss for Christ" is their watch word.  Phil 3:7. 

Money and material acquisition drive the church organizations but the church of Christ is driven by love for humanity and constrained by the love of God. 

Church organizations are desperate for attention. They want to be known for success and their yardstick for such is what obtains in the world system. They are always trying to prove to you they are "called". But the church of Christ is rest assured of the calling. She's got nothing to prove to anybody. 

Recognition by kings and political office holders is a sign of success and God's approval to the church organizations, but to the church of Christ, "a servant is not greater than his master,  if they persecute me, they will persecute you".

What more can I say? For Church organizations, the definition of fellowship is: a choir, musical instruments, public address system, a building erroneously named "church" and pastor delivering a powerful sermon. While having such luxury is not a bad idea in itself , but for the church of Christ, it is a matter of "anywhere two or three are gathered in His name".  

A lot of what I call "ministry paraphernalia" have taken the front burner in the church organizations. The buildings, the projects, "special  programs",  the travels, hotel bills, humungous honorarium, private jets, private schools, houses in Dubai, London or Canada and the lavish lifestyles have become some of the paraphernalia of church organizations. 

This is why "ministry" in the church organizations has become expensive to run. This is why money, in the name of all kinds of offerings has taken the front burner. This is why many churches would rather close shops than stop churning our different kinds of offerings with fancy and catchy tags. 

I bet many people cannot imagine ministry outside of all these. Many young ministers are hoping to jump on the bandwagon. This is simply a lost generation. This is one generation that needs to be re-introduced to Christ and His ways again.  

Jesus said my yoke is easy and my burden is light but the model of ministry that has been sold to us is money-gulping and burdensome to the people.

Yet people are made to pay, having been given false hope that their escape from economic misery depends on it. 

"Ministry" in church organizations is "cash and carry". Gifted preachers have become merchants and prosperity pimps. However, inspite of the cacophony of voices misconstrued as ministry today, the discerning remnants know that true ministry is not as expensive but church organizations are expensive to run.

Need I mention that the church of Christ started over 2000 years ago but church organizations are still springing up, day by day. When Jesus said he would build his church, I believe he was referring to the church of Christ and not church organizations.  

I believe God's children are scattered across many assemblies and organizations today and He knows those who are His! 

However,  many church organizations don't belong in Christ at all,  even though they use the name of Christ and Bible to gain legitimacy before people.  Many of them are glorified Jewish temples practicing Judaism. Some of them are into syncretism, a mixture or 2 or 3 religions. some others are simply synagogues of Satan. 

Sadly, many church goers have only been introduced to church organizations and not to Christ.  When they rise in defense of church organizations,  they think they are defending the church of Christ.  

When they say the "church of God is under attack", it is the organized church they are referring to and not the church of Christ.  

Hear me friends,  It is the church of men that is threatened because  the church of Christ is not afraid. It is Church organizations that often compare themselves with other religions. They want to fight when someone takes a swipe at the Bible or attack their religion in the open, but the church of Christ wouldn't be bothered. 

Church organizations usually have something to hide and something to protect. They don't want their affairs and doctrinal practices discussed in public space. They say things like "don't wash your dirty linen outside" . But the church of Christ is not a cult and has no "dirty linen". She has got nothing to hide.

Finally, the central message of the church of Christ is Christ himself but the messages of church organizations are as diverse as their numbers with all of them having Bible passages in support.

Dear friends, it's time for introspection. Where exactly do you truly belong? I know you are contributing to build something but what are you building?  The church of Christ or church organizations..... 

You shall know the truth and the truth will make you free.. 

NINYO.