How to Identify the True Church

In our previous article we showed that the Bible teaches that Jesus built only one church, that he wants his followers to be united and that division is contrary to his will. How to identify Christ's church is the next logical matter to be resolved. Some think that before a church can be the true church it must be free from error, but this type of attitude is similar to that of the Pharisees whom Jesus condemned. One doesn't have to find out what is believed and taught in regard to every doctrine. Besides, what person among us is right on every issue and therefore qualified to determine which church teaches no error? Let us now look at the criteria involved in identifying the true church. There is, of course, the church universal and the church local. A local congregation is all that we can look at, as far as what is believed and practiced by churches in the land. This is true because a local church with a certain name may not believe and practice the same thing as another church with the same name. We must look to the New Testament for identifying marks and compare these marks to any congregation of professed Christians we might look at in an effort to determine if it is the true church.

• The true church will have the correct FOUNDATION (1 Cor. 3:11).
• The true church will be the right AGE. If you are looking for a John Doe who is 40 years old, one that is 20 or 60 would be the wrong man. Man's age is figured by subtracting date of birth from present date. Jesus' church was established in Jerusalem (birthplace) in AD 33. That makes it 1977 years old. All the churches that started since this time cannot be the true church.
• Look for the correct BIRTHPLACE. Jerusalem is the birthplace of the church Jesus built (Zech. 1:16; Luke 24:46-47).
• The one true church will have the proper FOUNDER-Jesus (Matt 16:18).
• The true church will have the RIGHT LAW. Nothing could be more confusing than to be governed by conflicting laws. God's people have lived under three ages and three laws: Patriarchal, Mosaic, and Christian. The law under which man has lived has not always been the same, and the law of Moses no longer exists and we are now under the law of Christ (Heb. 7:12). Paul said, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:2).
• The NAME is an identifying mark. Note what names the Bibles uses for the church. If a church has a man's name can we honestly think God is pleased with that name and those who foster that name? (See Acts 4:12)
• The true church will teach the PROPER METHOD OF BECOMING A MEMBER. The saved are added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:47). Therefore, the conditions for salvation are the conditions for church membership. One cannot "join" the church, God's family; you must be born into it (John 3:5).
• The true church will be PROPERLY ORGANIZED. New Testament churches were fully autonomous. A local congregation was ruled by elders (Acts 14:23; 20:17, 28.), deacons served and saints or Christians made up the rest of the church.
• The true church will engage in scriptural ACTS OF WORSHIP: Teachings or preaching (Acts 20:7); prayer (Acts 2:42); singing (Eph. 5:19); contribution on Sunday (1 Cor. 16:1-2); and the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). Do what God teaches you to do to be saved and Jesus will add you to his church, and then join yourself to a local congregation of God's people.

Tithing

Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). This being true, Christians should be willing to give for worthy causes, and there is no greater cause than the work of the Lord's church. In Old Testament times, the Israelites were commanded to tithe or pay 10% of their income, or fruit of the land, to the Lord. When the people wanted to be like the nations round about them they asked for a King. Samuel, the prophet, told them the king would require them to tithe. Among other things, these funds would be used to maintain the kingdom, or government, which included its military (1 Sam 8:11-15).

The New Testament, which Christians are to follow, does not teach tithing. Nevertheless, many church leaders today require its members to tithe. Some even demand to see tax returns to assure the correct amount is paid. One might try to justify the action of requiring tithes by saying that Old Testament tithing is an example for us. Is it? Don't we pay taxes to our government in addition to what we give to the church? And are these funds not used for much of the same thing the King of Israel used them for in Old Testament times? It is neither scriptural nor fair to require Christians to pay tithes. For some, when all the bills are paid, even though frugality is practiced, there may not be 10% left over. On the other hand, 10% of one's gross income might be a small sacrifice for one who makes lots of money.

How much a New Testament Christian should give is a matter between the giver and God. The apostle Paul informs us that how much we give should be based upon how "God has prospered him" (1 Cor 16:2) and that a man should give "as he purposeth in his heart...not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Cor 9:7).

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