But what does the Lord intend for the elders to do in His church? In Acts 20:28 the apostle Paul was talking to the elders from the church at Ephesus and told them, "Therefore take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers." The church of Christ which the Lord built is to be overseen by a plurality of elders. The qualifications of elders who are to oversee each congregation of the Lord's church are given in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and in Titus 1:3-9. There are some small congregations of the Lord's church that do not have a plurality of men who meet these qualifications and thus cannot have elders until men become qualified.  Is each congregation of the church you belong to overseen by a plurality of elders? If not, why not?  If it is to be the Lord’s church and has men who qualify, each congregation is to be overseen by a plurality of elders.

If we really accept the Bible as our only authority, we will want to worship God only as He has specified. We must reject human traditions and doctrines that members are required to follow such as creed books, catechisms, manuals, articles of faith, the book of Mormon, the Koran, constitutions, disciplines and other guidelines of men, all of which produce different and  new religious doctrines.  If a creed contains less than the Bible, it contains too little.  If it contains more than the Bible, it contains too much.  If it contains just the Bible, then why have it?  The purpose of creeds, which are formulated by men, is to express beliefs that are different from what is taught in the Bible.  There is no authority for any of these various doctrines of men.  Anything taught or practiced by man in the field of religion which does not come from the Bible is false doctrine.   

We are warned in Colossians 2:8, "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." It would be a tragedy to find out on Judgment Day we have been cheated of our eternal reward in Heaven because we followed the doctrines of men; but then it will be too late.

The followers of Christ are called Christians in the Bible.  This "new name" was prophesied in Isaiah 62:2, "The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory.  You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name."  This "new name" was given by the Lord in Acts 11:26, "And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch."  It is a privilege to wear this name because it was given by the Lord.    

II Thessalonians 1:12 tells us "That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus Christ is to be glorified and honored in us. Besides doing all that he tells us to do, we glorify the name of Christ by wearing the name "Christian". I Peter 4:16 says, "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter." It is an honor to wear the name "Christian." In wearing this name we are glorifying God and Christ.

We should not be ashamed to wear the name "Christian", yet many seem to be. Men want to wear other names that give honor and glory to someone or something other than Christ. For example honor and glory are given to Martin Luther, the day of Pentecost, the apostles, the methodical way of doing things, the town of Nazareth, John the Baptist, John Wesley, the hill of Calvary, the community, the city of Rome, the city of Antioch, the names of the different "saints", and the list goes on and on.  Can it be said that Jesus has authorized any of these different names?  No.  None of these names give any glory or honor whatsoever to God or Christ to whom honor is due. How do you think God feels about this situation? Do you actually think that He is pleased with it?  We must be Christians and Christians only.  Do you wear only the name Christian?  Or do you wear some other name?  

When people religiously wear the names of men and the names of man-made organizations, this shows they are following men and not Christ.  When a husband and wife are married, the wife honors her husband by wearing his name.  If his last name is Jones, she is no longer Miss Smith but her name is now Mrs. Jones.  What if Miss Smith did not want to take the name Jones, but the name of some other man?  What if she wanted to take the name of one of her old boy-friends?  Do you think this would be alright with Mr. Jones, her new husband?  I think not.  The same is true with wearing all of these other names of someone or something else other than "Christian".    

Although by referring to one as a Christian, does not make him a Christian.  If one is not a Christian according to the New Testament, then he is not a Christian at all.  The Bible makes it clear that being baptized (immersed) in water is part of becoming a Christian, not something to be done afterward.

God tells us in Jeremiah 10:23, "It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps." Man has tried but has always made a miserable failure of it. In Colossians 3:17 we read, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." We are to do all in the name of or by the authority of the Lord Jesus. We must have the Lord's authority for everything we do in religion, and this includes the name we wear.  

Questions Lesson 24

       The preacher.

       A board of deacons.

       A plurality of elders.

2) The Bible specifies that the Lord's church is to be overseen by a pope.

       The town of Nazareth.

       John the Baptist.

       Christ.

4) We should glorify every religious name.

5)  (1 Peter 4:16) We should not be ashamed to suffer as a

       Pentecostal.

       Christian.

       Lutheran.

6) We should wear different names religiously even if they do not glorify Christ.

       The Lord Jesus Christ.

       The authority of each different church's creed book.

       Our own authority.

8) The things we teach and do must be done by the authority of Christ.