Every month a copy of the American Family Association Journal comes to the office. The A.F.A. has done some excellent work in trying to "promote the biblical ethic of decency in American society with primary emphasis on TV and other media." Each month the Journal has timely and well written articles concerning this topic.

An article in the September 2001 issue by the A.F.A. president, Donald E. Wildmon, caught my attention. The article is entitled "Christ’s Church will survive our church." Mr Wildmon begins his article with these statements. "Often in our society, people confuse the man-made institution with the Church. We use the term "church" when we mean the institution or a denomination. To use that definition as synonymous with the eternal Church of Jesus Christ is a mistake." The article deals with sinful acceptance by some of the denominations of homosexuality which Wildmon, rightly so, condemns as sinful in the A.F.A. Journal. He closes the article with these words, "This one thing you can count on: The Church is of God and will be preserved. The denomination? Well, that is another matter altogether."

Not knowing Mr. Wildmon, I wonder if he realizes the implication of his words. He is correct when he writes that "the Church is of God and will be preserved" (1 Corinthians 1:2; 15:20-28; Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 12:18-25). He is also correct when he states that people confuse man-made institutions with the Church. Even in the first century there were those who sought disciples for themselves instead of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:10-17). He is most assuredly accurate when he states that to use the term denomination as synonymous with the eternal Church of Christ is a "mistake." You see, Mr. Wildmon has affirmed, though maybe unknowingly, that denominations are not the eternal church of Christ. If they are not the eternal church of Christ it follows they surely cannot be the church which Christ built. Thus they are as he aptly put "man-made institutions." I am reminded of the divinely inspired words, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it" (Psalm 127:1). Also Jesus said, "Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up" (Matthew 15:13).

Christ told His disciples that He would build His church (Matthew 16:18). Paul’s inspired epistles confirm Christ’s headship over the church, which is His body (Ephesians 1:22,23; Colossians 1:18). Paul also confirms there is but one body (Ephesians 4:4). Thus there can be but one body (i.e. church) which is the "eternal Church of Jesus Christ." It seems totally unreasonable that a God, who desires all to come to repentance and be saved (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4), would make the church wherein salvation lies, (Acts 2:47), unrecognizable or unattainable. Thus, it seems consistent with New Testament teaching that God has given us the information which we need to be part of Christ’s church. It will be the church that worships as Christ’s church worshiped during the apostolic period (Acts 2:42; 20:7; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 16:1,2). It will be a church organized as the church was organized in the first century (Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4). It will be a church that will take the names given to the church by God (Acts 11:26; Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 1:2). It is the church wherein all who are saved are members (Acts 2:47; Ephesians 1:7; Galatians 3:26,27; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16)

Yes, Mr. Wildmon, is correct when he writes, "The Church is of God and will be preserved. The denomination? Well, that is another matter altogether." Since denominations are not the Lord’s house then ....