|
 reachers have different views and opinions about the rightful name of a religious organization. There are some
who believe that a name is not really important.
And this is the reason why, today, so many religious organizations are merely called “fellowship” or “crusade,”
instead of using the name, which was written in the Bible. There is also a group who call themselves “witnesses.”
Let us find out from the Bible if it is true that, any name conceived by a pastor is acceptable to our Lord
God.
But let us first study what a Church is. In the Book of Matthew 15:24, our Lord Jesus Christ told the
Apostles,“I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
And that is the very intent why our Lord assumed human form – to gather once again the children of Israel that
were scattered. And this refers to the Church, which was built during the first century, the very same Church that was
built in Jerusalem, but was persecuted but spread to Judea and Samaria. In 1 Thessalonians 2:14. It says--
“For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which is in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have
suffered like things of our own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews,”
It is clear that, the church that reached Judea came from Jerusalem … and this is the Church of God in Christ
Jesus (in Judea).
Now we will study and determine the official name of the church in the Bible. Why do we need to know the official
name of the church that is being taught by the Holy Scriptures? Nowadays, we know many names of organizations of the
so-called believers of God. There are those who claim that the official name of the church is “Iglesia ni Cristo” (Church
of Christ) of Mr. Manalo, which was established in the Philippines in 1913 . There are also those who believe that the
official name is, the Church of God.
This is the main reason why we feel that it will be worthwhile to find out the truth on this. In the first place,
it is proper that, an organization of God must have a name.
Proverbs 22:1says--
“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.”
This verse tells us that, a good name must rather be chosen instead of great riches. Therefore, one of the
doctrines of God in the Bible concerns the preference for a good name. And whenever we say good name, no other name can be
better than the name which God, Himself, gave … the name which God commanded His Apostles to write. And that is what we
need to understand.
What we read awhile ago is clear. A good name must rather be chosen than great riches. In the same manner
that, a loving favor must be preferred over gold and silver. That is mentioned in Proverbs 22:1--
“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.”
In the Bible, God is teaching us a good name. Is there any other name better than the name which comes from God?
Do you know that, the teachings of the Apostles came from God? God entrusted His teachings to the Apostles. That is why if
God had a teaching pertaining to the name of an organization that is of God, the Apostles would definitely teach it. In
one of the paragraphs in
I Thessalonians,this is what St. Paul said (2:3-4)--
“For our exhortation was not of deceit, not of uncleanness, not in guile: But as we were allowed of God to
be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.”
These verses clearly state that, everything that the Apostles were preaching was “not of deceit not of
uncleanness, nor in guile. And since God entrusted to them the Gospel, they preached it in accordance to His will. Let us
read I John 1:3-4--
“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly
our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write us unto you, that your joy may be
full.”
It clearly states that, what the Apostles saw and heard from our Lord Jesus Christ … and everything that
Christ taught them came from the Father, which, they, in turn put into writing. Therefore, if ever we come across a name
of an organization, which they were a part of, we can be sure that this name came from God and from our Lord Jesus
Christ.
There can be no other name that would be better than that which came from our Lord Jesus Christ. From the
Bible, we can read that the name which the Apostles taught as that of the real religion, or the real church is, the Church
of God in Christ Jesus. This was the church that was built in Jerusalem, and when it was persecuted, it spread out to
Judea.
Why should the official name of the church be, Church of God in Christ Jesus? Do we have any Biblical basis?
Why can’t we just be contented in being called by any other name that we prefer – just like what many religious
organizations are doing, like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, for instance?
Before the Jehovah’s Witnesses came up with their present name, they used to be called by several names? In
fact, they had used 5 different names before they assumed the name Jehovah’s Witnesses, which is actually their 6th name.
Let us read the different names that they have used:
“Since its inception, the movement has masqueraded under several names being variously known as
Millennial Dawn, Metropolitan Pulpit, Brooklyn Tabernacle Pulpit, International Bible Students’ Association, The
Watchtower Society, and now, Jehovah’s Witnesses”
(Cults and Isms by J. Oswald Sanders, p. 74)
Here, it is evident that, the organization, which is known today as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, used six different
names. And that only proves their lack of definite direction and firm disposition. Read the foreword of the New World
Bible Translation Committee published on February 9, 1950 in New York:
“While inclining to view the pronunciation, “Yahweh” as the more correct way, we have retained the form
“Jehovah” because of people’s familiarity with it since the 14th century. Moreover, it preserves equally with other
forms, the four letter of the Tetragrammaton JHVH."
|
|
|
Bible
Finding
the True Religion
