When you hear the word "church," what comes to mind? A building? A group of people you’ve grown up around? A denomination? A social group with a religious focus? For many, the church is familiar. But in that familiarity, something vital can be lost—namely, what the church is, who established it, and why that matters deeply.
Let’s begin with a foundational truth: Jesus Christ—not man—founded the church.
In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said to Peter, “...on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” That claim matters. He didn’t say, “I’ll inspire others to build a church,” or “You go ahead and build something for Me.” He said, “I will build My church.”
That means the church doesn’t belong to a preacher, a movement, a modern ideology, or even a faithful group of people—it belongs to Jesus. It exists for Him, through Him, and because of Him. It is the result of His sacrificial death and victorious resurrection.
And that’s why this conversation matters.
Because over time—even with sincere hearts—we can start talking and thinking about the church as if it were ours to shape, name, or redefine. But when we add to or take away from what Christ established, we are no longer “continuing in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42)—we’ve stepped outside of it.
That’s not just a doctrinal problem. That’s a relational one. Because the church isn’t a human structure—it’s the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22–23). To step away from what Jesus built is to step away from Him.
A Word About Names
There’s an important caution here, even in how we refer to ourselves. The Bible says the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26). That name means something: it points to Christ as our center and identity.
When we start putting things before or after that name—like “Baptist Christian,” “Catholic Christian,” or even “Church of Christ Christian”—we may be unintentionally saying something that changes or even divides what was never meant to be split.
Language like this can create categories Jesus never made. It risks turning a living relationship with the Savior into a label for a religious party. We must be cautious, not because we’re trying to win arguments, but because we want to stay true to Christ.
The Church Isn’t Ours to Modify
Imagine someone giving you a priceless heirloom—a handmade, beautiful piece of craftsmanship—and saying, “This is yours to keep, but please don’t change it. It’s exactly as it should be.” Now imagine someone sanding it down, painting it, adding logos and decorations. Is it still the same piece?
That’s what can happen when we start shaping the church around our preferences. Jesus has already defined what the church is:
It is His body (Colossians 1:18)
It is made up of the saved (Acts 2:47)
It worships in spirit and truth (John 4:24)
It exists to glorify Christ, not itself (Ephesians 3:21)
If we add to it—new names, new doctrines, new organizational structures—then we’re not “adjusting” the church. We’re stepping into something separate from what Jesus established. That’s serious.
Unity Through Submission
The goal here isn’t to elevate “our group” or put others down. It’s to lift Christ up and return to the simplicity and beauty of what He built.
The early church didn’t have marketing strategies, denominational branches, or voting conferences. They had Christ. They had the gospel. They had the Scriptures. And that was enough.
Our unity is found not in wearing the same label, but in submitting to the same Lord. In following His pattern, not our preferences. In calling ourselves Christians—not because it Is tradition, but because it declares that we belong to Jesus.
So What Should We Do?
We examine everything by the standard of God’s Word. We ask:
Are we following Christ as He leads the church—or are we following a tradition?
Are we wearing His name alone—or one we’ve created?
Are we part of His body—or have we built something else?
The good news is this: Jesus still calls people to Himself. And those who come to Him in obedient faith—believing, repenting, confessing, and being baptized—are added to His church (Acts 2:38–47). Not by a committee, not by vote, but by the Lord Himself.
That’s the church we want to be part of. That’s the church that will last.
And that’s the one that still belongs to Christ.
