Brentwood Church of Christ

The first point we must address in answering this question is, in what sense are we referring to the church? Usually a person asking this question is thinking of the church in a denominational sense. If God is pleased with denominationalism, then it doesn’t matter which “church” we are a member of. However, the concept that the Lord’s church is made up of many churches believing and following a variety of doctrines, is foreign to the scriptures. In fact, Ephesians 4:4-6 tells us that there is one faith, one baptism, and one body (church). In Revelation 2-3 the very fact that Jesus corrected both the practice and doctrinal beliefs of the seven churches of Asia shows that specific beliefs and practices at variance with the scriptures are not tolerated by Christ. He threatened each church who did so with a loss of fellowship.

Secondly, we must show that “churches” (whether used as a denomination or in the local sense), do not go to heaven, individuals do. I cannot find the “right church,” hook on board like a passenger on a train, and expect to go to heaven because I have joined the right church. Indeed, the Lord is the Savior of the body (Ephesians 5:23), but that simply means He is going to save those who through faith and obedience to Him have become a part of His called-out group. The Lord doesn’t save local churches, He saves people.

Thirdly, there are not “different paths” leading to heaven. Where in the scriptures is such a thing taught? Galatians 1:8 tells us that even if an angel preaches any other gospel than that which the apostles taught, he would be accursed. II John 9-11 teaches that if anyone goes beyond the doctrine of Christ and does not abide in that doctrine, he does not have God. Further, if anyone comes and does not bring this doctrine he was not to be received or even bid God’s speed else one would be a partaker of his evil works. This shows that it is important to be careful about the local church we are a member of. If the church is practicing error or teaching doctrines that would lead people to be lost eternally, then we cannot be a part of such a church with participating in their deeds.

This same principle is presented in I Corinthians 10:14-22. We cannot participate with a church or assembly of people in an activity that suggests we condone sin or are not honoring the gospel/doctrine of Christ. We cannot partake of the Lord’s table and the table of demons.

This point leads us to the question of when we can no longer have fellowship with a local church? We must caution that we must not severe relations with a church just because individual members differ in how they believe. A local church is a group of Christians who have agreed to work and worship together on the points that God said Christians are to do collectively. With this, there may be a number of individual beliefs upon which members would differ but still be able to work together. Romans 14 and I Corinthians 8 show that members could differ and yet were still expected work together in the same church. However, fellowship with a local church would have to be severed when:

• The church was practicing or supporting something in violation of the scripture thereby bringing me into support of the sin.
• The church tolerated a sinful member; refused to discipline this member and thus condoned the sin.
• The church was teaching doctrines that would cause people to be lost if believed and followed.

Remember, that in any of these situations a member would not withdraw himself until he had done all that he could to lovingly correct what was wrong.