Do we have a Hidden Agenda?

 

It seems that many churches today have hidden agendas. Realizing that denominationalism turns some people away, many prominent denominations are beginning new churches but removing the denominational name in order to "trick" people into worshipping with them - without the "stigma" of identifying with a denominational name. In effect, thousands of people worshipping in "community churches" have joined major denominations without even knowing it.

 

Additionally many of these and other churches are trying to attract people with all manner of fun and social programs - anything other than the truth of the gospel. We view these practices as deceptive. As Modern Reformation magazine said recently in decrying modern evangelistic methods, "What you win them with is what you win them to."

We Have an Agenda
But it is not hidden. Our agenda is to use only the gospel itself to attract people. We find this principle and example well established in the New Testament. Christ, the apostles, and early church used the gospel and the gospel alone to attract disciples. But couldn't we grow larger if we had "Meatballs and Volleyball" and "Taekwondo for Jesus"? Larger numerically - perhaps. But largeness is not our objective. We believe that if we approach spiritual things in a scriptural manner, then we will be just as large as God wants us to be - by the power of the gospel and the gospel alone!

We at Helena love the Lord and continuously exalt His name. We strive to translate our love for Christ into obedience, joy, and contentment with life in this world.

Our Plea
Recognizing the importance of unity to the Lord (John 17:20-21), we are frustrated at the numerous religious organizations in existence. How can unity be achieved today?

We believe the only answer is to go back to the scriptures to see what the church was in its beginning, and then to recover in the twentieth century the essence of the original church. This is what the Helena church of Christ is seeking to do. We ask:

• Why not go back beyond denominationalism to the simplicity and pattern of the first-century church?
• Why not follow the Bible alone and once again continue "steadfastly in the apostles' teaching…" (Acts 2:42).
• Why not plant the same seed (the word of God, Luke 8:11), that first century Christians planted, and be Christians only, as they were?

Members at Helena are enthusiastic about this approach. With the Bible as our only guide we seek to find what the original church was like and restore it precisely.

We do not see this as arrogance, but the very opposite. We are saying that we do not have the right to ask for men's allegiance to a human organization - but only the right to call upon men to follow God's blueprint.

We urge you, our neighbor, to join us in "being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit" (Eph 4:3-6). The only way we can answer Christ's prayer for unity (John 17:20-21), is to let the Bible be our only creed, for it is sufficient. We do not claim to be infallible and therefore welcome anyone who can teach us the way of God more perfectly (Acts 18:25,26). We do believe God's word is truth, therefore infallible, and consequently, it does matter what one believes in exercise of their faith.

 

On that basis we strive to speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where the Bible is silent (1 Peter 4:11). If we would all do this, all human traditions, sectarian names, creeds, and organizations would be set aside, Christ would be glorified, and His prayer for unity answered.
The church of Jesus Christ was purposed before the foundation of the world, and is to manifest the wisdom of God, not man's wisdom (Eph 3:10-11). His church is not dependent for its eternal existence on the succession of an order of preachers or popes. Neither is it dependent on synods, councils, conventions, and denominational headquarters.

Therefore, we are not interested in man-made creeds, but simply sharing the gospel according to the New Testament pattern. We are not a denomination - neither Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, nor a religious cult- but simply members of the church which Jesus established and for which he died.