Where In The  Bible Will I Find: Different Kinds of  Christians? By:  Gary Colley Date:  October 28, 2001 Past/Future Articles

Some claim that they are one kind of Christian and some another.  But one may search his or her Bible through and never find but one kind of Christian.  These who so call themselves may be termed hyphenated Christians.  But those in the New Testament church were not members of any denomination, since no denominations existed in the first century (I Cor.1:10-13).  They simply wore the name Christian.  Only three times in the New Testament is the name Christian used:  1. When Paul was at Antioch, the New Testament says, “the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch (Acts 11:26);  2. When Paul taught King Agrippa, he responded,  “Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (26:28);  3. And Peter said, “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name” (I Pet.4:16).  It is right to use the proper method or system in obeying Christ, but we should not be called a Methodist-Christian.  It is correct to have elders or bishops (from the Greek word episcopos) to rule in the church (Heb.13:17), but we should not be called an Episcopalian-Christian.  It is in harmony with the New Testament for each congregation to be independent, but we should not be a Congregationalist-Christian.  And for sure it is correct that baptism means immersion, and is to be practiced as the only “mode” of baptism, but we are not Baptist-Christians.  Christians are commanded to be holy, and must live holy lives to please God, but we should not be a Holiness-Christian.  Over three hundred times in the New Testament we are assured that Jesus will come a second time to take the kingdom back to the Father, but we would be wrong to call ourselves an Adventist-Christian.  The church of Christ in the New Testament is universal (the meaning of the word catholic), but we are a Catholic-Christian.  The people who obeyed the Gospel in the New Testament were simply called Christians, without any hyphenation!  We should be satisfied to be simply Christians today, members of the church of Christ.  If we stay with the Bible, as we should, we will not want to be separated from other religious folks by names of human origin.  We should prefer to be called by the God-given name of Christian.  This name was prophesied by Isaiah to be the “new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name”  (Isa.62:2).  Since this is the name given by God, should not all men be satisfied to wear the name “Christian,” without addition or subtraction?  We can not add to or take from what the Lord has given and still go to Heaven at last (Rev.22:18-19).  Let us study to show ourselves approved unto God (II Tim.2:15).

Gary Colley