I Do, but I Don't
I believe in proper methods, but I don't wear the name "Methodist". I believe in baptism, but I don't wear the name "Baptist". I believe presbyters (or elders) should oversee the local church, but I don't wear the name "Presbyterian". I believe one should be holy, but I am not a "Holiness". I believe Jesus was reared in Nazareth, but I am not a "Nazarene". I believe that these are the "last days" in which we are now living, (Heb. 1:1) and that we are called saints, (1 Cor. 1:2), but I am not a "Latter Day Saint". I believe the church should be catholic, (universal) but I don't wear the name "Catholic". I believe in unity, but I don’t wear the name "Unitarian".
According to some arguments (?) used to justify the religious wearing of human names, I would really have a name. I would be a Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Holiness, Nazarene, Latter Day Saint, Unitarian, Catholic, Christian! WHEW! What a name! However, I don't wear those names which glorify a person, a method, or a doctrine. I wear the name of Him who was crucified for me; and in whose name I was baptized. (1 Cor. 1:13). Salvation is in no other name, but the name of Christ (Acts 4:12). That's why I am pleased to wear the name "Christian" (Acts 11:26), the "new name" God gave to His people after the Gentiles had seen His righteousness (Isa. 62:2), and which glorifies God (1 Pet. 4:16).
Yes, I do believe in methods, baptism, presbyters, etc., but I don't wear divisive human names, which may honor the teaching, but not the "Author and Finisher of our faith", Jesus Christ. If you obey the gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16), you, too, can be simply a Christian and wear the name of Christ, which is embodied in the very word 'CHRISTian".
I believe in proper methods, but I don't wear the name "Methodist". I believe in baptism, but I don't wear the name "Baptist". I believe presbyters (or elders) should oversee the local church, but I don't wear the name "Presbyterian". I believe one should be holy, but I am not a "Holiness". I believe Jesus was reared in Nazareth, but I am not a "Nazarene". I believe that these are the "last days" in which we are now living, (Heb. 1:1) and that we are called saints, (1 Cor. 1:2), but I am not a "Latter Day Saint". I believe the church should be catholic, (universal) but I don't wear the name "Catholic". I believe in unity, but I don’t wear the name "Unitarian".
According to some arguments (?) used to justify the religious wearing of human names, I would really have a name. I would be a Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Holiness, Nazarene, Latter Day Saint, Unitarian, Catholic, Christian! WHEW! What a name! However, I don't wear those names which glorify a person, a method, or a doctrine. I wear the name of Him who was crucified for me; and in whose name I was baptized. (1 Cor. 1:13). Salvation is in no other name, but the name of Christ (Acts 4:12). That's why I am pleased to wear the name "Christian" (Acts 11:26), the "new name" God gave to His people after the Gentiles had seen His righteousness (Isa. 62:2), and which glorifies God (1 Pet. 4:16).
Yes, I do believe in methods, baptism, presbyters, etc., but I don't wear divisive human names, which may honor the teaching, but not the "Author and Finisher of our faith", Jesus Christ. If you obey the gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16), you, too, can be simply a Christian and wear the name of Christ, which is embodied in the very word 'CHRISTian".
- by Jim Sasser
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