What Is The Plea Of The Churches Of Christ?

An illustration that has been used down through the years goes something like this: Suppose a sinner (John Doe) is converted to Christ in just the manner the Bible directs. His conversion is like the eunuch’s in Acts 8:27ff in that it isn’t associated with any church building per se. After hearing of his conversion the next day a Baptist preacher, Methodist preacher, and Presbyterian preacher all approach John each encouraging him to join their particular denomination. However John reasons that he has already been added to the Lord’s church (Acts 2:47) and so he refuses to join the Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, or any other denominational body for that matter. What would John be in that case? Wouldn’t he simply be a Christian (Acts 11:26), a Christian only, and following the Bible only? This is exactly what members of churches of Christ are trying to be. I suggest to you that same ambition is required by verses like I Corinthians 1:10 - “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”