When having found faith, one wants to bring that faith in action and wants to go to a church to meet other like-minded people and have a service to worship God. Wherever you live it is not always possible to find a church nearby. Certainly non-Trinitarian churches are not able to be found in many places. It is much easier to find a Trinitarian church instead of a non-Trinitarian church.

Does one has to go to any church no matter which denomination

Too many people forget the importance of true worship and think it would be alright just to go to the nearest church, even when that is not the church of the most favourite denomination.

You should know that it is very important how you serve God and to what denomination you want to belong. Service for God has to be a part of your religious life and should be in accordance to the Will of God.

In the church you want to follow services the way they pray and worship has to be in line with the instructions God has given.

By the sacrifices and offerings commanded under the law, and by the priests' involvement with them, the people were constantly to be reminded of God's holiness, and that He cannot be approached casually or insincerely.

The chief priest wore on his forehead a small gold plate inscribed with the words, "Holiness to the Lord" (Exodus 28:36). Together with his clothing, it was meant to represent the attitude of mind necessary in priest and people if they were to be acceptable to God.

Approach of God in ancient times

A close consideration of all the Old Testament teaching concerning the priesthood reveals the following important aspects:

1. God is pure and holy - He cannot be approached directly by sinful men and women.

2. Angels were employed by God to communicate with mankind.

3. The priesthood was commanded by God only when there was a group specially prepared to worship Him, and with laws controlling that worship. These people formed a "church".

4. The priest was a man from a family chosen by God and separated from the people.

5. Men and women who wanted to repent of their sins and receive forgiveness had to employ the services of a priest who would assist them to offer a sacrifice.

6. The presence of God was located in the inner portion of the tabernacle and temple. Only the High Priest could enter once a year, after special preparation.

7. The priest had to be washed clean before he could mediate for the people, and he had to offer for his own sins first.

This last aspect is specially important. Though the Levites had shown great promise in the matter of the golden calf, they were really as sinful as the rest of the people. When Israel's history unfolds in the Bible record, the priests become as involved in the nation's transgression as those they were meant to be teaching, and often can be found leading the nation in false worship. What was needed was a representative for man, sharing all his propensities to sin, but perfectly obedient to the commands of God. A man like that could fulfil all the requirements for priesthood: chosen by God and separated from the people.

Approach of God in present times

Under a better covenant than in ancient times, Jesus, the sent son of God, made it possible to go straight to God. Jesus fulfilled all the requirements for priesthood and became also the best mediator between God and man and as such we also can speak to him or in his name to reach his and our heavenly Father.

“ For, there is one God! Also one mediator of humans–a human, Christ Jesus.” (1Ti 2:5 mhm)

“ However, now Jesus has acquired a very different priestly office in behalf of the people, as he is a mediator of a much better covenant, which is also lawfully based on superior promises.” (Heb 8:6 mhm)

By Christ his ransom offering the grace of the Gift of God, Him accepting the offer of the Lamb of God (Jesus), we are released from our sinful body and can openly confess our sins and be freed of the chains of the curse of death. Having become children of God we can go straight to our heavenly Father and speak openly with him. Through the Spirit, Christ offered himself as an unblemished sacrifice, freeing us from all those dead-end efforts to make ourselves respectable, so that we can live all out for God and respectfully can come close to Him or use Jesus as our mediator and the one who presents us with a new covenant, a fresh charter from God. The murder of Jesus, unlike Abel’s — a homicide that cried out for vengeance — became a proclamation of grace and under that grace all followers of Christ may be in union with Christ and with his God.

“ And so because of this Christ is a mediator of a new covenant because a death has occurred leading to a release by ransom from the transgressions under the first Law covenant, those who have been invited might receive the Promise of the everlasting inheritance.” (Heb 9:15 mhm)

“ and to Jesus, to a mediator of a New Covenant –and to the blood of sprinkling which speaks in a better way than Abel.” (Heb 12:24 mhm)

Also, today we might find people who would love to be prepared to worship Jehovah God and not a Trinity. Now they have Jesus Christ as their high-priest. By him we can speak to God. His name we can use in our prayers and in his name we can God ask things.
As in the Old Testament times, today still laws are controlling the Christian worship which should be a pure worship and no idolatrous worship, only to the One true God, meaning no other gods besides Jehovah, and without pagan rites.

Jesus brought an offer to God for once and for all. Today we do not need any other offerings any more. We should think how much more the blood of Christ cleans up our whole lives, inside and out, and be thankful to God that He wanted to accept that single sacrificial offering as a priest Christ made. It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process, so nothing more has to be offered.

“ rather how much more will the blood of the Christ–who through an everlasting pneuma approached The God with himself as an unblemished offering –cleanse our consciences from dead works leading to sacred worship of a Living God?” (Heb 9:14 mhm)

“ However, after this Person approached with a single sacrifice accomplishing the covering of sins perpetually, he sat down at the right hand of The God.” (Heb 10:12 mhm)

“ For by a single offering he has accomplished the perfecting of those who are being sanctified.” (Heb 10:14 mhm)

The apostle Paul, commenting upon the law given through Moses in his letter to the Galatians, described it as a "schoolmaster to bring us to Christ' 13:24). In every aspect, the law declared its inability to bring salvation to sinful mankind. A sacrifice had to be offered every time someone sinned. All this did was constantly to remind man that sin separates him from God. There was no provision in the jaw for finally removing sin from the earth. Anyone carefully meditating upon the law's significance would realise the urgent need for a Saviour from sin.

This need was met when Jesus was born. He was given that name, as an angel declared to Mary's husband Joseph, because

"he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).

Jesus fulfilled all the requirements that the priests under the law were unable to achieve. Where they were weak, he was strong. He was subject to the same things that caused their weakness: he knew the temptations they had to grapple with. But they often gave in to temptation. Jesus never did. He shared his physical nature with them: an ageing body, susceptible to tiredness, injury, disease and, ultimately, death. But, instead of focusing his mind on himself and his needs, as this weak nature has for the rest of mankind, Jesus' mind was devoted completely to the things of his heavenly Father. Where sin has ensnared all the rest of humankind, Jesus never succumbed. Men have constantly failed; Jesus was supremely victorious.

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God",

is how Paul described the state of mankind (Romans 3:23).

But Jesus

"committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips" (1 Peter 2:22).

His victory over sin and death was complete when God raised him from the dead - to die no more. He is

"a priest for ever" (Hebrews 7:17).

Here is someone ideally fitted to be a priest:

1. Jesus came into the world as a human being and lived amongst men and women.

2. He learned real obedience to the Father through the suffering he endured.

3. He overcame every temptation, lived an utterly sinless life, and offered himself completely when he submitted to death on the cross.

4. Since Jesus was undeserving of death, God raised him from the grave and gave him a nature that cannot perish or die; he is now immortal, and lives and reigns with God.

5. Because he shared our humanity, he can sympathise with our trials and problems.

6. Having himself overcome similar trials, he can offer a share in his victory to those willing to associate themselves with him.

These factors set Jesus aside from every other person who has ever lived. As these are the qualities of true priesthood, there can only be one priest.

The Jewish priests of Jesus' day should have seen that he fulfilled the requirements for priesthood where they had manifestly failed. With a blinding pride, however, they saw none of this, and were among the leaders of the group intent on putting him to death. Because they should have known better, and should have taken the responsibility of priesthood under the law more seriously, Jesus called them "blind guides" and "whitewashed tombs".

“ Leave them alone. They are blind guides. So, if someone blind guides another blind person, they will both fall into a pit.”” (Mt 15:14 mhm)

“ “WOE to you hypocritical Scribes and Pharisees because you are like whitewashed graves which outside seem to appear beautiful but within are full of the bones of the dead every uncleanness!” (Mt 23:27 mhm)

He scathingly denounced them for their hypocrisy. He warned the people against them, because they

"like to go about in long robes, and love salutations in the market places and the best seats at synagogues at id the places of honour at feasts" (Luke 20:46).

Jesus' attitude to their pride is part of the answer to our question about the justification for two 'levels' of worshipper; humility, not pride, must be the characteristic of the true follower of Christ:

"For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 14:11).

The true church, based on Biblical principles, is a congregation of men and women with no hierarchy, devoted to the worship of God, and honouring the sacrifice made on their behalf by the Lord Jesus Christ. Through him only can they acceptably approach God in prayer.

In Jesus the Jewish law was both fulfilled and replaced. His work had also been anticipated by the provisions in the law, but its complete objective could not be achieved by any of the Levite priests.

1. Jesus was chosen by God to be High Priest. After Aaron had first been appointed High Priest under the Law of Moses, all subsequent holders of that position were eldest sons, taking over on the death of their fathers. They were thus chosen "by the will of man", not by the will of God. They could only approach into God's presence once each year. Jesus now lives for evermore, and always sits in the presence of God:

"The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:23-25).

2. Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice, once and for all. Under the law sacrifices had to be offered again and again. The Jewish priests had to recognise their own sins by offering first for themselves before they could officiate on behalf of the people:

"He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered himself" (verse 27).

3. Jesus was able to replace the law by perfectly fulfilling it, and by being totally obedient to his Father's will:

"Christ has obtained a ministry which is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second . . . In speaking of a new covenant he treats the first as obsolete" (Hebrews 8:6,7,13).

4. Jesus conquered sin, and true believers can receive forgiveness of sins because of his victory:

"Christ has entered, not . . to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the Holy Place yearly . . . for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself" (Hebrews 9:24-26).

Jesus his priesthood is unique, and no human being can achieve what he did. He said himself, speaking first of all to his disciples who could have greater claim to represent him than anyone else:

"No man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6}.

In unmistakable terms, the apostle Paul confirms this true position:

"There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:5,6).

Furthermore, Paul wrote these words in a section of his letter to Timothy dealing with the organisation of the believers in Ephesus. Had he wished there to be a category of believers with special duties to represent God to man, here was the opportunity to say so. Instead, he clearly states that Jesus alone fulfils this function.

Many churches today claim that only an ordained priest can bless and distribute the bread and wine, and that only bishops can ordain priests. The New Testament certainly records the first occasion bread and wine were shared by the disciples in Jesus' presence, and later how the apostles described the believers' duty to meet regularly for this purpose. But it never suggests that the person presiding over this memorial service has to be specially ordained - in fact there is no mention of such a person, only of the command to believers:

"As often as you eat this bread and drink this wine you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26).

It must be noted that this command specifically places a responsibility on individual believers, whether meeting on their own or in company with others, to take bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice. The practice of some churches to restrict the sharing of wine to the priests only, finds no place in the Bible record.

Having seen that the Jewish priesthood was replaced by the work of Christ, we must now turn to consider how the early believers organised themselves.

Did the Lord's apostles command the establishment of a human priesthood modelled on that of Christ's?
Did they instruct that special buildings, intricately decorated, should be erected; that there should be special robes, or special phraseology to make worship acceptable?
Were there to be special functions for certain believers?

The New Testament account of the early Christian church reveals an active, lively, and rapidly growing community. Although believers performed many different functions, there were no distinctions in terms of status:

"For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another" (Romans 12:4,5).

Through all that was written during this exciting period, and while the gospel message was scorching through the Mediterranean world assisted by the communication systems provided by the Roman Empire, there was clearly great concern that no one person, or group of people should dominate the fellowship of believers. To suggest otherwise would effectively dethrone their Lord, for:

"Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Saviour" (Ephesians 5:23).

Jesus' own words to his followers should be the guide in these matters. He taught all of his disciples to be servants, and there was to be no differentiation in terms of rank. He set the example himself when he washed the feet of his disciples-in his day the most menial task of the most insignificant slave:

"I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you" (John 13:15).

He also warned his followers about the dangers of treating some men or women differently from others. They had seen, as he had, the corruption of the Jewish leaders in their day. Jesus warned his own followers not to fall into the same trap:

"You are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ" (Matthew 23:8-10).

Elsewhere in his teaching, Jesus upheld the family unit, and spoke about the need for children to respect their parents. He was therefore clearly talking on this occasion about their religious organisation needing to be founded as a brotherhood. His words here concerning fathers relate to the practice of calling religious leaders "father", showing how alien it is to Christ's ideal of the relationship between believers. To do so in the face of Jesus' own teaching is an affront to the majesty of God Himself.

The idea of a family is a very useful way of understanding how the early believers organised themselves in accordance with the advice of Jesus and his apostles. God was their Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ their Saviour, the head of their community. But like a normal, human family with older and younger members, where those who are more experienced take a greater share in the daily responsibilities, so in the early Christian congregations there were elder and younger members. Certain responsibilities were given to the elders, but they were not to lord it over the rest of the congregation. They were to

"treat younger men like brothers . . . younger women like sisters, in all purity" (1 Timothy 5:1,2).

Yes, there were different tasks, and different responsibilities according to circumstance, but the first century congregations knew nothing of the distinction between priests and laymen, so common in today's churches.
The selection of elders to look after each congregation was the responsibility of the members in that place. Paul wrote to Titus, in Crete, and told him to:

"appoint elders in every town" (Titus 1:5).

It would presumably have been possible for Paul to have given a list of appropriate names. But this would not have helped believers elsewhere, or in a later age. So that the task could subsequently be done by the members of any congregation, Paul set down the qualities that fit a man to be an elder:

"Men who are blameless, the husband of one wife, whose children are believers and not open to the charge of being profligate or insubordinate" (verse 6).

These elders, sometimes called "bishops" (meaning shepherds or overseers had, as we have seen, responsibilities towards their fellow believers. The bishop's role was that of a shepherd. He was not in Jesus' place in the community, but had to display the same concern for the "flock" - of which he was also a part.

Other tasks, also of service, were entrusted to men and women qualified to fulfil them. Whereas elders' responsibilities were directed more to the spiritual needs of believers, "deacons" were involved with their physical needs. In the New Testament only the Lord Jesus Christ is recognised as a priest. Nor do any of the descriptions of the work of elders, bishops or deacons suggest that these had any priestly function. None of the other church "offices" are Bible terms either: they have all been invented by men.

Nowhere do the Apostles mention the sort of building believers should meet in. On one occasion the apostle Paul joined a group of worshippers who met by the riverside. Everything he had to say about this group, and others like them, commends their practices. Nor are special clothes mentioned. The only time there are references to what worshippers should wear, there are strong indications that clothes in flamboyant colours or costly materials should be carefully avoided (1 Peter 3:3,4, for example).

“ Now, let not your adornment be the exterior show of hair-braiding–or the wearing of gold–” (1Pe 3:3 mhm)

Another distinction between clergy and laymen in many churches today is that the clergy receive payment for their work. In the first century, those involved in the spiritual welfare of the community were entitled in principle to material or financial support. The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians about this. He said:

"Do we not have the right to our food and drink? The Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:4-14).

Nevertheless, Paul recognised the possibility of corruption entering into the community through this provision, and declared about himself:

"I have made no use of any of these rights in my preaching I make the gospel free of charge . . . I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings" (verses 15-23).

The history of churches where payment has been made to its clergy unfortunately bears out the apostle's concerns. In the Middle Ages the churches were extremely corrupt, and many priests became infinitely more wealthy and powerful than the members of their congregations. The problem still exists today. Scandals involving church finances occur only too regularly. A return to the New Testament principle of "the right to food and drink" for those "who proclaim the gospel" would help to prevent many of these crimes.

It is important to recognise that these arrangements for each congregation to elect ministers (i.e., servants) from within its own membership were being made when the apostles of Jesus were still active among the infant church.
In the absence of a reliable written account of the work and teachings of Christ (for the gospels were not widely available in their present form until towards the end of the first century C.E.), the apostles were inspired witnesses of Jesus' life, death and resurrection. On them rested the power of God, His Holy Spirit. It gave them ready recall of all that Jesus did and said; and by it they were able to work miracles to reinforce the truth of their teachings, as Jesus had.

Once the New Testament account was complete, man had in his possession, together with the books of the Old Testament, a book that contains all that is necessary to teach him about God's offer of salvation:

the holy scriptures . . .
"are able to instruct you to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15).

Each believer becomes individually responsible to God for the answer he makes to the call of the gospel. As the Psalmist wrote:

"None can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him" (49:7)

Through the word of God man learns of His offer of salvation. Others may assist him to grow in his understanding. But once he comes to an appreciation of the saving work of Christ and the faithful response he should make, he stands on his own before God. His only mediator is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Evidence from early church history indicates that it was not until the middle of the second century C.E. that the practice developed of separating bishops from elders.

Bishops were elevated to a position where their role was that of master or lord rather than servant. At about the same time there were signs of the emergence of a separate priesthood which began to assume certain features of the Jewish priesthood.

Elaborate rituals developed connected with religious services and in the ordination of church officials. Soon there were the special buildings, clothing and language that so mark out much of religious activity today. Though contrary to Bible teaching, this was not a wholly unexpected development. Even during the period when the apostles were active there was a constant struggle to prevent the intrusion of both Jewish and pagan practices into the infant Christian community.

Jesus and his apostles warned about the emergence of "false teachers", "false prophets", and even of "false Christs", who would deceive many and turn away disciples after them.

“4 And, Jesus answered them: “Look out no one misleads you.5 For many will come using my name, saying: ‘I AM THE ANOINTED!’ They will mislead many! (Mt 24:4-5 mhm)

“ Many false prophets will rise and mislead many.” (Mt 24:11 mhm)

“ For many pseudo-anointed and false prophets will rise. They will give great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, The Elect.” (Mt 24:24 mhm)

Paul showed that false teachers would arise from within the church itself:

"From among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them" (Acts 20:28-30).

Towards the end of the first century, the apostle John wrote:

"As you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come" (1 John 2:18).

The term "antichrist" refers not only to those who openly oppose Christ's teaching, but also to those who claim to represent him, yet who, by their teachings and practices, actually oppose him.

These warnings are just as important today. Any survey of the history of Christianity shows how the simple faith and practices of the apostles and their fellow believers have been corrupted. The only way to ensure compliance with them is to examine modern beliefs and behaviour in the light of Bible teaching.

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Read also:

Apostolic Succession a mere figment of the carnal mind.

No act of offering on behalf of others

Learning that present believers do not act as priests, interceding or offering on behalf of others, we can recognise only the Lord Jesus Christ as priest for his church.
However, there are aspects that formerly were part of the priesthood that believers now have to fulfil on their own behalf. As the Levites were "taken out" of Israel to serve God under the law of Moses, so the believers in Christ are "taken out" of the world to be a selected company to offer praise unto God:

"Through him (Christ) then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name" (Hebrews 13:15).

"Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship" (Romans 12:1).

No separation into the holy and profane

These passages teach that so far as the believer is concerned, there is to be no separation into that which is "holy" and that which is "profane", for the whole of a true Christian's life is dedicated to being "holy".
What is specially significant is that the believers themselves are instructed to do the "presenting". No priest can do this for them. Prior to their conversion, whether they were pagans or Jews, this act of offering a sacrifice would have been the privilege and responsibility of a priest. But Christ's disciples are to make sacrifices now in acts of self-denial to demonstrate their allegiance to Jesus and his future rule over God's kingdom on earth. They forsake the things of the present world because of their commitment to the world to come. Jesus' sacrifice, offered once for the benefit of all who will avail themselves of it, is the guarantee that a life of service now will be rewarded when he comes back to the earth.

Coming together to share the faith

Already in ancient times people could come together to worship God. For holding a service for God they gathered in open air, in tents or tabernacles, temples or synagogues.

At the time of Jesus his Jewish followers went with him into the temple or synagogue to hold service to God, study and discus the Hebrew Scriptures.

The Nazarene master teacher found it important to come together in the House of God. Also, the apostles were aware of the importance of gathering and studying the Scriptures together. For them there were people who wanted to follow or go in the footsteps of the Nazarene rebbe Jeshua (Jesus christ). Those who were "called out" for an assembly or meeting started to form small nuclei, called ecclesia (pl. ecclesiae).

The apostles asked their disciples not avoiding worshipping together as they noticed some did. For them it was clear every faithful believer in Jeshua or Jesus Christ - the Messiah, had to help others and spur them on, especially as they would come to see the big Day approaching.

“ May we not quit our assembling together in meetings as is the custom of some persons. Rather, continue to be encouraging, and so much more as you behold the Day drawing closer.” (Heb 10:25 mhm)

Membership of congregations

In the 1st century there was not a formal membership to one or another ecclesia or church. People, wherever they were looked for a place to find like-minded people coming together. They also were not fixed to one certain day to have their meetings, though Sabbath was the set apart day to come together with other Jews in the synagogue or temple to have their Jewish readings.

At the meeting of followers of Christ the apostles could not be every time in every community, so they divided their commitments and wrote also letters to those ecclesiae. Those letters also became known as "epistles".

Disciples of Christ counted lives and friends dear to them, and therefore their congregations became very special for them. To congregate became part of the way to express their faith. Today this should still be so.

Finding a meeting for true worship

Finding a meeting where people sincerely worship the Only One True God, these days may not be so easy, because there being not much interest in the Only Real God Who is One, and having more Trinitarian churches around than non-Trinitarian.

Difficult to find like-minded worshippers of the One God

In a world where there is no place for God it is not easy to find united people under Christ. It is even more difficult to find groups of people who really want to worship the Singular Supreme Sovereign Eternal Spirit Being.

In isolation

Not having people around you who want to worship the Only Real God, should never stop you from worshipping that Most High Elohim.

When you became convinced that Jesus Christ is the key figure in the working out of God’s plan and came to understand that you have to put away your old life by now trying to come to live according to God's wishes, it is important you decide to commit yourself to Christ. This can be done by baptism.

By faith in Christ you are able to come in direct relationship with God. You can directly speak to Him. You do not need priests or churches to speak in your name to God. Direct contact with God is provided for all who want to come closer to God.

When you decide to become a follower of Christ and want to be baptised, you should know that your baptism in Christ is not just washing you up for a fresh start. Through baptism into Christ, believers put on the name of Christ. It also involves dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe — Christ’s life, the fulfilment of God’s original promise. You also should know that in Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Being baptised makes you a member of one big spiritual family of God that includes Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female. Belonging to Christ, believers become Abraham’s seed or "descendant" and heirs according to the covenant promises listed at the other pages of this website and listed in the Bible.

“26 So in union with Christ Jesus all of you are God's sons because of deep conviction. 27 For all of you who were immersed into Christ have taken Christ upon yourselves. 28 None in Christ are viewed as Jews or non-Jews, as slaves or freeman, as male or female. Because all of you are one in union with Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ then you are also the seed of Abraham, heirs due to a promise.” (Ga 3:26-29 mhm)

To be a Christadelphian or Brother in Christ, demands a life in Christ with brotherly love for those around you.

In such life there is no place for hatred against people who are different from you.

Out of love for the other there is also the desire to bring others to Jesus and his God. This demands talking to others about Jesus, the son of God and his heavenly Father, the Elohim Hashem Jehovah God.

As a Christa-delphian or Brother of Christ, one is not afraid to show that brotherly love to others and showing them how they too can become partakers of a better world.

Furthermore, we are not afraid to say we do not believe in the Trinity or a three-headed god, and tell others about Jesus who is God's son and not co-equal with the Father. Those living in Christadelpia believe the Christian's hope is the resurrection from the dead to a non-ending life, and not the departing of an invisible soul to heaven upon death. Having the hope for a better life, members of Christadelphia, Christadelphians or Brothers and sister in Christ, look forward to the overthrow of human governments at the return of Christ.

Christadelphia is made up of people from most walks of life, for example medics, civil servants, teachers, writers, artists, executives, accountants, chemists, computer consultants, electricians, mechanics, salesmen, farmers a.o.. For the formation of their groups or ecclesiae, they work together, all contributing freely to have a nice community. We do not have paid clergy members, but rather we participate together as members of the body of Christ, preaching, exhorting, singing and praying. Together we memorialize the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ through the sharing of bread and wine each time we meet together in worship, as Jesus commanded. This "breaking of bread" or "communion" is shared among our members who have declared their faith and have been baptised.

We do not believe that any Christadelphian, past or present, has received any type of special revelation. It is only through sustained and prayerful reading of the Scriptures that we come to an understanding of the purpose of God in our lives, and how He would have us conduct ourselves day to day.

Christadelphians would like to think that they are normal, but our beliefs do tend to be held with a strong conviction and this probably reflects in our character and sometimes may frighten people who are used to the many human doctrines they learned to be taken as a truth to be accepted because to difficult to understand. For us it is clear that God is a God of love and clarity Who has given His Word as a Guide to educate us fully.

“ All Scripture is God-breathed and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for readjusting everything, for disciplining in righteousness.” (2Ti 3:16 mhm)

Our faith encourages us to be enthusiastic in our work, loyal in our marriages, generous in our giving, dedicated in our preaching, content in our circumstances. We tend to have little interest in carnal festivities and prefer to stay away from paganism.

Those who want to be a Christadelphian shall be committed to share their love for the Word of God with others. Christadelphianism does not expect hermit life but a life full of works of faith.

“ It is a necessity to continue to work the works of the One who sent me while it is day. The night is coming when no one will be able to work.” (Joh 9:4 mhm)

“ So I began reporting this message, first in Damascus and Jerusalem, and then throughout the land of Judaea, and later to the non-Jews–that they should repent and turn to The God by performing works consistent with repentance.” (Ac 26:20 mhm)

“ Also, may we show consideration to one another, stirring up like a fire among ourselves compassionate affection and good works.” (Heb 10:24 mhm)

“ Therefore, just as the body without breath is dead, so also, conviction without works is dead.” (Jas 2:26 mhm)

Main churches - small and big churches - mega churches

When you think the main churches are so big because they are right, we can only ask you to check what they say with what the Bible says.

If you are wanting to see a "Big Church" or going to go big, go really big!

When you accept that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God … you better also look at him as the one building his church!

Jesus is the one who makes church. Jesus is the church. Church is not a specific 'church-building' with a tower and a cross shape directed to the east.

Not the construction of people

It is also not the construction of people. Though we would like it, it is not us building the church. It’s not the pastor on the stage or the priest in the pulpit. It is Jesus, the Son of the living God, who is building His Church.

The Church is a big idea. Because Jesus is a big idea. And because Jesus gives his disciples a big task.

All those who call themselves Christians, should be followers of Christ. They should not only be name Christians, but doers of the Word. In Acts, Jesus describes how big of a task he is giving the disciples.

“7 However, Jesus answered them: “It is not for you apostles to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed within His own authority.8 However, you apostles will receive power when the holy Pneuma comes upon you. Also, you apostles will be my witnesses through Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Ac 1:7-8 mhm)

Witnesses in small and bigger places

Imagine if Jesus came to us and said,

“…you will be my witness in Leefdaal, all over Flemish Brabant and the Low countries, even to the ends of the world.”

Yeah, that’s pretty big too. The church is a big idea, and it will expand. It started with 12 disciples and it has grown across the world to nations with more than 100 different languages. When wanting to build our ecclesia or home church we must believe in the infallible Word of God and call on the sacred set-apart (holy) Name of God, so that salvation and help may come over us.

“ Then everyone whoever calls upon the Name of YHWH will be saved.”’”” (Ac 2:21 mhm)

That saving should we proclaim, and we should bring the hearts into fire for the name of Jesus.

Bringing the Gospel

Christians should bring forward the Gospel of the Good News of the coming Kingdom of God. Every person coming to believe in Jesus as the saviour send by the Most High Saviour Jehovah God, would have to become partaker of the body of Christ and as such being a member of the Church of God, which has Christ Jesus as its High priest.

All those believing individuals in their own houses, who believe in the offer Jesus made and accept him as their saviour, willing to become part of that Body of Christ, are part of the church.

Here is another example of ‘big church’ in the Bible.

In Acts 2:41-47 is the story of the 3,000 who were baptized… imagine that in present day. How many kids rooms would we need from one week to the next? How many new greeters? How many overflow rooms? How many extra chairs?

The Church basically went from meeting in a living room to needing a stadium! And that was just one day.

To live out your love for each other

Now to transition just a little bit, it is one thing to agree and say, yes, we agree with you, Jesus that the church should probably be big. But what does is truly mean to be a disciple? Great question.

In John 13:34-35 (MSG) Jesus states,

““Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples — when they see the love you have for each other.”

Well, that sounds pretty simple doesn’t it? Love one another, cool! I’ve got it. But what does it really mean to live out your love for each other?

The first part of loving one another is building relationships with one another. The church is not just based out of a building or a temple, it is based out of homes. Faith is centred on two places: temple and homes.

Meeting in public places, parks, small and big rooms

To love one another in the old church knew they needed to meet and know each other in their homes. Meeting at the temple was important, but they had to eat with each other and know each other in order to love each other like Jesus loved. This is such a critical part of today’s church as well! That is also the reason why we meet in houses, cafetaria's, parks, have something to eat or drink with each other and not sit on benches or ordered chairs in a row.

We need our small groups and relationships to truly know each other and love each other.

Doing what Jesus said

It’s a great first step to agree with Jesus. But how do we actually Do what Jesus said? How do we love one another despite the chaos of life? Despite our differences?

Jesus directs us to do the following:

Submit to one another. Honour one another. Bear with one another. Forgive one another. Accept one another. Care for one another. Encourage one another. Restore one another. Love one another.

Most of this cannot happen on Sunday morning. We have to be in each other’s lives daily.

“We, the church family, want to get bigger for the sake of eternity and smaller for the value of each individual.”

We all should feel like brothers and sisters in Christ.

Helping each other to grow spiritually

As brethren and sisters we do have to help each other to grow spiritually. It is by sharing ideas that we can help each other to see other things or to think about other things or to think in another way. As such we can grow and get more strength, because others share their messes, and we share our messes, yet we are still there for each other, serving one another and loving one another despite the chaos of life.

“Let’s share our messes so that we can see grace move in each other as light is shed on our mess.”

“Is big church healthy?

Size doesn’t have anything to do with health. Health has everything to do with our relationships.”

Being good Christians Making Church

When we want to become good Christians, this shall not only become by becoming 'church goers'. We do need to make church, but making church happens in the own heart. It is the willingness to become part of the Body of Christ and willing to share that feeling with others, in love, by taking their bad and good elements, overlooking their peculiarities. Willing to take every person like he or she is, and considering him or her as your brother or sister.

This brotherly love is what makes the church, not the building or the presence of just material bodies in one specific place.

Being freely bounded with each other out of love

The Christadelphians may gather with not so many people, but the love of those people for each other and their love for God is what binds them all over the world.

In one specific place they are perhaps not with many, but they do feel connected with others in many different countries, speaking many different languages, which we even not always understand. But we understand each other in the love of God, and that is what binds us for ever together.

Next time when you are looking for a church, question what you are looking for. Are you looking to find a place where you can find some nice entertainment? Are you looking for some enjoyable socialising? Or are you looking for the genuine love Christ has given mankind?

Are you submitting to one another? Are you letting others go first? Are we honoring one another in how we speak to each other? Are we caring for one another?

When was the last time we went out of our way to appreciate and love on someone else? How are you loving each other as Jesus loves?