Congregation Name
We do not use unscriptural names for the congregation because the congregation belongs to God. This means that we have been purchased for Him with the precious blood of Jesus. (Revelation 1:5–6) We are His one flock (John 10:16), without name tags, is equal to His congregation.
So notice the ownership:
– “To the congregation of God which is at Corinth.” (1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1)
– “.. or to the congregation of God.” (1 Cor. 10:32; 11:16; 15:9)
– “…nor to the congregation of God.” (1 Cor. 11:16)
– “Have you no houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the congregation of God?” (1 Corinthians 11:22)
– “… (Gal. 1:13)
– “You, brothers, became imitators of the congregation of God which is in Judea in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 2:14)
– “…so that you may know how you ought to behave in the household of God, which is the congregation of the living God.” (1 Timothy 3:15)
Congregation is therefore God’s! That is why we use only this biblical name for it.
It is also biblical to name it according to its location. For example, 1 Thessalonians 1:1: “to the congregation of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” In the same way, we can say, for example, the Turku congregation, the Helsinki congregation, the Tampere congregation, and so on.
We who live in the same city, having come to faith and then baptized according to the Bible, are the congregation of our own place. (Tit. 1:5; Rev. 1:11) — And NOTE! According to the Bible, the unbaptized are not part of the congregation. They have not yet come to the same faith that the first Christians were. (Acts 2:41) —
So what should you join? — Join Jesus as the Bible teaches! Then you will belong to His congregation.
Man-made nameplates in meeting places are divisive elements that every believer should remove from his own life so that he no longer operates under them.
WE are not Lutherans, Pentecostals, Baptists, Adventists, Free Church members, ecumenicals or other -ists and -isms. We are not Catholics or Protestants… We are simply children of God, bought with the blood of Jesus. We belong to the same congregation as the first Christians. (John 2:19–22; 1 Cor. 3:16–17; 1 Pet. 2:15, etc.)
The Bible does not teach Lutheranism, Pentecostalism, or any other -ism..
Blessings to us!
Weijo Lindroos, from the Turku congregation
Maariankatu 2
20100 Turku
Finland
Email: weijo.lindroos@pp.inet.fi