How Can You Call Yourself a Church — E.A. Johnston

The Early Church’s Spiritual Power in Acts 2

In Acts, chapter 2, we read the following,. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, in fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers, and fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

The Early Church’s Shared Life and Fellowship

And all that believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.

God’s Addition to the Church

And the Lord added to the church daily, such as should be saved. That begs the question, friend, how can you call yourself a church if everything is done by money and manpower instead of by God and holy ghost power?

The Need for Vital Christianity and Spiritual Reality

How can you call yourself a church if there's no vital Christianity in your church? How can you call yourself a church if your members have no reality of God in their lives? How can you call yourself a church if you're self-satisfied, self-reliant, and self-ruled?

Evangelistic Outreach, Prayer, and Holiness

How can you call yourself a church if you have no organized evangelistic outreach to your community? How can you call yourself a church if you don't even have a weekly prayer meeting? How can you call yourself a church if there's no holiness in the lives of your members?

Conversion and the Doctrines of the Gospel

How can you call yourself a church if your membership is largely unconverted? How can you call yourself a church if you don't preach the great doctrines of the gospel, which are ruin, redemption, repentance, and regeneration?

Revival and Broken-Hearted Prayer

How can you call yourself a church if you see no need for revival and seldom pray for revival? How can you call yourself a church if the carpet in your sanctuary isn't wet from the tears of broken-hearted saints crying out to God for the sins of the nation and the salvation of souls in your own town and in your own homes?

Christ’s Preeminence in the Church

How can you call yourself a church if there's no difference between your meetings and a social gathering? How can you call yourself a church if there's nothing but infighting and backbiting and jealousy?

How can you call yourself a church if Jesus is not prominent in the lives of the members and preeminent in the sanctuary? And how can you call yourself a church if you're deader than the local mortuary?