There is an interesting description of the Lord’s people in the book of Acts. In a few places, the Lord’s church is called, “The Way.”
Saul went to Damascus “so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:2).
Later, after Saul (then Paul) became a follower of Christ, he was preaching in Ephesus. “But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples” (Acts 19:9).
Answering his accusers before Felix, Paul said, “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our Fathers” (Acts 24:14).
Each time this term was used, it was describing a people who were suffering for their faith. They were spoken against. They were persecuted. They were called a sect. Sound familiar? The same things happen with the Lord’s church today.
There is something that I find interesting as we relate this to our day and age. Today we have brethren who argue that we should not use “church of Christ” as a name or description of a local congregation. What is usually the reason for wanting the change? They cite the negative connotation people have of “churches of Christ.” What might be the primary complaint against us is that “people in the church of Christ think that they are the only ones going to heaven.” This is too exclusive and narrow-minded for most people’s liking.
What if we started calling ourselves “The Way” so we would not be called by the unpopular term, “church of Christ”? Would that be any better? You cannot get much more exclusive and “narrow-minded” than this term. “The Way” implies that there is just one way. Could people say, “You people of the Way think you are the only ones going to heaven,” just the same?
We must not worry about what the world thinks and instead focus on pleasing God. The passages above show us that if we follow Christ, we will not be popular or well-liked. So let us not seek the popularity or approval of the world. Instead, let us simply do the will of God no matter what people say about us.
Andy, I have verification of what you have written about concerning the Way as a descriptive term referring to God’s people today being called a “sect.” I have been having a very long email exchange (since the first of this year) with a “faith only” man. When I finally let him know there was no use continuing this discussion because he would not listen to the truth, he called me a member of a sect. And this supposed slam he used did not bother me one bit!
Good article, Andy. And brethren who drop the name “church of Christ” don’t help any. If we teach truth, many will reject it, under any name designation.