How to recognize and align with the Church that God is building

In numerous places, the scriptures refer “the church of God” in a city. For example, 1 Cor. 1 references “the church of God in Corinth” as being “those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours.”

The church of God is not an institution that men make. It consists of the called out ones, to whom God already has given membership in His church. This organization already exists. God is building it. We need to submit to the Master Architect, God, and recognize His building and execute His building plan. The church of God in each geographic region needs to be recognized, not subdivided or surplanted.

Part of God’s plan is that His church be united. Those who divide it by naming themselves apart (de-nominating), are rebuked by Paul in the 1st chapter of his 1st letter to the Corinthians:

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”

The heart of The Father is that ALL of His holy people in each geographic region function together as one cohesive unit. We should avoid anything that divides us, and should seek and create things that unite us.