Every institution has its own unique
characteristics, which distinguishes it from all others of
similar nature. Such characteristics, when examined, can only
belong to that particular institution. Although two similar
institutions might share many characteristics, if they differ in
only one, they cannot be the same institution. For example, AT
& T, Sprint, and MCI are all phone companies, sharing many
similar characteristics, yet they are not the same company. This
concept we understand and do not question in the physical realm.
The church of our Lord Jesus Christ is no
different than physical institutions in this respect. There are
distinctive characteristics in the Lord's Church, which set it
apart from any and all other religious institutions: even those
which claim to be Christian. If two religious institutions have
the exact same characteristics, then they can claim to be the
same. However, when an examination is made between the existing
religious institutions of our day, which number over 1200, it is
evident that they all have some characteristic that distinguishes
them from all the others. The question needing to be answered is
whether or not such institutions match up with the
characteristics found in the Scriptures for the Lord's Church. If
they do, then that institution must be the Lord's. If not, then
that institution cannot claim to be the Lord's.
This and other pages will examine the distinctive characteristics of the Lord's Church in two areas. First, general characteristics will be examined. These are characteristics which separate the Lord's Church from what we normally call denominationalism. Next, more specific characteristics will be examined. Here we shall briefly review characteristics which distinguish the Lord's Church from those that fulfill the general characteristics. Our aim is not to exclude, rather to show forth those characteristics found within the scriptures, so that you might know what the Lord's Church looks like. By this means, then you can come unto that institution that can save.
SPECIFIC DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS: