A popular statement is, "There are Christians in all churches." If that statement were a Bible quotation, the matter would be settled. But since that statement is not in the Bible, it must be carefully examined. The Scriptures command, "Prove all things; hold fast to that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

But if a person already has his mind made up, and refuses to examine the statement that there are Christians in all churches, he puts himself in the class of the people who did not like what an inspired preacher said, and "stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him" (Acts 7:54-58).

On the other hand, some people who, hearing an inspired preacher say things that they did not believe, "received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). In parallel, today a person ought to say, "I have always believed that there are Christians in all churches, but I am willing to search the Scriptures to see if it is so."

When we learn what God means by the name "Christian," then we have gone a long way in answering the question, "Are there Christians in all churches?" Some say "a Christian is a good person." A lady said, "My neighbor is a member of no church but she is good neighbor and helps sick people and is one of the best Christian women in this town."

If she is right, if unselfish neighborly kindness makes one a Christian, then indeed there are Christians in all churches, and also out of all churches. There are kind neighbors who do not believe in Jesus Christ. Can one properly be called a "Christian" who does not believe in Christ? Some Mohammedans and Buddhists and atheists are good neighbors, but no one would call them Christians.

We have to say that more than goodness is required to make one a Christian. A second definition of what is a Christian is that he is not only good but he must believe in Jesus. However, goodness and faith alone will not make a Christian, for "many among the rulers believed in" Jesus, but

Thousands of people on the day of Pentecost, May 28, A.D.30, in Jerusalem came to believe that God had made Jesus "both Lord and Christ," and cried out, "What should we do?" (Acts 2:36-37). Many preachers today would have told them that "you are now Christians, and nothing needs to be done."

But the inspired preacher thought that indeed they needed to do something, namely, to repent and to be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38). About 3000 souls that day believed, repented, and were baptized, and the Lord added them to the church (Acts 2:41, 47, KJV). Biblically, there is no other way to make a Christian than to believe in Jesus, to repent, and to be baptized.

However, thousands of people have come into some churches not believing, but as babes in arms. They have become church members on the faith of their parents, but they are not Christians as the Bible describes Christians.

Also, thousands of adults come into some churches by sprinkling, miscalled "baptism." Bible baptism requires two actions: (1) a burial in water (Romans 6:4; Acts 10:47) as Jesus’ body was buried, and (2) a rising up from the water as Jesus’ body was raised from the dead: "If we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall also be united with him in the likeness of his resurrection" (Romans 6:5).

Sprinkled people are clean, moral people who believe in Jesus, but they are not Christians as the Bible describes Christians: "You were buried with him in baptism, in which also you were raised with him through faith in the working of God who raised" Jesus "from the dead" (Colossians 2:12).

Then there are Christians as the Bible describes Christians, who after being immersed to wash away their sins (Acts 22:16), go and join some denomination. Are they still Christians? Yes, but they are Christians in error. Every denomination is a sect or party, and God tells us it is wrong for Christians to be divided into sects (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). Sinners, on being baptized, are added automatically to the Lord’s church, of which "he himself is the savior" (Acts 2:47, KJV; Ephesians 5:23). The Lord’s church is not a denomination, defined by Webster as "a religious sect; as, a Protestant denomination."

There are Christians as the Bible describes Christians who, on their own, have robed choirs and mechanical music. Are they Christians? Yes, but they have changed congregational singing (Ephesians 5:19; Hebrews 13:15) into performances.

There are Christians as the Bible describes Christians who have grown lukewarm and indifferent toward his blessed work. As far as they are concerned, the church might just as well have an orchestra Sunday night or Wednesday night, for they do not care enough to be present. Are they Christians? Yes, but God says,

Multitudes of good people in many churches, not Christians as the Bible describes Christians, believe in Jesus, and show by their works that they love him, and would die for him. They are much more to be admired than the Christians as the Bible describes Christians who are lukewarm. Lukewarm Christians make the Lord so stomach sick he wants to throw up.

In conclusion, three situations are scripturally wrong and need attention: (1) church members, who are not Christians as the Bible describes Christians, ought to make themselves Christians as the Bible describes Christians; (2) church members, who are Christians as the Bible describes Christians, ought to renounce performances by choirs and orchestras and return to the simplicity of Bible worship; and (3) church members, who are Christians as the Bible describes Christians, but who are "Sunday morning" Christians who disgust their Lord, who need to return to their "first love" (Revelation 2:4).