A sense of identity is very important for life among members of any group. Individuals are of a particular gender and race.
During their lifespan, they may alter other personal traits: their attitudes (eg optimistic or pessimistic), beliefs (religion or philosophy), nationality (or citizenship), language, culture, religion or philosophy, family status (married, single, parent, child) and career (or means of maintaining sustenance). These personality traits, taken together, make up an individuals “identity”,- who he or she is, in comparison to other individuals.
As for his religion, he may as a matter of convenience identify himself as a “Christian” if he is a follower of the teachings of Jesus Christ and of the Bible. The term is a scriptural one, used from the earliest years of Christianity (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). In our day, however, “Christian” has too general a reference, being an umbrella name for members of very many bodies which differ from one another in specific beliefs and practices.
In the widest (and scriptural) sense, “Christian” refers to individual members of Jesus Christ’s “church” (Greek EKKLESIA, “called out” persons), Matthew 16:13-16). In figurative language, the church is the single “body of Christ” over which He is head (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23) since He has been given “all authority” over it (Matthew 28:18). Following the scriptural practice, assemblies or “congregations” of Christians gathered for worship in specific locations as named as “churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16) in particular geographical locations (such as cities, as in the case of the 7 churches of Asia Minor in Revelation 2:1 to 3:22).
Churches of Christ are independent bodies when it comes to decision-making. Churches (i.e. assemblies or congregations) with male Christians qualified to be “elders” (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9) may make such appointments as “shepherds” to guard their local “flock” (Acts 20:28-31; 1 Peter 5:1-4). There is no earthly authority beyond the local “flock” over which elders are appointed among the churches of Christ (1 Peter. 5:2-3, which stipulate that elders must oversee their flock, which must observe the example of their elders). Individual churches of Christ (assembling in different locations) are responsible for maintaining purity in teaching (i.e. “doctrine”) and conduct of their members, whether or not they have elders (hence, each of the 7 churches of Revelation 2:1 to 3:22 were addressed separately concerning their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the consequence of both).
Ties between churches of Christ are by way of fraternal (i.e. brotherly) fellowship and cooperation. When there are differences of interpretation of scripture (especially the public teaching of such differing interpretations) among congregations, brethren should imitate the earliest Christians (Acts 15:1-31) by meeting to have prayerful, free and open scriptural discussion and debate with a view towards arriving at the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 31-32). Although the truth must be contended for (Jude 3), it should be done by kind correction (2 Timothy 2:24-26) through searching the scriptures (Acts 17:11) being careful to handle God’s word correctly (2 Timothy 2:15) and not deceitfully (2 Corinthians 4:2).
However, if such discussions cannot arrive at an agreement of scriptural truth, there has to be a noting or marking of error and a break of fellowship among brethren who differ (Romans 16:17-20; Titus 1:10-11; 2 John 9-11). Such actions of disfellowship are necessary for individual churches not to be leavened or contaminated by false teaching (Galatians 5:9 for doctrinal matters; 1 Corinthians 5:6 for issues of conducted).
The churches of Christ are committed towards the preservation and unadulterated pattern of sound words (2 Timothy 1:13) which is to be handed down to successive generations of believers (2 Timothy 2:2). We are committed to the prohibition not to go beyond God’s word (1 Corinthians 4:6-7) and not adding nor subtracting from it (Revelation 22:18-19).
Revelation 22:18-19 18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.