Imagine for a moment that there was a person living in the city of Philippi in the first century who decided to visit the church one Sunday. This person walked in and asked, “What kind of church is this?” If you were there in the first century and heard that question asked, would it strike you odd? Think about it. In the first century, there was only one church (Eph. 4:4). There were not hundreds (or even a few) denominations. In other words, there were not “kinds” of churches!
When the first car was invented, you would not have asked, “What kind of car is this?” It was the car! The first and only one! There were no others, so there were no “kinds” of cars! So, it would not make sense in the first century to ask, “What kind of church is this?” It was the church! The first AND ONLY one! There were no others, so there were no “kinds” of churches.
So, today, should we not simply go back to the Bible and be “the church” that Jesus started in the first century? He gave no authority for different “kinds” of churches (1 Cor. 1:10). He only has “one” (Eph. 4:4; 2:16; 1 Cor. 12:12-13).