Radio Transcript

Denominational Doctrines (04)

The Sin of Denominationalism

A denomination is a religious body with a distinct name and doctrine that separates it from other religious bodies. A denomination does not claim to be the whole church but only a part of the church, merely one section of the body of Christ.

Sometimes people use the words undenominational or nondenominational. Most often when these words are used what the person using them really means is "all denominational." A true nondenominational church is one that is the true church, the whole body of the saved, the original church we read about in the Bible that Jesus built long before any denominations came into existence.

Does God approve of the current situation? Does the Bible support the existence of a number of different denominations, each claiming to be a part of the body of Christ? Not at all! Let’s consider some of the scriptures people often use in order to support the existence of various denominations. First, in John 10:6, Jesus said, "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd." But when Jesus was referring to other sheep, he was referring to the Gentiles, not a myriad of denominations. He was making the point that the gospel would one day be preached to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. Notice Jesus’ words, "there will be one flock and one shepherd."

Another passage people often reference in order to support denominationalism is John 15:1-8. Notice Jesus words, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. Buy this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples." "See,’ many people say, "Christ is the vine and the different branches all represent different denominations." But this is an incorrect interpretation of this passage. Jesus wasn’t talking to denominations, but to his disciples. Notice Jesus’ use of personal pronouns when he said, "I am the vine, you are the branches."

Still others may refer to I Corinthians 12:12-27 in order to attempt to support denominationalism. Let’s notice Paul’s words to the church at Corinth. "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free -- and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with [it.]   27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

But Paul is referring to individuals as being members of Christ’s body. He is not referring to different denominations as being members of Christ’s body. There were no denominations in existence when Paul wrote his letter to the church at Corinth; and there would be no denominations today if all men would abandon their creeds of men and simply adhere to the Bible. This passage is teaching the need for unity, not the division that denominationalism causes.

While there are no scriptures that support denominationalism, there are many passages that condemn it. One example can be found in I Corinthians 1:10-13, "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, I am of Paul, or I am of Apollos, or I am of Cephas, or I am of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" Yet many denominations, such as the Lutherans, do the very thing Paul condemned in his letter to the church at Corinth. They wear human names.

Also notice the way the word church, in reference to the New Testament church, is used in the Bible. It can be used to refer to the church as a whole, such as in Matthew 16:18, where Jesus said, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." The word church can be used to refer to a congregation of the Lord’s church at a specific location. This is the way Paul used the word when he wrote what he did in II Corinthians 1:1, "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia." But denominations do not fit either of these descriptions. For example, the Baptist church is bigger than a church at any one specific location (since there are Baptist churches in many communities) yet it is also smaller than the universal church (since the Baptist themselves will admit that other denominations are also a part of Christ’ s church.) This concept of Christ’s church is commonly accepted by man, but cannot be found anywhere in the Bible.

Because Jesus’ looks down upon division within his followers, he prayed for unity. Notice Jesus’ words from John 17:20-21, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."

Men have reacted to Jesus’ prayer for unity in different ways. Some actually thank God the division that currently exists. They believe that "one church is as good as another" and that it "really doesn’t matter what a person believes as long as he is sincere in his belief." This attitude in effect makes God the author of confusion.

Others have reacted to Jesus’ prayer for unity by practicing so called "unity in diversity," although this very phrase is without logic. These people agree to take all doctrinal differences and simply "sweep them under the carpet." But this isn’t real unity, the kind for which Jesus prayed. Those people who practice "unity in diversity" minimize the importance of truth, making it a trivial matter.

Others react to Jesus’ prayer for unity by trying to unite all denominations into one big church. But in order to do this, they must compromise their own distinct doctrines. How can we all be united religiously? Not by conferences or mergers but by following the Bible, without addition or subtraction.

Some men often look at the church of Christ as just another denomination, one among many. These men often point to Alexander Campbell as the founder of the church of Christ. Such an attitude is indicative of a lack of understanding of the church of Christ.

The church of Christ, the church of which I am a member, is not a denomination. Consider the many differences between the church of Christ and the denominations that exist today. The church of Christ was founded by Christ (Matthew 16:18); whereas denominations were all founded by mere humans. The church of Christ teaches there is one body, one faith, and one baptism (Ephesians 4:4); whereas denominations teach there are many bodies, many faiths, and many baptisms. The church of Christ recognizes that Christ has all authority (Matthew 28:18); whereas denominations recognize the authority of creeds and councils of men. Those persons in the church of Christ simply wear the name Christian; whereas member of denominations wear names that glorify men or particular beliefs held by that denominations (such as the Baptist church, the Methodist church, or the Lutheran church). The church of Christ teaches the Bible remains the same (Matthew 24:35); whereas denominations teach that the Bible is always changing, thus constantly revising or rewriting their creeds. The church of Christ teaches that the Lord adds the saved to his church (Acts 2:47); whereas denominations teach that man can join any number of different churches. The church of Christ teaches that sound doctrine is vital to salvation (II Timothy 4:16); whereas denominations teach doctrine is unimportant just as long as a person is sincere. The church of Christ teaches that all Christians are priests (I Peter 2:9); whereas denominations make a distinction between clergy and laity. The church of Christ teaches that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34); whereas denominations refer to certain men as "Reverend." The church of Christ teaches that each congregation is to be led by a plurality of elders, or pastors (Acts 20:17); whereas denominations teach that a congregation can be led by one pastor who is over the church. The church of Christ teaches that faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26); whereas denominations teach that "faith only" saves. The church of Christ teaches that it is possible to fall from grace (Galatians 5:4); whereas the denominations of men teach that it is impossible to fall from grace. The church of Christ teaches we are to observe the Lord’s Supper the first day of every week (Acts 20:7); whereas denominations observe the Lord’s Supper according to their own custom or preference. The church of Christ baptizes by immersion only (Romans 6:3-5); whereas denominations baptize by immersion, sprinkling, or pouring. The church of Christ teaches that a person is baptized into Christ’s body (I Corinthians 12:13); whereas denominations teach that a person is a member of Christ’s body after he is accepted by a vote. The church of Christ teaches that baptism is for penitent believers (Acts 2:38); whereas denominations teach that infants may be baptized. The church of Christ teaches that baptism is a condition of salvation (Mark 16:16); whereas denominations teach that baptism is not essential for salvation. The church of Christ teaches we are to understand the will of the Lord (Ephesians 5:17); whereas denominations teach that it is not possible for us to understand alike.

Is it possible for a person to be a Christian without being a member of any denomination? The early Christians were. Notice from Acts 2:47, "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." Of which church was the Ethiopian in Acts chapter eight a member? Was he a Methodist? Was he a Baptist? Was he a Lutheran? Was he a Presbyterian? He was none of these. He was simply a Christian, a member of Christ’s church. If a person today follows the same instructions the first Christians followed, the Lord will add him to the same church he added the first Christians to, the church of Christ (Romans 16:16).