The Problem With Denominations

Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it’” (Matthew 16:16-18). In the first century, there were no denominations – only the Lord’s church (Matthew 16:18). Paul said there is just “one body” (Ephesians 4:4), and that body is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). But today, unlike the first century, there are thousands of denominations. Is this a problem? Many will say “no.” They have been taught to “join the church of your choice” because “one church is as good as another.” But the Scriptures teach that this is a problem. Why? In this article we will notice four reasons why denominationalism is a problem.

Denominations are Divisions

Often those in the Lord’s church are accused of being divisive. In reality, the denominations embrace division. The same mentality existed in Corinth and was condemned by the apostle Paul.
Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, ‘I am of Paul,’ and ‘I of Apollos,’ and ‘I of Cephas,’ and ‘I of Christ.’ Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:10-13).
The problem in Corinth was that brethren were dividing based upon their allegiance to or affinity for certain individuals. Denominations exist because people have divided based upon their allegiance to a particular group or their affinity for certain doctrines and practices. In our day however, many people in denominations do not pay as much attention to the particular denomination of which they are a part. They often switch from one church to another. Different denominations frequently work together for various projects, ministries, and events. However, the divisions are still there, otherwise the denominations would not exist. Contrary to the acceptance of division present among the denominations, Jesus prayed for unity. “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:20-21). This unity – “the unity of the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:3) – is not created or maintained by ignoring differences on matters of faith, but by “all [speaking] the same thing” (1 Corinthians 1:10, KJV). Division does not come when people are standing together for the truth, but when people depart from the truth. The blame for such division belongs to the denominations who have departed from the truth and divided those who are (allegedly) part of the body of Christ (Jude 17-19).

Denominations Lure People Away from the Lord’s Church

When one joins a denominational church, he is joining a church that is not Christ’s (Matthew 16:18). There is only one church that belongs to Christ (Ephesians 4:4; 1 Corinthians 12:13). However, some will argue that denominations are simply part of the Lord’s church. The passage below is often used in an attempt to support this idea.
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 it so 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, so 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, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned” (John 15:1-6).
The argument that defenders of denominationalism will make is that the branches in Jesus’ illustration represent various churches/denominations and that all of them stem from Christ. However, Jesus’ words show that the branches refer to individuals, not churches/groups. First of all, Jesus is speaking to His apostles – individuals, not representatives of various denominations. Second, Jesus clearly presented the branches as individuals – “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch” (John 15:6). Third, if the branches were denominations/groups, then it would violate the fundamental principle of individual accountability. Jesus describes branches being burned – signifying judgment. We are not judged as churches/denominations/groups, but as individuals (Ezekiel 18:20; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Denominational churches are counterfeit churches. They cannot be found in the Bible because they were not the church – or even a “branch” of the church – established by Jesus in the first century (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:47).

Denominations Prevent People from Being Saved

There are two ways in which denominations prevent people from being saved. First, they keep people away from the Lord’s church [see previous point] and salvation is only in His church (Ephesians 5:23; Acts 2:47). Second, they do not teach the plan of salvation that is taught in the gospel. Notice who were the saved ones that God “added to the church” (Acts 2:47, KJV).
Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.’ And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation!’ So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:37-41).
Denominations do not teach what Peter taught on the day of Pentecost about salvation. Generally, they reject baptism as being necessary for salvation. But notice the following passages:
He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16). “Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16). “Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you – not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21).
Baptism is an essential step that leads to forgiveness and salvation. Yet the denominations do not teach this. Many proclaim that man is saved by “faith alone.” Yet the only time “faith alone” is found in the Bible is in James 2:24 – “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.” A saving faith is an obedient faith (James 2:26). The denominational errors on salvation are especially dangerous because they lead people to think they are saved when they are not. This is the same type of delusion about which the prophet Amos spoke. People were “longing for the day of the Lord,” thinking it would be a benefit to them; yet it would be a day of “darkness and not light” (Amos 5:18). When one believes he is safe, he will see no reason why he needs to be saved. Sadly, judgment will come as a surprise to them. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:21-23). Though many are religious and doing things which they claim are in the name of the Lord, they are actually practicing lawlessness. Denominations keep people content in their lost condition.

Denominations Promote the Wrong Standard

Denominations teach a different gospel than the gospel that was preached by the apostles. Paul warned the churches of Galatia about this.
I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!” (Galatians 1:6-9).
This “different gospel” – which was just a distorted form of the original gospel – caused those who followed it to desert the Lord and reject His grace (Galatians 1:6). Jesus warned that teaching the doctrines and traditions of men renders our worship vain (Matthew 15:6-9). Unlike the denominations, we must proclaim “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27, NKJV) – nothing more or less (2 John 9; Revelation 22:18-19). We must do this because the word of God is the standard by which we will be judged (John 12:48; Romans 2:16). Paul said, “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11). If we have a healthy fear of the Lord, we will declare to people the Lord’s standard for judgment so that they can be prepared for their appointment “before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Conclusion

Denominations do not represent additional paths to heaven. They are all part of the broad way that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). The call for people everywhere is to abandon the churches of men for the church which our Lord “purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). —Andy Sochor
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