A CONTRAST BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND DENOMINATIONS

When we say "the church," we mean the church of Christ of which we read in the Bible, and of which Jesus is the builder, head and redeemer. The word "denomination" means a part of the whole. When we use this term in the religious sphere, we have reference to a religious group that believes in Jesus as the Son of God, and such a group considers itself as a part of the universal body of Christ, but not the complete body. Usually a denomination will have fellowship with other denominations, and consider the members of other denominations as Christians or the children of God.

Please note some differences between the Lord's church and denominations:

The Lord's church is part of "the eternal purpose" that God purposed in Christ Jesus before the beginning of the world (Eph. 3:6,9-11). That means that Jehovah planned His church even before He created the world. On the other hand, every denomination that is in existence was planned by men.

The prophets of the Old Testament prophesied of the establishment of the church of God, calling it "the house of God" (Isa. 2:23; Micah 4:1,2) and the "kingdom" that the Lord Himself would set up (Daniel 2:44). Denominations are not mentioned in any Old Testament prophecy, neither are they mentioned in the New Testament.

Jesus promised to build His church, saying, "And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church..." (Matt. 16:18). The Lord did not promise to build any denomination.

The church of Christ belongs to Christ, for He called it "my church" (Matt. 16:18). Denominations belong not to the Lord Jesus, but to men.

Jesus bought the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28). Denominations are not connected with this purchase.

Jesus is the head of His church (Eph. 1:22,23; 5:23). However there is nothing said in the Bible about Him being the head of any denomination or organization that men planned and established.

Jesus is the savior of His spiritual body (Eph. 5:23). Denominations are not part of that body.

In the end, Jesus will deliver up His church (kingdom) to the Heavenly Father (1 Cor. 15:24). In contrast to that we read the following of any religious group, including denominations, that belongs not to the Lord: "Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up" (Matt. 15:13).

The existence of denominations ("denominationalism") is against the Lord's will. Denominations are out of place because they do not have the right from God to exist. Consider Jesus' question to the Jewish leaders of His day: "The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men" (Matt. 21:25). There were only two possibilities: either the baptism practiced by John was from heaven, and thus authorized by God, or else it was from men, and in that case John had no authority to baptize. What about denominations? Either they are from heaven, or from men. If they are from heaven, then they are from God. If I claim that they are from God and He authorizes their existence, then I must be able to prove this from the Bible. But it cannot be done! No one can prove that the New Testament of Christ authorizes the existence of man-made religious groups, including denominations. Thus, their authority to exist came not from the Lord, but from men. Their existence is thus sinful, because it is not part of that which Jesus commanded His apostles ("Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you," Matt. 28:20). We are to speak "as the oracles of God" (1 Peter 4:11). Since denominations are not part of the Lord's message for man's salvation, then they have no right to exist.

The existence of denominations contradicts the desire that Jesus expressed in His prayer to the Father that is recorded in John 17:20-23: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one...." It is obvious that the theme of these verses is unity. Jesus' prayer is that those who believe on Him through the words of the apostles would be one or united. It is no secret that the existence of multitudes of different denominations that wear different names and teach contradictory doctrines does not attract people to Christ and His word, but just the opposite. The common denominational plea that "any church is acceptable to God," or that "one church is as good as any other" causes confusion, and is far from the unity for which Jesus prayed in John 17. The unity for which Jesus prayed can be obtained, but not by forming and supporting denominations. How can those who believe in Jesus have true unity? Only by completely walking in the light of God's word, meaning to abide in Jesus' teaching by keeping His commands, can true spiritual unity exist.

The truth is, denominations are really in competition with the church of the Lord. What do denominations do? Do they encourage people to become members of the church of Christ? No. They do not want people to become members of the Lord's church because they want them to become members of their own denomination. This is not the Lord's will! Just why do denominations exist? Consider these questions that we might ask a friend from a denomination:

1. In order to be saved, is it necessary to become a member of your denomination?
2. In order to become a Christian, is it necessary to become a member of your denomination?
3. In order to go to heaven, is it necessary to become a member of your denomination?

Written by: Roger D. Campbell