The Error of Denominationalism

Intro:

Good evening.

I want to think about the following scenario that perhaps you’ve been through (like I have on more than one occasion).

You’re having a conversation with someone.

The subject turns to religion.

Uh oh, right?

Isn’t that a shame that in our culture people tend to balk so much at talking about religion? (It shouldn’t be that way).

Anyways, the conversation turns to religion, and someone asks you, “So what church are you?”

Is that really a valid question, by the way?

You see, you and I know that the church is a GROUP of people that make up the body of the saved, right?

The church is not one person — It’s a multiplicity of people that make up the body of the saved, and Jesus is the Head of it.

Colossians 1:18 - “And He (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”

So how do you answer that question - “What church are you?”

We know what they mean — So hopefully we answer something like this - “I’m a member of the church of Christ” (not “I’m church of Christ”; please, try to get out of the habit of saying it that way).

Or maybe we say, “I’m a N.T. Christian.”

Or “I’m just a Christian,” or “I’m a follower/disciple of Jesus Christ.”

Those would all be Biblical answers to the question (and then, hopefully we get a chance to delve into our beliefs a bit more).

But have you ever thought about how people would have answered that question about 2000 years ago on the Day of Pentecost?!

How the First Christians Would Have Answered the Question:

Picture this — It’s the first Day of Pentecost after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.

You’ve just seen everything transpire — The Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and caused them all to speak in tongues, and then Peter preaches that amazing Gospel Sermon that they had taken Christ and with wicked hands crucified the Son of God! (verse 23)

Verse 36 - “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this same Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!”

The people were cut to the heart, and cried out - “Men and brethren, what shall we do?!” (verse 37)

Peter told them what to do - Repent, and be baptized for the remission of sins, and they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (verse 38).

Those who gladly received the word were baptized, and about 3000 souls were added to them (verse 41).

The Lord added to THE CHURCH daily those who were being saved! (verse 47)

So you’ve seen all of that!

And then someone comes up and says: “Cool. So which church are you?”

Or “which one did you join?!”

Or “what kind of Christian are you?”

Or “what denomination did you just join?”

Those first Christians probably going to look at you confused and say: “What are you talking about?!”

Because there WERE no other churches on that day — There was only one!

The one that JESUS built, and died for, and the one that the Lord adds us to still today!

Tonight we want to talk about the error that is denominationalism.

Defining the Word Denomination:

The easiest way to do this is probably to think about money.

We have various denominations of money:

We’ve got a dollar bill, a five dollar bill, a ten dollar bill, a twenty, a hundred, etc.

And then we also have different coins as well.

Those are all different denominations of money.

PARTS of the whole.

When it comes to Christianity, there is a concept that many have that is not found in Scripture — and that is that there are many different types of churches that teach many different doctrines, but they are all a part of “the whole” that is Christianity.

That’s just not Biblical.

Now, the Bible does use the term “churches” sometimes, but its talking about various congregations of the same church!

Think about how serious it truly is that Jesus built His church, and you’ve got human beings wanting to denominate it (divide it)? (It’s very serious!)

Jesus Promised to Build One Church:

Matthew 16:13–20- “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My (singular possessive pronoun) church (singular noun), and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.”

Jesus came to build HIS church, using the words “MY CHURCH” (Matt. 16:18).

Meaning only one!

Acts 20:28 says

Acts 20:28 NKJV

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Ephesians 1:22–23 - “And He (God the Father) put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Colossians 1:13 - “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.”

That’s the same kingdom that is spoken of in Daniel chapter 2, Joel chapter 2 (quoted by Peter in Acts chapter 2 which we read at the start), Isaiah chapter 2, and Micah chapter 4.

There are various other prophecies of the kingdom/the church scattered in places like the Psalms and other O.T. verses as well, like 2 Samuel 7:11ff.

What about Ephesians 4?

Let’s read Ephesians 4:1-6. (In Bible) (What did we say the body was? Ephesians 1:22–23 - “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”)

Col. 1:18 teaches the same.

Someone says, but what about John 15? (The Vine and the Branches, John 15:5)

I’m glad you asked, let’s go to John 15 and read that account.

(Read John 15:1-8).

Finally, let’s circle back to the fact that …

Denominational Division is Condemned in Scripture:

Let’s look at two places:

1 Cor. 1:10-16 (Read in Bible).

John 17:20-26 (Read in Bible).

How then did we get denominational division?

Well, we got it from men grouping themselves together “under the wrong banner” we might say.

Grouping under the banner of MEN’S names instead of the name of Christ (men like Luther, Calvin, Joseph Smith, Menno Simons, and others).

Grouping under the banner of various religious ACTS or METHODS (Methodist church).

Grouping under the banner of various days like Pentecost (Pentecostals).

Grouping under the banner of the Papacy (the Catholic Church), which was one of the very first denominational departures.

May we never divide up the body of Christ!

May we, as it teaches further down in Ephesians chapter 4, always do everything we can to play our individual parts to BUILD UP the body of Christ!

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