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“WHAT COULD DENOMINATIONALISM NEVER DO?”
WHAT COULD DENOMINATIONALISM NEVER DO?
Roger D. Campbell
Few devices of the devil have been as successful in blinding the eyes of men and women as denominationalism has.
Denominationalism, as it is generally presented in our society, is the concept that the spiritual body of the Lord Jesus is made up of a number of different religious groups/churches, with those different groups having different identities and different organizational structures, believing different and contradictory doctrines, teaching different and contradictory doctrines, following different and contradictory doctrines, and worshipping in different ways. Each denominational group is counted as one slice of the whole "pie," with the general agreement being that no denomination has the right to count itself as the exclusive church of the Bible. This divide-em-up slicing of the "pie" into distinct, no-two-alike pieces, is supposed to constitute God’s church and be His idea of unity in Jesus.
Denominationalism has been a part of the United States of America since our nation’s official inception in 1776. Denominationalism’s history in Europe goes back hundreds of years before that, with Roman Catholicism having its beginning in the early part of the 7th century A.D. Some would suggest that it started much earlier.
All Americans grow up hearing about and observing denominationalism in action. I was raised in a denominational environment. I observed it, endorsed it, and was sprinkled into it. As far as religion was concerned, it was all that I knew at the time. Later, like many of you, I was blessed to have people teach me what the Bible says about the church of the living God and His way of salvation. The New Testament’s teaching about His church is as far removed from modern denominationalism as night is from day.
There are some things that denominationalism could never do.
ONE, denominationalism could never find Bible authority for its existence. There is no denying the fact that denominationalism exists. The question that must be faced honestly is this one: Is denominationalism “from heaven, or of men” (Matt. 21:25)? If it truly is from heaven, then it is from God. If it is from God, you know what that means, right? It means we can read about it in the Bible. The truth is, the Bible knows no such thing as denominationalism! There is no Bible verse that commands it, gives an example of it, or implies that it is part of God’s will. Friends, there is no Bible authority for denominationalism to exist. It is a man-made arrangement — always has been and always will be. Denominations exist because men want them to exist! In contrast to that, the Bible teaches that God’s Son has all authority, and He charges us to do all things by His commands (Matt. 28:18,20).
TWO, denominationalism could never trace its existence back to the first century. The Lord Jesus promised to build His church (Matt. 16:18). He bought that church with His blood (Acts 20:28), and it was founded in the first century with Him as its Head (Eph. 5:23). In the Book of Acts, we read about the beginning of Jesus’ church in the first half of the first century. In contrast to the Lord’s church, denominationalism was never promised by Jesus, He did not pay for it with His blood, He did not have one iota to do with its establishment, He is not its Head, and we do not read about it anywhere in the New Testament. Yes, as we have already noted, denominationalism has been on the scene for a long time — but not long enough, since it was not around when the church of the Christ began way back in the first century.
THREE, denominationalism could never prove that it is the body of the Christ about which we read in the New Testament. “But I have always heard that the one universal body of Christ is made up of all the different denominations, with each different denomination being a member of that body, like 1 Corinthians 12 says.” In 1 Corinthians 12:20 it is written, “But now are they many members, yet but one body.” Who or what are the “members” about which Paul wrote? Was he speaking about denominations or disciples? He could not have been saying that the first-century body of the Christ was made up of different denominations, because there were none that existed then! In verse 27 we read, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (NKJV). By the Spirit, Paul told some people that they were “members” of the body. To whom was the Book of First Corinthians originally addressed? Answer: “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth” (I Cor. 1:2). So, not different denominations, but the individual members of God’s church, they are the ones that made up the Lord’s body.
What do we expect to see in a human? Is it not one head with one body, and one body with one head? Remember, the Lord’s body is His church (Eph. 1:22,23). God’s arrangement is for Jesus to serve as the one Head of His one church/body (Eph. 5:23). Denominationalism may try to claim Jesus as its head, but no human being from the past, present, or future could ever prove from the New Testament that Jesus has any connection to the man-made and divisive setup known as denominationalism.
FOUR, denominationalism could never rightfully claim that it helps people become saved and get prepared for heaven. Denominations are active. Through their teaching and benevolent programs, they influence multitudes. Some of them raise large sums of money and draw huge crowds. We believe that the Bible teaches that the Lord wants His people to be active, teaching, and benevolent. He does not mind His church raising big amounts of money and having large crowds, as long as it is all done in a scriptural fashion.
But, it is God’s truth that can set men free from sin (John 8:32), not the commandments of men that turn people from the truth (Titus 1:14). In order to be saved from past sins, a lost person must believe in Jesus as the Son of God, repent of his sins, confess faith in Jesus, and be baptized for the remission of sins. That is a far cry from “pray the Sinner’s Prayer,” which is the traditional denominational answer to the question, “What must I do to be saved?” Advocates of denominationalism encourage people to “Join the church of your choice.” The Bible teaches no such thing. The Bible’s message is that God has made His choice: salvation is available in the blood-purchased church of His Son (Col. 1:13,14).
Denominationalism propagates and supports man-made messages, none of which are of eternal spiritual benefit to any human being. Hearing, accepting, and obeying the teaching of brand X denomination will make a person a member of brand X denomination. On the other hand, when one hears, believes, and “obeys the gospel” unto the salvation of his/her soul (II Thess. 1:7-9), God adds such a saved person to His church (Acts 2:47), of which Jesus is the Savior (Eph. 5:23).
Few devices of the devil have been as successful in blinding the eyes of men and women as denominationalism has. I hate abortion. I abhor the ideas of homosexuality and same-sex marriages. In the same way and at least to the same degree, though I love the precious people that are caught up in its error, I detest denominationalism and all of its evil consequences.
Biblically speaking, there are many things that denominationalism could never do. We have observed a few of them in this article. Denominationalism, because it is not of God, is from Satan. It is appropriate to point out the pitfalls of all forms of spiritual darkness, including denominationalism. However, in addition to showing from the Bible what is amiss in the religious world, we must also make a diligent effort to present positively the Light of the world and His gospel of light (II Cor. 4:4).
The apostle Paul was prepared to teach God’s soul-saving Gospel (Rom. 1:15,16). Are we ready to do the same?
