Order in the Court of the King! (Denominations

Grace Thoughts

Order in the Court of the King! (Denominations – Why?)

Even as an atheist I knew about denominations: Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, etc. What I didn’t know was how many denominations existed or why they existed.

[Listen to a Podcast of this study by clicking this link.]

Denominations

I learned more about denominations after becoming a Christian. Many different denominational churches and groups invited me to share my testimony of ‘angry atheist to grateful Christian’ during the first several years after becoming a Christian. Speaking in churches belonging to so many different ‘denominations’ gave me a unique opportunity to see many styles of worship, beliefs, and practices. Most of the people I met were friendly and welcoming. However, I also sensed an attitude of ‘separation and pride.’ Why? [more on that in a few minutes]

I wondered if the word ‘denomination’ is in the Bible? I couldn’t find it, so I asked one of my PhD mentors who taught Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek if the idea of a ‘denomination’ was hidden somewhere in the original languages. He said there wasn’t. I confirmed that after learning how to study the Bible in those languages. The word ‘denomination’ doesn’t exist in the Bible. It seemed contrary to the Lord’s call for ‘unity’ among His people, so why were there so many different denominations?

Followers of Christ

Followers of Jesus were known in the 1st century AD as followers of ‘the Way’ (Acts 9:2) and later as ‘Christians’ (Acts 11:26). The Apostle Paul also wrote that they were members of the ‘body of Christ’ (1 Corinthians 12:27).

Jesus Christ was the first to use the term ‘church’ (Greek – ekklēsia, ‘assembly’) –

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. Matthew 16:18

And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. Matthew 18:17

The word ‘church’ was used on the Day of Pentecost to describe people who became members of what God was building through faith in Christ Jesus –

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47

Saul of Tarsus, who later was known as the Apostle Paul, persecuted ‘the church which was at Jerusalem’ (Acts 8:1). Sometime after Jesus called Saul (Paul) to be an apostle, Paul returned home to Tarsus – “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified” (Acts 9:31). Saul’s persecution of the ‘church’ in Jerusalem actually helped spread the Gospel to other areas, starting new churches. The Holy Spirit would later call Paul to travel the world establishing ‘churches,’ selecting ‘leaders’ for those churches, and teaching the ‘doctrine’ that Jesus wanted Christians to follow (Acts 13 – Acts 28).

Paul and other apostles wrote letters to various ‘church’ leaders and members. Many Christians gathered in the homes of fellow Christians (e.g. Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:2) to worship God, study His Word, pray, and fellowship. Paul told church leaders to – “shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). Notice that Jesus Christ ‘purchased’ the ‘church’ with the blood He shed on the Cross. The Church belongs to Jesus Christ, not us.

Jesus Christ told the Apostle John to write to seven ‘churches’ in Asia –

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. Revelation 1:11

I found no mention of different names (denominations) for churches, just different locations. That’s what I found throughout Acts and the apostolic letters – churches made up of Christians living and worshiping in different locations.

Separation and Pride

As I mentioned earlier, I sensed an attitude of ‘separation and pride’ as I spoke to different churches and Christian groups in the years after leaving atheism for Christian theism. Christians met in different buildings, with different signs, different names, different ways of believing and worshiping, and they seemed proud about their differences. Many Christians talked to me about joining their particular ‘denominational’ church. I remember one person telling me that their denomination was the ‘true bride of Christ.’ He said members of other denominations were ‘friends of the bride.’ I didn’t find that in New Testament, and it struck me as being prideful and separative – almost a kind of ‘tribalism.’

I didn’t buy into the idea of being ‘separated’ from other Christians, unless it was for biblical reasons (e.g. heretical teachings, divisions within churches that leaders needed to address, etc). That seemed contrary to God’s desire for His people to be ‘unified.’ I also question the wisdom of having different denominational ‘names’ for churches. The Latin word nomina means ‘name.’ Denomination means ‘to name.’ The French denominacioun has the same idea. Who gave denominations their names? People did. I’m not going to get into whether God gave people the names to use for ‘denominations,’ because I don’t know. Only God does. However, I do like to use the names the Holy Spirit inspired in His Word (e.g. ekklésia, Christianos).

You can find the reasons for different ‘names’ of churches by studying church history. I know why Christians started ‘denominations,’ but that doesn’t change the fact that believers were ‘separating’ from each other. We’ve already seen the biblical method of dealing with heretics in the Church, so that explains many of the divisions in the early centuries of Church history. Later separations in the Church were often ‘political, theological, and cultural’ in nature (e.g. ‘Western Schism’ of 1378 to 1417, ‘East-West Schism of 1054,’ ‘Reformation of 1517,’ ‘Protestant Movement of 1529,’ etc).

However, the number of ‘denominations’ continued to grow during the following centuries until there were hundreds of them. Some Christian groups even estimate the current number of denominations today to be in the thousands. Christianity, which has so much potential for unity under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, was becoming less unified.

Is this what God wants? Is this how Christians glorify God and finish the work He gave us to do?

Whatever the true number of denominations, the fact remains that there are many different Christian denominations with different headquarters, different leaders, different beliefs, different styles of worship, etc. So, is that a good thing or a bad thing? Given that many denominations have centuries of history, what can be done about it?

De, Non, or Inter?

The three choices the Church seems to have are to be ‘denominational,’ ‘non-denominational,’ or ‘inter-denominational.’ You know what’s on the theological ‘menu’ with denominations. You don’t know what you’re getting with non-denominational churches, so you have to study their theological beliefs carefully. Some are good – some are not – so be careful. I’m definitely not in favor of ‘inter-denominational’ movements because they want to bring all of the churches together, even those that preach false gospels and promote heretical theology. Some ‘ecumenical’ groups even invite leaders and members of non-Christian religions to participate in their meetings. How is that ‘unifying’ Christians? It isn’t. Though I love the idea of all Christians being unified, the ecumenical movement is not the way to accomplish that objective. It’s just a trick of the ‘enemy’ of the Church.

Not Surprised

None of what’s happened during the last two-thousand years of Church history should be a surprise to anyone who knows how to ‘rightly divide’ the Word of Truth. They would know that false preachers and teachers would attack the Church and pull people away from the true Gospel of Christ. Jesus predicted it. The apostles predicted it. It’s no surprise.

So, what should Christians who care about ‘unity’ do about the situation? Love God and their neighbor. Preach the Gospel. Stand strong. Put on the whole armor of God. Stay vigilant, watch, and be ready. Obey God. Glorify Him and finish the work He’s given them to do. We are not going to be able to ‘change’ the Church, but Jesus can and will –

I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Jesus Christ

[Listen to a Podcast of this study by clicking this link.]

Next Time

The days of ‘denominations’ and separation in the Church are numbered. I’ll share my thoughts about that in the next part of our special series, Order in the Court of the King!

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Order in the Court of the King! (Denominations – Why?)