What Denomination Are You?
by Mark Grant
Through the years while trying to live a Christian life,
I have been associated with people who recognize that I am a Christian and ask the
question: “What Denomination are you?” While I believe those who ask this question
certainly mean well, I do not think they really know much about what the scriptures
teach concerning the unity and oneness of the Lord’s church. Have you ever considered
the question, “Is denominationalism even taught in the word of God?” It is my sincere
hope that this article may offer encouragement and guidance in the study of God’s
word on the matter of denominationalism to those who are truly seeking the truth.
What Is A Denomination?
A “denomination” is defined by Webster’s dictionary
as, “1. The act of denominating 2: A name, designation, esp.: a general name for
a category 3: a religious organization uniting in a single legal and administrative
body a number of local congregations 4: a value or size of a series of values or
sizes (as of money)” (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary). While “denomination”
has multiple meanings most people associate the meaning of the word to be a class,
kind, or type designated by a specific name. So to understand how the word “
denomination”
is used today in our modern religious world, we find the belief that the Lord’s
church is divided into hundreds of different religious organizations, all existing
separate and apart from each other, possessing distinctive names, doctrines, and
practices, and each claming to be faithfully following Jesus Christ. Is this what
Jesus intended in the very beginning or has man totally ignored what is taught in
the gospels of Jesus Christ.
How Many Churches Did Jesus Build?
In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said, “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.” (NKJV). Notice that Jesus said, “I
will build My church” which shows that Jesus is the builder and that
he intended to build only one church. Jesus did not say I will build My churches.
The word “church” comes from the Greek word “ekklasia” which
means, a calling out, or assembly.” Thus, “My church” is more than
just an audience. It is an assembly or a group of people who have been called out
of the world by the gospel of Christ. All who have been called out of the world
of sin constitute His church. This is why the church of our Lord Jesus Christ is
referred to as one body. In Ephesians 4:4 it reads, “There is one body
and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling”
The church of Christ is the whole, the complete one body of Christ, consisting of
all who have been saved by the redeeming blood of Christ. In no sense could this
be true of denominationalism. The word “denominationalism” itself suggests a fraction
or part of something! Therefore, the church of Jesus Christ is not a denomination.
So why be a part of some religious organization of human origin when Christ built
His Church and it is of divine origin? Why not choose to be a member of the Lord’s
church, the church that Jesus pledged to die and shed His blood for?
Jesus Prayed For Unity
In John 17:20, 21, we find recorded the important prayer
of Jesus that he offers to the heavenly Father concerning all who would believe
in Jesus that they all would be one: “I do not pray for these alone, but also
for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as
You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the
world may believe that You sent Me.” Jesus does not leave us confused
as to the meaning of the oneness or unity he desires of His followers. It is to
be the same as the relationship between the Father and Son. Jesus said, “that
they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may
be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:21).
In what sense are the Father and Son one? Does the Father
teach something which is in opposition to the teaching of the Son? Did the practice
of the Son contradict in any way the will of the Father? Are the intent, purpose,
and plan of the Father different from those that were set forth by the Son? Note
carefully the expressions of Jesus in the following passages: “Then Jesus answered
and said to them, Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself,
but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like
manner” (John 5:19), “Then Jesus said to them, When you lift up the Son
of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as
My Father taught Me, I speak these things” (John 8:28), “For I have not
spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I
should say and what I should speak” (John 12:49), “Do you not believe
that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do
not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works”
(John 14:10). From these scriptures we learn that the relationship of the Father
and Son is that of perfect unity or oneness. They are exactly in agreement as to
teaching, practice, plan, intent, and purpose; no contradictions whatever exist
between the two. This is the perfect standard of unity Jesus desired for His disciples.
Is the unity of the Father and Son characteristic of
denominationalism? Not at all! Denominations are many different religious groups,
each teaching different religious doctrines, each one being separate and apart from
others. When a denominational church is distinguished from all other denominations
by its peculiar doctrine, practice, plan, intent, and purpose; then they exist in
direct opposition to the prayer of Jesus for unity.
Is it any wonder why people today question the divinity
of Jesus when hundreds of different denominations exist all of which contradict
the very character of Jesus. It was Jesus who prayed, “…that they also may be
one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:21).
Consistency demands that one be accepted and the other rejected. Those who sincerely
respect the word of God will reject denominationalism and accept the prayer of Jesus
for the unity of all who believe and follow Jesus.
What about John 15
Do you truly believe that all of the denominations that
exist today also existed in the New Testament? Does anyone really believe that Jesus
came to establish all these denominations, or that He created them? Do you truly
believe that the apostles were members of any denomination, or that any denomination
even existed in the time of Jesus and the apostles? However, to justify the presence
of denominations today, people sometimes use John 15:5,6 where Jesus says: "I
am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much
fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is
cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the
fire, and they are burned.” Jesus’ own words show that He does not speak
of a tree composed of branches that are themselves denominational, for the branches
He speaks of are “men” or followers of Christ. The fruitful branches are true believers
who by their living union with Christ produce much fruit. “He who abides in Me,
and I in him, bears much fruit…” But those who become unproductive will
be separated from the vine and burned. “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is
cast out as a branch and is withered…” So the body of Christ is not
composed of denominations but simply followers of Christ who produce much fruit
or become unproductive.
Human Or Divine?
Is the church you belong to of human origin or divine
origin? Any religious body having begun since Christ’s church was established has
originated at the wrong place, by the wrong person, at the wrong time. Soon after
Jesus declared, “I will build My church,” the Lord’s church began
in the city of Jerusalem, the record of which is found in the second chapter of
Acts. “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about
three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles'
doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came
upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now
all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions
and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 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 2:41-47). Here we have the earliest record of the Lord’s church. And those
who obeyed “continued steadfastly in the apostle’ doctrine and fellowship,
all who believed were together and had all things in common, and
continuing daily with one accord in the temple.” Does this sound like
denominationalism or just the opposite? It must be concluded that the church of
Christ is not a denomination of human origin. It is a divine institution of divine
origin, divinely identified by name, doctrine and practice, with a God-given mission
in the world to preach a divine doctrine. “Only let your conduct be worthy of
the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear
of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together
for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27). This is why Jesus prayed
for unity for all of His followers and not to be divided. This is the reason we
ought to avoid man-made religion that consists of names, doctrines, institutions,
organizations, and practices that come from man, not God. This is why Jesus said,
in Matt. 15:8-9, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me
with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching
as doctrines the commandments of men.”
Final Plea
Dear reader, are you a member of a denomination? Then
make the decision to become a member of the Lord’s church by obeying the gospel
of Jesus Christ. Do you believe that Jesus is God’s Son, the only begotten of the
heavenly Father (John 8:24). If so, will you not repent of your sins (Acts 17:30),
confess the name of the Saviour (Rom. 10:10), and be baptized for the remission
of sins (Acts 2:38)? By doing so, the Lord will add you to His church (Acts 2:47),
and you will not have “joined any denomination.” This is the way of true unity.
The unity that Jesus Christ prayed for so long ago can still be practiced today
when we submit to His authority. Unless, of course, you have no desire to depart
from the practice of division by remaining a member of a denomination that is of
human origin. If this is the case then I would like to ask you one question, “What
denomination are you?”