<< Previous | Index | Next >>"WHY I BELIEVE" In Undenominational Christianity INTRODUCTION 1. In our previous study, we talked about the church... a. Of which Jesus spoke in Mt 16:18 b. That grand company of people made up of those who are saved c. Loved by Christ, and highly esteemed in the Scriptures 2. Most professing Christians would agree with what was described in that study... a. That the church "universal" is the body of Christ, made up of the saved b. That the church "local" refers to saved people in a geographical area who work and worship together as a local congregation 3. Yet many today see no harm in presenting an altered picture of the church to the world... a. A picture in which local churches are divided into various denominations b. Where people are not simply Christians, but Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, etc. [I am persuaded that such is wrong, and firmly believe in undenominational Christianity. What is that, you ask? And why is denominationalism wrong? First allow me to define our terms...] I. DENOMINATIONALISM DEFINED A. WHAT IS A DENOMINATION...? 1. "A large group of religious congregations united under a common faith and name and organized under a single administrative and legal hierarchy." - The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language 2. "A religious organization uniting in a single legal and administrative body a number of local congregations." - Webster's Dictionary 3. Simply put, a denomination is a group of congregations joined together under some governing body a. The number of congregations can be as few as two or more b. The governing body might be a synod, presbytery, convention, another church, or even an individual c. Through their tie to a governing body above the local congregation, by definition they are "denominated" from all other congregations that do not submit to the same authority 4. Some examples: a. The Roman Catholic Church is a denomination made up of those churches that submit to the pope in Rome b. The Eastern Orthodox Church is a denomination made up of those churches that submit to the patriarch of Constantinople c. The Anglican Church of England is a denomination made up of those churches that submit to the archbishop of Cantebury d. The Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) is made up of those churches that submit to the synod in Missouri e. These are just a few of the thousands of different denominations that now exist! B. WHAT IS DENOMINATIONALISM...? 1. According to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, it is: a. "The tendency to separate into religious denominations" b. "Advocacy of separation into religious denominations" c. "Strict adherence to a denomination; sectarianism" 2. Again, Webster's Dictionary defines it as: a. "Devotion to denominational principles or interests" b. "Narrow emphasizing of denominational differences: SECTARIANISM" 3. For the purpose in this study, I also apply the term to any approval of the denominational division which exists today a. I concede that many people in denominations today are not all that devoted to their denominational principles or interests b. But by membership in a denomination they are by implication advocating separation into religious denominations [Is denominationalism really that bad? Am I suggesting that one cannot serve Jesus faithfully while participating in such religious division? Yes! Here is why I believe denominationalism is wrong...] II. DENOMINATIONALISM DECRIED A. IT IS UNSCRIPTURAL... 1. That is, it is without Scriptural support a. There is no basis in the Bible for local churches being divided up into various denominational bodies b. There is no denomination that can go to the Bible and say, "See that passage? There is our church (denomination)!" 2. In the New Testament... a. Local congregations were independent, self-governing b. Church organization was limited to within the local congregation, with elders (also known as pastors, bishops, overseers, presbyters) appointed to oversee only the congregation of which they were members - cf. Ac 20:17,28; 1Pe 5:1-2 3. The only authority above the local church was Christ and His apostles... a. Once the church began, apostles were not replaced after they died b. But through the Word of God, the authority of Christ and His apostles continues 4. Individuals, synods, conferences, etc., that presume to usurp authority over local congregations today do so without Scriptural authority B. IT IS ANTI-SCRIPTURAL... 1. Not only is it without scriptural support, it is contrary to what the Bible teaches 2. It is contrary to the prayer of Jesus for unity among His believers - Jn 17:20-23 3. It is condemned by Paul in his epistle to the church at Corinth a. There are to be no divisions among believers - 1Co 1:10-13 b. Sectarianism is a sign of carnality - 1Co 3:3-4 4. It opposes the efforts of Christ on the cross! - Ep 2:14-16 a. Jesus died to break down the wall of division b. Jesus died to reconcile man to God in one body c. Just as sinning works against the efforts of Christ on the cross (for He also died to put away sin), so it is with denominational division! C. IT IS HARMFUL TO THE CAUSE OF CHRIST... 1. Jesus knew that unity among His disciples would be "the final apologetic" (Shaeffer) a. Cf. "that the world may believe" - Jn 17:21 b. In view of Jesus' words, we should not be surprised when unbelievers are slow to accept the gospel coming from a divided church 2. Many point to the divided condition of those professing to follow Christ... a. Atheists and agnostics often use religious division as an excuse not to believe in God b. Non-Christian religions (such as Islam, Judaism, etc.) often use denominationalism as a reason not to believe in Christ 3. Denominationalism has also given support and encouragement to the rise of cults a. Mormonism started in reaction to the denominationalism of Joseph Smith's day b. "Jehovah's Witnesses" use religious division to encourage people to follow their strictly-controlled organization (a denomination itself) D. OTHERS WHO VIEWED DENOMINATIONALISM AS WRONG... 1. Martin Luther, the leader of the Reformation Movement: "I ask that men make no reference to my name, and call themselves not Lutherans, but Christians. What is Luther? My doctrine, I am sure, is not mine, nor have I been crucified for any one. St. Paul, in 1 Cor. 3, would not allow Christians to call themselves Pauline or Petrine, but Christian. How then should I, poor, foul carcass that I am, come to have men give to the children of Christ a name derived from my worthless name? No, no, my dear friends; let us abolish all party names, and call ourselves Christians after Him Whose doctrine we have." - Hugh Thomason Kerr, A Compend of Luther's Theology (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1943, p. 135) 2. John Wesley, another great reformation leader, among whose followers are Methodists, Wesleyans, etc.: "Would to God that all party names, and unscriptural phrases and forms which have divided the Christian world, were forgot and that the very name [Methodist] might never be mentioned more, but be buried in eternal oblivion." - Universal Knowledge, A Dictionary and Encyclopedia of Arts, Science, History, Biography, Law, Literature, Religions, Nations, Races, Customs, and Institutions, Vol. 9, Edward A. Pace, Editor (New York: Universal Knowledge Foundation, 1927, p. 540) 3. Charles Spurgeon, one of the greatest Baptist preachers who ever lived: "I look forward with pleasure to the day when there will not be a Baptist living! I hope that the Baptist name will soon perish, but let Christ's name last forever." - Spurgeon Memorial Library, Vol. I., p. 168 CONCLUSION 1. Again, denominationalism is wrong because it is... a. Unscriptural b. Anti-scriptural c. Harmful to the cause of Christ 2. That is why I and many others profess undenominational Christianity... a. Throwing aside the shackles of denominationalism b. Following Jesus Christ in the freedom of gospel liberty that comes from being simply Christians! c. And what may surprise some, doing so while "being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind" - cf. Ph 2:2 3. How is this possible? It begins with two things... a. A strong desire to follow Jesus Christ and His prayer for unity - cf. Jn 17:20-23 b. An understanding of the carnal nature of division, and why denominationalism is wrong - cf. 1Co 3:3-4 If you believe in Jesus and His church, then simply be a Christian, a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, and put away any hint of denominationalism. Find or start a local church that is determined to be nothing more than a church of Christ...! - cf. Ro 16:16<< Previous | Index | Next >>
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