DENOMINATIONALISM AND NEW TESTAMENT UNITY. Denominationalism and New Testament Unity

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1 DENOMINATIONALISM AND NEW TESTAMENT UNITY Denominationalism and New Testament Unity 1. As the Jerusalem church is a model to be followed in worship, so it is also in its display of unity: And the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul" (Acts 4:32). Such harmony was not a mere accident, but rather an answer to Christ's prayer that all His disciples might "be one" (John 17:21-23). 2. It was never Christ's intention that there should be many churches. As a matter of fact, the New Testament recognizes only ONE. I will build my church", Jesus said. Years later, as the church spread all over the world, Paul could write the Ephesians and exhort them to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" because there is only "one Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians 4:3-6). In the same vein, Paul told the Corinthians that there is "one body" (1 Cor. 12:12-13, 20), which is the church (Eph. 1:22-23). 3. Possibly the closest we can come to finding denominationalism in the Bible is I Cor. 1:10-13, which will be discussed below. 4. God does not intend for man to change one single thing originally taught by the apostles But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:8) 5. Many of you may say: What s wrong in a name? Well what s wrong is that nobody calls their children Judas, Jezebel, or Satan do they? Yes! There is something wrong in a name. Names show honor, identify ownership, promote unity (or division), recognize leadership, signify submission, denote doctrine, and demonstrate loyalty. If these are important, then names are also important. Division as defined in the Bible 1. Divisions: σχίσμα (schisma) - a division, dissension 2. It may be said that denominationalism is the dividing up of believers in Christ into religious parties. Each has its own human name, creed, organization, and terms of membership. Each must remain distinct one from the other in order to survive. Each one considers itself to be right, no matter how tolerant of others it may be. 3. Any church established since the first century is of human origin and of human wisdom. They are denominations because they teach differently from the original church. It is exactly in this way that one may identify a denomination. Below are some errors practiced in denominations: DENOMINATIONAL ERROR BIBLE TRUTH 1.Wearing Human Title, (D.R.C., Baptist, 1. Christians (Acs 11:26); Church of Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, etc.). Christ/God (Rom. 16:16; Eph. 5:23-24); Col. 3:17 2. Infant Baptism, sprinkling, etc. 2. Believer Immersion Mark 16:16; Romans 6:4 3. Instrumental Music (Piano, Organ, etc.) 3. Singing Only Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16 4. Sabbath (Saturday) Worship 4. First Day (Sunday) Worship Acts 20:7; I Cor. 16:1,2 5. Clergy Titles & Dress Reverend, Pastor, Father ; Robes, Collars 5. No Clergy; All Christians as Priests Matthew 23:5-12; I Peter 2:5 6. Taking collections any part of the week, 6. Giving according to prosperity on raising funds for God s work and imposing one Sundays (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 8:9) tenth 1

2 Denominationalism is Unscriptural 1. Unscriptural means that denominations are unknown to the New Testament arrangement. 2. Instead of many churches, only ONE is spoken of. Jesus said: 1 will build my church (notice the singular use of the term church ) - Matt. 16:18. Paul makes this clear when he says: But now indeed there are many members, yet one body (1 Cor. 12:20). 3. Eph. 1:1-6 To the one church in the city of Ephesus, Paul made an impassioned plea exhorting them to a. keep the unity of the Spirit In the bond of peace b. There is body and Spirit, just as you were called in hope of your calling; 5 Lord, faith, baptism; 6 God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. c. According to the Bible, how many denominations existed in the first century? The church of Christ was under the authority of God, and throughout the world Christians all practiced the same things, believed the same things, and worshipped the same way. One is challenged to find one denomination mentioned in the Bible! Denominationalism is anti-scriptural 1. Paul delivered a scathing rebuke to disciples at Corinth when division threatened 1 Cor. 3: Possibly the closest we can come to finding denominationalism in the Bible is I Cor. 1:10-13, where religious division is scathingly rebuked (V13 the death blow to denominations). To the parties within the Corinthian church, Paul asks: "Is Christ divided? Was-Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" Should Christ s disciples: 1. Be divided. Y N 2. Wear people s names. Y N 3. Follow men (even great ones like Paul or Peter) Y N ORIGINS OF DENOMINATIONS 1. The Bible explicitly states, For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11). 2. The Church that Jesus Christ established began on the Day of Pentecost, about 50 days after His resurrection, and uses the word of God (the Bible) as it s only inspired canon of authority (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Any other form is a digression and sin. Every man-made denomination is condemned (Read 1 Cor. 1:10-13.) 3. Below is a list of some of the many man-made denominations who generally use the Bible as well as creed books in establishing their doctrine. INSTITUTION PLACE DATE* FOUNDER Roman Catholic Rome, Italy 606 Group Greek Orthodox Church Greece 1053 Group Moravian Church Kunwald, Bohemia 1457 Group Mennonite Church Zurich, Switzerland 1525 Group Lutheran Church Augsburg, Germany 1530 Martin Luther Church of England England 1535 King Henry VIII Presbyterian Church Switzerland 1535 John Calvin Dutch Reformed Church Holland 1560 Group Baptist Church London, England 1607 John Smyth 2

3 American Baptist Providence, RI Roger Williams Quakers England 1650 George Fox Congregational Church Massachusetts 1684 Group Unitarians Poland 16 th. C. Faustus, Socinus,etc. Brethren/Dunkards Scwarzenau, Germany 1708 Hochmann & Mack Methodist Church London, England 1729 John Wesley Primitive Baptist North Carolina 1765 Group Universalist New Jersey 1770 John Murray Freewill Baptist New Durham,NC Benjamin Randall Church of New Jerusalem (Swedenborgianism) London 1788 Swedenborg Evangelical Church Pennsylvania 1803 Jacob Albright Cumberland Presbyterian Dickson County, TN Group Brethren in Christ United States 1820 Group Plymouth Brethren Dublin, Ireland 1829 Group Catholic Apostolic Church England 1830 Group Mormon Church Seneca, NY Joseph Smith Adventist Massachusetts 1831 William Miller Christadelphians United States 1844 John Thomas, MD. Seventh Day Adventism Massachusetts 1846 Ellen G. White Spiritualist Church United States 1848 Andrew J. Davis Mormon Church Reorganized Wisconsin 1852 Joseph Smith II Christian Church Midway, KY 1859 Group New Apostolic Church Hamburg, Germany 1862 Pruess Salvation Army London, England 1865 William Booth Methodist Episcopal Baltimore, MD Group Jehovah s Witnesses Pennsylvania 1874 Charles T. Russell Theosophical Society New York City 1875 Helena Blavatsky Christian Science Boston, MA Mary Baker Eddy Church of God United States 1880 D. S. Warner Church of God Monroe County, TN Group Church of the Living God Wrightsville, AR William Christian Nazarene Church Los Angeles, CA P. F. Bresee Pilgrim Holiness Church Cincinnati, OH Group Pentecostal Holiness Anderson, SC Group Apostolic Faith Mission United States 1900 Group Independent Holiness Van Alstyne, TX 1900 C. B. Jernigan House of David Michigan 1903 Group Holiness Church Chicago, Il Howard Hoople Assembly of God Hot Springs, AR Group Church of God, Hol. Atlanta, GA K. H. Burrus Foursquare Gospel Los Angeles, CA Aimee S. McPherson Evangelical and Reformed Cleveland, OH Group Full Gospel Church Goldsboro, NC 1935 R. H. Askew *approximate dates. CONCLUSION 1. The Roman Catholic Church did not just form itself as a denomination in the 600 s. The ancient church gradually perverted various teachings and gradually gave more and more power to the bishop of Rome. Papal power reached greater heights as time went on. The Roman Catholic Church began historically to demonstrate that it was nothing more than a political organization, who attempted to rule the world by the sword. 3

4 2. The Reformation that stemmed from Europe and Britain was generally geared toward reforming the Roman Catholic Church rather than going back to the Bible. 3. Later, as seen above, men/groups especially from the USA and other parts of the world started and continue to start numerous churches based on doctrines they have devised through selfclaimed revelations and privately interpreted Scriptures, both of which, are condemned in the Scriptures (see Deut. 4:2; Prov. 30:6; Gal. 1:8; Rev. 22:18-19 and 2 Peter 1:20). The responsibility is clearly yours: to ensure that you are in a right relationship with God, in the church of His Son Jesus Christ and worshipping according to God s word. Words from Famous Theologians 1. Charles Spurgeon: I say of the Baptist name, let it perish, but let Christ's name last forever. I look forward with pleasure, to the day when there will not be a Baptist living. I hope they will soon be gone...i hope the Baptist name will soon perish; but let Christ's name endure forever. Spurgeon Memorial Library, Vol. I, p Martin Luther: I pray you to leave my name alone, and call not yourselves Lutherans, but Christians. Who is Luther? My doctrine is not mine. I have not been crucified for anyone. St. Paul would not let any call themselves after Paul, nor of Peter, but of Christ. How then, does it befit me, a miserable bag of dust and ashes, to give my name to the children of God? Cease, my dear friends, to cling to these party names and distinctions: away with all; and let us call ourselves only Christians after Him from whom our doctrine comes. The Life of Luther, Stork, p John Wesley: Would to God that all party names, and unscriptural phrases and forms which have divided the Christian world, were forgot that the very name [Methodist] might never be mentioned more, but be buried in eternal oblivion. Universal Knowledge, Vol. 9, pg The inspired one comes from apostle Paul who was called directly by Christ: Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, I am of Paul, or I am of Apollos, or I am of Cephas, or I am of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Cor. 1:10-13). The Remedy for Denominationalism 1. If people today follow only the apostles teaching we will be united as those early Christians were. Because men have followed the teachings of men, rather than the apostles, denominationalism has resulted. For example: The Lutheran Church (Augsburg, Germany 1530) follows the teachings of Martin Luther, the Baptist Church (London, England 1607) - John Smyth, Jehovah s Witnesses (Pennsylvania 1874) - Charles T. Russell, Full Gospel Church - (Goldsboro, NC 1935) R. H. Askew, etc. 2. The amazing unity of the early church came about because "they Acts 2: The apostles were guided by the..in their teaching, as promised by Christ (John 14:25-26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15). This was confirmed by Paul (Gal.1:11-12). 4. While creeds and doctrines of human councils always produce strife and division, God's 4

5 Word provides a basis of true fellowship: " But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John l:7). The End of Denominationalism 1. On an occasion when the Pharisees were opposing the Word of God, Jesus said: Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch. (Matt. 15:13-14). And so it shall be with denominationalism. a. Religious division and denominationalism is a device of man, originating in the mind of man rather than the mind of God. b. It opposes the will of God and Christ that His disciples should all be one. c. Its doctrines are contrary to Bible doctrine. d. It does not teach God s way of salvation. e. As God has done with every erroneous system, so He shall do with denominationalism: It will be uprooted! 2. Matt. 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? 23 And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! To be religious is not enough. We must do the will of our Father in heaven if we expect salvation. It makes a tremendous difference what one believes and practices in religion. We must be religiously right. What about you? Questions TRUE OR FALSE 1. T F Christ prayed that His disciples would all be one. 2. T F Paul said there is only one body. 3. T F According to Ephesians 4:5, those in the one body would have many faiths. 4. T F Paul approved the divisions in the church at Corinth. 5. T F The creeds and doctrines of men produce religious unity. 5