The Fatal Flaw In Denominationalism Could belonging to a denomination undermine your effectiveness for the Kingdom of God? The short answer is most definitely yes, and in a few moments, I will share with you the fatal flaw which dooms every denomination if they re not careful. BTW, this doesn t just apply to formal denominations but any informal association or fellowship of churches. Full disclosure: after becoming born again, I never belonged to a denomination. I came to Christ through a coffee house ministry that grew into a church and ultimately into an association of churches, but by definition, I have always been nondenominational. There are several unrelated reasons for this, and if you d like, I share in detail about this in my first book. To clarify, I am not anti-denominational. It is just not the way God led me personally. Belonging to a denomination has some great benefits. First, you gain access to resources. Belonging to a denomination gives you access to regional or national conferences, financial benefits such as a regular paycheck, medical insurance, a retirement plan and in some cases, lowcost loans for building projects. You also have a certain degree of oversight that helps to ensure continuity if the pastor is injured, passes away or experiences some dramatic moral failure. The denomination is there to minimize the damage to an individual church in the event of a crisis. Ideally, a denomination creates a fellowship of like-minded leaders who potentially care for each other, though that is not always the case. Denominations make it easier to start new churches and train new leaders, as many of them have seminaries or Bible schools designed to prepare new leaders. In exchange, belonging to a denomination typically requires a financial commitment of some kind as a certain percentage of the yearly offerings
goes to headquarters to provide all these benefits. Depending on the organization, there are other requirements, but that is not the focus today. What I am about to share also applies to many non-denominational churches that nevertheless are associated with some fellowship. Some nondenominational churches link together for mutual benefit and may or may not gain access to some of the benefits of the more organized denomination. In other cases, some nondenominational churches grow to the point of planting satellite churches in several cities and function as their minidenomination in no small degree. They also have a potentially fatal flaw that can undermine their effectiveness in ministry, and it is high time I reveal that to you now. The fatal flaw in all denominations and all associations formal or informal is arrogance. Wow, that was a little too easy. Big build up and no big deal. Well, hear me out. Denominations form as a response hopefully to any move of the Holy Spirit. Revival brings many people into the kingdom of God, and this same move impacts people in different cities, states, and nations. If you look at Martin Luther, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Wesley, or Azuza Street revival, denominations formed in response to a genuine move of God. More recently, meaning in the past 50 years, Calvary Chapel, Vineyard, and others created churches with a specific culture. If I go to a Vineyard church in Paducah Kentucky, I do not anticipate that anyone will be dressed in a suit and tie singing from a hymnal. Like McDonald's, you know that if you attend a local expression of that denomination, certain attributes will always be constant. There is absolute security in that. The inherent weakness in all associations and denominations as I mentioned a moment ago is arrogance. Arrogance is not a certainty, but a danger. What do I mean?
If you draw all your teaching, fellowship, resources, ideas, and even your mannerisms from one place, your world-view is governed by the denomination instead of by Christ. You look, act and react like other members of that denomination, rather than Christ. Now I realize that this doesn t seem significant yet, but I promise you that it will if you re patient. In general, I can tell what denomination any minister belongs to within about 60 seconds. As I said, I am a nondenominational pastor, and that may give me some advantage here. Just by looking at the hairstyle, manner of dress, way of speaking or praying, and general attitude, I can tell what denomination you call home. Why is that? You manifest specific characteristics that are affected by those you identify with. Once again, nothing intrinsically evil about that except when your standard, your way, your point of view trumps everyone else. Therein lies the arrogance. If you have followed this podcast, you have heard me say from time to time that your church is not the only game in town. If God genuinely called you, and I assume He did, then you are automatically a part of what He is doing in your city or region. It only makes sense that you link up in some way with other born-again pastors and start to fellowship. As simple as this sounds, it is almost nonexistent throughout the world. The typical model is that pastors build their church and ignore all other churches and leaders in their community. I go more into depth about this in episode 101 so that I won t belabor the point. Arrogance makes us believe that our denomination is superior to all others. Pride makes us think that we don t need other pastors or leaders from other expressions of the body of Christ. Ego makes us think that our doctrine or culture or way of doing things surpasses all others. I want to encourage you today to submit yourself to a reality check. If all your friends are members of your denomination, something is wrong. If you only engage in denominationally organized events during the year,
something is wrong. If you look down on other church leaders because of the way they dress, worship and live out their faith, something is wrong. In a word, you are perhaps unknowingly living out the fatal flaw of arrogance. Once again, there are lots of benefits of belonging to a denomination or an association of churches, but if your life is exclusively wrapped up in building your denomination or church rather than the Kingdom of God, you re off track with heaven. God does not view your denomination as superior. Far from it. As leaders, we often preach against the folly of the scribes and Pharisees who opposed Jesus. It is interesting to note that Jesus warned his disciples in Matthew 16:6 to be on guard against receiving the leaven or yeast of the Pharisees. What is that? In a word, arrogance. They believed that their culture, their opinions, their theology, and their lifestyle were the best and only way to serve God. They concluded that their doctrinal point of view surpassed all others. They thought that the only true believers were those associated with them. Imagine their disbelief when Jesus told them that local prostitutes and non-church going tax collectors would get into heaven while they would be excluded. The arrogance exhibited by the scribes and Pharisees invited Jesus strongest punishment in Matthew 23. He identified them as the blind leading the blind. As ministers of the gospel, I implore you to hear what I am saying. I see a lot of arrogance in the Christian community at large and much of it emanates from leaders. Paul instructed Timothy to be an example of humility, love, hospitality, and kindness. I hope you re seeing the distinction of what I am sharing with you today. Denominations, adequately utilized can be a great blessing to any minister. Any association or fellowship of churches can have its benefit but be on guard against arrogance and exclusivity.
Your denomination, whatever it is does not have the full picture of the body of Christ. Some groups would never consciously say this but think they are the one place where the Holy Spirit is most honored. Others think that they are the most doctrinally pure. Still, others are proud of their rules, dress codes or devotion to various traditions. All this is Pharisaical arrogance. You and I need other pastors and leaders in our circle of friends. Iron can t sharpen iron by meeting once a year for a prayer breakfast. That isn t biblical fellowship. During these podcasts, I have repeatedly reminded us that more than 1500 pastors leave the ministry every year. The principal reasons are lack of money, loneliness and family problems. Pastors are lonely people, even though they belong to denominations. How is that possible? Often, we have allowed our institutions to replace genuine relationships and honest dialogue. That needs to change. I Corinthians chapter 12 is not only the first chapter of the New Testament to introduce and discuss spiritual gifts. It is also where Paul lays out how the body of Christ is designed to function. He challenges the Corinthian church who had become arrogant in many of their practices, thinking that their superior knowledge made them better than others. Paul reminds them that knowledge puffs up and love builds up. He speaks about Christ s church by looking at the human body in all of its diversity and function. Feet don t do what hands do. Ears are not eyes etc. Within that discussion, Paul invites these believers to celebrate their differences instead of attacking people who don t conform to their way of thinking. This doesn t merely apply to members of a specific church, but of all the expressions of the body of Christ in a city or region. Our churches are different from each other. Our practices vary. Our emphases differ and so forth. It is high time we stop trying to fix people to be like us and celebrate their different ways of worshipping and serving God.
When we humble ourselves to do that, scriptures tells us in Psalms that the oil of the Holy Spirit begins to flow. Behold how good and how pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity is how the KJV interprets Psalm 133. It is like precious oil, a symbol of the Holy Spirit. I believe that one reason many pastors are frustrated in ministry irrespective of the result is this unhealthy practice to only fellowship with those in your denomination or affiliation. As I said earlier, if you re careful, it makes you a very arrogant fellow. God does not give grace to the arrogant. Only to the humble. Consider what I say today and pray about your relationships with other spiritual leaders in your town, city or region. If it is all about you, Satan has got you out on a branch, and he is holding the saw. Thank you once again for listening in. As always, I end with a quote especially for you. This one is from business leader Harvey MacKay who said: By my count, more business leaders have failed and derailed because of arrogance than any other character flaw.