Denominations: We Have Strayed From The Original Church
We Christians love our denominations. We are proud that we are Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian or whatever denomination we claim. Unfortunately, denominations have become a distraction for the body of Christ.
Denominations should serve as a secondary label, not as a primary identity.
First, a caveat: there are primary issues and secondary issues in the Bible. Any biblical church should divide itself from a false church incorrect on primary doctrine and preaching a false gospel, but the denominational split between biblical churches on secondary issues is the topic of this discussion.
These secondary issues have become a stumbling block for the church.
The very idea of a typical denominational church is that believers congregate first on specific theological points rather than simply their shared identity in Christ. Verse after verse, the Bible stresses the importance of unity among Christians. Denominations, by their very nature, divide the church.
In John 17:20-21, Jesus prays to the Father saying, “ … for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
The body of Christ should be unified first, then theological specifics can be discussed.
Of course, theological splits will arise. When churches get to the “meat” of Scripture, there will be debates, and rightly so, on details that tend to divide churches into denominations. Christians need to remember the actual importance of these secondary issues and not overblow them.
I am of the Calvinist sort, yet I attend a Free Will Baptist church that I deeply love. I don’t let secondary doctrine overcome the fact that this church strongly preaches the gospel and serves the surrounding community. Disagreement over a topic such as predestination is not a reason to leave a solid church.
Romans 14 tells us not to quarrel or be judgmental about secondary issues. Rather, everyone will give an account to God on what they did for the Lord. Church is about a community of believers focused on the Lord, not an isolation of specific doctrinal teaching.
Once we are in a denomination, we tend to find comfort in its style, specific theological teachings, rules and cultural norms. We start to find our identify in our denomination rather than in Christ.
There are a variety of teachings on Scripture as believers try to discern the deep theological aspects of the Bible. Believers are to first discern with the Holy Spirit what is scripturally true. 1 Corinthians 2 says the things of God are spiritually discerned and that we are to judge all things through the mind of Christ we have been given.
Churches should not be echo chambers of a theological catechism. Believers should offer their interpretations of secondary issues to further discern the things of God. Christians have the Holy Spirit and therefore should be able to have God-pleasing discussion on these topics.
Bias and echo chambers are negative toward debate, and believers can avoid both by congregating with other believers that may have differences on secondary issues but unite on the core tenets of Christianity.
This is not to say that nondenominational churches have or have not hit the nail on the head, but that a church should start with a congregation of believers united under their shared trust in Jesus Christ.
Browder is an opinion writer.
The word denominations mean separate or divide anyway so that word can’t be for God’s Church because he’s about oneness also if you look at the word you will see his enemy’s name in it demon he would not give us a word with that word in it for his church and most pastors don’t know what the word means as well or members of the church so I like what you saying because it is biblical and this is one word that is not mentioned in the Bible so thank you and God bless you
Agree with premise that denomination divides
But even saying you are calvinist is a divide..a non biblical divide..the only message any group should come together about is the message of the cross..focus on the blood that alone makes a way fir salvation and sanctification
Mat:16:18
18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Church of this verse is singular. It is up to all of us to receive from God what our individual gifts are, to further develop those gifts and then use those gifts for the betterment of the body of Christ.
Two days churches, unfortunately follow the business model at the expense of a unity, I like the discussion that follows a singular purpose of Jesus Christ. Thank you for this article.
oops… Today’s church, not Two days..lol
Please note that Denomination is a Man made thing in which I believe that Christ is the center as stated in the Bible. Usually when Man becomes a part of things they normally go aray (BAD) in My belief when Man puts His hand on things they get very twisted & confusing. Kinda like messing with Mother Nature when they get their hands on it gets thrown a BUNCH of bad things in the end.
I have sought out a denomination of Christian teaching that adheres to the bones of scripture. To this day, I have not found one, sadly it may not exist.
It is my understanding, according to my interpretation of the Holy Bible, yes I’ve read it, the whole thing twice, any books multiple times.
The Baptist focus on the New Testament only – wrong.
The Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodist all belong to Satan now, as they idolize the LGBTQXYZ+ dogma
The Catholics are idolatrous, they pray you saints & Mary, the blessed virgin- all wrong. Mary surely is blessed & has a high rank in God’s kingdom, but she is not a deity.
Mormons, totally wrong.
The Seventh Day Adventists are close, but no cigar.
Messianic Judism may have the closets version.
I a follower of Christ, a wretch unworthy to see His sandals am lost in this world. Jesus’s words ring true; “in those days there shall be a great falling away, many shall lose faith.
This is a so sad, but it was written & it is true.