If Denominationalism Is Okay …( Kyle Campbell)

If Denominationalism Is Okay …

… then they exist without the authority of Jesus

A lot of people say that denominationalism is good because you can look for a church that suits you -- one that you connect with. However, we will see over the course of several articles that denominationalism is not what the Lord intended to build. There are different ways of examining this, but the way which we will explore will show the results if denominationalism is okay.

Denominationalism has to exist without the authority of Christ. Before He ascended to heaven, He declared that He had been given all authority (Matthew 28:18). Ephesians 1:22-23 says, “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” That authority was used to proclaim the gospel to us. Hebrews 1:1-2 says, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds …”
If we cannot find denominations in the Bible, such as Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopalian, etc., then we know that they must exist without the authority of Jesus. In fact, there is no way that denominationalism can exist without undermining the authority of Christ, for He said that He was only going to build one church! A better alternative would be to go back to the Bible and follow it alone. This is our desire and we would love the opportunity to show you what the Bible teaches about Christ and His church.


If Denominationalism Is Okay …

… then they violate Christ’s teachings on unity

A lot of people say that denominationalism is good because you can look for a church that suits you -- one that you connect with. However, denominationalism is an affront to the biblical concept of unity.

Jesus wants unity. He prayed, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20-22). A lot of people have postulated that denominations are merely acceptable parts of the larger “Christian church.” But Paul said, “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” (1 Corinthians 3:3-4). Carnality in this context is a failure to grasp the teachings of Christian unity (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:4-6).
Furthermore, denominationalism is against common sense, for many great “Reformation leaders” have decried denominationalism, knowing it be wrong. Paul said again, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33). Denominationalism, because it does not promote unity, of necessity promotes confusion! The most logical approach is to go back to the Bible and follow it. This is our desire and we would love the opportunity to show you what the Bible teaches about true unity.


If Denominationalism Is Okay …

… then they deny that God’s word is sufficient

A lot of people say that denominationalism is good because you can look for a church that suits you -- one that you connect with. However, the very existence of denominationalism asserts that the Bible is insufficient for our salvation.

If denominationalism is true, then all of the additions of denominations are necessary. However, this offhandedly argues that the Bible is insufficient, for we cannot find the additions of denominationalism in the Bible! The Bible plainly says that it is sufficient. Paul wrote, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16–17) We MUST respect the sufficiency of God’s word (1 Peter 4:11). The apostle John added,“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (2 John 9-11). Make no mistake: if your denomination puts something in its structure that is not in the Bible, you do not have God! Nothing could be more serious!
The most logical approach is to go back to the Bible and follow it. This is our desire and we would love the opportunity to show you what the Bible teaches about the true sufficiency of the scriptures.


If Denominationalism Is Okay …

… then they equate God’s ways and man’s ways

A lot of people say that denominationalism is good because you can look for a church that suits you -- one that you connect with. However, the existence of denominationalism puts the ways of man on the same level as the ways of God.

When denominations change God’s word, they are in effect saying that they know how to organize the church better than God. Over the centuries, every identifying mark of the Lord’s church has been changed by denominations. The prophet Isaiah, speaking the word of the Lord, said, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8–9). When Naaman thought he knew more than Elisha the prophet, he said, “Behold, I thought” (2 Kings 5:11). Paul expressed the same sentiment when he said, “I myself thought” (Acts 26:9). Who knows better than God regarding topics like salvation in Christ, the leadership of the church, the role of women, socializing the gospel, etc.? Proverbs 16:25 says, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” For all of our friends in denominations who think that they are fine changing the church, you need to realize the seriousness of your situation!
The most logical approach is to go back to the Bible and follow it. This is our desire and we would love the opportunity to show you what the Bible teaches about respecting God’s ways and the authority inherent within the Bible.


If Denominationalism Is Okay …

… then they cheapen the price of the Lord’s church

A lot of people say that denominationalism is good because you can look for a church that suits you -- one that you connect with. However, we are going to see that the existence of denominationalism cheapens the price of the Lord’s church.

Jesus promised to build the church in Matthew 16:18 and it was established in Acts 2:38, 41, 47. However, He not only built the church, but it was “… purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). Ephesians 5:23 furthermore says that Christ is “the saviour of the body.” He gave Himself for the church (Ephesians 5:25). These facts were preached in the first century (Acts 8:5, 12; 14:22-23; 28:23, 31). You simply cannot separate Christ from the church. He is the head of it (Ephesians 1:22-23). These few facts help us to see what denominationalism does to the church. Something is valuable when there is very little of it. Said another way, scarcity denotes importance. Denominations say that literally thousands of different “faiths” or churches can rightly be called the Lord’s church. However, this cheapens the church because even if someone were honestly looking and found the church of the New Testament, they are apt to think, “It’s just one among many.” The church is precious and steadfastly holding to the concept of the one true church elevates it to its proper place before men.
The best approach is to go back to the Bible and follow it. This is our desire and we would love the opportunity to show you what the Bible teaches about the supreme value of the Lord’s church and what membership in it truly means.


If Denominationalism Is Okay …

… then it makes obeying the gospel meaningless

A lot of people say that denominationalism is good because you can look for a church that suits you -- one that you connect with. However, we are going to see that the existence of denominationalism makes obeying the gospel meaningless.

Obeying the gospel puts one into a special relationship. The Bible is very clear, despite what many teach in denominations, that the redeemed are added to His kingdom after they are washed in the blood of Jesus Christ. Paul taught that we are translated into the kingdom. Colossians 1:13-14 says, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” John also added his testimony. He wrote, “I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:9). This washing occurs at baptism (Mark 16:16; Hebrews 10:22). The Bible says that there is only body (1 Corinthians 12:13), but being translated into one body means nothing if there are many bodies. Therefore, the existence of denominations makes obeying the gospel meaningless.
The best approach is to go back to the Bible and follow it. People are being lost because they are following the teachings of denominationalism. This is our desire and we would love the opportunity to show you what the Bible teaches about the supreme value of the Lord’s church and the true meaning of obeying the gospel.
-- Kyle Campbell