12.13.09
Denominationalism: Diversity or Disunity
For years I have thought that denominations were a curse and a product of Satan. I wanted to finally study the subject and not simply carry about some unfounded idea. Was denominationalism just something I view as evil or was there a basis for my belief?
To begin my study I needed to find the number of denominations that existed: Christian denominations. This has proven to be an impossible task because there is no certifying agency for denominations, therefore a group maybe be considered a denomination in one part of the world and a cult in another, while in some areas it may be consider neither. The best I could find was an estimated number; this was found on Wikipedia. According to their information there are over 38,000 Christian denominations. If you heard what you thought was a sonic boom, it was simply my jaw hitting my desk. I was astounded that what was begun only 2000 years ago had split and re-split so many times.
With my jaw back in its proper place I turned to God’s Word, the Bible; the one authority on Christianity. What does the Bible say about denominations and which is the proper one? Which of the some 38,000 denominations that cover this globe was established by that person that laid the foundation for the Church, and became its head? I am not a Bible scholar and there is much within the pages of the Bible I don’t know but none of my study has brought me to that one denomination sanctioned by the Founder. He never set up an agency that would license franchises of the original.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 3:21 “Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” I may make too much of it but in this verse it does use the word “the” instead of “a” which denotes only one as if there was some choice. According to this verse there is only one church from which the Father can and will receive glory through the Son, Jesus Christ.
In Hebrews 10:25 we are told “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is: but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” We are to come together in a corporate worship for the purpose of exhorting or uplifting and supporting each other. We have a mandate from God to assemble ourselves together and thereby bring honor and glory to the Father through Christ Jesus.
In simple terms a church is those Christians or believers in Jesus Christ that cover together from time to time to refresh and to uplift other members of the assembly. An assembly of Christians: what can we glean from who composes this assembly as to the purpose and work of this group? 1 John 4:11-12 says, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us.” From what John says in this verse the one cementing component of the church is love and not the love we express for our dog, car, or favorite food but the love of God which is made perfect in us. As true Christians we have the Spirit of God living within us and that makes the love of God instrumental in our behavior.
Jesus said in John 17:21-22 “That they 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. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.” Whether you are a Christian in the east, north, south, or west parts of this world we are to be one. Yes, on this earth, we may have a different language, like different foods, or even dress differently when worshiping but we are to be one. We all have that same Spirit of God teaching us, correcting us and praying with and for us. We are all children of God through the shed blood of Jesus and that makes us brother and sister and joint heirs with Jesus. We have a common Father and one who loves us so much he gave an unfathomable sacrifice for us.
Most denominations have been spawned by conflict and confrontation; disunity. This is not a product of the Spirit of God that indwells true believers but the product of the Evil One. God’s Word speaks of the original church as being of one mind as they waited for the coming of the Comforter promised by Jesus. God does not bring discord but unity; God is the originator of organization. God is the grantor of peace and where there is conflict and discord there is no peace. God has the ability to take even something that had a flawed beginning and use it for His honor and glory. Disunity brought about the split or the birth of a new denomination but with the guidance of the Holy Spirit diversity took its place. I remember an old saying from childhood about ‘birds of a feather flock together’. We seem to migrate to that which we are like and shun that which we have a difference with even if there is a basic similarity. I am the type that moves to the more traditional and relaxed form of worship while other may like the more ritual and formal. If we hold to the foundation of our existence then both are acceptable; we are diverse but unified.
When asked what was the greatest of all commandments Jesus answered, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” Our neighbor may be our brother or sister in Christ but because they are diverse from us we have determined they are no longer worthy of our love and we refuse to worship with them. When any denomination or even any church within any denomination determines they are right and only they are recipients of the blessing a leadership of God; they are heading in the wrong direction. God doesn’t even just bless His children but the lost as well; it rains on the just and the unjust. If a group decides that they are much better that the rest of the world and God favors only them, they are ready for destruction since they are guilty of pride. To truly be in the will of God, one must be humble. If your denomination reaches the pinnacles of piousness and refuses to love and fellowship with their brothers and sisters in Christ they are wrong and are following Satan. If, however, you welcome with love and opened arms that person that may outwardly be different than you but nevertheless is a brother or sister then this is the unity of the church founded by the Lord. There are three groups of people we as Christians are to love; first we are to love the brethren; these are our fellow Christians. Second we are to love our enemies; the scope of those that may be our enemies is so wide that it is impossible to list all. We are to love our neighbors. These three groups may overlap at times and to me are all inclusive. I believe all of mankind falls in one of these three categories. As Christians we have the love of God within us and we are to show that love as He does to all. I didn’t say we are to love everything everyone may do but the person is to be the target of our love.
I can be a rather simple person at times and as I watch people and their relationships with others I am amazed. It has entered my mind on numerous occasions that when the Rapture comes there is going to have to be a whole lot of changing going on from earth to heaven. We can’t seem to get along here and I wonder how we think we will there.
Remember what Ephesians 4:5-6 says “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and in you all.” I don’t really care what name you hang over the door of the place where you gather to worship it is only important what name is in your heart and on your lips. Jesus told the nucleus of today’s church as he was about to ascend back into heaven to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” With diversity we can accomplish this task but with disunity we become the laughing stock of the world and the gossip on the town’s lips. With diversity we have more resources and many more opportunities to reach the world. There are people that a person in a coat and tie can’t reach while a person in overalls can. It is okay to be different; God told us to be different, we are not to conform to this world but to be transformed. However, we as Christians are on the same team and our goal is to spread the gospel to every creature; disunity will hinder if not make reaching that goal impossible.
Denominationalism based on diversity is good and energizes those involved to accomplish much. I like diversity, as much as I like a good hamburger I would hate to have to eat one at each meal. Denominationalism as the product of disunity is sinful and wrong. I know you may be doing great works in a group that has a foundation of disunity and lack of love and fellowship for your brethren but didn’t some come to Jesus at the judgment and say they had done many great works in his name and in His name cast out demons? What was the answer Jesus gave? Depart from me you who work wickedness. Find a denomination that is based on and practices love and the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ shun the rest.
i_believe :
12/14/2009, at 07:41 [ Reply ]
Mr. Huffacker,
Denominationalism has been one of satan's greatest successes within the Church. You raise an important issue which every denomination will shrug off.
If you would establish that "One Truth" then you might have a chance at seeing the unity of Eph. 4.
practicalfaith : Denominations
01/01/2010, at 11:20 [ Reply ]
Wow! I've never heard but quite so clearly but you are absolutely right -- or rather He is absolutely right!! We changed churches a year ago this weekend because in part of the great works, no love/fruit issue that you mentioned. So one thing that I REALLY like about our new church is it explicitly states in its statement of belief in every bulletin that: "We are not a denominational church, nor are we oppposed to denominationsas such, only their over-emphasis of the doctrinal differences that have led to the division of the Body of Christ. We believe that the only true basis of Christian fellowship is Christ's agape love, which is greater than any differences we possess and without which we have no right to claim ourselves Christians." Anybody can write lofty sounding words on a piece of paper, but the really excellent part of this is, that this group of Christians that call themselves a part of His church really seem to live it. It's SO refreshing and we will be here a LONG time for that reason alone!!
I'm taking a Truth Project (Focus on the Family) right now and we were just talking about how silly it is that if you look at the printed "This we believe" statements put out by most denominations, they are mostly beyond similarity, especially on the crucial basic essentials--and yet, they divide over petty minor issues like what to eat, wear, whether we should dance, wear makeup and jewelry, etc. I think Paul already addressed this when he talked about not judging brothers and sisters of weaker or greater faith but having love for all, as God leads each on their own journey of faith and may call one to one thing and another to something else entirely--the diversity and potential for greater ministry you were talking about. It's too bad that so many people and organized churches can't or won't get a handle on this, preferring instead to divide the Body of Christ here on Earth for their own selfish motives.
Don Huffaker :
01/02/2010, at 09:13 [ Reply ]
Thank you so very much for your comment. I know God is to receive the honor and glory for what He has given me to write but I am still human enough to receive pleasure when someone comments. We can only do what we can do to serve God properly and as we are led. Do it and continue to pray for those that worship tradition and their denomination instead of the true God. Thanks and may God bless you.