DID JESUS DIE TO ESTABLISH DENOMINATIONALISM?
People, in general, have come to accept the concept of a divided religious world. Many give little thought to it because its all they have ever seen and known. But, as with anything else that pertains to our life, we have to consider whether denominationalism is pleasing to God; is it how He purposed man to serve Him and is it authorized by New Testament teaching?
First, it is important that one understands that God's truth in scripture is absolute and comprehendible. It is man's complete standard to guide his life, for he cannot do so for himself (Jeremiah 10:23; Romans 3:23). Jesus teaches that the truth shall make us free from the bondage that sin brings us under (John 8:32). Paul, by inspiration, teaches us that we can read and perceive (understand) the truth of God in his scriptures (Ephesians 3:1-4; 5:17). Therefore, we have no excuse if we're following a course that is out of harmony with truth.
Inherent in the word "denominationalism" is the idea of division. Webster's New World Dictionary defines denomination as "1. the act of naming. 2. a name. 3. a class or kind having a specific name or value: as, coins of different denominations. 4. a religious sect." His definition of denominationalism: "1. denominational principles. 2. division into denominations."
Now, we do read about division in the New Testament, and such as is described by Mr. Webster above, but not in a favorable light. When the apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, he was responding to a letter sent to him by the Corinthian Christians about problems they were having (cf. 1 Cor. 7:1). One of those problems he deals with in 1 Corinthians 1:10- 17. It was one of religious division and they were naming (see Webster above) each division. This scripture is about as close to the modern scene of denominationalism as anything I can find in the New Testament! Paul's solution? "Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing (emphasis mine, Dan), and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (vs. 10) Another apostle, Peter, in one of his letters, commanded, "if any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God..." (1 Peter 4:11).
"Is Christ divided?" (vs. 13) That is the question that must be answered today. Scripture says that the church is His body and that there is ONE body (1 Cor. 12:12ff.; Ephesians 1:22; 4:4). It is His church because He died and shed his blood on the cross to purchase it (Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28). Jesus is the Head of the church, because He has all authority and whatsoever He commands must be obeyed (Colossians 1:18; Matthew 28:18; Acts 3:22-26). This brings us back to how unity is established and maintained - by all of us speaking the same thing, the oracles of God! No, Christ is not divided (this truth will ever stand), but if man creates a religiously denominational world by introducing his own doctrines, opinions, traditions, etc. as a substitute to God's Word, it will not be a work of God and all who are responsible and condone such will answer to God on Judgment day (Matthew 7:21-23).
"Was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized into the name of Paul?" (vs. 13) Again, truth answers no, but man's actions say yes. We must gratefully acknowledge the precious gift of God's only begotten Son for our salvation from sin - it was Jesus who was crucified for us (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). And we must respond to such wonderful love by being baptized into His name for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4). But when man chooses to obey a "different gospel", a perverted gospel (Galatians 1:6-7), they are rejecting the gift of God's Son and seeking to establish a religion of their own. Oh, they may still profess to be a follower of Christ, to believe He died for them, and call Him "Lord", but they will not obey His truth. That, my friends, is the bottom line that determines whether we will go to heaven or not.
- Dan Richardson
