As you read in scripture you see that what began with Jews was then opened for Gentiles also (good for us by the way). Ephesians 3:6 “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” If we had just listened to these verses things would be different. Galatians 3:26 “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise,” we would not have the huge numbers of denominations and independent groups that there are. These groups do not all believe the same and now there seems to be many ways, many truths and many differing lives. Each group has all interpreted scripture differently and leaders wanted to be the head, so you end up with all kinds of differing views and organizations.
Don’t be fooled by churches trying to separate themselves from denominations that have not made any changes doctrinally. The not so great theologian Tim Hawkins says that churches who claimed to be non-denominational churches are just “a Baptist church with a cool website.” All you have to do is go to their beliefs page and you will see there is no difference in theology, just some whitewash on the outside. Some churches have even tried to disguise their beliefs but if you dig a little you will find them. A true New Testament church will be one that makes all the necessary changes to get back to scripture. To do this you have to be willing to change and humble yourself before God. They will have a willingness to set aside the empty ways of life and the rules handed down from our fathers. Colossians 2:20 “Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”
Denominationalism is defined as “the tendency to separate into religious denominations or to advocate such separations.” One person said, “The very word “denomination” means a named or designated division. Denominationalism occurs when religious people and groups divide and segregate themselves on the basis of different designations or church affiliations and different doctrines.” Usually denominations are defined by their own distinctives. So in reality we have named our divisions. I think you can see where I am going with this. Scripture is very clear that we are to be one. 1 Corinthians 1:10 “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?” Now we have some following Calvin, some following Darby, some following Arminius, some follow Warren, some follow Hybels and then we could list denominations, each teaching something different.
Now as I have often thought; how in the world can this great lie be stopped as this has been going on since the early church? It can’t in human terms. The power of the Holy Spirit can only make this happen but as scripture shows it will be a remnant of people rising up in the power of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 37:31 “Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. 32 For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”
What we see now is not how the New Testament church was to be. Scripture is very clear that we are to be one but most have set that aside to follow their own ways. John 17:11 “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Ezra 3:1 [ Rebuilding the Altar ] When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, the people assembled together as one in Jerusalem.” When rebuilding the church and returning to the way it is supposed to be there can be no divisions. Nehemiah 8:1 “All the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel. 2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.” When the church returns to the word of God and listens attentively, there can be no divisions. Down through the years, men have justified these divisions. Sadly each group thinks they are the one even though many clearly do not line up with scripture. Many have added to and subtracted from the word so that they can continue to following the path they have chosen. This describes the problem of the church, which has been going on for centuries, mostly as of late.
But we are not to be like that. Philippians 1:27 “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.” When we stand firm in the one Spirit and strive together as one, then we will see the true church.
Many have confused denominations with the body of Christ. This simply can’t be because when you put them all together it does not resemble Christ at all. Romans 12:4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” Earlier Paul has said in Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Most denominations have conformed to the world and have set their standards as the business world has, and now their leaders operate as CEO’s and continue to perpetuate false teaching that lead us away from the gospel of Jesus Christ. They can do this because they appear to have power but it is not of the Holy Spirit. We must be united in Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.” Ephesians 1:22 “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” The true church will function under the authority of Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit. We will do what Jesus did and be like Paul said in Thessalonians 1:4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. Thessalonians 2:13 “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus.” This is how it is supposed to be; the true church moving in the power of the Holy Spirit as one.
The church has been deceived into thinking each denomination is right but how could that be as they mostly teach something different especially about the Holy Spirit. Many denominations have stopped following the word of God as truth and have replaced God’s truth with their traditions, reasoning and experiences. Colossians 2:18 “Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”
Our job is not to spread the Kingdom of the Baptist, Methodist, Catholics, Lutherans Anglicans, United, Community Church etc. but to build the kingdom of God. This cannot be done if we are not one under Jesus as the head and under the Holy Spirit. Don’t be set on these empty ways but seek the Lord. The church lies desolate and void of power so we must return to Him. Deuteronomy 4:25 “After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time—if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God and arousing his anger, 26 I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed. 27 The Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the Lord will drive you. 28 There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. 29 But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. 31 For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.” 2 Kings 23:25 “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.”
Let’s do the same.
