Joe R. Price

This article will likely offend some people. That is not our intent. But it happens when truth exposes error and people love the darkness of error more than the light of truth (John 3:19-21). Please, use the Bible to examine whether these things are so (Acts 17:11). If what is said is found to be true, believe it for the truth's sake (Acts 17:12). If false, then expose it with God's word.

Denominationalism is not from God. Jesus built one church, which is His one body, "the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4). The gospel of Christ condemns religious division: Christ is not divided (John 17:20-21; 1 Cor. 1:10-13). One is not following Jesus Christ when they practice what Jesus opposes. If God approves of denominationalism, we will find clear and convincing Scriptures that teach it. We do not.

Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26). A disciple learns and follows the will of His Master, Jesus (Luke 6:40). Since Jesus never taught, endorsed, or encouraged denominationalism, one is not following Jesus when he engages in it; he is sinning (Col. 3:17).

Jesus adds saved people to His church, not to denominations (Acts 2:47). Christ does not count among the saved those who teach and practice denominational errors. The Lord knows those who are His, and those who are His do not promote error (2 Tim. 2:15-19).

If there are saved people - Christians - in the denominations, these conclusions follow:

(1) Denominationalism makes the gospel plan of salvation unnecessary. Denominations do not preach and practice the Bible plan of salvation (believe, confess faith, repent, and be baptized, Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:37-38; 8:5, 12, 36-38; Rom. 10:9-10). If there are Christians in denominations, then people can be saved without obeying the gospel (which is false, Matt. 7:21-23).

(2) Denominationalism makes the church of Christ unnecessary. The New Testament teaches that the church is essential to God's eternal purpose of redemption (Eph. 3:10-11). God is glorified "in the church by Christ Jesus" (Eph. 3:21). The denominations say one can be saved without being a member of their denomination. True enough, and therefore, denominations admit they are not essential. When one is saved, the Lord adds him to His church, the essential, blood-bought body of the redeemed (Acts 2:47; Eph. 5:23).

(3) Denominationalism makes contending for the faith futile and factious. If Christians are in denominations, should we not embrace them as brethren instead of contending against their errors (Jude 3-4)? The error of "Christians in the denominations" silences the Bible's call to contend for the faith and to hold fast the pattern of sound words. Instead, we are told there are many faiths, and God accepts them all (2 Tim. 1:13; Eph. 4:5).

(4) Denominationalism makes fellowship with error acceptable. The New Testament teaches Christians not to have fellowship with error (Eph. 5:11). To suggest that false churches practicing error contain saved people (Christians) is a denial of every verse that warns against having fellowship with error (2 John 9-11; Gal. 1:6-10; 2 Cor. 6:14-18).

Does the Bible teach that there are Christians in the denominations of men? No. The gospel of Christ will save them from their sin and error (Rom. 1:16-17; Col. 2:8).