Introduction. One of the greatest hindrances to unity of the Lord’s people came with the rise of the denominations. The term “denomination” reveals the nature of the problem. “the name of a class of things, esp. of units in a system.” Denominations of money start with a penny and end with $100.00 (12 denominations). Denominations of Christianity began with Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox, growing steadily through the Protestant Reformation. Lutheran, Presbyterian, Anglican, Baptist, and Methodist were among the first denominations. Later came the Mormons, Jehovah Witness, Seventh Day Adventist, Pentecostal, Unitarian, and multitudes of others. The total number has not been counted, but is estimated to be about 2,000.
With Jesus’ prayer for unity (Jn. 17:20-23) and Paul’s command to speak the same thing (1Cor. 1:10-13), what is the purpose for all these variations of Christianity? The sober truth is that when men grow weary of some aspect of the teachings in Scripture, they either find or create a new church to teach what they want to hear. “They will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” (2Tim. 4:3-4). Like a buffet where each plate is different depending on likes and dislikes, denominations offer different doctrines based on our likes and dislikes. Every lifestyle, hobby, and moral standard is accommodated. If it can’t be found, those with itching ears create another denomination.
With Jesus’ prayer for unity (Jn. 17:20-23) and Paul’s command to speak the same thing (1Cor. 1:10-13), what is the purpose for all these variations of Christianity? The sober truth is that when men grow weary of some aspect of the teachings in Scripture, they either find or create a new church to teach what they want to hear. “They will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” (2Tim. 4:3-4). Like a buffet where each plate is different depending on likes and dislikes, denominations offer different doctrines based on our likes and dislikes. Every lifestyle, hobby, and moral standard is accommodated. If it can’t be found, those with itching ears create another denomination.
There is no rational excuse for such behavior. Jesus did not come from heaven to give men choices. He came to reveal God’s will and demand that we do it. They did not kill Jesus because He allowed anyone to do whatever they please. They killed Him because He preached against everything contrary to God’s will. They did not want to hear Him anymore. Few do today either.
The passage of choice to justify this was Jesus description of the vine and the branches. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (Jn. 15:1-2). Each denomination proclaims itself to be a branch in this vine as shown in the illustration. Yet Jesus never taught this. He said: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered” (Jn. 15:5-6). Jesus spoke of men, not churches. Some twist Scripture to their own destruction when they change the singular “he” and “you” to a plural. This passage has nothing to do with denominations. |
There are many different ways Jesus sought to be certain no one misunderstood. He told Peter, “on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18). He used the singular and not the plural. If Jesus had any intention of building “His churches,” He could have revealed it here. Yet He did not.
Every figure used in the New Testament revealed the church as singular. Jesus is the head and the church is His body. “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body.” There can only be one body. Jesus would not use this figure if He wanted His church to be seen in a denominational context. Paul made that impossible when he said in the same book, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all.” (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:3-6). Listing the one body in the midst of one Spirit, one Lord and one God makes it impossible to misunderstand. The church is the body and there is only one body. There is also one shepherd and one sheepfold, one king and one kingdom (Jn. 10; 18:36-37), one husband and one wife (Eph. 5:21-29), and one house (1Tim. 3:15).
Throughout the times of the apostles, all attempts to break the body into more than one part were condemned. There was only one church while they lived. Paul condemned Corinth because “there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you?” (1Cor. 1:10-13). No one can divide Christ’s church! Paul also warned Galatia about their new teachers: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Gal. 1:6-9). There is only one gospel and one doctrine per subject. Any change is not another gospel, but a perversion of the true gospel and everyone who preaches these things is accursed.
Jesus was very stern in His warnings. First, He showed the core of all division and condemned it. People cannot divide if they follow Him, but only when they create new doctrines that originate from the minds of men: “And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Any doctrine that contradicts, adds, or changes His revelation through His apostles is from men and makes all worship vain. Jesus went on to say: “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” (Mt. 15:9; 13-14). In His eyes, denominations are not branches in the vine, but new plants competing with Him. They will be uprooted. He also calls those who lead people away from the truth into their new doctrines blind guides, and those who follow are also blind. He gave no hope: They both end up in the ditch.
The strongest warnings are found in the Sermon on the Mount. “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” There is only one “narrow gate” and one “difficult way” leading to life and there are only “few who find it.” Our present day denominations can only be the wide gate and broad way.
They clearly contradict Jesus, proclaiming it is easy to enter heaven saying “accept Jesus and join the church of your choice.” Multitudes have entered by this gate and walk the path of “it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.” Jesus wanted it clearly understood that calling Him "Lord" also required doing the God’s will. He said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” God’s will is recorded in Scripture: “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son." (2Jn. 9). His church only teaches God’s will.
Conclusion. Jesus’ final words reveal how critical it is to listen to Him here. “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Mt. 7:13-23). Even those who believe they perform miracles will not be exempted. All who call Jesus "Lord", but do not abide in His teachings have no hope. They are practicing lawlessness when they set aside His commands to keep their own thoughts. Every denomination that has changed the Scriptures will hear about this lawlessness.
Every figure used in the New Testament revealed the church as singular. Jesus is the head and the church is His body. “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body.” There can only be one body. Jesus would not use this figure if He wanted His church to be seen in a denominational context. Paul made that impossible when he said in the same book, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all.” (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:3-6). Listing the one body in the midst of one Spirit, one Lord and one God makes it impossible to misunderstand. The church is the body and there is only one body. There is also one shepherd and one sheepfold, one king and one kingdom (Jn. 10; 18:36-37), one husband and one wife (Eph. 5:21-29), and one house (1Tim. 3:15).
Throughout the times of the apostles, all attempts to break the body into more than one part were condemned. There was only one church while they lived. Paul condemned Corinth because “there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you?” (1Cor. 1:10-13). No one can divide Christ’s church! Paul also warned Galatia about their new teachers: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Gal. 1:6-9). There is only one gospel and one doctrine per subject. Any change is not another gospel, but a perversion of the true gospel and everyone who preaches these things is accursed.
Jesus was very stern in His warnings. First, He showed the core of all division and condemned it. People cannot divide if they follow Him, but only when they create new doctrines that originate from the minds of men: “And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Any doctrine that contradicts, adds, or changes His revelation through His apostles is from men and makes all worship vain. Jesus went on to say: “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” (Mt. 15:9; 13-14). In His eyes, denominations are not branches in the vine, but new plants competing with Him. They will be uprooted. He also calls those who lead people away from the truth into their new doctrines blind guides, and those who follow are also blind. He gave no hope: They both end up in the ditch.
The strongest warnings are found in the Sermon on the Mount. “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” There is only one “narrow gate” and one “difficult way” leading to life and there are only “few who find it.” Our present day denominations can only be the wide gate and broad way.
They clearly contradict Jesus, proclaiming it is easy to enter heaven saying “accept Jesus and join the church of your choice.” Multitudes have entered by this gate and walk the path of “it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.” Jesus wanted it clearly understood that calling Him "Lord" also required doing the God’s will. He said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” God’s will is recorded in Scripture: “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son." (2Jn. 9). His church only teaches God’s will.
Conclusion. Jesus’ final words reveal how critical it is to listen to Him here. “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Mt. 7:13-23). Even those who believe they perform miracles will not be exempted. All who call Jesus "Lord", but do not abide in His teachings have no hope. They are practicing lawlessness when they set aside His commands to keep their own thoughts. Every denomination that has changed the Scriptures will hear about this lawlessness.