Bible Thoughts

June 18, 2000

As Paul admonished those elders of yesteryear, warning them of spiritual dangers that would arise, so his message is appropriate in our day. One has only to look at the path that some "churches of Christ" are taking to be aware of the truthfulness of the apostles' statement. Almost daily, there is something in the mail urging support for activities of churches that have no scriptural foundation. The blood purchased church of Jesus Christ is not a human institution that can be changed, altered, ignored, and/or perverted by the ways of men. As a spiritual institution whose head is Christ, all worship and work of that kingdom is to be directed by the head. Anything less will result in a departure from the ways and word of God. Ignoring the instructions found in the New Testament will create a human denomination.

What does it take to make a denomination? Paul pointed out that some would teach "perverse things" and lead the disciples away from the Lord's commands. A denomination is the result of failing to respect what God has revealed for the church(His kingdom). The apostle was warning those elders that such would occur among them. He was trying to warn them of the dangers ahead and encourage them to respect "the word of his grace"(Acts 20:32). For the "space of three years," Paul had been admonishing them "night and day with tears." How many heeded his instructions is not known; what is known is that later, the Roman Catholic church, with all of its perversions resulted in a human denomination.

What does it take to make a denomination? The list below is not exhaustive, but can help us identify the steps that contribute to taking one away from the New Testament and into the confusion of denominationalism. It occurred in the church of the first five centuries, it occurred in the late 1800s, and it has(and is) occurring today. Many seem to be determined to make the church for which Jesus died a denomination among denominations. May it never be! Please note how a congregation(s) can become only a denomination among denominations.

Ignore the patterns that are set forth in the New Testament for the Lord's church. The New Testament is a book of patterns, from the plan for man's salvation to the worship of the church to the work of the church to the appointing of men to the eldership, to the life of a Christian, as well as all other instructions in the word of Christ. The New Testament, itself, is a pattern to be followed by those who love the Lord and desire to go to heaven.

Pervert the commands of Christ by changing the plain instructions contained therein. Attack the idea of faithful living, God's plan for salvation, the oneness of the Lord's church, the teachings on morality, the instructions of Christ in regard to the home, marriage, divorce, and remarriage, and the necessity of being a part of the Lord's church. These examples are but samples of the perversion that take place in regard to New Testament instructions. When the commands of Christ are explained away in order to justify failure to follow the Lord's way or to allow perversions of the Lord's will, the foundation of denominationalism has been laid.

When brethren make additions to the work, worship and organization of the Lord's church, such congregations are on a path that is certain to result in another denomination. The Lord's people are restricted by the teachings contained in the New Testament. Pleasing God means that one must follow the Lord's pattern, not the ideas of men. The apostle John said it, "Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son. If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting: for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works"(II John 9-11). There is no room in God's house for false teachers who would lead the disciples astray. Denominations are the result of false teachings; the Lord's church is pure so long as she does not "go onward" with human additions. From the use of instrumental worship to the missionary society to the institutional movement of today, the seeds of apostasy are sown into the hearts of men. When they take root and grow, a denomination is the result.

One characteristic of a denomination is the de-emphasizing of Bible authority. The interpretations of men often replace the plain instructions of the scriptures. Some would say, "Oh, we do many things without authority." If so, it is time to quit! Unless we take the principle "What saith the scripture?" into our hearts, we will become a denomination among denominations. "By what authority" is still the most appropriate question in regard to what is practiced by any congregation. When "here a little, there a little" is allowed or "it doesn't matter" is the attitude, respect for the authority of God's word begins to disappear.

The Lord's church is a perfect(complete) institution. Paul so stated in Ephesians 5:27. She can perform all of the instructions that God has given without the assistance or interference of the institutions of men. The very nature of the church allows her to function and carry on her work in any age and in any country. The simplicity of organization (each church is self-governing), and the simplicity of the worship, as well as the simplicity of the work, allows her existence in any time at any place. When men create human institutions and attach them to the church that Christ built, such is another step to being a human denomination. Any organization created and sponsored by men is a human institution. The Lord's church is a divine institution because Christ is her founder and her head. Glorify God in the church for which Christ died and she will never be a human institution nor support human institutions founded by brethren to do her work.

The church that Christ built is capable of carrying out the worship and work the Lord intended for His bride. The ambitions and follies of brethren who reject the New Testament patterns will not deter those who stand for truth. The faithful will continue to do God's work in God's way and give him the praise. May it ever be so!