The very existence of Protestant and Roman Catholic denominationalism is one of the worst plagues in the history of
mankind.  It siphons off precious souls into “plants not planted by our heavenly Father destined to be rooted up on
the day of judgment” (Matthew 15:13-14). Denominationalism robs Christ of the glory He is supposed to receive via
membership in His blood bought body, His church (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 2:13-17; 3:21; 4:1-6; 5:22-33). The church of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was planned from eternity (Ephesians 3:8-11; 1 Peter 1:18-21). Denominationalism isn’t
even a close relative to the church we read about in the word of Christ.

1).  Each has a different founder than the Son of God. (Matt. 16:13-19; Psalms 127:1).
2).  Each came into being at a different time and place  in history than the church of Christ did.(Isaiah 2:2-3; Luke
24:45-49).
3).  Each has a different name (and even if they do wear a  scriptural name there are other identifying marks they do not
possess) which must be present to claim identity with new testament religion.
4).  Each has  a different  organizational  structure from the church in the bible.(Acts 14:23; Phil. 1:1; Acts 20:17,28; Heb.
13:7,17; 1 Pet. 5:1-5).
5). Each functions in activities the Lord’s church isn’t authorized to engage in. (social, political, recreational).
6). Each practice activities in their “worship” assemblies they have no bible authority (John 4:23-24; Col. 3:17; 1 Pet.
4:11; Matt. 15:8-9)..
7).  Each has a different “creed” from the new testament church of Christ which has only the bible. (John 16:12-13; John
12:48; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:25; Galatians 1:6-11; 2 John 9-11).
8).  Each has a  different destiny unfortunately from the church which Christ will return to claim as His own virgin bride
(Ephesians 5:22-27; Matthew 7:13-23; Matthew 15:13).

   Some say this diversity in religion is a good thing, that way each one can find what suits them best. One fellow said “It is
like picking a wife; If everyone wanted the same  one, everyone would want my wife.” Someone answered him by
saying, “not if they’re like me they wouldn’t, I’ve seen your wife and I wouldn’t have her.”  It is considered a “good
thing” for most folks to see in the “church ads” in local newspapers, “Attend the church of your choice this Sunday.”  While we are thrilled that we have the religious freedoms that are afforded us in this great country, that fact doesn’t mean that
whatever one chooses to believe in religion makes it right.
 
  There is such a thing as truth on any subject, and anything that disagrees with the truth revealed in the Bible happens to be
false regardless of how honestly said error may be held, how many or who they may be who hold said error . It does not
matter how long they may have believed a particular error, those considerations do not change error into truth you see.  In
the realm of spiritual matters something is only “good” if it agrees with God’s way. This being true, Paul wrote, “prove
(test) all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). John wrote, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try
(test) the spirits, whether they are of God; for many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). The standard
by which teachers are to be tested is the revealed will of God not what we may like or want or feel good about (Acts 17:11;
John 5:39).  The main reason that the idea of “the more churches the better therefore providing choices” is wrong is
because such is at odds with the teaching of the new testament concerning unity and the relationship in which folks must be as
a result.  Christ said in answer to Peter’s inspired confession that He is the Son of the living God, “upon this rock (this
foundational fact of My deity) I will build My church” (Matthew 16:13-19). He did not say “churches as in the
plural.” In the shadow of the cross as it were Jesus prayed for His apostles and for all who would later come to believe on
Him as the Son of God, “Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth” (John 17:17). Skipping down in the
context He continued: “Neither pray I for these (apostles ket) alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their
word; That they all may be one; as you Father are in Me and I in you, that they may also be one in us: that the world may
believe that you have sent Me” (John 17:20-21).

Denominationalism represents and actually promotes religious division contrary to the prayer of Christ and the inspired
teachings of His chosen apostles and evangelists who plead as did Jesus for unity and oneness, not disunity and multiple
beliefs systems and religious organizations to promote the same. When sectarian attitudes arose in the local congregation at
Corinth thereby causing division the apostle Paul wrote them in the following language.  “Now I beseech you, brethren, by
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be
perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren,
by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I
am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? or were you
baptized into the name of Paul?”(1 Corinthians 1:10-13).  This matter was so serious since they were wearing the name of
the prominent person who had baptized them thereby causing division that Paul was thankful that he had not personally
baptized many of them (not that baptism wasn’t necessary to their salvation) but because they were wearing his name rather
than the name of Christ.  In the third chapter of this same letter he condemned them for being carnally minded based on this
practice (1 Corinthians 3:1-6). Anyone who will be honest with himself can see what is being taught in these two contexts.

To thank God for the many bodies or churches so man may “join the church of his choice,” as many do, is to fly in the
face of the prayer of Christ for unity based on “the apostle’s word” (John 17:20; Acts 2:42), and goes contrary to the
inspired statement of Paul relative to the fact that there is only “one body, or church” ordained of God (Ephesians
1:22-23; 2:13-16; 3:1-6; 4:1-6; 5:22-27; Matthew 16:18).  The suggestion that there  are many different denominations
existing with Christ’s approval is a concept of uninspired men and does not find its basis in inspired literature.

Any time the new testament speaks of “churches” in the plural it has reference to local assemblies of the same new testament
order (Romans 16:16; Galatians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:14; Revelation 1:4) all of whom were admonished to unite on
a common standard of religious authority. This was and is to be, “the apostle’s doctrine” (Acts 2:42; Acts 15:24;
Galatians 1:6-11; 2 John 9-11; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Romans 16:16-18; Philippians 1:27; Timothy 1:3).  Please read
the Scriptural references cited. This will save me time and space in this treatise. All local congregations of the new testament
order taught the same doctrine, had the same organization, worshipped the same way and carried out the same functions of
preaching the gospel to edify the membership, save lost alien sinners as well as to  relieve their own needy members locally
and when necessary elsewhere (1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Timothy 5:8,16; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Philippians 4:15-19; 2
Corinthians 8&9; 11:8).  The facts are that no denominations existed until hundreds of years later as indicated above in the
numbered differences between the new testament church and human denominations (See 1-8 above).

You have heard it said and may have even said it yourself, “We are all going to the same place (heaven), we are just
traveling by different roads.” An illustration usually follows which says its like going to Chicago; there are many roads one
may take but still arrive in Chicago. Well, I don’t doubt that in the least. Still, even so, there are some routes that are better
than others wouldn’t you agree? However if “church of Choice” is really believed, those who teach it should not
discriminate. They should say the “Mormon Route” The “Jehovah’s Witness Route,” The “Roman Catholic route,”
The “Seventh Day Adventist” route,  the “Christian Scientists” route, the “Pentecostals” route, etc, etc., are each of
equal value to one seeking to “go to heaven” when one dies. Will the folks who say, “Join The Church of Your Choice”
and who are heard to say, “There Are Many Roads To Heaven” willing to be consistent and practice what they preach?
Absolutely not!  How do I know? “Let me count the ways!”

If such folks really believed what they are saying in these illustrations if one moved into a new city where there was no
denomination of his/her particular kind what would they do? Would they not “join” which ever one of the above listed
denominations  existed in there new location?  Consistency would demand that they do! However, it is a rare case that a
-Methodist-Baptist-Presbyterian- would join the Adventist, Jehovah’s Witness, Mormon, etc. In rare cases some
may. In some cases those three prominent denominations listed above would interact but usually what happens, even among
the Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterians, the new comer will make plans to begin a local branch of his particular
denomination thereby further dividing the religious community. Mind you, all the while still maintaining that  “one church is as
good as another,” that they are “all different roads leading to heaven” and that it is perfectly acceptable to “join the
church of your choice.” Sounds hypocritical to me how about you?

This one body of doctrine is referred to as “the faith once delivered” for which followers of Christ are to contend (Jude 3).
Those who do not abide in the framework of that which this body of doctrine authorizes, are said to be without God (2 John
9-10; Colossians 3:17; John 12:48). This body of doctrine is the New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and
contains “all spiritual truth” (John 16:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:25). This body of doctrine is the “seed of the
kingdom of Christ” (Luke 8:11), and is capable of producing only one harvest!  What is that harvest? It is a body of
undenominational and nondenominational Christians, period.
All saved folks are added to “the church” or “born again” into the kingdom on the conditions set forth is Christ’s
“worldwide commission” that is age lasting (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:45-49; Acts
2:22-38,40-41,47; Colossians 1:13-15; Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). Please read all references.

Yes, by their own admission. You have heard it just as I have that “one doesn’t have to be a member of any
denomination to go to heaven.”  Many are those who claim salvation who aren’t at the point when they claimed to be
saved members of any denomination. I agree, one doesn’t have to be a member of any denomination. I will go beyond that to
say, it is detrimental to one’s soul’s salvation to “join” any denomination. Just about all (if not all)  Protestants teach that one
is saved “the moment they accept Jesus as their personal Savior.” If so, what denomination (church) are they a
member of at this point? If you answer none you are absolutely correct. How do they become a “member” of  a Protestant
church? Well a preacher of denomination A does something they call “baptism” and sometimes a vote is taken of the
membership and then they are accepted in that particular fellowship. Would they have gone to heaven if they never did
“join” that denomination? They all say yes. Then its easier to go to heaven than it is to “join” a Protestant denomination isn’t
it.

The Bible answers, absolutely not! We have cited the passage a couple of times already which suggests that we are
“reconciled unto God in one body by the cross” (Ephesians 2:13-17). Is this speaking of any denomination? No! It
refers to folks who have become obedient to King Jesus and have been cleansed by the blood He shed on Calvary’s cross.
“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off (us Gentiles ket) are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our
peace, who hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in His flesh the  enmity, even the law
of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that He
might reconcile both (Jew & Gentile ket) unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and
preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that are nigh” (Ephesians 2:13-17). Where are men saved? This
passage says “in Christ” and “in one body by the cross we are reconciled unto God?”  Scriptures teach that “all
spiritual blessings are in  Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). But believers who repent, confess faith in Jesus as the Christ and are
baptized into Christ are also baptized  into the one body (Romans  6:3-6; Acts 2:22-38, 40-41, 47; 1 Corinthians
12:13). Christ is the Savior of “the body”  we are told (Ephesians 5:23). We are also informed that the body is the church
(Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18,24). We are told there is “one body” hence there is only one church purchased by
the blood of the sinless Son  of God Almighty to which the saved are added by the Lord Himself as we have noticed in (Acts
2:41,47; Colossians 1:13-14). The church of Christ is the kingdom of Christ and one must be “born again” to see or enter
this church/kingdom (John 3:3-5; Titus 3:5; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:20-21). Have you obeyed the gospel so you may be
numbered among the saved in this “one body” the church of Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9; 1 Peter 1:22-25; Romans
16:25-26)?

  My friends, there is only one road to heaven and it is strait and narrow and few there be that find it. There are “many
roads” to hell (Proverbs 14:12; Matthew 7:13-23), and that’s exactly where the majority are heading unfortunately
because they have been “ripped off” by smooth talking religious practitioners who tell them there are “many roads to
heaven” saying they may please Christ by “joining the church of their choice.” No my friends we must honor Christ’s
choice in religion. He chose to die for His bride, His church and it is this relationship He will save at His final coming (Acts
20:28; Ephesians 5:22-27).

  It is our hope that this short study has changed your attitude and changed your mind about the Lord’s way to heaven.  It
isn’t by works of human merit, but it is only by an obedient faith that one may be counted as righteous before Christ through
forgivness in His blood when one “obeys His gospel” as commanded (Romans 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Mark
16:15-16; Acts 2:22-38, 40-41,47).