"CHALLENGES CONFRONTING THE CHURCH" Denominationalism by Mark Copeland

 

"CHALLENGES CONFRONTING THE CHURCH"

Denominationalism

INTRODUCTION

1. A great challenge confronting the church is denominationalism...
1. According to one account, there are more than 38,000 different denominations!
2. Different religious organizations, bearing many different religious names
3. Hindering the spread of the gospel ("Why, you Christians can't even agree!")
2. Denominationalism confronted the church early on...
1. Many think that it started with the Protestant reformation (ca. 1517 AD)
2. Properly understood, its origins can be traced to the second century AD

[What is denominationalism? Why is it wrong? Such questions this study will address...]

1. DEFINING DENOMINATION AND DENOMINATIONALISM
1. WHAT IS A DENOMINATION...?
1. "A large group of religious congregations united under a common faith and name and organized under a single administrative and legal hierarchy." - The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
2. By their common name and tie to a governing body above the local congregation, they are "denominated" from all congregations that do not submit to the same authority
3. Some examples:
1. The Roman Catholic Church is a denomination made up of those churches that submit to the pope in Rome
2. The Eastern Orthodox Church is a denomination made up of those churches that submit to the patriarch of Constantinople
3. The Anglican Church of England is a denomination made up of those churches that submit to the archbishop of Canterbury
4. The Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) is made up of those churches that submit to the synod in Missouri
-- A denomination is a group of congregations that are joined together under some governing body, all wearing the same distinctive name
2. WHAT IS DENOMINATIONALISM...?
1. According to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language:
1. "The tendency to separate into religious denominations"
2. "Advocacy of separation into religious denominations"
3. "Strict adherence to a denomination; sectarianism"
2. For the purpose in this series, I will be applying the term to any approval of the denominational division which exists today
1. Many in denominations today are not all that devoted to their denominational principles or interests
2. But by membership in a denomination they implicitly advocate separation into religious denominations

[Is denominationalism really a challenge confronting the church? Some consider it a blessing: e.g., "Join the church of your choice!" But from a Biblical perspective, consider...]

2. WHY DENOMINATIONALISM IS WRONG
1. IT IS UN-SCRIPTURAL...
1. That is, it is without Scriptural support
1. There is no basis in the Bible for local churches being divided up into various denominational bodies
2. There is no denomination that can go to the Bible and say, "See that passage? There is our church (denomination)!"
2. In the New Testament...
1. Local congregations were independent, autonomous (self-governing)
2. Church organization was limited to within the local congregation
3. With elders (also known as pastors, bishops, overseers, presbyters) appointed to oversee only the congregation of which they were members - cf. Ac 20:17,28; 1Pe 5:1-2
3. The only authority above the local church in the NT was Christ and His apostles
1. Once the church began, apostles were not replaced after they died - e.g., Ac 12:1-2
2. But through the Word of God, the authority of Christ and His apostles continues
-- Individuals, synods, conferences, etc., that presume to usurp authority over local churches today do so without Scriptural authority
2. IT IS ANTI-SCRIPTURAL...
1. Not only is it without scriptural support, it is contrary to what the Bible teaches
2. It is contrary to the prayer of Jesus for unity among His believers - Jn 17:20-23
3. It is condemned by Paul in his epistle to the church at Corinth
1. There are to be no divisions among believers - 1Co 1:10-13
2. Sectarianism is a sign of carnality - 1Co 3:3-4
4. It opposes the efforts of Christ on the cross! - Ep 2:14-16
1. Jesus died to break down the wall of division
2. Jesus died to reconcile man to God in ONE body
-- Just as our sin works against the efforts of Christ on the cross (for He died to put away sin), so does denominational division!
3. IT IS HARMFUL TO THE CAUSE OF CHRIST...
1. Jesus knew that unity among His disciples would be "the final apologetic"
1. Cf. "that the world may believe" - Jn 17:21
2. In view of Jesus' words, we should not be surprised when unbelievers are slow to accept the gospel coming from a divided church
2. Many point to the divided condition of those professing to follow Christ...
1. Atheists and agnostics use religious division as an excuse not to believe in God
2. Muslims, Jews, etc. often use denominationalism reasons not to believe in Christ
3. Denominationalism has also given support and encouragement to the cults
1. Mormonism started in reaction to the denominationalism of Joseph Smith's day
2. Those who call themselves "Jehovah's Witnesses" use religious division to encourage people to follow their own strictly-controlled organization
-- How can any true disciple of Christ support such a harmful concept?
4. OTHERS WHO VIEWED DENOMINATIONALISM AS WRONG...
1. Martin Luther, a leader of the Reformation Movement:

   "I ask that men make no reference to my name, and call themselves not Lutherans, but Christians. What is Luther? My doctrine, I am sure, is not mine, nor have I been crucified for any one. St. Paul, in 1 Cor. 3, would not allow Christians to call themselves Pauline or Petrine, but Christian. How then should I, poor, foul carcass that I am, come to have men give to the children of Christ a name derived from my worthless name? No, no, my dear friends; let us abolish all party names, and call ourselves Christians after Him Whose doctrine we have." - Hugh Thomason Kerr, A Compend of Luther's Theology (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1943, p. 135)

2. John Wesley, another reformation leader, among whose followers are Methodists, Wesleyans, etc.:

   "Would to God that all party names, and unscriptural phrases and forms which have divided the Christian world, were forgot and that the very name [Methodist] might never be mentioned more, but be buried in eternal oblivion." - John Wesley, Universal Knowledge, A Dictionary and Encyclopedia of Arts, Science, History, Biography, Law, Literature, Religions, Nations, Races, Customs, and Institutions, Vol. 9, Edward A. Pace, Editor (New York: Universal Knowledge Foundation, 1927, p. 540)

3. Charles Spurgeon, one of the greatest Baptist preachers who ever lived:

   "I look forward with pleasure to the day when there will not be a Baptist living! I hope that the Baptist name will soon perish, but let Christ's name last forever." - Spurgeon Memorial Library, Vol. I., p. 168

-- Note well: these individuals were bemoaning the use of denominational titles, not organizational ties per se

CONCLUSION

1. But it is organizational ties above the local church that leads to denominationalism...
1. Once local churches are "organized under a single administrative and legal hierarchy", denominational names soon follow!
2. And so it is that denominationalism with its religious division continues to grow!
2. If local churches are to successfully confront the challenge of denominationalism, they must...
1. Remain independent, autonomous (self-governing) congregations
2. Refuse organizational associations with other churches
3. Refrain from using denominational names for their churches
3. Churches that succeed in avoiding denominationalism are more likely to be...
1. Nothing more than local churches of Christ
2. Christians who simply seek to follow Jesus as His disciples
3. The answer to the prayer of our Lord for unity among believers - cf. Jn 17:20-21

But there is another challenge, one that is closely related to denominationalism, which we shall consider in our next study: Sectarianism!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2022