In last month's issue, we began this study by discussing the concept of denominationalism. We also looked at four important facts about the Lord's church.
- The Lord's church has the right builder and head and wears His name.
- The Lord's church began at the right time and place.
- The Lord's church has the right doctrine and practice.
- The Lord's church has the right organizational structure.
In this issue, we will consider parallel points regarding denominationalism.
Denominations
Denominational churches have the wrong builders, and they wear the wrong names. The denominations already mentioned--Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Pentecostal--and many others we could mention, were founded by men and wear names that are NOT Bible names. In Matthew 16:18, Christ said: "I will build my church." He did not build churches with differing names, heads, origins, doctrines, and creeds. He built His church! The confusion of denominationalism is the result of man's tampering with God's plan. The apostle Paul said: "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace." (1 Corinthians 14:33)
Denominational churches began at the wrong times and places. For example:
- In 606 Boniface III founded the Roman Catholic religion in Rome;
- In 1520 Martin Luther founded the Lutheran religion in Germany;
- In 1534 Henry VIII founded the Episcopalian religion in England;
- In 1607 John Symthe founded the Baptist religion in Holland;
- In 1830 Joseph Smith began the Mormon religion in America;
- In 1872 Charles T. Russell began the Jehovah's Witnesses religion in America.
These and all other man-made religions wear the wrong NAMES, began at the wrong TIMES and PLACES, and were built by the wrong BUILDERS. Therefore, contrary to their claims, they are NOT the Lord's church. In the last Great Day, the Lord will root up and cast away all false religions (Matthew 15:13; 7:21-23).
Denominational churches follow the wrong doctrines and practices.
- Some denominations practice sprinkling or pouring for baptism, and some even baptize infants. The Bible teaches that sinners are to be "buried in baptism" (Romans 6).
- Some use mechanical instruments of music in worship, although the New Testament clearly authorizes only singing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).
- Some commemorate the Lord's death quarterly, or semiannually, or only on the traditional "Easter" Sunday, even though the Bible teaches that first-century saints commemorated the Lord's death on the first day of each and every week (Acts 20:7).
- Some denominations have women preachers and "clergy" members, even though Paul taught that women should keep silence in the church and not usurp authority over men (1 Corinthians 14:34).
- Some have ordained homosexual "pastors" as part of their "clergies," even though the clergy system is man-made, and the inspired apostle Paul condemned moral impurity, which includes homosexuality (Romans 1:21-32; Galatians 5: 19-21).
- Many teach the false doctrine (better known as Premillenialism) that Christ will return to reign on earth for 1000 years. Premillenial doctrine pivots on perversions of Revelation 20.
- Many denominational clergy members wear distinctive clerical dress, such as the Roman collar, even though Christ condemned this practice in Matthew 23 when he denounced the dress of the scribes and Pharisees.
- Denominations provide entertainment, including plays, food feeds, gymnasiums, fellowship halls, and all manner of schemes to satisfy the lusts of human desire. Did Christ die for His church or for entertainment halls and recreation programs? Paul opposed such activity in the Corinthian church and pronounced a divine apostolic condemnation when he wrote: "What? Have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? Or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I praise you not." (1 Corinthians 11:22)
Denominations have man-made creeds and manuals.
- The Baptists have the Standard Baptist Manual;
- The Presbyterians have the Book of Order and Book of Confessions;
- The Pentecostals have a manual that contains their "Articles of Faith, Constitution, Judicial Procedure, and Position Papers;"
- The Methodists have a Discipline;
- The Mormons have the Articles of Faith and Book of Mormon.
It is not difficult to see that denominationalism places men's doctrines and commandments ABOVE the authority of Christ and the Bible. During his personal ministry, Christ condemned such practices, as did His apostles during the first century. Their condemnation rendered denominationalism and its worship vain (Matthew 15:9; 1 Corinthians 4:6).
Denominational churches are organized unscripturally. They have governing boards, district councils, bishops who rule over dioceses, the pope, cardinals, synods, and universal ruling bodies of men who rule and reign over a plurality of churches. The New Testament says nothing about such organizational structures. Christ is head of His church (Ephesians 1:22,23; 4:12; 5:23). He is now reigning, and will continue to reign, until He subdues all enemies, the last enemy being death (1 Corinthians 15:25, 26).
Conclusion
After this short comparison of the Lord's church and denominationalism, it becomes evident to any honest person that denominationalism originated from men, NOT from God. In Hebrews 8:1-2, the Hebrew writer summed up well the truth we are to follow concerning true religion: "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, Who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." Are you a member of the church the Lord built, or are you a member of a denomination that a man built?