Many people accept the idea that denominationalism is the will of God. They cannot conceive of a church that is not a denomination. Even if a church claims to be non-denominational, still conducts itself in a denominational way, and is still viewed as a denomination by the world. Denominationalism may be accepted by many people, but it is not accepted by God. Not only is denominationalism not a part of God's will, it is actually contrary to the Bible's teaching regarding the Lord's church.
Denominationalism promotes religious division. Jesus prayed that His believers would all be one. "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me" (John 17:20-21). Jesus wanted His followers to be one. Today, those who claim to believe in Jesus are divided into hundreds of different groups. These groups claim to have unity with one another through a common belief in Jesus, but they remain distinct and separated from one another.
Denominations are different. They have different beliefs and doctrines, different types of organization, different requirements for membership, different types of worship, and call themselves by different names. While the world accepts these differences, the Bible says that all believers are to agree. "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Cor. 1:10). The instruction found in this verse cannot be accomplished in denominationalism. For instance, some groups sprinkle babies and call that "baptism." Other groups insist that baptism is the immersion of believing adults. Some teach that once a person is saved, he is always saved. Others insist that one can fall from grace. Some churches practice speaking in tongues and the laying on of hands to perform miracles. Others insist that these practices have been taken away. Some ordain women and homosexuals to positions within their clergy, while others will not. Denominationalism does not provide unity. It offers the community a doctrinal smorgasbord, allowing people to customize their church experience. The only unity provided by denominationalism is the insistence that we agree to disagree.
Denominationalism destroys the headship of Christ. Jesus Christ is the head of His church. "And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Eph. 1:22-23). The church is His body. There is only one head and only one body. Anything else would make a freak show out of Christ. What would we think of a physical body with two heads, or one head joined to two physical bodies? Such an individual would be found in a sideshow at the circus, not enthroned as Lord in our hearts.
Some may claim that the different denominations of our day are the different parts or members of the one body of Christ. However, there were no denominations in the first century. The body of Christ was made up of saved people (Acts 2:47), not different kinds of churches. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth and said they were "the body of Christ, and members individually" (1 Cor. 12:27). The body of Christ is made up of people. Not congregations, and certainly not denominations.
Christ is the head of His church. If Christ is the head, then He is in charge, just as the head is in control of the physical body. However, denominations fail to follow the biblical pattern for the church by refusing to yield to the authority of Christ. They have their own creeds, manuals, and disciplines. Some even claim to have additional revelation from God or an additional testament from Jesus Christ. They are not content to follow the "doctrine of Christ" (2 John 9), but worship in vain teaching as doctrines the commandments of men (Matt. 15:9).
A denomination is an addition to the Bible. Jesus said that He would build His church, not churches (Matt. 16:18). All that can be found in the Bible is the one church that Jesus built through the preaching of His apostles. There were different local congregations spoken of in the New Testament, but these were not different kinds of churches. They were different groups of saved people in different physical locations that all believed and practiced the same things. Paul said that he taught the same thing "everywhere in every church" (1 Cor. 4:17). It would be impossible for Paul to preach like this in modern day denominationalism.
Do we need another revelation than the one that the Holy Spirit has given to us? No. Do we need another Savior than the one that God gave for us? No. Then why do we need another church than the one that Jesus built for us?
Since denominational is not found in the Bible, it is not a part of God's plan for the church and must be rejected entirely. It is possible to be a member of the Lord's church without being a part of denominationalism. Not only is it possible, it is essential!