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A frequent
follow-up question to “Are you a Christian?” is “What
denomination are you?” “Denomination” is not found in the
Bible, and the idea is based on sectarianism and division.
“Denomination” is not simply an incidental name, but a
choice to be divided from other believers who do not share
the same sectarian doctrines. Religious denominations are
divisions among people who may all claim to follow the same
Lord and same Bible-but cannot agree because of their
denomination.
As
Jesus prayed for His apostles before His arrest, he said,
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which
shall believe on me through their word; That they all may
be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they
also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou
hast sent me” (John 17:20-21). Jesus wanted unity among
His apostles, and among “them also which shall believe on
me through their word.” He prayed for the unity of
everyone who would believe the teaching of the apostles
(whether through their direct preaching or through the
written word of the Bible). This unity is not possible,
however, as long as the divisive denominational system
exists.
The
denominational system has developed with various creeds,
manuals, handbooks, hierarchies, and systems of
organization, which have grown more and more complex over
time. Years ago many men and women understood that the
denominational system was a violation of God’s will, and
sought to leave the denominations so that they could restore
the “undenominational” church of Christ of the New
Testament. By being just Christians, without being
associated with any denomination, they believed that they
could better serve and obey God. That is why the modern day
churches of Christ are undenominational. We have no creed
but the Bible, no denominational or church hierarchy over
the local congregation, and no authority for faith and
practice other than the Bible. We are not “Church of Christ
Christians,” but simply Christians.
There
were “seeds of denominationalism” in the church at Corinth.
Paul wrote, “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” (1 Corinthians 1:11-12). Some
at Corinth were not satisfied to be Christians only, but
wanted to be “Paulite Christians,” or “Apollosite
Christians,” or “Cephasite Christians.” Paul asked, “Is
Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye
baptized in the name of Paul?” (1:13). They had divided
the church into warring factions. Paul emphasized the
seriousness of the situation by saying he was glad he had
only baptized a few at Corinth, so few could claim to follow
Him, instead of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:14-16). Of what
denomination were Peter and Paul? They were just
Christians, and not members of any denomination. The church
of Christ, if it truly is the church we read of in the New
Testament, cannot be a denomination and at the
same time be pleasing to the Lord.
Is the
church of Christ a Denomination?
by Bob
Prichard
www.oxfordchurchofchrist.com |
