Historical Posts
Non-Denominational Christianity
Non-Denominational Means Unity
Non-Denominational Christianity means no factions. It means Unity. The acceptance of denominationalism has done more to prevent Christian unity today than any other single factor. The word denominationalism implies division. It is a disposition or mindset toward the formation of factions.
The whole spirit of denominationalism is contrary to the spirit of New Testament Christianity. Jesus fervently prayed for unity among believers (John 17:20-21). The apostle Paul condemned denominational tendencies in the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). He pleaded with disciples to be non-denominational. He wanted them to “speak the same things,” and that there would be “no divisions” among them (1 Corinthians 1:10). Now just the opposite philosophy prevails.
The major causes of denominationalism are twofold. First, division stems from a failure to study the Bible. Religious ignorance often characterizes the religious. We should be asking, “What saith the scripture?” (Romans 4:3). However, the question often is: “What does your preacher say?” The word of God, not the words of men, should be the final authority! Unity is impossible when the basis for non-denominational unity is ignored.
Second, division results from a refusal to accept what the Bible says. Often, those who know it refuse to accept it. Just for the sake of illustration, look at what the New Testament says regarding baptism. No honest Bible student would deny that baptism always involved an immersion in water as the appropriate response to the demand of Jesus and His disciples (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). Yet, the practice of sprinkling or pouring water upon someone and calling it baptism is widespread. Why is this? Even though the Bible is clear on this subject, what it says is ignored. Denominationalism results, not from an inability to understand the Scriptures, but from a refusal to accept them.
Churches of Christ are non-denominational. We have no head over the church but Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:18). We have no law to govern us but the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We wear no name but His (Acts 11:26). We are not Protestants. We are not Catholics! We are not Jews. We are Christians. We desire to be nothing more or less than that which we are called to be in God’s word.
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Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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The True Church
It is possible and desireable to have one true church. Jesus died to purchase it.
Any student of the Bible knows that the New Testament speaks of only one church, the true church. In Matthew 16:18, following Peter’s confession of the divinity of Christ, Jesus promised: “I will build my church.” The emphasis is on the fact that Jesus promised to build his church, not churches. The apostle Paul wrote: “There is one body” (Ephesians 4:4). The body and the church are one and the same (Colossians 1:18). If there is one body, there can only be one church. There is no mention of present day denominationalism in the New Testament. Denominationalism is non-biblical and anti-scriptural. Jesus’ prayer for his disciples was that they would all be one (John 17:21).
Conditions in the religious world today portray anything but a united church. Those who profess to follow Christ are divided into hundreds of factions. For one seeking to find the church of the Bible, it is an exceedingly difficult task. Each denomination believes that it is the true church, but that all other churches are acceptable, too! How can that be? It is generally argued that the various denominations comprise the visible church, and that the invisible church consists of the true believers from all denominations. Is that the case? The Bible says nothing about the visible and the invisible church!
We believe that it is possible to have one true church. We believe that it is desirable to have one true church. We believe that Jesus died to purchase one true church. It is not our purpose to condemn denominationalism, but it is our desire to preach the truth! We do not seek to sit in judgment of others, but we do want to teach what the Bible says about Christianity. Paul pleaded with the church at Corinth that they all speak the same things, and that there be no divisions among them, but that they be perfectly joined together in the same mind and judgment (1 Corinthians 1:10). Why should it be any different today?
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Questions and Answers 2012-07-29 – audio
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I. Question One – Is it ok to wear shorts “to church”?
A. To a large extent, it is a matter of preference.
1. The way members dress is often determined by climate and culture.
2. In the churches I attended in Tennessee, you would NEVER see someone wear shorts to worship.
3. However, in other places (I am told Florida is one case) shorts are common.
4. At church camp, I attended worship services in shorts because of the heat.
B. We need to be modest.
1. We looked at this in detail just recently.
2. No matter where we are (In worship or out) we need to be modest.
3. Short shorts are not modest.
4. A good guideline would be knee length.
C. We need to be respectful.
1. We must show respect toward God.
a) When we come to worship we are coming to pay homage to our Creator and Savior.
b) We ought to show proper respect.
c) Can we do that in shorts?
(1) Some would say, “No.”
(2) Some would say, “Sure.”
d) Other than modesty and respect, no dress code is given.
2. We must show respect toward our brethren.
a) Some brethren may have a problem with shorts.
b) Especially for men who may be leading in part of the service… shorts could be distracting.
(1) Many of you know that at our church picnics I always wear pants when I preach.
(2) At church camp, if I am speaking or leading in the service in some other way, I wear pants.
c) When I was younger, attending a small church in Gahanna, I use to wear shorts even when leading in the service. No one ever said a word to me about it but one day, at a men’s business meeting, I asked if my shorts were appropriate and one of the men spoke up and said that he didn’t like it. I never have worn shorts to service since.
d) 1 Corinthians 8:13. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
II. Question Two – What about other non-denominations?
A. This question was put into the box after the sermon a couple of weeks ago on the exclusivity of the church.
1. In that sermon we noticed that the “Church of Christ” is the church that we read about in the Bible and that it is NOT made up of various worldly denominations.
2. We noticed six identifying marks of the church of the Bible.
a) Authority.
b) Music.
c) One church.
d) Organization.
e) Titles.
f) Baptism.
B. The question is asking if “non-denominational” churches are the church of Christ.
1. The answer to that is that there are so many different non-denominational groups out there that you have to look at each one individually.
2. I chose one “non-denominational” church from the area and looked at their website.
3. It is the “Church in Aurora.”
4. Here is what I found.
a) Authority – believe that the Holy Spirit is still leading in a miraculous way and is even responsible for the division that exists among various religious bodies.
b) Organization – They have a Senior Pastor instead of a scriptural plurality of pastors.
(1) A picture of their Pastor shows him in his full ceremonial attire.
(2) “Representing Community Churches he is: a voting delegate to the National Council of Churches, a Judicatory Executive with the Ohio Council of Churches and the Treasurer for the Aurora Clergy Association.”
(3) Under “Governing Body” it says this. “Voting membership of the Church Board shall include the Moderator, Associate Moderator, Clerk, and Treasurer; one member from each of the Elders, Trustees, Stewardship Directors, Christian Education Committee, Fellowship Committee, Membership Committee, Mission Directors, Endowment Fund Directors, and Women’s Guild; and two members from Deacons, one man and one woman. The Associate Treasurer shall vote in the absence of the Treasurer. Each committee shall select its representative(S) to the Board.”
(4) Looking at a list of their elders, three women are listed.
c) Music.
(1) They have instrumental music.
(2) They have choirs.
d) Baptism is “in the mode desired” by the one being baptized. In other words, it could be sprinkling or pouring.
e) Communion is to be taken when the leadership decides to take it.
C. It is obvious, that just because a church calls itself non-denominational… that does not mean that it is the church we read about in the Bible.
III. Question Three – Are there really three levels of hell?
A. The simple answer to this question is, “No.”
B. I’m not sure where the number “3” comes from.
C. Dante’s Inferno, a part of a 14th century epic poem was written by Dante Alighieri.
1. In this poem, Dante is led through on a journey through Hell by a Roman poet named Virgil.
2. In it, there is said to be nine levels of hell.
3. Basically, the lower you go, the worse it gets; with the Devil being at the center of the earth in the 9th level.
D. The Bible does not speak of levels of hell but it does hint at levels of punishment.
1. Luke 12:47-48. And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
2. 2 Peter 2:20-21. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
IV. Question Four – If Jesus knew that Judas Iscariot would betray Him, why did He choose Him as an apostle in the first place?
A. Some things we are just not told – Deuteronomy 29:29
B. However, let me suggest two possibilities…
1. In order to be tempted in all points like as we are, He had to be betrayed by a friend – Hebrews 4:15
2. Ultimately, He came to earth to be put to death. Judas’ betrayal was part of that plan.
a) Don’t forget… Jesus’ betrayal was prophesied beforehand.
b) Psalm 41:9. Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.
c) John 13:18. “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’
V. Question Five – Can you go to heaven and in heaven can you go to hell?
(Not Discussed)
VI. Question Six – “Psalm 139:16. God knows our number of days before there was any… How can we possibly say – when a young person dies, or in fact anyone dies, that it is not God’s will?”
A. Psalm 139:13-16.
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
B. Definitions.
1. Will – the thing that one desires or ordains.
2. Ordain – to order or decree something officially.
C. Two important questions.
1. Does foreknowledge of an event mean that one approves of that event?
2. Does the decision to not intervene to prevent an event mean that one approves of that event?
D. God’s foreknowledge of events does not mean that He desires it or has ordered it.
1. He foreknew that Adam and Eve would sin. 1 Peter 1:20. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
2. His will in this case was for them to be obedient and stay in fellowship with Him.
3. 2 Peter 3:9. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
4. 1 Timothy 2:4. Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth
E. Does God’s failure to intervene mean that He desires that particular event to happen?
1. We need to understand God’s permissive will.
2. God made the decision before He ever created man that He would allow man the freedom to choose for Himself.
3. As a result, sin came into the world and death because of sin.
4. Sin and death are not God’s will.
5. To some extent, we even do this with our own children.
6. We step aside and allow them to do things that we know they are going to regret.
7. A good example of this is the story of Joseph.
a) Ultimately, everything that happened in Joseph’s life fulfilled God’s purpose.
b) But that doesn’t mean that God approved of the way that Joseph’s brothers treated him.
c) Neither did God approve of Potiphar’s wife’s deception.
d) However, God was able to use these bad things to bring about something good.
Delivered on: July 29, 2012. Streetsboro.
Content by Ralph Price
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John 17:20-21 Causes of Denominationalism – audio
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Text: John 17:20-21.
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Introduction
1. “Denominate” – to name.
2. “Denomination” – a name or designation, especially one serving to classify a set of things. A recognized autonomous branch of the Christian church.
3. There are about 20-30 major denominations in existence today.
4. Among those major groupings, there are countless sub-divisions.
5. For example: Read list of Baptist Subdivision in the United States.
6. That God is displeased with this situation is beyond doubt.
7. How did we get to this current state of affairs?
8. Some would look back to the Reformation movement of the 1500’s with Martin Luther as the start of Denominationalism.
9. While it is true that most of the modern denominations had their origins in the Reformation; it is also true that the underlying causes of denominationalism were present long before even the establishment of the church.
Body
I. Jesus’ Disciples. Mark 9:33-38.
A. Even before the church was established there were certain “red flags” that warned of division to come.
B. Jesus’ disciples were concerned with who would be the greatest among them.
C. Pride is one of the major causes of denominationalism.
D. There always have been and always will be people who desire to have a following.
1. Paul warned the Ephesian elders of this. Acts 20:29-30.
2. Diotrephes is another example. 3 John 9.
E. Also we see in Mark 9:33-38, that the disciples demonstrated an elitist attitude.
1. There was a man casting out demons in the name of Jesus.
2. Thus, he was a true follower of Jesus or else he would not be able to do such.
3. Yet the disciples forbade him because he was not part of their little group.
4. This is much like the attitude that Diotrephes demonstrated.
5. This type of divisive attitude is also one of the causes of denominationalism.
F. Jesus’ answer?
1. Don’t seek to be great.
2. Seek to be a servant.
3. Greatness in the kingdom of Christ comes from serving others!
II. The church at Corinth. 1 Corinthians 1:11-12.
A. Spiritual immaturity is another cause of denominationalism.
B. Just like there will always be certain men who want to have followers, there will always be people who are more interested in the preacher than what is being preached.
C. Sometimes these people will denominate them selves even when their leader does not desire it.
For example, Martin Luther said, “I pray you leave my name alone and not to call yourselves Lutherans, but Christians. Who is Luther? My doctrine is not mine: I have not been crucified for any one…How does it then benefit me, a miserable bag of dust and ashes, to give my name to the children of Christ? Cease, my dear friends, to cling to these party names and distinctions; away with all of them; and let us call ourselves only Christians, after Him from whom our doctrine comes.”
1. I disagree with Luther on a lot of things but he had it exactly right in this statement!
2. Yet, his followers still call themselves Lutherans.
D. What were Paul’s instructions?
1. 1 Corinthians 1:10.
2. 1 Corinthians 1:13.
3. 1 Corinthians 3:3-4.
III. The Pharisees.
A. Mark 7:1-9.
1. The Pharisees had no respect for the authority of the Scriptures.
2. They had placed the traditions of men above the Scriptures. (v.9)
3. Jesus says that those who do this are far from God. (v.6)
4. Furthermore, He says that their worship is vain. (v.7)
B. The Bible alone will make Christians only.
1. We don’t read of Methodists, Lutherans, Baptists, Episcopalians, etc… in the Bible.
2. These names and different doctrines are the result of man’s lack of respect for the authority of the Scriptures.
3. Sometimes it is not a lack of respect for Biblical authority but is rather an incorrect view of it.
a) Some feel that anything not expressly forbidden by Scripture is authorized.
b) Time and time again we are shown that God’s silence does not authorize.
(1) Leviticus 10:1-2.
(2) 2 Samuel 7:1-7.
IV. The Galatians.
A. Galatians 1:6-9.
1. The Galatians were allowing their selves to be led astray by certain people who were perverting the Gospel of Christ.
2. Paul marveled (was amazed) that they were turning away so soon.
3. The Galatians, evidently, were either ignorant of the truth or simply didn’t care that the truth was being perverted.
a) How could they not know the truth? Weren’t they Christians?
b) The answer is yes, but even Christians, if they do not continue to study and grow, can forget the very fundamental truths upon which their salvation was built.
c) Hebrews 5:12.
d) Hence the reason Peter felt the need to constantly remind the brethren of basic, fundamental truths. 2 Peter 1:12-15.
B. Lack of knowledge, will all too often, lead to denominationalism.
1. Hosea 4:6.
2. It amazes me how many people do not even know the basic tenets of their denomination.
a) I have yet to meet a member of any denomination who tells me that they believe a little baby is born sinful.
b) But a common tenet of most denominations is the doctrine of Original Sin which teaches that very thing!
3. Many have never taken the time to find out what their church teaches much less what the Bible teaches on a given topic.
4. 1 John 4:1.
Conclusion
1. Denominationalism is wrong.
2. However, denominationalism is just a symptom of deeper problems which have been a constant danger to man.
a. Pride and an elitist attitude.
b. Spiritual Immaturity.
c. No respect for Biblical authority or a perverted view of such.
d. Ignorance of the truth and apathy.
3. All of these things will lead to religious division.
4. What is the answer?
5. Repent and go back to the authority – The Bible!
Delivered on: January 15, 2012. Streetsboro.
Content by Ralph Price
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