Let’s look at the New Testament and see what it says regarding the topic of religious division and the concept of denominationalism. (Key words and phrases are in bold.)
WHAT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS
Matthew 16:18 – “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
John 17:20-23 – “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”
1 Corinthians 1:10 – “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”
Ephesians 4:4-6 – “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
2 Corinthians 6:14 – “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?”
Galatians 1:6-8 – “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
Philippians 1:27 – “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.”
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2 Peter 2:2 – “And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.”
Jude 3 – “ Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”
2 John 10 – “ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting.”
OBSERVATIONS FROM THE SCRIPTURE
- There is One Church and Body. Jesus established one church and it belongs to Him (Mt. 16:18). The apostle Paul recognized but one church or body (Eph. 4:4-6; Col. 4:6).
- Jesus Prayed for Unity. Jesus prayed for the unity of His future followers the night before His crucifixion (Jn. 17:20-23). Do you think He saw it as a vital matter?
- Paul’s Attitude Toward Religious Division. When Paul heard of the divisions of the one church at Corinth, He admonished them to come together as one perfectly joined body (1 Cor. 1:10). Some had begun denominating themselves after their favorite preacher, saying things like: “‘I follow Paul,’ or ‘I follow Apollos,’ or ‘I follow Cephas,’ or ‘I follow Christ’” (1 Cor. 1:12). Paul, of course, was dealing with a single congregation at one given locality that had become divided. Paul writes to them in order to prevent a further split in the church, and instead, to help them truly be one body.
- The Cause and Cure for Division. The cause of religious division involves teachings which are contrary to the pure (uncorrupted) Gospel of Christ (Gal. 1:6-8). Clearly, in the passages noted previously, there is a body of doctrine that the Lord intends Christians to embrace. This is evidenced in phrases like: “does not bring this teaching” (2 Jn. 10), “contend for the faith” (Jude 3), “the way of truth” (2 Pt. 2:2), “the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27), “different gospel,” “distort the gospel,” and “a gospel contrary” (Gal. 1:6-8), and “one faith” (Eph. 4:5). The belief, teaching and practice of something other than what has been revealed in God’s Word is that which causes religious division (denominationalism). This can be the result of not understanding the Scripture and/or a lack of respect for the authority of Scripture.
The Lord desires unity but not unity at all costs (see 2 Cor. 6:14). His desire and prayer is for faithful followers to be united in the one body of Christ through the obedience and practice of the one true Gospel system revealed in Scripture.
Daren Schroeder
