Approximately one third of the world’s population profess to be Christian. Within this group of professing Christians, there are many subdivision known as denominations. When I think of denominations, I think of money. We have the one, five, ten, twenty, fifty and one hundred dollar bills. Each bill can be a denomination or division of a total some of money in one’s possession. In this way, it is easy to understand the concept of a denomination being a division of a larger group, such as Christianity. Some of the larger groups are the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Coptic Christian, Lutheran, Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Congregational, Nazarene, Christian Reformed, Society of Friends, Church of Christ, Church of God, Adventist, Mennonite, Amish, Charismatic and Pentecostal. They exist due to doctrinal differences in their respective denominations. The doctrinal differences, in some cases, are small while in other’s, they are substantial. It runs the spectrum from a very liberal to very conservative view of doctrine.
The Roman Catholic church defines itself as the mother church. It believes that all of the denominational, protestant churches are daughters of the Roman Church, because they splintered off from the church during the period known as the reformation. When I went through Anglican confirmation classes as a teenager, they taught that all protestant denominations were basically catholic or universal. They distinguished the catholic or universal church as the mother church. There view at the time was, the Roman Catholic Church was a separate denomination, within the universal or catholic church at large. One might wonder how all of these denominations can be a legitimate form of Christianity, if their doctrines are so varied. Regardless of the precepts of men, let us see what the Bible says about the concept of denominations or divisions within Christianity.
Mt 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
The Apostle Matthew records the principles Jesus taught about unity. Jesus said, that if any house was divided against itself, it would not stand, but be brought to desolation. This statement of the Messiah directly contradicts the idea of denominations within Christianity. The only way any house, organization, business, or church could stand was through the concept of unity.
Eph 4:4-5 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
I Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus that there is only one faith. There are not a multiple number of faiths, based on different doctrinal beliefs about God, baptism, or any of the precepts of Christianity. He also said in his letter to the assembly of believers in Corinth, there is only one body. The body is a metaphor for the “body of Christ,” which is the assembly of the entire body of all of the believers, we often refer to as the church. It is obvious from this text that there is only one church in the eyes of God. This church is not a human organization. This church is, also, not a physical building, temple or place of worship. It is the body or assembly of like minded believers.
Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
In the book of Romans, Paul beseeched the Roman church or in other words pleaded with them, warning the church to identify people that would cause division in the church. He said to make note of those who would cause people to people to commit offenses contrary to the doctrine they had learned. The doctrine are the principles and precepts taught by the Apostle Paul and the other Apostles, from the word of God. Then he says to avoid those people. In other words, we should not fellowship with those who teach false doctrines that cause division within the body of believers.
There exists today, an ecumenical movement, that says, we should set aside our denominational differences, and unite in one Christian organization along the lines of doctrine, where we are in agreement. Some might say, this is what the Apostle Paul was talking about. The idea being, the denominations of the world should compromise their individual beliefs, so that the Christians of the world can unite. Unfortunately, the same political forces, that are calling for inter-faithism, are behind this movement to try to get everyone accept this idea, everyone who calls himself a Christians, is one. The ecumenical movement is politically motivated, and has nothing to do with Biblical doctrines of truth as we will see. Paul clearly infers, the criteria is the doctrine, the Apostles originally taught and not all of the variations, that have come into being over the last 2,000 years.
I Cor 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Note here that Paul warns the Corinthian church to all speak the same thing. He does not say to compromise the faith in any way. He does not say to respect other peoples beliefs, or to be tolerant of what others believe in order to join to them. As we saw in his letter to Rome, he said avoid those people who would create division. Here he says to be perfectly joined together in the same mind and judgement.
I Cor 6:2-3 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
It is popular today to believe that we should not judge others. Actually the Bible teaches to the contrary. We are to judge, especially the beliefs of others. We do not yet judge according to anyone’s salvation. But we can certainly judge right from wrong.
Jn 12:48 “. . . the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”
The tool that we use to make our judgements, is the word of God. This means we need to judge truth, then agree and not have any difference in doctrine according to the word. By contrast it does not mean we must tolerate and respect differences in doctrine.
I Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
The Apostle John writes, we are to try or test the spirit of other people. How can we test a spirit, if we are not allowed to judge? No, we must judge right from wrong, good from evil, and truth from lies. If we do not do this, we will be led astray by the false prophets of the world.
Jm 3:14-16 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
So what is the source of the differences in doctrine. Here James says it is the work of the devil, Satan. He calls it confusion and evil. This gets to the heart of the issue of why there are so many denominations, within the Christian faith. It is the work of the devil, trying to create confusion to throw people off the right track, to get people off the path to salvation. The devil has influenced men to separate along doctrinal lines, so as to create so much confusion no one will ever be able to sort it all out. God is not the author of all of this confusion, Satan is. Satan came to rob, to kill and to destroy. He wants to rob people of their salvation by creating confusion and making it difficult. Our salvation comes from the word of God. Through the authority of the Bible, we are able to discern the truth.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Paul wrote to the church of Galatia, if he were to preach a different gospel, than the one he preached at first, or if an angel from heaven were to come along preaching a different gospel, let him be accursed. So what are we to make of this. It is simple, we need to see what the apostles were teaching in the early church. We need to nail down the apostles doctrine, and then find someone who is teaching, preaching and living that doctrine.
Mt 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Jesus spoke plainly in this verse from Matthew’s gospel. He said, the majority would be wrong in their pursuit of God. Most people will only get on the broad way. The way of least resistance. The easy road. This path leads to destruction. But Jesus said there is a narrow way that leads to life. We need to be one of the ones who seeks the narrow path, and finds the way that leads back into the Garden of Eden, which is a type of the church. It is the re-establishment of the covenant relationship between man and his Creator.
Mt 7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Here as recorded by Matthew, Jesus speaks of the judgement, when there will be many people, who will come before him, bragging of all of their works they did in his name. Look at Jesus response. Jesus said, “I never new you.” These people talked about Jesus. They thought they were in the kingdom of God. They worked hard at doing the works of God. Somehow in all of that, they did not really know who he was. They did not really have a covenant relationship with him. They somehow got on the broad way. Their end was, the salvation they thought they had achieved, was taken from them.
There is evidence that throughout history, God has had an assembly of faithful believers. Those who truly love God and seek to serve him only. The following is a brief history of major events that followed the first century church. It is interesting to note, that as new movements evolved from the main stream Roman Catholic Church, there appears to be doctrinal truths that were added to each of the major movements.
30 AD TO 100 AD,1ST CENTURY, One God, repentance, baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost as evidenced by the speaking in tongues, and holiness.
100AD to 165 AD, JUSTIN MARTYR, Baptism – “For, in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the universe, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they then receive the washing with water.”
UNK to 202AD, IRENAEUS, Infant baptism and Maryiology.
150AD to 215AD, CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA, Eternal Security.
160 AD TO 225 AD, TURTULLIAN, Roman Trinity (horizontal) and holiness.
185AD to 254, ORIGEN ADAMANTIUS, Eastern Orthodox Trinity (vertical)
313 AD to 337 AD, CONSTANTINE, Unifies all Roman Religion under the authority of the Bishop of Rome.
325 AD, NICENE COUNCIL, Formation of Roman and Orthodox Catholicism.
400 AD TO 1400, CATHOLICISM, Popes reign as Vicar of Christ, ruling over religious matters on an equal level with the political power. Infant baptism in the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Intercession by priesthood only, priests forgive sins, indulgences, transubstantiation, celibacy of the priesthood, deification of Mary and Saints.
1382 AD, JOHN WYCLIFFE, Translate Bible from the Latin Vulgate.
1517 AD, MARTIN LUTHER, Justification by faith, rejection of indulgences and works as a mode of salvation.
1536 AD, JOHN CALVIN, Presbyterian, communion as a memorial, rejection of transubstantiation.
1537 AD, JOHN ROGERS, First direct translation of the Bible.
1580 AD, ROBERT BROWNE, Congregational, separation of church and state.
1609 AD, ANABAPTIST, Baptism by believers only. Rejection of infant baptism.
1611 AD, KING JAMES, Direct translation into the then new English language.
1729 AD, JOHN WESTLY, Methodist, inward experience with God and Holiness.
1801 AD, CHRISTIAN CHURCH, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins.
1901 AD, PENTECOSTAL, Under the ministry of Charles Parnham, Agnes Ozmand and others receive the gift of the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in other tongues..
1906 AD, HOUSTON REVIVAL, W. J. Seymour receives the gift of the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in other tongues.
1907 AD, APOSTOLIC, W. J. Seymour is invided to preach in Los Angeles at the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene by Julia Hutchins. Hutchin’s locks out Mr. Seymour and he moves to Mrs. Ashbury’s home on 214 N. Bonnie Brae Street and later to Azusa Street. The Pentecostal Church as a result changes it’s name to the Nazarene Church.
1913 AD, ARROYO SECO, R. E. McAlister preaches on Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins .
1914 AD, ASSEMBLIES OF GOD, Formed in Hot Springs Arkansas.
1916 AD, ASSEMBLIES OF GOG CONVENTION, The Assembly of God, Hot Springs Convention, disfellowships 156 oneness Pentecostal preachers.
Rev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
The current position of the Roman Catholic Church is that it is the Mother Church and all of the Protestant churches, coming out of the reformation. as long as they accept the doctrine of the trinity, are her daughter churches.
2 Tim 3:1-2 & 5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, . . . Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: . . .
We are in the age of prosperity doctrine and easy believism. A time when man’s god is going to make everyone rich and prosperous. It is easy to become a Christian according to these teachers. All you have to do is believe. Believe and you will be saved. Believe something, believe anything, it is easy, just believe and you will be saved. God is a loving god, he will not bring judgement on man for his sin. He does not do that. If he did, we would not be able to accept him as a loving god. Is that what the Bible really teaches? No! Certainly not.
Gn 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
There was only one way into the garden that God planted on the west of Eden.
Gn 6:16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
According to the pattern the Lord gave to Noah, there was only one door to the Ark.
Ex 14:21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
When God led Moses and the children of Israel out of Egypt, they came to the Red Sea. God only provided one way across the Red Sea to safety. That was across the dry ground and through the wall of water he opened up in the sea.
Ex 27:16 And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.
When the Lord gave Moses the pattern for the tent of the tabernacle in the wilderness, he only provided one entrance into the tabernacle.
Js 3:15-16 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam . . .
When Joshua led the children of Israel across the river Jordan, into the promised land, the river was at flood stage. The Lord provided only one channel for them to cross over Jordan.
In each of example from the Old Testament, the children of God always had to follow the pattern God had given them. God always provided just one entrance to safety or one way of escape. If we want to follow the God of the Bible, we must follow him according to the pattern he created. One must find the one way to salvation. The Lord said the way would be the straight gate and the narrow way according to scripture. This way would be according to the pattern he set in his Holy Scriptures.
