Are denominations Biblical?

Denominations are not necessarily divisions.

Too many times, denominations are made into divisions.

 

Without doubt, the Biblical ideal is for all Christians to be unified. But in this life, that is an impossibility.

To achieve it would require that certain things be declared non-essential to unity. Is it really possible to agree on what those things are?

Then we would have to agree on the basis for our unity. And that would be what?

Is it possible to achieve unity around the plan of salvation? No. Unless, that is, we can agree that there are many plans, all valid.

Oh, we can cooperate on specific issues. Catholics and Baptists can join together on the sancity of life, for insance.

It's a nice dream, and will come when we are gathered together at that great General Assembly in heaven, all of us knowing the truth at last. Until then it's just a dream and any attempt to achieve it will produce an artificial result.

 

No. How many Jewish denominations were there in the OT? Jesus founded a Church (singular), not different Churches with each one competing with the other doctrinally.

If you believe Jesus when He said he would protect His Church from the gates of hell…be with His Church always, even until the end of the world…remind His Church of all things. Then you owe it to yourself to seek out that Church.

IN XC
-

 

Denominations are formed along doctrinal lines even to the point of denominational-splits within denominations. (i.g "How many Baptist groups"?? Indepentant, Free Will, SBC, ... and "How many Church of God" groups? How many Mormon groups? How many Catholic groups?)

First there was simply the Christian Church managed by the Jerusalem Council.

At some point this fractured and we got to the denomination known as the "Catholic Church" -- after that - "the RCC" after .. etc.

Doctrinal division is innevitable given man's blind spot when it comes to man-made traditions "appearing" as IF they are Bible doctrine.

in Christ,

Bob

 

A dangerous question to ask on this board. I am sure you will get as many answers as there are denominations. I would have to say Lutherans, excluding ELCA, are as close as possible.

 

Sounds good in the opening years of Christianity, but as the Church grew and spread the need of other “Councils” as you call them were needed to “manage” the growth of Christianity…The Christian Church became centered around Five ecclesiastical centers…Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem and Alexandra.

In 1054 it was Rome who excommunicated herself from the remaining ecclesiastical centers.

This schism resulted in the Western Church (otherwise known as the Roman Catholic Church) and the Eastern Church (otherwise known as the Eastern Orthodox Church, which still consisted of Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem and Alexandra).

500 years later in the 1500’s; we see the Protestant Reformation a schism in the Western Church, which had no bearing on the Eastern Church and her remaining four ecclesiastical centers.

Shortly after the Protestant Reformation we begin to see schisms within Protestantism and close to 500 years later today…the tradition of schisms continues…

In XC
-

**Actual the first schism was in the 500's when the Coptic Orthodox emerged as a result of their herectical views of the Trinity, as of today a few Coptic Churches have thus reconciled with the Church by their correct view of the Trinity and is now in communion the the Eastern Church...

-

 

JWs would say that we all need to be converted to their manner of faith.

Restorationists will also make the same argument.

Rome likewise.

Some Baptists too.

Let's say that only Christ knows what His number really is.

Denominational affiliation is not the same as belonging to Christ.

 

So it took 1500 plus years for Luther to figure it all out?

In XC
-

 

There is a book I can recommend called "The Eternal Kingdom" by F.W. Mattox that does a good job tracing the history of the church from the first century up to the Restoration Movement. I'm sure there are others, but this is one that I've read. Might be a little hard to find.

 

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach NTHER DOCTRINE” (1 Timothy 1:3).

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, THE SAME commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

I believe that we have to stand up for the truth, and not compromise, just as Paul instructed timothy.

AJ

 

Preach it!

 

Actually there were many fractures and schism before the big one in 1054. But the Catholic church tended to torment and persecute those who did not go along with their own brand of "evolving errors" and tried on numerous occassions to "re-write history" in their favor.

But God predicted in Rev 12 and in Dan 7 this 1260 year period of "dark ages" persecution of the saints by Rome.

in Christ,

Bob

 

IMHO some 21% of existing denominations in the US were started to ERASE DENOMINATIONALISM. My Baptist church teaches the same way as the Church of Christ down the street (Alright, I'll mention them, they both bear the name of the street): Alameda Baptist Church and Alameda Church of Christ. They both teach the same way about salvation - and one can get saved in either of them, if you listen carefully. All the other differences are minor - I know I have worshiped in both places. I sent my 4 year old son to the day school there, he graduated from pre-school to kindergarten one day. This Church of Christ denomination (not to be confused with other 'CoC' denominations which might be different) was started by a Baptist preacher whose Church read the Bible, disdained denominationalism, and so added another Denomination???

Also, because the USofA has rules to protect churches from governments, there are lots of denominations that are really the same or similar doctrines, but don't have a common governance - i.e. more denominations.

Simular question:
Is using velcro to hold on shoes Biblical?
Answer: NO. But that answer is meaningless.
Humans use velcro to hold their shoes on.
God used Denominations to do His work on earth.

 

Thanks for this wise counsel, Ed.

I wish all can read this and benefit.

As long as this earth continues, denominations of various stripes will continue.

But here's the rub: Christ knows those who belong to Him.

 

I think Baptist is the only true denomination. We follow after John...

 

Are denominations bibllical? Let me ask this question: are false teachings biblical?

Sounds like a strange way to address this question about denominations, but we must ask what we mean by biblical, a phrase that gets thrown around a lot and isn't very meaningful to me. I have never met someone who claimed to be a Christian that didn't claim to do things "biblically".

Now let's ask: are divisions in the body of Christ God's desire and a result of His Spirit? Undoubtedly no.
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5:19-21

Look at this list and see how seriously God takes what leads to denominations. If God's people only took the emboldened words as seriously as those around it... It is so easy to see the sins of the flesh as merely a bunch of activities that wild party types are into. Look at Jesus and who he was the most frustrated with: a bunch of religious people who thought they had all the answers.

With that said, denominations are not the problem. If it were, getting rid of denominations would be the solution. You and I are not going to get rid of denominations any more than we are going to get rid of pronography, drugs, and other "disgusting" sins. However, individual lives can be transformed by the Gospel in the midst of this "wicked and perverse generation". That generation is involved in drugs, incest, and denominationalism.

I actually think it is GOd's will for us to live in this environment: a world fill with the works of the flesh surrounding us. It is the perfect way for God to test our faith and see if we will keep our eyes focused on things above and not on things on the earth. There is no man or woman who will be able to out live the opportunity this world affords to develop the mind of Christ.

Ironically, this very thing that grieves God is something we need to be involved in. We just need to not be the cause of it. The factions which arise are a necessary sifting tool of the this life. In a letter that begins with an appeal for unity we find the following: "For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." (I Cor. 11:19) Even Jeus Himself said "Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" (Matt. 18:7) The wheat and the tares are to grow together.

This environment also helps us develop our discernment and the need to seek wisdom from above. Shortly following a beautiful picture of the the Church being described like a body Paul gives the following exhortation:
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Rom. 16:17-18

This "marking and avoiding" requires the Spirit of God do be done properly.

May we all be encouraging one another to be walking in truth.

"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." I John 2:17

 

It should be obvious that St Paul started a new denomination with ground rules different from the Jerusalem Synod.

 

But, Paul preached the true gospel of Jesus.....he forsook the teachings of the Jews.

I believe that God knew beforehand that many would develop and teach a false doctrine, that He warned us of this....

Is this what God really wants.....no.....the scripture is clear.......but does God expect us to worship with people who preach and teach a perverted gospel?

NOOOOOOO......no way, or for us to condone the perversions by worshipping side by side with them???????

No way

AJ