DENOMINATIONALISM

INTODUCTION

1. There are several issues that need to be studied.

   1. What is denominationalism?

   2. Why do so many different ones exist?

   3. What do they teach?

   4. Are we (churches of Christ) a denomination?

2. I was asked to teach about what denominations teach.

3. How do you summarize the more than 500 denominations in the USA?

4. Here is the plan for this study:

   1. A brief history of the background that led to forming denominations.

   2. A brief history of the beginnings of the major denominations.

   3. A look at the five major groups of denominations.

   4. A study of the common teachings in most (but not all) denominations.

   5. An examination of some ways that we are similar to denominations

   6. A study of why we refuse to become a denomination.

Background History

1. Departures from N T pattern

   1. Organization

      1. New Testament pattern of Elders, Deacons, and Minister

      2. Local church autonomy – no structure over local congregation

      3. Bishop (capital “B”) over bishops (lower case “b”)

      4. Elders (capital “E”) over elders (lower case “e”)

      5. Metropolitans – Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Constantinople

      6. Clergy separated from laity

      7. More and more layers of hierarchy added

   2. Worship

      1. Holy Water

      2. Pouring for baptism

      3. Transubstantiation

      4. People take bread, only priest takes the cup

      5. Sign of the cross

      6. Rosary – beads and the prayers with each bead

      7. Veneration of Mary and saints

      8. Icons, Statues, Images, Relics (bones, anything connected with the person)

      9. Pagan influences of people “converted”

   3. Doctrine

      1. Infant baptism – Original Sin

      2. Councils to change teachings

      3. Creeds

      4. Purgatory

      5. Holy Days – every day is designated for something in the Catholic calendar

      6. Writing rules – celibacy of clergy, no meat on Friday, worship in Latin

2. Corruption of Catholic system

   1. Power of Pope – Infallible

   2. Priests – get away with “murder” (recent scandal in USA)

   3. Indulgences – pay for forgiveness of sins in advance

3. A religion of works

   1. Penance, candles

   2. Confession of sins

   3. EVERYTHING involved money!

   4. All 7 Sacraments involve money

4. Opposition to power of the Pope

5. Bible translated and printed in language of people

   1. After more than 1,000 years without being able to read the Bible

   2. John Wickliff (1328-1384) – Excommunicated and burned 30 years after his death

   3. It would be another 250 years before the King James Bible was available.

Denominational Beginnings

1. The tyrannical disposition of the popes during the middle ages

2. Cardinals, bishops, priests and monks entered into gross immoralities

3. Study of the Scriptures was abandoned

4. Preaching was neglected

5. True worship was obstructed by endless rites and ceremonies

6. Good works were substituted with meritorious works

7. Remission of sins could be bought with money

8. Rise of learning among the laity

9. Many European kings favored the separation of church and state

10. Printing press and availability of Bibles in the language of the people

11. Indulgences was the “last straw” for many people

Principles of the Protestant Reformation Movement

1. Accept the Bible as the only infallible rule of faith and practice (not pope or councils)

2. What is not contrary to Scripture is approved

3. Justification by faith alone

4. Priesthood of all believers

5. Remove all obstructions placed between believers and Christ (intercession of saints, Mary, etc.)

Major Groups of Denominations

1. High Churches – worship style similar to Catholic minus the Pope

   1. Lutheran

   2. Episcopal

   3. Presbyterian

2. Calvinist / Evangelical

   1. Baptist

   2. Methodist

   3. Nazarene

3. Pentecostal

   1. Trinity

   2. Oneness – Jesus Only

4. Cults

   1. Mormons

   2. Jehovah’s Witnesses

   3. Christian Scientist

   4. 7^th Day Adventist

   5. International Church of Christ

5. Independent

   1. Local groups – Some preacher starts a group

   2. Mega churches – Extra large – super-churches – like Saddleback

   3. Separate from a denomination – maintain same doctrine, disagree with some policy

   4. Non-denominational – Community churches, Bible churches

Common Teachings in Most Denominations

1. Baptism not essential – commanded but not necessary

   1. Sprinkling, pouring, immersion

   2. Some for salvation, some for church admission

   3. Most teach not essential but commanded

2. Instrumental music

   1. Instruments were opposed by the founder of every major denomination

   2. They were brought in years after the founding of that group

3. One church with many branches

   1. “I (church of Jesus Christ) am the vine”

   2. “You (various denominations) are the branches” (John 15:5)

   3. Like a pizza – cut into many slices, then sub-divide the slices – but all parts are still the same pizza

   4. Still they have to eliminate some “branches” (cults, fanatical groups, etc.)

4. One church is as good as another

   1. Often stated, claimed, and taught

   2. NOBODY believes this

   3. All believe that, in some way, their belief is better

5. Holy Days

   1. Christmas

   2. Easter

   3. The high churches have many more

      1. Lent, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday,

      2. Pentecost Sunday, Whitsuntide

      3. “Saint” days – Patrick, Nicholas, Thomas, Mark, Paul, Peter, etc.

6. Pre-millennial Theory – 1,000 year reign of Christ

   1. This will require a separate study to understand and refute.

   2. Here are the basics of this teaching:

      1. Israel will rebuild the temple and establish worship again

      2. All faithful saints are to be caught up to be with Christ (rapture)

      3. There will be a period of severe persecution on earth (tribulation)

      4. Christ will return to overthrow an evil world ruler (anti-Christ)

      5. He will reign on the throne of David in Jerusalem for 1,000 years

   3. Here is what is wrong with this teaching:

      1. It denies that the Christ is NOW King of His Kingdom (See Revelation 1:10; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 12:28)

      2. It makes the promises to establish the kingdom a failure

      3. It makes the church a last minute substitute for God’s failure

      4. It rejects the fundamentals of the mission and purpose of Christ’s coming 2,000 years ago – Did He come to reign forever on David’s throne OR Did He come to die for our sins and be raised the 3^rd day?

How are we (churches of Christ) similar to denominations?

1. Name

   1. Church of Christ – capital letters

   2. Terminology – Church of Christ college, Church of Christ preacher, Church of Christ teaches

   3. Local – Main Street Church of Christ, Southside, Central – Terms to describe the city, section of city, street or sub-division where the building is located

   4. We must learn to distinguish between the proper name [Athens Church of Christ] (capitalized) and a generic name [churches of Christ] (not capitalized).

2. Innovations

   1. Sunday School – classes, literature, teachers, VBS, supplies and equipment

   2. Use of radio and TV, Correspondence Courses

   3. Pastor system

      1. Some congregations have delegated this authority

      2. Some preachers have grabbed the power

      3. For some it is theirs by default

3. Holy Days

   1. Christmas and Easter

   2. Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc.

   3. We must separate the personal use of these days, vs. making them a mandate

4. Major doctrines

   1. Salvation by faith – not faith alone – but not saved by meritorious works

   2. Bible is infallible rule of faith and practice

   3. What is not approved in Scripture is forbidden

   4. Priesthood of all believers

   5. Remove all obstructions between believers and Christ

5. Trends away from the “old paths” of Scripture

   1. Choirs, dramas, skits, entertainment, hand clapping

   2. Women as elders, deacons, preachers, etc.

   3. Fellowship with denominations – exchange pulpits with denomination

   4. Communion on Thursday, Friday, or at a wedding

Why do we refuse to become a denomination?

1. Restoration vs. Reformation

   1. Reform – make some changes, but leave the major system in place.

   2. Restore – go back to the original blueprint (pattern) and follow it

2. Plea for unity – not division

   1. John 17:20-21

   2. Ephesians 4:1-6

   3. 1 Corinthians 1:10-13

3. No creed but New Testament

4. Organization as 1^st century church

   1. Elders (bishops, pastor), Deacons, minister (preacher)

   2. No hierarchal system above the local congregation

   3. No “headquarters” except heaven

5. Worship as they did in the early church

   1. Sing, Pray, Study, Give, Communion

   2. Reject all attempts to change, add, or substitute

6. Teach same plan of salvation

   1. Believe, Repent, Confess Christ, be Baptized

   2. Baptism is immersion in water for the purpose of having sins forgiven

7. Wear no denominational name

   1. We have a legal name to own property and be tax exempt

   2. We have a name for the purpose of identity and distinction

   3. Example – Church of God is scriptural – but does not identify us

8. Our attitude toward any religious error should be:

   1. Refute the error – Philippians 1:17

   2. Urge people to obey the truth – Galatians 1:8-9

   3. Do not support or encourage error – 2 John 9-11

   4. Stop the false teaching – Titus 1:9-11

Conclusion:

1. In order to have a new denomination – you have to teach something different

2. All existing religious groups (including us) could be wrong.

3. It is not possible that all denominations can be right and scriptural.

4. It would take years to study each sub-group of each branch of each denomination.

5. There is a simpler method – Learn what the Bible teaches and do that.

6. If we will do what they did, worship as they worshipped, teach what they taught, believe what they believed, preach the doctrines they preached, practice baptism as they did, organize the local congregation as they did – will not be another denomination. We will be the New Testament Church.