Just Another Denomination?

Today there are thousands of divisions of the church of the New Testament, which emphatically states there are none, (Ephesians 4:4).  So it is an entirely appropriate question to ask if the church of Christ is just "one" among many, or is it the church of our Lord, "the one" among many?

A denomination is a religious organization larger than the local church and smaller than the redeemed in totality.  Therefore it resides between the two, being different from the church of the Bible in both respects.   The church of the Bible is either a local congregation or it embraces all Christians.  A denomination falls in between both of these and is never mentioned in scripture.  One may illustrate denominationalism by comparing it with our political system.  We have democracy as a whole but it is divided up into various divisions referred to as parties, i.e. Republicans, Democrats and others.  The Republican party of democracy is a segment, or a division of the whole, similar to a religious denomination which is a segment of Christianity which does not encompass the whole.  A political party is a part of democracy but it is not the whole of democracy.  It lacks completeness and is therefore incapable of serving in the total capacity.  And on a serious note, a, so called, religious denomination also cannot encompass Christianity as a whole and also lacks completeness, which leaves it in the unfortunate position of being unlike the church represented in the New Testament. 

Just as our political system is denominated, so also was the Jewish system of government.  They had the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Herodians and the Essenes.  Interestingly, Jesus identified Himself with none of them, choosing rather to stand apart from them.  Jesus prayed for unity, (John 17:20-21), gave His life for unity, (Ephesians 2:16), plead for unity, (1 Corinthians 1:10) and affirmed unity, (Ephesians 4:1-6), yet He refused to unify with any of the known political/religious factions of the day.  Therefore the only conclusion we can come to on this is that Jesus was not denominational, therefore His church cannot be either. 

A prominent denomination came about starting in the 4th and 5th century which saw the rise of Catholicism which is unlike any church read of in the New Testament.  There is scarcely a single principle doctrine that does not contradict the scriptures, i.e., praying to Mary and to the saints, the infallibility of the papacy, transubstantiation, indulgences, original sin, purgatory, just to name a few.  The protestant denominations started showing up in the 15th and 16th centuries, all started by men with their own slant on scriptural truth.

By comparing the church of Christ today to Christ's church in the New Testament, one can identify whether the church that bear's Christ's name is just another denomination or not.  The first century church was designated as the church of Christ, (Romans 16:16), the church of God, (1 Corinthians 1:2) and the church of the firstborn, (Hebrews 12:23), and the Lord's church today is also known as the church of Christ or similar Biblical designations.

The 1st century church was organized with elders, deacons, evangelists and members in the local congregations, (Philippians 1:1).  Today, the Lord's church is organized with elders, deacons, evangelists and members in the local congregations.  Both the 1st century church and the church today recognize Jesus as their sole authority, (1 Peter 3:22).

The first century Christians met on the first day of the week, (1 Corinthians 16:2), and engaged in acappella singing, (Hebrews 2:12), praying, (1 Corinthians 14:15), teaching, (1 Timothy 6:2), the Lord's Supper, (Acts 20:7), and giving, (1 Corinthians 16:2).  Likewise, the church of Christ of the 21st century does so as well. 

Both the 1st century church and the Lord's church today are guided by the apostles' doctrine and is their sole rule of faith and practice, (Acts 2:42; Galatians 1:6-9; 1 Timothy 1:3; 1 Peter 4:11; Jude 3).  All teachings of men were then, and are now, disregarded in favor of the inspired word of God.

The first century Christians entered into the body of the saved by hearing and believing, (Acts 15:7), repenting of their sins, (Luke 13:3), confessing Jesus Christ as the Son of God, (Acts 8:37), and being baptized into Christ, (Galatians 3:27) for the forgiveness of their sins, (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16).  Those who are in the church today enter by the exact same way. 

The mission of the 1st century church was to evangelize the world, (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:47) and to support the truth, (1 Timothy 3:15).  This mission has not changed since the beginning.  

The Lord's church cannot be a denomination because God hates the sin of denominationalism, (Proverbs 6:16-19).  Denominationalism is contrary to the Lord's prayer, (John 17:20-21); Denominationalism is an indicator of carnality, not spirituality, (I Corinthians 3:1-3); Denominationalism is contrary to the unifying purpose of Calvary's cross, (Ephesians 2:15-16); Denominationalism makes God the author of confusion, (1 Corinthians 14:33) and denominationalism makes God's truth appear relative and contradictory.   Denominationalism is a barrier to those seeking to obey God's truth because they are deceived and confused by all the different divisions.  Denominationalism is contradictory to the apostles teaching, (Romans 16:17-18). Denominationalism is not essential to an individual's salvation, but membership in the Lord's church is, (Acts 2:47; Ephesians 5:23; Acts 20:28). 

The first century church was a temple in its worship, (1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 2:22-23), a kingdom in its government, (Matthew 16:18-19), a family in its love, (Ephesians 3:15-17), a body in its unity with Jesus, (Ephesians 4:15-16), a vineyard in its work, (Matthew 20:1), a building on its foundation, (1 Corinthians 3:9-15) an army against the forces of Satan, (Ephesians 6:10-17) and a bride in its relationship with Christ, (Ephesians 5:24;27).  Jesus considers the church so much a part of Him, that when He confronted Paul on his mission to persecute the church of God, (Galatians 1:13), He said, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" (Acts 9:4, 22:7, 26:14).  One cannot be in Christ without being in His church because the two are inseparable.   Conversely, one cannot be in a divided body and still be in Christ because Christ is not divided, (1 Corinthians 1:13).  The only body that is identified in the Bible with Christ is the body of Christ, (1 Corinthians 12:27) and that body of Christ is undivided and singular, (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-20; Ephesians 2:16; Colossians 3:15), and the body of Christ is the church, (Colossians 1:24).  The church is in Christ, it is one with Christ, it is part of Christ, It is married to Christ, it was built by Christ, paid for by Christ and ruled by Christ.  In every way, the body of the saved, the Lord's church is "of Christ", and never was, is not now, nor ever will be just another denomination.   

Sermon Outline
Title: Just Another Denomination?

I. Introduction

• The New Testament teaches unity, not thousands of divisions (Ephesians 4:4).

• The central question: Is the church of Christ simply one among many, or is it the one church of our Lord?

II. What is a Denomination?

• Defined: Larger than a local congregation, smaller than the universal body of the saved.

• Not found in the Bible; occupies a middle ground between local and universal.

• Illustration: Political parties within democracy are segments, not the whole — like denominations in “Christianity.”

III. Jesus Was Not Denominational

• Jesus identified with no Jewish sect (Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, Essenes).

• He prayed for, died for, pleaded for, and affirmed unity (John 17:20–21; Ephesians 2:16; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:1–6).

• His refusal to unite with factions shows His church cannot be denominational.

IV. The Rise of Denominations

• Catholicism (4th–5th centuries) departed from New Testament doctrine.

• Protestant denominations (15th–16th centuries) founded by men, each with its own slant.

V. The New Testament Pattern vs. Modern Church of Christ

1. Names: Biblical designations — church of Christ, church of God, church of the firstborn (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Hebrews 12:23).

2. Organization: Elders, deacons, evangelists, members (Philippians 1:1).

3. Authority: Christ as sole head (1 Peter 3:22).

4. Worship: First-day assemblies for singing, prayer, teaching, Lord’s Supper, giving (1 Corinthians 16:2; Hebrews 2:12; Acts 20:7).

5. Doctrine: Guided solely by apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42; Galatians 1:6–9; Jude 3).

6. Entrance: Hear, believe, repent, confess, be baptized (Acts 15:7; Luke 13:3; Acts 8:37; Acts 2:38).

7. Mission: Evangelize and uphold truth (Matthew 28:18–20; 1 Timothy 3:15).

VI. Why the Church of Christ Cannot Be a Denomination

• God hates division (Proverbs 6:16–19).

• Denominationalism opposes Christ’s prayer for unity (John 17:20–21).

• It indicates carnality (1 Corinthians 3:1–3).

• Opposes the unifying purpose of the cross (Ephesians 2:15–16).

• Creates confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).

• Contradicts apostolic teaching (Romans 16:17–18).

• Salvation requires membership in the Lord’s church (Acts 2:47; Ephesians 5:23).

VII. The Nature of the First Century Church

• Temple (1 Corinthians 3:16).

• Kingdom (Matthew 16:18–19).

• Family (Ephesians 3:15–17).

• Body (Ephesians 4:15–16).

• Vineyard (Matthew 20:1).

• Building (1 Corinthians 3:9–15).

• Army (Ephesians 6:10–17).

• Bride (Ephesians 5:24–27).

• Inseparable from Christ — persecuting the church is persecuting Christ (Acts 9:4).

VIII. Conclusion

• Christ’s body is singular, undivided, and inseparable from Him.

• The church is of Christ, never just another denomination.

Call to Action
We must examine our faith and fellowship to ensure we are part of the one body of Christ described in Scripture. Being in Christ means being in His church, undivided and faithful to His Word. Let us reject denominationalism and cling to the unity, purity, and truth of the New Testament church, honoring Christ by remaining loyal to His body alone.

Key Takeaways

• The New Testament teaches one body, not thousands of divisions (Ephesians 4:4).

• Jesus was not denominational, and His church cannot be (John 17:20–21).

• Denominations arose through human departure from God’s pattern (Galatians 1:6–9).

• The church of Christ today must match the organization, worship, doctrine, and mission of the first-century church (Philippians 1:1; Acts 2:42).

• Division is condemned; unity in truth is commanded (1 Corinthians 1:10).

• Salvation is found only in the Lord’s church (Acts 2:47; Ephesians 5:23).

Scripture Reference List

• Ephesians 4:4 – One body and one Spirit emphasize unity.

• John 17:20–21 – Jesus’ prayer for unity among believers.

• 1 Corinthians 1:10 – Plea for no divisions in the body.

• Romans 16:16 – Biblical designation for the church.

• Philippians 1:1 – Organization of the local church.

• Acts 2:42 – Apostles’ doctrine as sole rule of faith.

• Galatians 1:6–9 – Warning against altering the gospel.

• Acts 2:38 – Entrance into the body through baptism.

• Matthew 28:18–20 – Mission to evangelize the world.

• Proverbs 6:16–19 – God hates sowing discord among brethren.

• Ephesians 5:23 – Christ is savior of the body, His church.

• Acts 9:4 – Persecuting the church equals persecuting Christ.

Prepared by David Hersey of the church of Christ at Granby, MO