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Is Denominationalism Necessary?
by Micky Galloway
Modern denominationalism is generally accepted but wholly unjustified. The Scriptures teach that there is one body (Ephesians 4:4) and that the body is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). Our study will prove that denominationalism is unjustified because it is unnecessary. When we speak out against denominationalism, we have reference to the system (its principles, organization, aims, etc.), and certainly not to persons who are in it. It must be remembered, though, that if the system is wrong, it is wrong to be a part of it. Much time, money, work, and interest are freely exercised in denominational efforts. All of these could far better be spent in promoting Bible unity because denominationalism is utterly useless and defenseless.
Is denominationalism necessary to be a Christian? The possibility of being a Christian depends upon the existence of the seed of the kingdom which is the word of God (Luke 8:11). This is the teaching of Christ (II John 9); the gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16); the truth of God (John 17:17). The existence of the seed of the kingdom does not depend upon denominationalism, because it existed long before modern denominations, and would continue to exist if every denomination ceased to exist (I Peter 1:25). The actuality of being a Christian depends upon the propagation and acceptance of the seed, the word of God.
Is the proclamation of the word dependent upon any one denomination? If so, which one? If any one denomination ceased to exist today, would the privilege of being a Christian cease? The answer is obviously NO! Multiply this by ten. If ten denominations became extinct tomorrow, would it cease to be possible to be just a Christian? NO! Then why not the whole of denominationalism? It must be obvious that much that is taught by denominations is not the truth, because truth is not contradictory. The very existence of denominationalism is evidence of contradictory teachings and practices.
Is it possible for one to examine various doctrines and to accept the true ones and reject false ones? If one accepted only the truths and rejected the errors that are preached, what denomination would he belong to? He would be a member of no denomination, but he would be a Christian! Isn’t that simple? Must I accept denominational error to be a Christian?
Denominationalism, then, is not necessary to be a Christian. People were becoming Christians long before the first denomination was started. Paul and Peter were Christians, but they were not a part of any denomination. If there were Christians 2000 years ago, but no Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, etc., why can't it be true today? It can! Every truth can be preached and all of it practiced if every denomination ceased to exist tomorrow. If these truths were taught and practiced we would be only Christians. The Bible only makes Christians only!
Is denominationalism necessary for any spiritual blessing? Spiritual blessings are as necessary to the spirit as physical blessings are to the body. We receive many spiritual blessings. We receive: forgiveness (Ephesians 1:7), salvation (Ephesians 2:8), we become: children of God (I John 3:lf), Christians (I Peter 4:16). Denominationalism is not necessary for the enjoyment of a single spiritual blessing. When one joins a denomination, does he receive: forgiveness, salvation, or does he become a child of God, a Christian? Is he united with Christ and put into covenant relationship with God as a result of joining a denomination? No one will affirm this. In the denominational world all of these are taught as prerequisites to membership in the denomination? If one may enjoy all spiritual blessings outside of denominations, then why have denominations?
However membership in the Lord's church IS necessary for these spiritual blessings. Only those in the Lord's church have been redeemed by blood (Acts 20:28). Only those in the Lord's body (cf. Colossians 1:18) are saved (Ephesians 5:23). Only those in the Lord's church are in God's family (I Timothy 3:15). Only those in the Lord's church are “in Christ” (Cf. I Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:26-27). Only those in the Lord's body are reconciled to God (Ephesians 2:16). If all these spiritual blessings were enjoyed before denominations, then denominations are not necessary.
Is denominationalism necessary for the Christian to work and worship? Christians must work (cf. I Corinthians 15:58; I Thessalonians 1:2f; Galatians 6:10) and worship God (John 4:24; Philippians 3:3; Revelation 22:9), if they find favor with God. Did Christians work for Christ and worship God before the existence of denominations? Certainly! If they could 2000 years ago, why can't they now? Saved people in the New Testament did not join denominations. What work or act of worship does a denomination do that is authorized of God that one undenominational Christian or a group of undenominational Christians cannot do?
The Lord's church however, is the place for Christian work for it is His vineyard (I Corinthians 3:9). The Lord's church is the place for Christian worship for it is His temple (Ephesians 2:21). But we can work and worship in the Lord's church without ever belonging to a denomination. Indeed, the Christians of the first century did!
There is all the difference in the world between denominational Christians who make up denominational churches and first-century, undenominational Christians who belong to the Lord's church. The essentiality of membership in the Lord's church is taught throughout the New Testament, while the essentiality of denominational churches cannot be upheld successfully in the light of God's word. It is my prayer that honest people in denominations who have never seen undenominational Christianity practiced may see it, appreciate it and accept it.
Lord, Are There Just A Few Who Are Being Saved?
by Chris Simmons
There is a question that has oft been asked and was asked by someone who had been listening to the teaching of Christ, where in Luke 13:22 he asked, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” It is important that we understand God's biblical response to this question.
First of all, the question is not: Who does God desire to be saved? For the answer to that question is unequivocally - everyone! II Peter 3:9 teaches us that God is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” Also, we read in I Timothy 2:4, “…God our Savior… desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Yet, in a word, the scriptures do simply and plainly answer the question of “are there just a few who are being saved?” For in Matthew 7:13-14 we read, “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.” Simply put, the answer to the question is “yes”. But why is that?
Looking back, we can begin to understand why and see how, time and again, man rejected God's will. Subsequently, the exercising of God's justice and judgment throughout the Old Testament has resulted in “few” being saved.
Consider, for example, Noah and his family. God desired for all to be saved in the days prior to the flood and thus God sent Noah to preach His righteousness and salvation (II Peter 2:5; I Peter 3:18-20) to all mankind, for a period of 120 years (Genesis 6:3). Yet in that time, countless numbers rejected God and the salvation He offered and only eight souls faithfully obeyed God and were saved.
Also, from the earliest days of the nation of Israel, God's desire was to pour His blessings upon the whole nation of Israel. But even under the old law, God's justice and His demands for obedience reigned. God spoke of the consequences of disobedience in Deuteronomy 28:58-62, “Then you shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven for multitude, because you did not obey the LORD your God.” There were only a “few” because the “many” simply did not choose to obey.
We also read in Genesis 18:20-19:29 and II Peter 2:6-8 of Lot and his family who represented the only righteous people throughout the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah whom God delivered while He brought judgment upon the ungodly.
We might also consider such men as Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 26:63-65) and how that of the hundreds of thousands who were delivered from captivity out of Egypt, only these two received the inheritance of the promised land. An inheritance God intended and desired for all to partake of.
Finally, we need to remember that when God brought judgment upon the nation of Judah through the means of Babylonian captivity, we can read how that out of all of masses who had rejected God, He prophesied that some would escape the sword and serve to be a “remnant” among those who fell (Ezekiel 6:8-9; Ezra 9:7-13). A remnant that was prophesied to exist in the days of “the kingdom” (Micah 4:1-8). Unfortunately, we learn from the Old Testament how that man in large part has repeatedly rejected God and the salvation He has extended.
An important point to make in answering this question is to understand that one must admit to being lost before being saved. Many will not be saved because many do not feel that they are spiritually lost. Rather than focusing on how one can be saved, such people would rather continue in their self-made perception of God as one who can not, or will not, condemn the masses. In doing so, such people ask God to set aside His righteousness and justice and save people regardless of whether they have obeyed His word. The fact is, that God's justice and righteousness are so immutable that God could not set them aside even when it came to the sacrifice of His only begotten Son (cf. Romans 3:21-26). They deny that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23) in that they suggest that all are not accountable before God. In doing so, one denies what is taught in Acts 17:30 that “all everywhere should repent.” Salvation is only an issue to those of us who realize our “undone” condition (Isaiah 6:5) and come to ourselves (Luke 15:17) and recognize the separation our sins have made between God and us (Isaiah 59:1-2). The idea of being saved has with it the prerequisite of one being lost. This again is something that so many are unwilling to accept and which explains why there are but a few who will be saved.
What does the context of Luke 13:22 give as an answer to the question: “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” Christ's basic response was, “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” Of the lost, Christ says many will try to get to heaven and will not be able. Why is that? In this context, verses 25-27, notice the reasons He gives. First, it is not enough to be “religious” and simply be a “listener” to the teaching of Christ. “…We ate and drank in Your presence and You taught us in our streets…” Evidently, these are those who simply did not respond in faith and obedience to that which Christ taught (cf. Matthew 7:24). Also, in the context of Luke 13, we are taught that there will be a time when it will be too late for those who were taught but did not obey. Luke 13:25, “Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, 'Lord, open up to us!' then He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know where you are from.’” There are few being saved because so few understand that “today is the day of salvation” (Hebrews 4:6-7).
In terms of the “many” and the “few”, the scriptures teach it is not a matter of who is called or invited. We read in Matthew 22:14, “For many are called but few are chosen.” It first needs to be pointed out that in this context ALL were invited (see verse 9) just as the gospel first went to the Jews, and then to the Greeks and to all the world (cf. Romans 2:9-11). In this context, Christ addresses first those who outright declined the invitation, some who were simply preoccupied with the affairs of this life (i.e., verse 5) - the one who went to his business and one to his farm. Hence, here the many are rejected because they chose their reward to be in this life. Christ also addresses one who was invited and desired to be a part of the chosen but did not prepare himself with proper clothing as the king required. Thus, many today have the desire to inherit the eternal kingdom, but fail to properly clothe themselves as the Lord requires. These are those who reject God's command for repentance and baptism into Jesus Christ. Many will not be saved simply because they reject God's plan of salvation to remedy the problem of sin. Others yet will not be saved because they were properly clothed at one time (i.e., they responded to God's plan of salvation) but allowed their garments to become stained once again. The Laodiceans were such a people who needed to be clothed properly (Revelation 3:18).
Christ died to save all. Unfortunately, the majority throughout time have chosen the wide path where one does not have to subject his will to God's. Will we be willing to stand for Christ with “the few”?