The Lord’s Church And Denominationalism (Part I)

by Glendol McClure

We often hear the term "denominationalism" as it relates to various religions in today's world. Every city has differing churches, with differing names. Denominational churches wear the name Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Pentecostal, etc. Some worthy questions to consider are:

• Did God authorize denominationalism?
• Did God found any of these religions?
• Did God found them all, or did He build only His church?

In this article, we will discuss the concept of denominationalism, then look at some distinguishing characteristics of the Lord's Church. In the next article, we will look at several characteristics of denominations and arrive at a conclusion.

The Concept

To help us understand the concept of denominationalism, we consider a one-dollar bill and the different denominations – penny, nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar – of coins that make up the dollar. In the right combinations, these coins result in a complete dollar, which is the total, or whole. In the denominational world, many people view the different "faiths" as fractions of the whole, with the whole being what they often call the "Christian religion," or "Christendom."

The Lord's Church

The Lord's church is very different from any denominational church. As each denominational church is distinct, so is the Lord's church. Hence, if any church's founder and name, beginning time and place, doctrine and practice, and organizational structure differs from the church described in the New Testament, it follows that that church can NOT be the Lord's church. Please consider the following:

The Lord's church has the right builder and head, and wears His name. Christ, and NOT man, built the Lord's church. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, "… upon this rock (that rock being Peter's confession that Christ is God's son; the rock was not Peter himself) I will build My church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." Notice that Christ did not promise to build His CHURCHES or DENOMINATIONS.

The Lord's church (in the universal sense) was purchased with the Lord's blood (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25). Hence, the Lord's church belongs to Him, and it is HE Who adds to it (Acts 2:47).

In Romans 16:16, when Paul used the term "churches of Christ," he referred to congregations of the Lord's church (NOT to denominations). He denoted a plurality of local congregations of believers who belong to the Lord. Christ is the head of the church, which is His body (Ephesians 1:22,23; Colossians 1:18). Therefore, to be part of the Lord's church or body, we must submit to Christ's authority and wear Christ's name (See Acts 11:26; 26:28; I Peter 4:16; II Timothy 2:19). Christ received "… all power (authority - ASV) … in heaven and in earth …" (Matthew 28:18). That leaves none for any man.

The Lord's Church began at the right time and place. In Mark 9:1, Jesus promised that the Kingdom would come "with power" during the lifetime of the apostles. In Luke 24:47, He said that "repentance and remission of sins" would be preached in His name, beginning at Jerusalem.

In Acts 2, we read that the Apostles, being filled with the Holy Ghost (the promised power), preached "repentance and remission of sins" to the Jews assembled in Jerusalem on the first Pentecost after Jesus' resurrection and ascension. In Acts 2:41 we read, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day were added unto them about three thousand souls." But, to what were they added? Verse 47 tells us the Lord added the saved (the baptized believers, cf verse 38) to the church. We have no record of anyone being added to the Lord's church prior to this day – the FIRST Pentecost after Jesus' resurrection. Therefore, we can know that the Lord's church had its beginning, at Jerusalem, on the first Pentecost after Jesus' resurrection.

The Lord's church has the right doctrine and practice. The first-century church was instructed to abide in the doctrine revealed by the apostles. John, in I John 1, spoke of the things they (the apostles) declared. In order to have fellowship with the apostles, the Father, and His son Jesus Christ, we must obey and abide in God's revealed (declared) will. When we do this, we "walk in the light" (I John 1:7).

In II John 9-11, John wrote of the importance of abiding (staying) in the "doctrine of Christ." Contrary to what many in the religious world believe, abiding in His doctrine means living according to His commandments (I John 2:3), not simply accepting the fact that Jesus came in the flesh. Walking in the light necessitates believing the divinely revealed and recorded facts and obeying God's commands. Therefore, the Lord's church teaches, and abides in, the divine facts and commands, "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you …" (Matthew 28:20).

The Lord's church of the first century engaged in evangelism – sounding out the word by sending and supporting preachers who taught the gospel to the lost. They proclaimed the proper admission terms and practices, resulting in believers being added to His church. When we carefully study the conversions in Acts, it becomes evident that during the first century, the gospel had to be preached so sinners could be brought to Godly sorrow (Acts 2:1-37; Romans 10:17).

• Penitent sinners heard and gladly received, or believed, the gospel message and placed their faith in Christ (Acts 2:47; Romans 10:17);
• Sinners were told to repent of their sins (Acts 2:38; I Corinthians 6:9-11; Colossians 3:1-7);
• Sinners were told to confess their faith in Christ before men (Acts 8:37; Romans 10:10); and
• Sinners were told to be baptized in the name (by the authority) of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16) "for (in order to obtain) the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38; 22:16. See also Acts 8:26-39; 10:48; 16:14, 15; 16:30-33; 19:1-5).

The Lord's church of the first century engaged in worship to God that was "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). They "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). Briefly, this involved:

• Commemorating the Lord's death on the first day of the (every) week (Acts 2:24; 20:7);
• Singing praises to God (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16);
• Giving, according to individual prosperity, of their means – laying by in store – on the first day of the (every) week (I Corinthians 16:1; II Corinthians 8:6,7);
• Praying (Acts 2:42);
• Preaching, teaching, and abiding in the doctrine of Christ and His apostles (Acts 2:42; 20:7; II John 9-11).

The first-century church was involved in edification:

• Building up the membership's knowledge level of "the faith which was once delivered" (Jude 3).
• Warning the saints to "abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul" (Ephesians 4:11-13; Acts 20:32; I Corinthians 6-10; Galatians 5:19-21; I Peter 2:11).

In the first-century, the Lord's church did the work of benevolence – helping needy saints, and only needy saints (Acts 2:44,45; 6:1-6; 11:27-30; I Corinthians 16:1,2; I Timothy 5:16).

In the first century, the Lord's church was commanded to discipline disorderly members:

• In Paul's letter to the saints in Thessalonica, he wrote, "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us" (II Thessalonians 3:6,7,11).
• Further, Paul commanded the Corinthian brethren "in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" to "put away" the brother involved in an incestuous relationship (I Corinthians 5). Paul used the concept of "leaven" to illustrate that ignoring sinful conduct of this type would result in the pollution of the other members, and the local church as a whole.

Hence, to avoid having their candlesticks removed (Revelation 2:5), congregations that claim to be part of the Lord's church must discipline wayward members as directed by the Lord.

The Lord's church has the right organizational structure. In the universal sense, the Lord's church is not organized. The universal church is the body of all the saved or "called out." Christ built, loved, purchased, and sanctified it. We are baptized into the universal church (I Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27).

Local churches, or congregations, are composed of brethren, or saints (believers). The local church at Philippi was Scripturally organized. It was composed of:

• Bishops (a plurality of elders who meet the divine qualifications given in I Timothy 3:1-7),
• Deacons (servants who meet the divine qualifications given in I Timothy 3:7-13), and
• Saints (Philippians 1:1).

Each local congregation was autonomous (self-governing in congregational affairs, but governed by the Lord in doctrine and practice) and overseen by the elders that were among them (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-4). First-century congregations did not report to, nor were they governed by, any one man or governing board of men. Each congregation was overseen by its own elders.