Denominationalism (Part II)

by Cecil Willis

This article is continued from last week

Self-Condemned

Not only does the Bible condemn denominationalism on every count, even its chief proponents have condemned it too. Note what some have said:

Martin Luther, the great reformer and founder of the Lutheran church, said:

"I pray you to leave my name alone, and call not yourselves 'Lutherans,' but 'Christians.' Who is Luther? My doctrine is not mine. I have not been crucified for anyone. St. Paul would not permit that any should call themselves of Paul, nor of Peter but of Christ. How, then, does it befit me, a miserable bag of dust and ashes, to give my name to the children of Christ? Cease, my dear friends, to cling to these party names and distinctions; away with them all; let us call ourselves only 'Christians' after him from whom our doctrine comes." ("Life of Luther," by Stork, page 289.)

Dr. Charles H. Spurgeon, said by some to be the ablest Baptist preacher of all time, declared:

"I look forward with pleasure to the day when there will not be a Baptist living. I hope they will soon be gone. I hope the "Baptist" name will soon perish, but let Christ's name last forever." ("Spurgeon Memorial Library," Volume I, page 168.)

The founder of Methodism, John Wesley, condemned denominationalism with the following language:

"Would to God that all party names and unscriptural phrases and forms which have divided the Christian world were forgot; that we might all agree to sit down together as humble, loving disciples at the feet of a common Master, to hear his word, to imbibe his Spirit, and to transcribe his life into our own." ("Hardeman's Tabernacle Sermons," Volume V, page 60.)

The able Presbyterian commentator, Albert Barnes, gave the following reasons for opposing sectarianism:

"The existence of sects, and denominations, and contentions may be traced to the following causes: (1) The love of power, and they who have control of the consciences of men and of their religious feelings and opinions can control them altogether. (2) Showing more respect to religious teachers than to Christ. (3) The multiplication of tests, and the enlargement of creeds and confessions of faith. The consequence is that every new doctrine that is incorporated into a creed gives cause for those to separate who cannot accord with it. (4) The passions of men – their pride, and ambition, and bigotry, and unenlightened zeal. Christ evidently meant that his church should be one, and that all who were his true followers should be admitted to her communion and acknowledged everywhere as his true friends. And the time may yet come when this union shall be restored to his long-distracted church, and that while there may be an honest difference of opinion maintained and allowed, still the bonds of Christian love shall secure union of heart in all that love the Lord Jesus and union of effort in the grand enterprise in which all can unite – that of making war upon sin and securing the conversion of the whole world to God."

Conclusion

Religious division (another way of saying denominationalism) is a work of the flesh. It is unscriptural, and the defense for it has been predicated upon human wisdom rather than on the Word of God. Its ablest proponents have condemned it, and longed for its demise. So do we.

From: Truth Magazine X:1, pages 1-3, October 1965