Quarters, nickels, pennies and dimes are “denominations” of a dollar. Religiously speaking, a “denomination” is one particular branch or sect of a larger body of religious people. Many people have the idea that the universal church of Christ is composed of such denominations. Consequently, the members of these various denominational churches tend to accept all other “denominational” churches. How is this done? By ignoring all doctrinal and moral differences and redefining “unity” as mere “union.”
Sadly, many people believe that religious diversity is a good thing. They reason that more and different churches provide people with greater opportunity of choice. Billy Graham and others have taught millions of people to “join the church of their choice.” This suggests that all churches are equally scriptural and acceptable. If so, what about the “church of satan?” Or Scientology, or other cult religious groups? Are they equal to mainstream denominational churches? Many so-called “churches” don’t even believe in God or in His word. Such churches are obviously not “as good as” the churches that do. Two misconceptions need to be considered:
1. “Denominationalism” is not good, for it constitutes division. To say that denominationalism is good is to say that division is good. However, the Bible condemns division (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). Paul had earlier rebuked the Corinthians for forming alliances upon certain personalities, whether himself, Peter or Apollos (1 Corinthians 1:11-13). Such alliances may also be formed upon a particular heresy or opinion. For example, Titus 1:10 speaks of “the circumcision party.” This group bound Old Testament circumcision as a religious requirement for Christians.
In his letter to the Galatians, the apostle Paul classified division as a work of the flesh. As such, it will keep people out of heaven (Galatians 5:20, 21).
Religious division occurs when some person or group of people depart from God’s standard of unity, which is the Bible. This brings us to our next point:
2. True unity is not established upon moral and doctrinal compromise. It is established upon the immutable standard of God’s word. Bible unity is accomplished by people all “speaking the same thing” (1 Cor. 1:10), and the “thing” that we are to speak is “the word of God” (1 Pet. 4:11). Paul tells us that these words are contained in “Scripture” (2 Timothy 3:16). Jesus prayed for His disciples to be “one,” and this oneness is achieved when believers accept and follow the apostles’ teaching (John 17:20, 21).
Obviously, religious people should always be respectful and polite to others, even when they have doctrinal and moral differences. But the boundaries and rules of the Christian’s fellowship have been established by God (2 John 9-11). No human has the right to simply dismiss or ignore those guidelines and develop his own standard of unity. When human opinion is substituted for divine truth, the Bible calls it “heresy,” and such “heretics” are to be “avoided” (Titus 3:10-11; see also Romans 16:17; 1 Timothy 6:5).
Tim Haile