Can I Be a Christian Without Joining Any
Denomination?
Denominationalism didn’t exist in the First Century.
Every denomination in existence today was built and
founded upon some man or group of men. In the New
Testament, one doesn’t read of a multiplicity of different
denominations teaching and practicing things differently
(cf. I Cor. 4:17). Yet, this is the very basis of
denominationalism today. Denomination, which means a
part of the whole, is straightly condemned in the Word of
God (cf. I Cor. 1:10-13; John 17:20-21). In Acts 2:47,
the inspired record tells us, “Praising God, and having favor
with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily
such as should be saved.” This passage plainly tells us
that the saved are in the church. How did they get there?
The Lord added them. However, they didn’t join or become
a member of any denomination. There were no
denominations in existence then. They did, however,
become members of the Lord’s church, which is not a
denomination, never has been a denomination, and never
will be a denomination. The Lord promised to build his
church in Matt. 16:18, and in Acts 2, his church became a
reality (v. 47). The church of the Christ is described as the
body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). Eph. 4:4 plainly
affirms that there is “one body,” hence, there is one
church.
In answering the question, “Can I be a Christian
without joining any denomination?” the answer is
absolutely “yes.” However, to become a Christian one
must obey the gospel of Christ (cf. 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Acts 2:
37-41). When one obeys the gospel, they are added to the
Lord’s church by the Lord himself. The Lord’s church is
where salvation is found. Jesus is the Savior of the body
(Eph. 5:23). To become a Christian is to become a member
of the body of Christ – the church of the Christ. Again, the
Lord’s church is not a denomination. It is not a part of
the whole; rather, it is the whole, comprised of all the
saved, not some of the saved (Acts 2:47). Why not do what
men and women did in Bible times to become Christians
and members of the body of Christ?