What is Denominationalism?
The term “denominationalism” comes from the root word
“denomination,” and then “denominate.” A “denomination”
means “a part of the whole,” thus meaning “division.”
Applied to religious bodies, a denomination is a group of
congregations. This group is only a part of the whole. The
total number of local congregations equal less than the
universal church. For example, the Methodist church is a
denomination, and all local congregations of the Methodist
church put together equal less than the universal church.
Thus, it is a part of the whole. This is the concept of
denominationalism. This concept of Christianity, therefore,
has many religious bodies under one head. However, the
Bible clearly affirms and teaches that there is one body (Eph.
4:4) and this one body is the church (Eph. 1:22-23).
Denominationalism is totally foreign to New Testament
teaching concerning the church. Jesus promised to build His
church in Matt. 16:18, and His church became a reality in
Acts 2 (see esp. verse 47). Individual Christians make up
the Lord’s church (I Cor. 12:12ff). The concept of
denominational Christianity is straightly condemned in the
word of God. The apostle Paul commanded the Christians to
“all speak the same thing,” and then he commanded that
“there by no divisions among you” (I Cor. 1:10). Yet,
denominationalism is based squarely upon speaking different
things and division.
Jesus is the Head of His church – His body. Does Jesus
approve of the division that is inherent in
denominationalism? Does He approve of the differing and
contradictory doctrines that are characteristic of
denominationalism? It is absurd to think that He is!
According to I Cor. 14:33, God is not the author of
confusion. Since confusion abounds in denominationalism,
then it can only mean that God is not the author of
denominationalism. In fact, denominational Christianity
(and there is no such thing), did not originate until the 1500’
s and afterward. The church of the Christ (i.e., the church of
the New Testament) is not a denomination – never has been
and never will be. The Lord’s church is not a part of the
whole – it is the whole, comprised of all the saved – not some
of the saved! (Acts 2:47) According to Eph. 5:23, Jesus is the
Savior of the body. It is our plea for all men to abandon man-
made denominationalism and be a member of the only and
true body of Jesus Christ.