Why so many Christian denominations?

1. Why so many Christian denominations? –11th
August 2017
“ Father, I pray they will be one, just as you are in me and I am in you. I want them also to be
in us. Then the world will believe that you have sent me. (John 17:21).
In a religiouscontext,the word denomination isoftendefinedas“arecognizedautonomousbranchof
the Christianchurch.”One denominationwillincludemanylocal churchesthatare usuallyspreadovera
broad geographical region. Todaywe cancount 10,000-plus Protestantdenominationsspreadround the
world. To answerthe above question,we mustfirstdifferentiatebetweendenominations withinthe
bodyof Christandnon-Christiancultsandfalse religions.PresbyteriansandLutheransare examplesof
Christiandenominations while MormonsandJehovah’sWitnessesare examplesof cults because these
groupsclaimto be Christianbutdenyingone ormore of the essentialsof the Christian faith. The rise of
denominationswithinthe Christianfaithcanbe tracedback to the ProtestantReformation,the
movementto“reform”the RomanCatholicChurchduringthe 16th century,outof whichfourmajor
divisionsortraditionsof Protestantismwouldemerge:Lutheran,Reformed,Anabaptist,andAnglican.
From these four,otherdenominationsgrew overthe centuries. Whenhe wasquestionsregarding
above,a leadingpastorquotedProverbs27:17,“As iron sharpens iron,so one person sharpens
another.”
The LutherandenominationwasnamedafterMartinLutherandwas basedonhis teachings.The
Methodistsgottheirname because theirfounder,JohnWesley,wasfamousforcomingupwith
“methods”forspiritual growth.Presbyteriansare namedfortheirview onchurchleadership—the Greek
wordfor elderis ‘presbyteros.’Baptistsgottheirname because theyhave alwaysemphasizedthe
importance of baptism.Eachdenominationhasaslightlydifferentdoctrineoremphasisfromthe others,
such as the methodof baptism;the availabilityof the Lord’sSuppertoall or justto those whose
testimoniescanbe verifiedbychurchleaders;the sovereigntyof Godvs.free will inthe matterof
salvation;the future of Israel andthe church; pre-tribulationvs.post-tribulationrapture;the existence
of the “sign”giftsinthe modernera,and so on. The pointof these divisionsisneverChristasLordand
Savior,butrather honestdifferencesof opinionbygodly,people seekingtohonorGodand retain
doctrinal purityaccordingto theirconsciencesandtheirunderstandingof HisWord.
Denominationstodayare manyand varied.The original “mainline”denominationsmentionedabove
have spawnednumerousoffshootssuchasAssembliesof God,ChristianandMissionaryAlliance,
Nazarenes,Evangelical Free,independentBible churches,andothers.Some denominationsemphasize
slightdoctrinal differences,butmore oftentheysimplyofferdifferentstylesof worshiptofitthe
differingtastesandpreferencesof Christians.Butmake nomistake:asbelievers,we mustbe of one
mindon the essentialsof the faith,butbeyondthatthere isgreatdeal of latitude inhow Christians
shouldworshipinacorporate setting.Thislatitude iswhatcausessomanydifferent“flavors”of
Christianity. A PresbyterianchurchinUganda will have astyle of worshipmuchdifferentfroma
PresbyterianchurchinColorado,buttheirdoctrinal standwill be,forthe mostpart,the same.Diversity
isa goodthing,butdisunityisnot.If two churchesdisagree doctrinally,debate anddialogue overthe
Word may be calledfor.Thistype of “iron sharpeningiron” isbeneficialtoall aswe alsolearnfrom
Proverbs 27:17, “Asiron sharpensiron, so one person sharpensanother.”
But if theydisagree onstyle andform, itis fine forthemto remainseparate ratherthanquarrel with
differentdenominations.Howeverthisseparation doesnotliftthe responsibilityChristianshave tolove
one anotheras a priorityinour lives aswe can learnfrom1 John4:11-12, “Dear friends,since Godloved
us thismuch, we shouldalsolove one another. 12
No one hasever seen God.But ifwe love one

2. another, Godlivesin us.His love is made completein us.” As Godspeople belongingtowhatever
denomination, ultimately all needtobe unitedasone inChrist as we can learnfrom John17:21-22,
“ Father, I praythey will be one, justas you are in me and I am in you.I wantthem also to be in us.
Then the worldwill believe that you have sent me. 22
I have giventhem the gloryyou gave me. I did
this sothey wouldbe one, justas we are one.”
In the same way these isa downside of ChristianDenominations.There seemstobe atleasttwomajor
problems.First,nowhere inScripture isthere amandate fordenominationalism;tothe contrarythe
mandate isfor unionandconnectivity.Thus,the secondproblemisthathistorytellsusthat
denominationalismisthe resultof,orcausedby,conflictandconfrontationwhichleadstodivisionand
separation.Jesustoldusthata house dividedagainstitselfcannotstand.Thisgeneral principle canand
shouldbe appliedtothe church.We findanexample of thisinthe Corinthianchurchwhichwas
strugglingwithissuesof divisionandseparation.Therewere those whothoughtthattheyshouldfollow
Paul and those whothoughttheyshouldfollowthe teachingof Apollosaswe canlearnfrom 1
Corinthians 1:12, "Here is whatI mean.One of you says,“I followPaul.” Anothersays,“I follow
Apollos.” Anothersays,“I followPeter.” And still another says,“I followChrist.” Thisalone shouldtell
youwhat Paul thoughtof denominationsoranythingelse thatseparatesanddividesthe body.
But let’slookfurther;inverse 13,Paul asks verypointedquestions,"IsChristdivided?WasitPaul who
was crucifiedforyou?Orwere youbaptizedinPaul’sname?”Thismakesclearhow Paul feels, thathe
(Paul) isnotthe Christ,he is notthe one crucifiedandhismessage hasneverbeenone thatdividesthe
church or wouldleadsomeone toworshipPaul instead of Christ.Obviously,accordingtoPaul,there is
onlyone church and one bodyof believersandanythingthatisdifferentweakensanddestroysthe
church. We can getan understandingwhenwe readin 1Corinthians1:17, “Christdidnot sendme to
baptize.He sent me to preach the goodnews. He commandedme not to preach with wisdomand
fancywords. That wouldtake all the power away from the cross of Christ.”
Some of the problemswe are facedwithtodayaswe lookat denominationalismanditsmore recent
history: 1. The mainline Denominationsare basedondisagreementsoverthe interpretationof
Scripture.Anexample wouldbe the meaningandpurpose of baptism.Isbaptismarequirementfor
salvationorisit symbolicof the salvationprocess?There are denominationsonbothsidesof thisissue.
In fact,baptism– its meaning,itsmode,whocanreceive it,etc. – hasbeena central issue inthe
separationof churchesandformingof new denominations. 2.Disagreementsoverthe interpretationof
Scripture are takenpersonallyandbecome pointsof contention.Thisleadstoargumentswhichcanand
have done muchto destroythe witnessof the church. 3. The church shouldbe able toresolvesits
differencesinside the body,butonce againhistorytellsusthatthisdoesn’thappen.Todaythe media
usesour differencesagainstustodemonstrate thatwe are notunifiedinthoughtorpurpose.4.
Denominationsare usedbymanout of self-interest.There are denominationstodaythatare ina state
of self-destructionastheyare beingledintoapostasybythose whoare promotingtheirpersonal
agendas.5.The value of unityisfoundinthe abilitytopool our giftsandresourcesto promote the
Kingdomtoa lostworld.Thisruns contrary to divisionscausedbydenominationalism.
Therefore the question remainswhatisabelievertodo?Shouldwe ignore denominations,shouldwe
justnot go to church and worshiponourown at home?The answerto bothquestionsis NO.Whatwe
shouldbe seekingisabodyof believerswhere the Gospelof Christispreached,where youasan
individualcanhave a personal relationshipwiththe Lord,where youcanjoininbiblical ministriesthat
are spreadingthe Gospel andglorifyingGod.Churchisimportantandall believersneedtobelongtoa

3. bodythat fitsthe above criteria.We needrelationshipsthatcan onlybe foundinthe bodyof believers,
we needthe supportthat onlythe church can offer,andwe needtoserve Godin communityaswell as
individually.Pickachurchon the basisof itsrelationshiptoChristandhow well itisservingthe
community.Pickachurch where the pastoris preachingthe Gospel without add-onsandisNOTbased
on “prosperitypreaching.”Asbelievers,there are certainbasicdoctrinesthatwe mustbelieve,but
beyondthatthere is freedomonhowwe can serve andworship;itisthis freedomthatisthe onlygood
reasonfor denominations. AsChristiansinall walksof life,we needtoalwaysbearinmindthatas in
differentdenominations therecanbe diversityandnotdisunity. Becausediversity allowsustobe
individualsinChrist, anddisunity dividesanddestroys.