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WHY THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS NOT A DENOMINATION

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    One of the great religious deceptions that Satan has pawned off on society is denominationalism.

1.        All claim to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

2.       There seems to be only minor differences between the religious groups.

3.       Most admit that the Scriptures are open to many interpretations.

4.       It is comforting for individuals to be able to attend the church of their choice, that is, the church that fits their needs.

5.       If the multitudes accept the practice, then it must be right.

 

B.      There are a multitude of problems with denominationalism.  One of the biggest problems is that is promotes division among so-called “people of God.”

1.        The religious world is divided by names, by doctrines, and by religious practices.

2.       God’s Word, however, exhorts us to have no divisions among us (I Cor. 1:10).

 

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

 

C.     There are some, even within the church itself, who believe that the church of Christ is just another denomination among many.

 

D.    The title of our lesson this morning is:  “The church of Christ Is Not A Denomination.”  Let’s look at a few reasons why this is true.

 

I.             THE EARLY EXISTENCE OF THE CHRUCH OF CHRIST

 

A.    Denominationalism is a relatively young phenomenon. 

1.        It has only been in existence for about 500 years.

2.       The fruit of denominationalism was born when the Reformation Movement began in the days of Martin Luther (1483-1546).

a.       Martin Luther wanted to reform the Catholic Church.

b.      Following his death, however, his followers drafted a Confession of Faith known as the Augsburg Confession of Faith.

c.       This gave birth to the Lutheran Church.

3.       Others followed Martin Luther in reformation efforts.  They, too, fell short and more and more creed books were composed which gave rise to the multitude of denominations that exist today.

 

B.      The church of Christ existed long before the Martin Luther, the Augsburg Confession of Faith, and the Lutheran Church.  The church of Christ existed in the first century.

1.        All will acknowledge that the New Testament was composed by the end of the first century. 

2.       The New Testament is very clear that a church was in existence at that time.

a.       Verses

1)       Acts 2:47

 

Praising God, and having favour with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

 

2)      Acts 8:1

 

And Saul was consenting unto his death.  And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

 

3)      Sixteen (16) more verses could be brought forth that reference the church just in the book of Acts.

b.      QUESTION:  What church was this?

1)       There is only one church this could have been.

2)      Jesus had promised to build His church during His earthly ministry (Matt 16:18).

 

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

 

3)      In I Corinthians 12:27, Paul refers to his readers as “the body of Christ.”

 

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

 

a)      According to Colossians 1:18, the body of Christ is the church.

 

And he is the head of the body, the church…

 

b)     The two words, body and church, are synonymous.  The church is the body, and the body is the church.

c)      If the Corinthians were “the body of Christ,” they were also “the church of Christ.  If not, why not?

4)      In Romans 16:16, Paul set forth these words:  “…The churches of Christ salute you.” 

 

C.     QUESTION:  Does that church exist today?  We believe that it does and that it can be identified by looking for identification marks presented in the pages of God’s Word:

1.        The founder of the church

2.       The name of the church

3.       The date of establishment

4.       The place of establishment

5.       The organizational structure

6.       The creed of the church

7.       The worship of the church

 

D.    An Argument:  Some will argue that the churches of Christ came into existence in the days of Thomas and Alexander Campbell.

1.        First, we have already shown that the church of Christ was in existence in the first century.

2.       Second, Thomas and Alexander Campbell did not establish the church.  Their desire was to follow the New Testament and restore the church that was found therein.

3.       Third, there were churches of Christ prior to the time of Thomas and Alexander Campbell.  “The following is an interesting quotation from documentary research of a Dr. Robinson, principal of Overdale College, Birmingham, England. (From Odie: As you read it, remember that Alexander Campbell was born September 12, 1788.) It reads:

 

     "In the Furness District of Lancashire - in N. W. England-there existed in 1669, during the reign of Charles II, a group of eight churches of Christ. Most of them are not now in existence. An old minute book has been found of the year 1669 and it shows that they called themselves by the name of church of Christ, practiced baptism by immersion, celebrated the Lord's Supper each Lord's Day, and had elders and deacons. There was also a church of Christ in Dungannon, Ireland in 1804 and in Allington, Dengighshire. In 1735, John Davis, a young preacher in the Fife District of Scotland, was preaching New Testament Christianity twenty-five years before Thomas Campbell (Alexander Campbell's father) was born."

II.           THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST DO NOT APPROVE OF RELIGIOUS DIVISION

 

A.    Denominationalism teaches that religious division is both acceptable and healthy.  As we have seen, the Bible does not teach the Lord’s people to be divided.  It teaches unity (Eph. 4:3).

 

Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 

B.       The churches of Christ have always been promoters of unity among believers.  In order to obtain this unity, they have advocated for the following:

1.        Wear no other name, but Christ (Acts 4:12).

 

Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 

2.       Have no other creed book, but the Bible (II Tim. 3:17).

 

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

 

3.       Where the Bible speaks, we speak.  And, where the Bible is silent, we are silent (I Pet. 4:11).

 

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God…

 

C.     A wonderful summary verse of this section is Philippians 1:27.

 

Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:  that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.

 

III.         THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST ADVOCATE SOUND DOCTRINE, NOT RELATIVISM

 

A.    Relativism teaches that an individual or a group possesses his/its own truth. 

1.        In the spiritual realm, denominations accept relativism. 

2.       One group has its truth and another group has its truth.

3.       NOTE:  The two truths may contradict one another, but both are still said to be the truth.

a.       Jesus is eternal.  Jesus is created.

b.      Baptism saves.  Baptism does not save.

c.       The kingdom is here.  The kingdom is yet to come.

d.      Christ is the only head of the church.  The church is supposed to have a human head.

e.       There can be a clergy-laity system.  The only priesthood is a priesthood of believers.

4.       As long as relativism is accepted and practiced, there will never be unity.

 

B.      The churches of Christ believe that there is a body of truth, a system of faith, a book of knowledge, that provides sound doctrine upon which all men can be united in Christ.

1.        Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:5 that there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”

2.       This one faith could be read and understood (Eph. 3:3-4).

3.       Paul was an apostle who labored among men in order to bring about “obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name” (Rom. 1:5; See Acts 6:7).

4.       Jude exhorted his readers to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3).

5.       QUESTION:  Do you believe the Christians of the first century taught and practiced many different faiths?  Or, did they all adhere to one body of knowledge?

a.       See I Corinthians 4:17

 

For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

b.      This same Paul commanded Titus with these words in Titus 2:1:

 

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.

 

C.     The Bible is to be read and understood alike by all men.

1.        Jesus said:  “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

2.       God “will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (I Tim. 2:4).

3.       Right here is the very heart of unity (Matt. 12:25).

 

And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    The concept of a denomination is not found in the pages of the New Testament.

1.        It is larger than the local congregation.

2.       It is smaller than the church universal.

3.       It is a “middle layer” that the Bible never authorizes.

 

B.      Let’s close with one more exhortation from the pen of Paul regarding the Word of God (I Tim. 1:13).

 

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.