The Foundation of Denominationalism

Denominationalism is a plague on our society. Not simply because the division of religious beliefs causes us to be divided in other things (think of the political division in our country, the majority of it stems from moral disagreements founded upon the differing religious beliefs of each side’s adherents), but because it causes mankind to leave God’s Way for our own opinions. It divides families in much the same way the Civil War did, just using words instead of musket balls. It tears long-time friendships apart. It produces allegiances to man rather than to God.

It is a disease that all of us battle at some point in our lives.

All members of the church have someone in their family, friends or at the very least Facebook friends list that is forever against them because of their faith in Christ.

I myself have lost family members to the world because of my persistent belief and obedience in Jesus and His Way.

But, what is the foundation of denominationalism? From where does this evil grow?

The explorer Richard Burton, a man well traveled and studied, once said:

The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never worshipped anything but himself. — Richard Francis Burton

Paul said it like this:

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers… — 2 Timothy 4:3

The Apostle prophesied, in a sense, of a coming time in which the love of self and selfish ambitions would cause division with Christ’s body and warned Timothy to fight against it “tooth and nail.”

But the fact is, denominationalism stems from a worship of self. Ever religious group outside of the church built by Jesus Christ has been founded out of this very fact.

The moment we begin to think ourselves as something special, our thoughts as improvements on the Standard, our traditions as equal with His commands, we have begun the process of forming our own denomination. And that denomination may not ever get to the point of having a world headquarters or its own hierarchy but a denomination can be made of a single person if we allow it.

Originally published on LeeMSnow