Denominations
“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” - Psalm 127:1
Jesus forewarned that many would come in His name, even acknowledging Him as Christ, and would deceive the masses (Matt 24:4-5). It has been the case for years but is more evident in these moments of the last days. Many do come in Jesus’ name but they do not come with His teachings and true doctrine (2 Jn 1:10). They instead keep themselves and others in bondage with stories and fables, commandments and doctrines of men (Tit 1:14), philosophy and vain deceit (Col 2:8), and lies that appease itching ears (2 Tim 4:3).
Catholicism is a more obvious example of an anti-Christ denomination though, like the Eastern Orthodox Church, it considers itself ‘pre-denominational’. It is rife with teachings from hell and vain traditions that have a form of godliness but no power (2 Tim 3:5). That appearance is successfully deceptive to those who lack a true transformative relationship with God and instead have supplemented true faith with the worship of things deemed ‘holy’ in a false sense of humility (Col 2:18) rather than true godly humility, and as well as with religiosity and ritual/traditions. Even before the establishment of the RCC and thereafter, God has always had His Church, His Body, the ekklesia who have truly repented, are Holy Spirit-filled and living in obedience. The Church of God is not institutionalized but rather, collectively, a people who are serving the Lord in obedience to His Word and worship Him in Spirit and truth (Matt 12:46-50, Jn 10, Rev. 7:9). Denominations, on the other hand, emerged in response to the ‘organizational’ misunderstandings, doctrines, injustices, and corruption within the Catholic Church, and thereafter the doctrinal and traditional disagreements among “Catholic dissenters” or “reformed groups.”
Though many reformers, the likes of Luther, Calvin, Erasmus had many grievances against the RCC and sought change, that change was still within that institutionalized and false church system marked with traditions and interpretations of men. The Reformation has sustained the explaining away of Scripture in favor of man-made doctrines developed from isolated Scriptures (instead of rightly dividing the Word of truth). It has since been advanced as an academic discipline and personal preference/interpretation in the form of theology, seminary education, even philosophy. As a result, it has undermined the power of the truth of the gospel in the lives of those who follow after such because doctrines and teachings of men have swept them. The consequences are evident: the prevalence of sin in people’s lives, a lukewarm/casual approach to faith, overwhelming religiosity, misunderstanding of true repentance, holiness, obedience, and worst of all, the disrespect to the Holy Spirit’s power and leading into all truth.
From Luther, you have Lutherans. Calvin, the Calvinists/Presbyterians. Wesley, the Wesleyans/Methodists, Anglicanism from Henry VIII because he wanted to divorce his wife to marry his mistress, and the list goes on. From these, you have sects and denominations that have their teachings and have a different faith than that according to the gospel and doctrine of Jesus Christ. They also have an appearance of wisdom and even rationality but we know that true wisdom and truth are found in Jesus Christ (1 Cor 1:10-31) and what He explicitly taught. “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” -1 Peter 4:11. The unfortunate thing is that these denominations are fortified in their teachings and misapplication of Scripture with some even having re-written and altered the Scriptures according to their interpretation (ex: Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons) of which we are clearly warned against doing (Prov 30:5-6, Rev 22:18-19).
The conclusion? Denominations have led to a knowledge of and even about God but it lacks the intimacy of knowing God and being fully known by Him (2 Tim 2:19). There is no such thing as denominations for Jesus Christ Himself stated that He will build His Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matt 16:18). “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” (Jn 10:27) “And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” (Jn 10:5). Truth is revealed through the Spirit of God and without the Spirit of God, one does not belong to God (Rom 8:9) nor know God. Those who are in obedience to Christ and His teachings have the Holy Spirit and their allegiance is not to denominations and institutions but Jesus Christ.
“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:3-6)
