DENOMINATIONALISM AND THE CHURCH 1

DENOMINATIONALISM AND THE CHURCH 1
 

DENOMINATION evolved out of the growth of the Church of Jesus Christ. It is not necessarily a bad thing, it serves as a means of identifying groups of Christians in a location led by a minister (supposedly) of Jesus Christ. They have a common name, leadership, doctrines and structure.
 

Denomination is not the church, but it is the easiest way as human to organise ourselves. It was not meant to divide us, but like the denominator that divides a number into fractions, it has done just that to the church.
 

Denomination as a word, is also used to describe the several categories of currency or bank note (or coin) used in a country. But no doubt, it has become more commonly associated with the Church than with Money. Just like Money draws its acceptabilty from the government to be a legal tender, and there is always a possibility of fake currencies to be in circulated, Christian groups (or denominations) draw their 'legality' from the Church. And there is always that possibility of fake churches (no, fake groups; fake denominations).
 

So what is the Church? The Church is an organisation founded by Jesus Christ.

 

This definition might appear too simple for many. But ask a Christian the name of his church (denomination), he mentions the name, and then your mind goes straight to the identify the founder.

 

Okay. The Church is the assembly of the followers of Christ Jesus.

 

I know about Ecclesia. I will come to that shortly. But for now, let us just keep it simple. The Church is (should be) about Jesus Christ.

 

The first time that word appeared in the Bible is traced to the founder Himself; Christ.

 

Matthew 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. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven

 

He was going to set up a structure on earth that would antagonise hell and allign with heaven. This looks like a very serious business.

 

The Church has the capacity to make decisions that are binding- not only on earth, but in heaven also.

 

As if to drive home the seriousness of the set up called 'Church', the next time Church was mentioned (still by the Founder Christ Himself), He said the Church had enough government on earth to legislate or judge the members. See it here;

 

Matthew 17:18

And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

 

The Church had governmental powers. They were going to operate like a kingdom of people under an authority. Yes, under the authority of the Founder, the Lord Jesus Christ. How was this going to be possible?

 

That was the understanding that even the non Christians in those days had of the Church. See this statement in this scripture;

 

Acts 17:5-7 (KJV)

5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

 

The Church was an assembly of people called out (or saved) by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself to be under His authority or lordship. Now that is why Ecclesia is the appropriate Greek word for 'Church'.

 

Ecclesia means 'Called Out Ones'.

 

Ecclesiastes, a book by King Solomon as inspired by God, paints the picture of the Church. The book did not have Twelve Chapters by accident. 12 is the number of the Church.

 

In that book, there is a Preacher. That Preacher

typifies Christ the son of David (See Eccl 1:1). Now that Preacher started out by crying to his audience 'Vanity of vanities; all is vanity'.

 

Indeed if you must compel a people to follow you you must establish the worthlessness of their present engagement and pursuit. That is exactly what the preacher did. And then he ended his (sermon) by saying to the people in the last two verses of the book;

 

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

 

He was calling people out from the vanities of this world to the realities of God's dominion. Keeping the commandments of God means submitting to the rulership of God.

 

That was what Moses preached to the people who left Egypt. They were called the Church in the wilderness. (Acts 7:38).

 

Having defined the Church, how then did denominationalism set it?

 

Simple. The Church began in Jerusalem officially after Jesus ascended into the heavens and the Holy Spirit was sent from heaven to fill and empower the believer.

 

Then persecution arose upon the church till they people scattered beyond Jerusalem. Now, the Church had to be identified by localities. (Acts 9:31; 13:1, 1 Cor 1:2), They had a common root in Christ but had a common voice speaking from Jerusalem. Now this is what has been replicated and bastardised over a long time.

 

Things got more complex when the apostles were martyred. The Council in Jerusalem was no more and yet the church kept on growing till churches became identified mainly by the personality and the influence of the founder. Each denomination now has a founder that names the group and sets up structures based his own convictions,

 

This sincere move to stay organized in the midst of an explosive growth brought about denomination. Denomination is organic and will continue till Christ returns.

 

We shall consider the template that Jesus provided for us to manage denominationalism while the Church continue to function on earth till He returns.

 

Amen.

 

Adeolu O. V,