The church that Jesus built is not a denomination. It is not associated with any single or group of denominations. It
does not single out any particular denomination and oppose or fight it, but opposes the entire system as an
unscriptural setup. There are some groups that claim to be undenominational, which in reality are all-
denominational, in that they embrace people from all denominations.
You may be wondering just why we oppose the religious system known as denominationalism. There are many
reasons, but basically it can be traced to the teachings of the system which conflict with the Bible. We have
prepared the following outline for your convenience of study:
Denominationalism Teaches The Bible Teaches
1. Many different churches or bodies 1. One body or church…………Mt. 16:18; Eph. 4:4
2. Founded by men 2. Built and founded by Christ…………..Mt. 16:18
3. Human heads 3. Christ the Head………………….…Eph. 1:22,23
4. Human man-made creeds 4. Bible as the only creed.………….2 Tim. 3:16,17
5. Wear human names 5. Christian, the Bible name……………Acts 11:26
6. Follow different men 6. Following men is condemned…...1 Cor. 1:10-13
7. Membership in the many churches 7. Membership in the church of
not necessary for salvation Christ is essential to salvation………..Eph. 5:23
8. Preach many gospels 8. Forbidden to preach contrary
to the one true gospel……………..…Gal. 1:6-9
9. Many faiths 9. One Faith……………………………...Eph. 4:5
10. Many baptisms 10. One Baptism…………………………..Eph. 4:5
11. Sprinkling for baptism 11. Immersion or burial only
scriptural mode…………………….Rom. 6:3,4
12. Join churches and get voted in 12. Lord adds to the church…………..…Acts 2:47
13. Walk by different rules 13. Walk by the same rule………………Phil. 3:16
14. Creeds subject to change 14. Bible remains the same……………..Mt. 24:35
15. Thank God for all churches 15. Jesus prayed for unity……………Jn. 17:20,21
As we study the above outline in detail, you may refer to it from time to time. First of all, we begin by noticing that
denominationalism and the Bible differ as to the number of churches that are in existence. One teaches that there
are many, while the other teaches that Jesus built one church. Further, the apostle Paul says in Eph. 4:4, "There is
one body." Now if there is only one body, then the 300 or so that are in existence today cannot all claim to be right.
Someone and something has to be wrong. The promise of our Lord in Mt. 16: 18 concerned only one church.
Someone else has been building churches, and they had no Bible right to do so.
Since this is the case, our only conclusion is that they were founded by man. If so, then they are human
organizations. Not so with the one built by Jesus. It is divine. The very fact that He is the Son of God makes it so.
The human organizations of denominationalism have human heads. But Christ is the head of the church in the Bible.
We read in Eph. 1:22-23, "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the
church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." Christ is the head of the church. The one which He
built. However, He is not the head of human churches or organizations. The only logical conclusion is that they must
be headed by some man or group of men.
Next, we notice that these human churches that are headed by man also use and follow human man-made creeds,
whereas the Lord's church uses the Bible only. 2 Tim. 3:16-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be
perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
The acceptance of human creeds leads also to the wearing of human names. This is forbidden in the Bible. We
are admonished to wear only those names given by God. Acts 11:26 tells us what that name is for people today,
"And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled
themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch."
Because of its makeup, denominationalism causes people to follow different men. This also is condemned by the
Bible. We are to follow Christ and not man. Paul teaches us of the dangers of such a practice in 1 Cor. 1:10-13,
"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. For
it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are
contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas;
and I of Clnist. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" The apostle
shows clearly here the sin of following man. It leads to division or we might say it leads to denominationalism.
One amazing thing about denominationalism is that of the many churches that are a part of it, membership is not
necessary in any of them in order ,to be saved. This shows the utter uselessness of them. They cannot have
anything to do with salvation. According to denominationalism, you can be saved and never be in any church. We
deny this. While we recognize the fact that the church does not save by itself, we are aware that Christ saves the
church. Therefore, to be saved by Christ we need to be in His church. Eph. 5:23, "For the husband is the head of
the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."
Denominationalism preaches many gospels. The Bible forbids such in Gal. 1 :6-9, "I marvel that ye are so soon
removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be
some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any
other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I
now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."
This unscriptural system also teaches that there are many faiths and baptisms. But in Eph. 4:5 the apostle Paul
uses as plain a language as could ever be used when he stated emphatically, "There is one faith; there is one
baptism." How could anyone argue with that?
Another error is that they teach sprinkling to be baptism. But the Bible teaches that only a burial is baptism. Rom
6:3-4, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore
we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the
Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Sprinkling does not meet the specifications of "a burial."
Therefore it cannot be considered baptism.
Another idea very popular is the one about joining the church of your choice. We cannot join the church of our
Lord. He adds us to it. When we have completed our obedience to the first principles of the Gospel, the Lord places
us in His church. No man can vote us in and no man can vote us out. The practice of voting people into church is
unheard of in New Testament times.
Denominationalism causes people to walk by different rules, because of the different and chang ing creeds they
follow. We are commanded to walk by the same rule. And that rule does not vary or change. It remains the same for
all ages and shall do so until the Lord comes again.
Last of all, many times man will thank God for all the churches. But the Bible teaches unity, not division. Perhaps
the greatest sin of denominationalism is the fact that it causes and sustains division. The Bible condemns it. Jesus
wanted us to all be one, Jn. 17:20-21. How then, in the face of all that the Bible says about being united, can I pray
to God and thank Him that there are so many churches in the world? Such action is nothing short of mockery. I must
be thankful that there is the one body of Christ, but never that other human man-made organizations have come
into existence to try and take its place. For these reasons and many others the church of Christ opposes
denominationalism in all forms.
