About Denominations Denominations represent themselves as being part of the whole.  Denominationalism is defined in the dictionary as being denominational or sectarian in spirit or   policy and has the tendency to divide into denominations or sects.  This system of  divisions being part of the whole is    interesting.  These often say things like, “Attend the church of your choice” and then turn around and invite you to become part of their choice.  What about God’s choice?  They may say, “One church is as good as another” and then insist that you come to “their” church.  What about Christ’s church? Let’s think for a moment.  In the first century Christ said He would build His church (singular) (Mt. 16:18).   Did Christ accomplish what He said He would do?  Did He build His singular church (fold or congregation of people)?   Christ did do that.  As time went by, sincere men decided they could improve upon Christ’s established church.  Is this not in fact in competition with Christ’s church that He “Christ”  purchased with His own blood (Ac. 20:28)?   If Christ owned a specific not      denominational church in the first century, why would it not be possible for Christ to own one specific body as His blood-bought church in the 21st century?  Furthermore, if such a church does exist today, then why should not everyone who seeks to please Christ seek to belong to His one body?   Does it matter if Christ is not the founder and owner of the church of your choice?  Christ must and does answer that.  Christ does speak of religious systems that promote error and take people away from Him in Matthew 15:13-14.  “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.  Let them alone.  They are blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”   This passage is somewhat troubling when application is made to the religious world of today.   The church of Christ (Rom. 16:16) existed before the religions of men came into existence.  This church you read of in the Bible is also referred to as the church of God and with various other descriptive phrases and terms in the Bible.  God’s word therefore His church can and does continue forever according to Peter (1 Pet. 1:25).   What has been the fruit of divisiveness found in denominations?  This has brought about confusion and unbelief.  This is the exact opposite of what Jesus prayed for the night he was betrayed (Jn. 17:20-22).   Oneness helps create belief and Jesus knew that.  He wanted His church to express itself to the lost world in a unified spirit.  The confusion and unbelief that does exist today in the world is because of the working of Satan who has beguiled multitudes into accepting what they think is the best there is out there today.  Our God is not the author of confusion and division but Satan is (1 Cor. 14:33).   Divisions and Denominations begin with those who do not understand or appreciate God’s standard for religious authority.  Paul knew that in time things would change and people would depart from the old paths.  Paul said, “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 to themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables (2 Tim. 4:3-4).   Even in the first century church congregations were developing their own perverted gospel which is, in truth, not another gospel, it is simply a counterfeit gospel (Gal. 1:6-10).  Here Paul also warns them that if even an angel gives a gospel different from what the apostles had given that they should reject it and maintain their oneness in Christ.  Unity can be and is to be maintained by believers simply by proclaiming God’s word.  God’s word not man’s sincere opinion, were to be used to convince, rebuke and exhort those found in the one body (2 Tim. 4:1-2).   Today among the denominations Bible authority is devalued and ones personal feelings or testimony is exalted as the ultimate authority.  The problem with this approach is that multitudes of feelings and testimonies are contradictory to one another and therefore people become confused and turned off to Christ.  Jesus calls many religious “hypocrites” because they say right words and then ultimately do what they want to do.  Multitudes today want to do what they want to do and not what Christ wants them to do.   These devalue the inspired and preserved words of the Bible by following the teaching and doctrines commanded by sincere and uninspired men (Mk. 7:6-9).  These have determined that they will keep their traditions to the point that they will if need be sacrifice the word of God to do it. Some people entrust their lives and their eternal souls to whatever the religious establishment tells them.  These will not think for themselves and often are made to feel disrespectful if they ask questions of their leaders who are supposed to know it all.  God never asks His people to give themselves over to religious leaders.  He asks His people to give themselves over to Him wholly. I don’t have time here to remind us of all the departures denominationalism has made from God’s word.  I would be happy to study with anyone who is interested in knowing more about the one body (Eph. 4:4).   The religious market of denominationalism is leading many away from Christ’s one church.  Such tragically is the broad way as contrasted to the narrow way (Mt. 7:13-14). The church of Christ (Rom. 16:16) existed before the religions of men came into existence.  This church you read of in the Bible is also referred to as the church of God and with various other descriptive phrases and terms in the Bible.  God’s word practiced by His church can and does continue forever according to Peter (1 Pet. 1:25).   What has been the fruit of divisiveness found in denominations?  This has brought about confusion and unbelief.  This is the exact opposite of what Jesus prayed for the night He was betrayed (Jn. 17:20-22).   Oneness helps create belief and Jesus knew that.  He wanted His church to express itself to the lost world in a unified spirit.  The confusion and unbelief that does exist today in the world are   because of the working of Satan who has beguiled multitudes into accepting what they think is the best there is out there today.  Our God is not the author of confusion and division, but Satan is (1 Cor. 14:33).   Divisions and Denominations begin with those who do not understand or appreciate God’s standard for religious authority.  Paul knew that in time things would change and people would depart from the old paths.  Paul said, “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 to themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables”  (2 Tim. 4:3-4).