The Church and Denominationalism

Bible Reading:  Galatians 1:1-8

Key Verse: Verse 2  –“ And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:”

Key Words: churches at Galatia

Have you ever wondered why we have so many denominations today?  When we read in God’s Word, we do not find where the early churches had denominational labels.

It was the Catholic Church that starting handing out these denominational labels, and they did so because of the believers who had broken away from the Catholic Church.  For example, Baptists were first called Ana-baptists by the Catholic Church because of their belief regarding baptism.  The Baptists did not believe that baptism saved, nor did they believe in infant baptism.  So the Catholic Church began labeling these believers Ana-baptists.  “Ana” was eventually dropped and they became known as Baptists.  But many of the believers died for what they believed in.

So it was with the Methodists.  They were called Methodists by the Catholics because they disagreed with some of the methods of the Catholic Church.  The Presbyterians were labeled as well because of their disagreement with the Catholic Church over the presbytery.

The point is that these denominational labels identified what certain groups believed -- and were willing to suffer persecution for, and even die for, their beliefs.

Now, not to antagonize anyone, but when you see a church called “The Attic” or “The Cellar” or “The Way,” what does that tell you about what they believe?  Did anyone die for their beliefs?  What do they believe in regard to salvation, separation, baptism, communion, and other doctrines?

Now, while some do not care for denominational labels, they are important.  

I recently went to the store for my wife to buy some basic foods: bread, milk, eggs, and the like.  I came across a shopping cart filled with all kinds of food, canned goods and such, which had no labels.  A tag on the shopping cart read “Everything in cart for $100.00.”  So I asked a nearby clerk, “What is in the cart?”  He smiled and said, “No one knows, it’s your risk, sir.”

So it is with many churches today, no labels but lots of risks.  It’s just not worth the price for me to take a risk with God’s church.  Amen and amen!!

 

What to do:

✞Make sure you are a part of a church where you know what they stand for and what they believe, and understand that labels can be a good thing.