THE ORIGIN OF DENOMINATIONS

  I. CONFUSION OF DENOMINATIONALISM:

     A. How often has it been heard: "They are all churches of
        Christ." "It doesn't make any difference which church you
        are a member of." "Everyone should be a member of some
        church." "There are good people in all churches." "All teach
        many good things, and all do a lot of good." "One should not
        criticize another church." "One should not argue about
        religion." Etc., etc.

     B. Much of this is the result of the society into which we were
        born. Denominationalism has been here during our entire life
        and we have become accustomed to it. In fact, many members
        of the church were former members of some denomination.

     C. While this is satisfactory to many people, it is a situation
        which presents many perplexing problems.

        1. All denominations claim to go by the same Bible, yet they
           all differ in doctrine and practice. How can this be?
        2. All claim to be called of God, yet they all contradict
           each other in what is practiced. Does God contradict
           Himself? Are there contradictions in the Bible?
        3. Is God the author of confusion?  Note 1 Cor. 14:33.

 II. SIMPLICITY OF NEW TESTAMENT CONVERSION AND CHURCH MEMBERSHIP:

     A. In the first century, all who believed and were baptized
        were saved and all the saved were considered members of the
        "called out," the body of Christ, the church. Mark 16:15-16;
        Acts 2:36-41, 47.

     B. All were members of the one body. Acts 2:47; Eph. 4:4;
        1 Cor. 12:20-27.

     c. All embraced the same faith and practices. 1 Tim. 1:3;
        2 John 9-11; 2 Pet. 1:3, etc.

III. DENOMINATIONALISM DEFINED:

     A. "DENOMINATION, the giving of a specific name to anything,
        hence the name or designation of a person or thing (Lat.
        denominare, to give a specific name). In arithmetic it is
        applied to a unit in a system of weights and measures,
        currency or numbers. The most general use of 'denomination'
        is for a body of persons holding specific opinions, usually
        religious, and having a common name, or for the various
        'sects' into which members of a common faith may be divided.
        'Denominationalism' is thus the principle of emphasizing the
        distinctions, rather than the common ground, in the faith
        held by different bodies professing one sort of religious
        belief. This use is particularly applied to that system of
        religious education by which children belonging to a
        particular religious sect are instructed in the tenets of
        their belief by members belonging to it and under the
        general control of the ministers of the denomination."
                        (Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. 7, p. 218)

     B. The word DENOMINATOR, means "to divide."

     C. Paul warned: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the
        latter times some shall DEPART FROM THE FAITH, giving heed
        to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Tim. 4:1-
        2).

     D. A denomination is thus a separate body of people dissenting
        from the New Testament Church in doctrine and/or practice.
        Differing doctrines and practices are the factors that make
        denominationalism. Each denomination holds to or practices
        something different from other denominations. Were that not
        so, then they would agree rather than differ.

     E. Man is inclined to bring their former beliefs with them when
        they obey the gospel. In Acts 15, the Pharisees were
        converted, but wanted to combine features of the Law with
        Christianity. There was an attempt to bind circumcision upon
        the Gentiles. Cf. Gal. 1:6-9; 5:1-9.
            Also, as people were converted from heathen religions,
        such as Diana at Ephesus, or Apollo at Corinth, or idolatry
        at Rome, etc., they had a tendency to combine certain
        features of these religions with Christianity, and then,
        because they were so much alike in many ways, to compromise
        and accept these false religions on a par with Christianity.
            Today, there is a tendency of those who obey the gospel
        to bring with them the practices of denominationalism into
        the church. The solution to this is to lay aside ALL human
        feelings and tendencies and go back to the Bible -- not to
        just certain parts that seem to teach what I want to believe
        -- BUT ALL THE WAY. Thus, having book, chapter, and verse
        for all that we believe and practice. Yes, it does make a
        difference what we believe and practice.

 IV. DIVISION IS WRONG: 1 Cor. 1:10; John 17:20-21; Eph. 4:1-6.

  V. WARNINGS WERE GIVEN:

     A. Christ prophesied. Matt. 7:15-16; Matt 24:24.

     B. Paul warned. Acts 20:29-30; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Thess. 2:3-4; 5-
        7; 2 Cor 11:13-15.

     C. Peter warned. 2 Pet. 2:1-3.

     D. John warned. 1 John 4:1-6.

 VI. In future lessons we shall study the history and development of
     religious division as we now see it.

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