October 15, 2001, Vol.1,
No.8.
Two new articles every two weeks.
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us.
THIS ISSUE: "Nondenominational
Christianity" (see below)
and "John 3:16"
Nondenominational
Christianity
by Keith Sharp
When people ask me what I am religiously, I usually reply,
"I'm just a Christian, not a part of any denomination."
I believe the religion of the New Testament can correctly be
called "nondenominational Christianity." What is "nondenominational
Christianity"?
 "Christianity"
is not a term used in the Bible. It means "the religion
of Christians." (Webster. 400) Christians are disciples
of Christ (Acts 11:25-26), followers and learners of Jesus Christ.
Christians are "in Christ." (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians
1:3-12; 2 Timothy 2:10) To get into Christ, one must be "buried
with Him through baptism into death" (Romans 6:3-4) "from
the heart" (Romans 6:17-18), i.e., with sincerity and understanding
(Ephesians 6:5-8; Matthew 13:15-16). Baptism is unto the remission
of sins (Acts 2:38). Thus, those and only those people who have
with sincerity and understanding been immersed unto the remission
of sins are Christians. Therefore, "nondenominational Christianity,"
is limited to those who have been scripturally baptized.
Nor is the word "denomination" found in the Bible.
However, the New Testament mentions denominations a number of
times under a different name. The Jews in the days of the Lord
and His apostles were divided into "sects." (Acts 5:17;
15:5). A "sect" is "a division or group based
upon different doctrinal opinions and/or loyalties." (Louw
& Nida. 11.50) The sects of the Jews believed
and taught doctrines at variance with each other and wore party
names as an indication of sectarian loyalty (Acts 23:6-8). The
Jews even considered Christians to be a sect of Judaism (Acts
24:5; 28:22) and derisively called them "Nazarenes."
(Acts 24:5) Paul implied Christians were not a sect (Acts 24:14).
The same Greek word rendered "sect" is also translated
"factions" (1 Corinthians 11:19) and "heresies."
(Galatians 5:20; 2 Peter 2:1) The word primarily means
a choosing, choice...; then, that which is chosen, and
hence, an opinion, especially a self-willed opinion, which is
substituted for submission to the power of truth, and leads to
division and the formation of sects.... (Vine. 2:217).
Everyone has opinions, things he thinks are true but cannot
prove by the Bible. If he treats his opinions as if they were
divine revelation, by teaching them as divine truth and/or insisting
that others follow them, he becomes an heretic (Titus 3:10-11,
King James Version) or "divisive man" (New
King James Version), and must be rejected (Ibid). Heresies
(sectarianism) is a work of the flesh that will keep one from
inheriting the kingdom of heaven (Galatians 5:19-21).
The brethren at Corinth were dividing into factions (1 Corinthians
1:11). This was a reflection of carnality (1 Corinthians 3:1-3),
which will cause one to be lost (Romans 8:5-8). They had sectarian
loyalties demonstrated by their sectarian names (1 Corinthians
1:12). The apostle rebuked their sectarianism (1 Corinthians
1:13). He urged them:
Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there
be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together
in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Corinthians
1:10)
This verse contains the keys to being nondenominational. We
must speak the same thing, have no divisions, and have the same
mind and judgment. Doctrine does matter. Those who go beyond
the doctrine of Christ lose fellowship with God and His people
(2 John 9-11). The "doctrine of Christ" is not limited
to the truth about the nature of Christ Jesus (verse 7). It includes
all divine truth (verse 4). To be nondenominational, our faith,
teaching and practice must be limited to those things clearly
authorized by the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17).
If we believe, practice and teach things unauthorized by the
New Testament, we are sectarian (denominational). If we make
our opinions, whether formalized as creeds or catechisms or unwritten,
the standard by which we determine fellowship, we are sectarian.
Furthermore, we must not be guilty of sectarian loyalty as
reflected by party names (1 Corinthians 1:12). As individuals,
we may be called "believers" (Acts 5:14), "disciples"
(Acts 9:1), "saints" (Acts 9:13), "Christians"
(Acts 11:25-26) or "members" (1 Corinthians 11:27).
As a group, whether local or universal, we may be called "the
church" (Acts 8:3), "the Way" (Acts 9:1-2), the
church of Christ (Romans 16:16), "the church of God"
(1 Corinthians 1:2), "the church of the living God"
(1 Timothy 3:14-15), or "the general assembly and church
of the firstborn" (Hebrews 12:23-24, plural, indicating
membership). All these names are used to include all scripturally
baptized believers in their relationship to Christ and God.
If we have loyalty to a religious party, a group larger than
a local church and smaller than the universal body of the saved,
we are denominational. This party loyalty is reflected by party
names. Sectarian names include the various denominational names
(Catholic, Episcopal, Presbyterian, etc.) but also names of less
formal parties (Conservative, Liberal, etc.). We can also show
sectarianism by insisting on only one divinely authorized name
for God's people, whether as individuals or as a group, to the
exclusion of others. Those who claimed, "I am of Christ,"
were also a party (1 Corinthians 1:12).
We must truly be practicing nondenominational Christianity.
Anything else is sectarian and sinful.
--------------------
Works Quoted
Louw, Johannes P. & Eugene A. Nida, Greek-English Lexicon
of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains.
Vine, W.E. An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged.
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