DENOMINATION
FOUR SOBERING FACTS ABOUT DENOMINATIONALISM
John Chowning
Denominationalism, by its very definition, is division (many). Division is condemned by God (1 Cor. 1:10; Rom. 16:17; Eph. 4:3-6).
Fact #1: Denominationalism is nothing new. Although Protestant denominationalism has only been around since the days of Martin Luther (1482-1546), the origin of denominationalism can be traced all the way back to the first century to a group commonly designated by Bible students as “Judaizers.” These men are the forefathers of all denominationalism because they were the first of many subsequent teachers who espoused the belief that there must be things added to the Gospel in order to be saved. In their case, they taught that a person must obey the Gospel and be circumcised (Acts 15:1) to be saved. Shortly thereafter, they added that a circumcised Christian must keep the Law of Moses to be saved (Acts 15:5). The noxious taproot of denominationalism, regardless of what century it is espoused and practiced, is the belief that it is no big deal to add to or subtract from God’s revealed word.
This fundamental belief of denominationalism is clearly NOT derived from either a casual or careful reading of the Scriptures. In the beginning, middle, and end of God’s word there are explicit directions to not add to it or subtract from it. Who is unable to understand: “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it” (Deut. 4:2); “Every word of God is pure...Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Prov. 30:56); or, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Rev. 22:18-19)?
Sadly, the Scriptures clearly record the fact that Satan has been adding to and/or subtracting from God’s word since the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:4; 2:17). Sadder still is the fact borne out by history that Eve’s descendants have repeatedly fallen for Satan’s heinous lie. Denominationalism stands out as a shameful testament to these horrific facts.
Fact #2: Denominationalism teaches a gospel different than the one taught by the apostles. When the Judaizers showed up in the region of Galatia in the first century with the message of: “the gospel plus circumcision and the Law equals salvation,” they sought to persuade their listeners that this was no big deal. Their doctrine, they claimed, was the same as the apostles; it was another of the same kind. The inspired apostle Paul adamantly disagreed; he wrote: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another (heteros, different) gospel” (Gal. 1:6). The word Greek word translated “soon removed” (turning away) has the idea of reversing one’s course. It is used by Stephen in Acts 7:39 to describe the children of Israel’s decision at Mount Sinai when they came to Aaron and said, “Make us gods to go before us” and then “they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands” (Acts 7:4041). What Biblically literate person would contend that Israel’s worshipping of the golden calf was just “another” way of worshipping Jehovah?
The idol erected at Mount Sinai was a “different” (heteros) god; i.e. it was different in quality and character than the one true God. This same word (heteros) was used to describe the difference between the Gospel taught by the inspired apostles and the gospel proclaimed by the first century denominationalists — the Judaizers. Whenever a promoter of denominationalism ignores God’s plain words about not adding to or subtracting from His word, the message proclaimed is different in quality and character than the Gospel proclaimed from the apostles’ doctrine.
Fact #3: Denominationalism is what grows when the seed of a perverted gospel is planted. When one realizes that: 1) the principle of sowing and reaping (that the seed in the grass, herb, and fruit trees will only produce after its kind) has (Continued on page existed since the third day of creation (Gen. 1:11-12); 2) the word of God is the seed of the kingdom (Luke 8:11); and 3) the word of God when planted in good soil in the first century only produced churches of Christ (Rom. 16:16) which were comprised of (unhyphenated) Christians (Acts 11:26), then any backyard gardener can quickly figure out that the only way to get a church different than what the word of God produced in the first century is to use a different seed. How significant is this?
The inspired apostle Paul calls this a perversion of the Gospel of Christ (Gal. 1:7). The word translated “pervert” in Galatians 1:7 (metastrepho) has the idea of transforming something into that which is opposite in character. It is used in Acts 2:20 where Peter is quoting part of Joel’s prophecy, “The sun shall be turned into darkness.” By its inherent nature, the sun is bright and full of light. It is a perversion (metastrepho) of the sun for it to be darkness.
Now, consider the impact of this word in relation to the Gospel. The inherent nature and power of the Gospel is salvation (Rom. 1:16). When a Judaizer adds to or subtracts from the Gospel, the result is opposite in character to salvation! In other words, the perverted Gospel of denominationalism produces condemnation. The Gospel’s sunny offer of salvation is turned into the darkness of condemnation.
Fact #4: Denominationalism is a big, Big, BIG deal. Just in case someone is tempted to shrug off the significance of adding to or subtracting from the Gospel, the apostle writes: “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” (Gal. 1:89).
The word “accursed” (anathema) means “devoted to destruction.” God does not play with those who play with His word. Of the several Greek words and ways available to the apostle Paul to describe the condemnation of those who pervert the Gospel, he chose the strongest possible way available to him in the Greek language.
Satan, a liar and the Father of lies (John 8:44), says that adding to or subtracting from God’s word is no big deal. God, who cannot lie, says it is a big, Big, BIG deal. Whom do you believe? The devil or God?
John Chowning
Denominationalism, by its very definition, is division (many). Division is condemned by God (1 Cor. 1:10; Rom. 16:17; Eph. 4:3-6).
Fact #1: Denominationalism is nothing new. Although Protestant denominationalism has only been around since the days of Martin Luther (1482-1546), the origin of denominationalism can be traced all the way back to the first century to a group commonly designated by Bible students as “Judaizers.” These men are the forefathers of all denominationalism because they were the first of many subsequent teachers who espoused the belief that there must be things added to the Gospel in order to be saved. In their case, they taught that a person must obey the Gospel and be circumcised (Acts 15:1) to be saved. Shortly thereafter, they added that a circumcised Christian must keep the Law of Moses to be saved (Acts 15:5). The noxious taproot of denominationalism, regardless of what century it is espoused and practiced, is the belief that it is no big deal to add to or subtract from God’s revealed word.
This fundamental belief of denominationalism is clearly NOT derived from either a casual or careful reading of the Scriptures. In the beginning, middle, and end of God’s word there are explicit directions to not add to it or subtract from it. Who is unable to understand: “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it” (Deut. 4:2); “Every word of God is pure...Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Prov. 30:56); or, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Rev. 22:18-19)?
Sadly, the Scriptures clearly record the fact that Satan has been adding to and/or subtracting from God’s word since the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:4; 2:17). Sadder still is the fact borne out by history that Eve’s descendants have repeatedly fallen for Satan’s heinous lie. Denominationalism stands out as a shameful testament to these horrific facts.
Fact #2: Denominationalism teaches a gospel different than the one taught by the apostles. When the Judaizers showed up in the region of Galatia in the first century with the message of: “the gospel plus circumcision and the Law equals salvation,” they sought to persuade their listeners that this was no big deal. Their doctrine, they claimed, was the same as the apostles; it was another of the same kind. The inspired apostle Paul adamantly disagreed; he wrote: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another (heteros, different) gospel” (Gal. 1:6). The word Greek word translated “soon removed” (turning away) has the idea of reversing one’s course. It is used by Stephen in Acts 7:39 to describe the children of Israel’s decision at Mount Sinai when they came to Aaron and said, “Make us gods to go before us” and then “they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands” (Acts 7:4041). What Biblically literate person would contend that Israel’s worshipping of the golden calf was just “another” way of worshipping Jehovah?
The idol erected at Mount Sinai was a “different” (heteros) god; i.e. it was different in quality and character than the one true God. This same word (heteros) was used to describe the difference between the Gospel taught by the inspired apostles and the gospel proclaimed by the first century denominationalists — the Judaizers. Whenever a promoter of denominationalism ignores God’s plain words about not adding to or subtracting from His word, the message proclaimed is different in quality and character than the Gospel proclaimed from the apostles’ doctrine.
Fact #3: Denominationalism is what grows when the seed of a perverted gospel is planted. When one realizes that: 1) the principle of sowing and reaping (that the seed in the grass, herb, and fruit trees will only produce after its kind) has (Continued on page existed since the third day of creation (Gen. 1:11-12); 2) the word of God is the seed of the kingdom (Luke 8:11); and 3) the word of God when planted in good soil in the first century only produced churches of Christ (Rom. 16:16) which were comprised of (unhyphenated) Christians (Acts 11:26), then any backyard gardener can quickly figure out that the only way to get a church different than what the word of God produced in the first century is to use a different seed. How significant is this?
The inspired apostle Paul calls this a perversion of the Gospel of Christ (Gal. 1:7). The word translated “pervert” in Galatians 1:7 (metastrepho) has the idea of transforming something into that which is opposite in character. It is used in Acts 2:20 where Peter is quoting part of Joel’s prophecy, “The sun shall be turned into darkness.” By its inherent nature, the sun is bright and full of light. It is a perversion (metastrepho) of the sun for it to be darkness.
Now, consider the impact of this word in relation to the Gospel. The inherent nature and power of the Gospel is salvation (Rom. 1:16). When a Judaizer adds to or subtracts from the Gospel, the result is opposite in character to salvation! In other words, the perverted Gospel of denominationalism produces condemnation. The Gospel’s sunny offer of salvation is turned into the darkness of condemnation.
Fact #4: Denominationalism is a big, Big, BIG deal. Just in case someone is tempted to shrug off the significance of adding to or subtracting from the Gospel, the apostle writes: “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” (Gal. 1:89).
The word “accursed” (anathema) means “devoted to destruction.” God does not play with those who play with His word. Of the several Greek words and ways available to the apostle Paul to describe the condemnation of those who pervert the Gospel, he chose the strongest possible way available to him in the Greek language.
Satan, a liar and the Father of lies (John 8:44), says that adding to or subtracting from God’s word is no big deal. God, who cannot lie, says it is a big, Big, BIG deal. Whom do you believe? The devil or God?
posted by HPEDIE | 4:13 AM
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