"Why the Churches of Christ Are Not A Denomination"

Hello once again and welcome back to another devotional thought from God's Word. I want to begin sharing with you an article from one of my favorite professors from college. He was my Greek Professor at Kentucky Christian and I hold this man in high respect for his knowledge and love for The Lord. I am going to break it up into three parts due to its length. So get ready to grow one more time as you read and know God's Word just a little bit better. I urge each one who reads this to compare it only to God's Word and not to any man-made ideas or philosophies. God bless as you know HIM more.

"Why the Churches of Christ Are Not A Denomination"
By Donald A. Nash


"When just a lad in high school, I was in a class in which the teacher questioned all the students concerning their religious faith, whether they were Catholic or Protestant, and as to what denomination they belonged if Protestant. I had just heard a great gospel preacher discourse on the theme of this tract, so when she came to me, I said simply, “Christian,” in reply to her question.
“Yes, I know,” she said, “but are you Protestant or Catholic?” “Neither,” I replied. “But you have to be one or the other,” she exclaimed, becoming very aggravated. After she could not move me on this declaration, she attempted to discover to what denomination I belonged, and again I insisted that I belonged to none and was simply a Christian. This position astounded her, and I believe she simply credited it to my ignorance from the subsequent grades I received.

However, the incident was illuminative of the ignorance on the part of the majority of denominational
people in regard to the position of the churches of Christ. The cause for this ignorance stems in the lack of
understanding by the membership of the churches themselves who do not understand the
undenominational position of the Christian church. To the end of educating those who profess to be
Christians only, and to lead denominational people to the simple New Testament church, this tract is
written.
The historical position of the members of the Churches of Christ, or Christian churches, has been un- or
non-denominational. We are not inter-denominational as some sects, movements, and organizations claim
to be. There is a difference! Inter-denominational organizations condone sectarianism, simply being
cooperative agencies of various denominations. We, however, believe denominationalism and
sectarianism to be sinful. See 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 and 3:1-5, where Paul criticizes the divisions of the
church at Corinth. See also John 17, where Christ prays for the unity of His followers. Denominationalism destroys this unity and hence is sinful. See also the 4th chapter of Ephesians, where Paul exalts the unity of the church.

Now, a denomination is a group of professed followers of Christ which divides itself from other professed Christians by adopting procedures over and above those found in the Scriptures, thus dividing the church universal. This separation may come through any of the following ways:

1st: By taking a name other than a scriptural one. Thus, a Methodist, a Presbyterian, a Lutheran, or a
Baptist, by taking a human name, separates or denominates himself as different from the others.

2nd: By taking another rule of discipline above the New Testament. Thus, the Presbyterians, who
accept the Westminster Confession of Faith; the Episcopalians, who accept the Thirty-nine Articles of
Faith; or the Baptists, who accept the Philadelphia Confession of Faith, all separate themselves from each
other by denominating their groups through these disciplines and creeds.

3rd: By adding any doctrine to the practice of the New Testament church. Thus, the Methodists,
Presbyterians, and Lutherans, who add infant baptism and affusion to the accepted and acknowledged
practice of the immersion of the penitent believer in the New Testament church, separate themselves from
those who adhere strictly to the apostolic pattern.

4th: By establishing a governing organization over themselves which is over them only, and which
supercedes the simple autonomous authority of the local congregation under Christ. Thus, the
Methodists, Presbyterians, Catholics, Lutherans, and every great evangelical group have councils, synods,
conferences, and officials ruling their particular denominations."

We will end our first part here at this point and allow you to read and digest and study the Word in regards to what has been mentioned today. This is in no way meant to offend but only to make HIS truth known in a world of so much confusion. God bless until our next time.