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Identity of churches of Christ: a Study of Non-denominationalism

After being converted into Christ, I was trying to explain to my extended family the nature of the churches of Christ. During this conversation I mentioned that the church of Christ was not a denomination. My aunt then proceeded to ask, “What do you mean in stating that the church of Christ is non-denominational?” Good question, since I was not really sure what I meant by using the phrase non-denominational. All I knew at the time was this was a good term because of how the people who influenced me to become a Christian took pride in the description. These people seemed to place great emphasis on the non-denominational character of the church. Hence, my aunt simply caught me parroting an idea that I could not define or describe myself. Unfortunately, the idea of non-denominational Christianity is still being echoed throughout Christendom with little understanding. The term non-denominational has become hot jargon in Christian culture. Everyone claims the title but not the truth. The term has morphed into a muddy definition with the user infusing whatever label into the word that seems to meet his or her purposes. The term non-denominationalism can mean a lack of a denominational hierarchical structure within a church body, an acceptance of all doctrines within a local congregation, a marketing ploy to lore newcomers to the building, or a statement of opposition to fragmented Christianity. So what exactly does non-denominational mean in reference to the plea of the churches of Christ?

Defining Denominationalism. One must realize that a discussion of denominationalism was non-existent in the first century (Matt. 16:18). There was only one church established (Acts 2:41). Unfortunately, up to the 15th century the church continued to splinter and bicker over doctrine, but it was not until the 16th century that denominationalism came into prominence. Though for some time the church was in a state of apostasy (1 Tim. 4:1-3), eventually the reformer Martin Luther and a group of believers broke off from the apostate universal church to establish another Christian movement. With this initial break, Christianity continued to fragment unceasingly for centuries. Today, the Christian landscape is divided, confused, and increasingly ineffective in reaching the unbelieving world (John 17:23).

Since the term denomination is predominantly a modern term, there have been numerous attempts to define the word. Definitions range from mathematically generated definitions to ecclesiological definitions. These definitions attribute denominationalism as a “part of a whole” or “a church body that has an official headquarters and a church governmental structure.” These descriptions certainly influence the definition of denomination but do not completely detail what denomination means to the typical man or woman in today’s world. Hence, Edward C. Wharton provides a working definition for this ever-changing word. He states, “a denomination can be defined as a doctrinally distinct body of professed Christians, but not the only Christians, who believe that they have been saved by grace through faith in Christ apart from any other requirement and who have denominated themselves with a distinctive name by which they distinguish their characteristic doctrine and practice from other denominations.” Inherently, denominationalism is a desire to perpetuate division within Christendom. Therefore, the concept of denominationalism is contrary to Biblical teaching. Paul sternly rebukes the Corinthians for desiring to denominate themselves from one another in 1 Corinthians 1:10 “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment” (NASV).

Defining Un-denominationalism. Un-denominations are increasing around America at an exponential rate. These churches are formed with the label of non-denomination attached to them. Often times the particular name of the body of believers has the term “community” in the description on the church’s sign. The marketing campaigns of these congregations present a church that will accept anyone or any belief. Since denominationalism is a marking of certain beliefs through an official creed or statement, these churches claim to have no creed or doctrinal statements. Any belief or practice is accepted in these groups.

The problem is that many people are led astray through these organizations because of the partial truth proclaimed. On one hand, it is commendable that there is a desire to unite together, but on the other hand, this unity is achieved through an absence of truth (John 8:32). Unity is easily established when there are no standards or conditions to meet. Paul could have increased the size of the congregations at Galatia and Ephesus if he was practicing the un-denominational model of church growth. Instead of welcoming the Judaizers into fellowship, (he could have rationalized that these people believed in the incarnated Christ, so therefore were acceptable to God), he instructed the Galatians to disregard the preaching of “another gospel” (Gal. 1:9) and commanded the Ephesians’ elders to guard against false teachers swaying the flock of God away into error (Acts 20:28-30).

In contrast to un-denominationalism, non-denominationalism was never intended to be a uniting movement without the standard of truth. Paul clearly writes that unity through truth will solidify the church. A truth-less unity produces wavering believers. Paul states, “Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Eph. 4:13-14). Those that advocate an un-denominational form of Christianity are practicing a type of truth-less non-denominationalism.

Defining Non-denominationalism. The origin of the term non-denomination derives from a reaction to the presence of denominations in the world. Using the term non-denomination can mean various ideas to various people. Sometimes the term connotes a sense of inter-denominational fellowship, where people maintain their separate denominational identities within a quasi-form of unity (Eph. 4:4-6), while at other times, non-denomination means that a congregation does not belong to an official system of congregations that are united through a creed. Sometimes the use of non-denominational simply means the establishment of a new-denomination using non-denominational terminology.

Mostly, churches of Christ have labeled themselves as non-denominational in character but this term does not completely capture the essence of the church’s identity. The character of the churches of Christ is not found in a reaction to sinful practices of dividing the body of Christ, but the identity is located in the desire to restore the purity of the church found in the Bible. The plea of the inspired writers of the New Testament is for the unity of all of God’s people. Paul states, “And (Christ) might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross.” This unity is not based on opinion, a manmade creed, or clergy, but on the divine truth in the word of God (1 Tim. 3:15).

The churches of Christ are not so much non-denominational in character as anti-denominational. God is against a splintered church. The work of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is to bring all nations into the church. Christ is not pleased when people become hyphenated Christians. There is no such thing as a Baptist Christian, a Methodist Christian, a Presbyterian Christian, or even a Church of Christ Christian found in the Bible, although some people mistakenly apply these terms. All people should be Christians only without hyphenated identities. Paul declares, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:26-28). People in the church should work towards the eradication of denominationalism.

Years ago a man by the name of Raccoon John Smith stated, “Let us, then, my brethren, be no longer Campbellities or Stoneites, New Lights or Old Lights, or any other kind of lights, but let us all come to the Bible, and to the Bible alone, as the only book in the world that can give us all the Light we need.”

Matthew Morine