Why Do We Need Church Denominations?
Why Do We Need Church Denominations?
TR Gardone is a bi-vocational ordained pastor, preacher, and teacher while lecturing, authoring newspaper articles and a book, and ministering in services, revivals, pulpit supply, as well as a Spiritual Service Provider/Teacher for a recovery center for addicted and troubled youth, in jail ministry, and having started a thriving church. Married for over 40 years, father of four and grandfather of eighteen. He started a non-profit ministry, in memory of his daughter, providing scriptured hats to cancer patients.
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Why Do We Need Church Denominations?
I have heard it said a number of times over the years, “Why are there denominations?” Why can’t there just be one church instead of all this division and differences? It’s easy to ask easy questions or make simple pronouncements, especially if you’re trying to sound unifying or spiritual. Admittedly, there are people who are sincere in expressing that query because they do want to see a greater oneness in the body of Christ.
Unity and Diversity in the Body – 1 Corinthians 12:12-20, 27 NIV
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
This scripture informs us that in the body of Christ are, “…many parts, not made up of one part,” and that, “God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.” This coincides with people asking as Christians, “What is my part, role, or function? What does God want me to do? Body parts prove one thing: Uniqueness of function. But body parts must be connected to its lifeline to be able to “function,” or serve, or exist. Remember that a branch needs to be connected to the vine. Some would argue that denominations/fellowships simply add a label to our Christianity, as if labels are inherently bad.
What if we removed all labels from all products? It would make purchasing a logistical nightmare! What is the expiration date on the milk? How do I wash and dry these clothes? What are the cholesterol, fat, salt, or sugar contents? How many miles per gallon does this car get? What are the prices so I can compare? As it concerns body parts, what does a finger relate to the most; another finger or at least the hand. They identify with one another. That likeness or familiarity creates a bond.
Numbers 2:1-2 NIV reads, “…each of them (each part) under their own standard, and hold the banners of their family.” The family banner-thing was their label, their identity showing or proving their bond and familiarity, their “belonginess (my word).” Numbers 2 describes the arrangements of the tribal camps, where God placed them as a nation, or body. Just like in 1st Corinthians 12:18, “…God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.” Just as the finger, as a body part, has a place of attachment; same also should Christians. Where is your point of attachment? What standard, banner, doctrines, beliefs, practices, church government and ecclesiastical authority do you identify with the most? God has raised up denominations, fellowships, and churches in order to fit in all the different body parts. What camp do you identify the most with? That point of connection, that place of attachment, that church, is where you have your label or identity. Fulfill your role or function there.
We all need one another even though we have differences. Just as in Numbers 2, all the tribes gathered at the tent of meeting where there was, and is, centralization. As Christians, we are all related by the blood of Christ. We find common ground at the foot of the cross and divine grace. All body parts are connected and find their life, in Christ. Get connected to Christ and a local church.