Aside from doctrinal, social, cultural, and possibly even racial differences, denominations are seemingly the most divisive factor within the body of Christ. There are a multitude of denominations that exist throughout the world. Space would simply not allow me to list the numerous denominations that exist within Christendom. To get a better idea of this conglomeration of churches and denominations, all one has to do is to consult their local yellow pages under the heading, "Churches" and they will find a comprehensive listing of churches categorically listed by their denomination. There even seems to be sub-denominations or affiliations within the mainline denomination themselves, such as:
Lutheran - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Lutheran Evangelical Synod (ELS), Lutheran Missouri Synod; Baptist - Baptist Independent, Southern Baptist, Missionary Baptist, Baptist Primitive; Church of God - Church of God Cleveland, Church of God in Christ, Church of God-Seventh Day; Methodist - United Methodist, Methodist Free; Presbyterian - Presbyterian Churches in America, Presbyterian Church-Cumberland. It no longer seems that fellow believers in Christ ask you if your born-again, but rather, what denomination do you belong to.
Denominations exist primarily based upon doctrinal and theological issues and differences. Although most of these issues generally do not effect one's own salvation, they apparently, according to denominationalists, constitute the need for unneeded division within the body of Christ. Some of these issues might be: infant baptism vs. baptism at the age of accountability, predestination vs. freewill, the use of music during worship vs. no music at all, ordination of women into church leadership vs. absolutely no women ordination, just to name a few. With the exception of a few minor extreme liberal, denominations and churches, all denominations, in most part, agree with the basic tenets and foundations of orthodox Christianity.
We must ask ourselves, as Protestants, do these divisive issues really constitute the need for denominational barriers? The Catholic Church has remained unified as one, why can't we? I have often heard it said that Sunday is the most segregated day of the week. What began the need for such division and who started it? Is there a Biblical basis for it? Most importantly, what does the Bible say concerning division in the church, or denominations? The bottom line is... is it Biblical?
"I appeal (beg and plead) to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions (denominations) among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, 'I will follow Paul (Martin Luther)'; another, 'I follow Apollos (John Calvin)'; another, 'I follow Cephas (John Wesley)'; still another, "I follow Christ.' Is Christ divided? Was Paul (Martin Luther) crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul (Martin Luther)? I am thankful I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name." (I Corinthians 1:10-15)
In this verse, Paul first makes an appeal. The word appeal used here means to make an earnest plea or request(1). Paul is begging and pleading the believers in Corinth for there to be no more division in the churches. Division causes separation of the believers while it also causes disorder and confusion. Talk about confusion, just where should a new believer begin his or her trek into the world of denominations? A new believer in Christ knows nothing about doctrine or theological issues. They're just trying to find a church to have fellowship in. Nowadays, a person has to go church shopping in the mall of denominations before finally deciding for themselves which one to become permanent members of. It's quite frustrating and confusing. Sad to say, all of this goes against the very nature of God. "For God is not a God of disorder but of peace." (1 Corinthians 14:33)
The word for "divisions" used in this verse is schisma, meaning open break, or fracturing (2). The church becomes broken and fractured with the establishment of denominations. No longer is there just one body but one body broken up into thousands of tiny fragments. Again, just refer to your local yellow pages and see the many clusters of denominations that exist just within your area of residence alone.
Individuals from the family of a Corinthian woman by the name of Chloe (not much is known about who exactly Chloe was or if whether or not she was even a believer in Christ) are the one's who informed Paul of there being quarrels in the church. The King James version renders the word quarrel as contentions. Contention means strife, quarreling, wrangling, arguments, etc. The Greek word eris is the word used for contentions. Ironically, Eris was also the name of the Greek goddess of strife.(3)
These contentions were concerning the numerous divisions going on in the churches in Corinth. We know this because Paul elaborates on these issues in the very next verse. The issue is that many are claiming to belong to a certain individual preacher or leader of the church and in so doing are dividing one another. Some claim they belonged to the church of Paul. Paul was an elegant speaker indeed and probably a terrific preacher. Another individual claimed their loyalty to Apollos. Apollos was a preacher who had quite a dynamic ministry in the city of Corinth (Acts 18:24; 19:1). He was as J. Vernon McGee stated, "the Billy Graham of that day."(4) Additionally, Cephas, or Peter was another leader listed in this verse. We know from his preaching in the book of Acts that he too was an awesome preacher and an original disciple of Christ. However, contrary to what the believers in Corinth might've thought, these great leaders and preachers of the church were not the one's causing division or starting up new house churches themselves. No, in fact they often stressed the unity of the church (I Corinthians 1:10; Eph. 4:3; Romans 15:5). It were the believers that took it upon themselves to branch off one another and establish their church homes with certain leaders. The same could probably be said of the members of the denominations that sprung forth primarily in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Martin Luther, for example, the father of the Protestant reformation and founder of the Lutheran church did not himself intend on starting division under his own name. It were in fact the many loyal followers and believers in both his cause and doctrines that permitted the establishment of what eventually became the Lutheran denomination.
Paul concludes this passage and ultimately this issue by asking a series of rhetorical questions, asking if any of the believers were baptized into his (Paul) own name or if he was crucified for them (I Cor. 1:13). The point he was making was very clear. Only Christ was the one with whom they should be loyal to, not a mere man such as themselves. It was not Paul, not Peter, nor Apollos, but Christ who was crucified. It was in Christ that they were earlier baptized into. He stressed this truth by saying that they should instead "be perfectly united in mind and thought" .
I believe this passage clearly addresses the issue of division under the guise of what we call today, denominationalism. It is obvious that division has been an issue and a problem since the first and second century churches. It is also obvious it was deplorable by Paul and ultimately by God. According to this verse, it clearly condemns division and therefore denominations since they are a major source of dividing the body of Christ. For further Biblical reference concerning this issue, please see: 1 Corinthians 10:17, 1 Corinthians 11:18, and 1 Corinthians 12
It wasn't until October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the door at the Wittenburg Castle, that division in the often corrupt, misled, and heretical teachings of the Catholic church began unfolding, forever changing the course of history as we know it. Martin Luther, the father of the Reformation was the first to lead a charge against the Roman Catholic Church for it's many non-biblical teachings of indulgences, the infallibility of the Pope, and purgatory, not to mention the many traditions of men, and the veneration of Mary. Erasmus, on the other hand, another father of the Reformation, originally intended on reforming the Catholic church rather than breaking away from it altogether such as Luther did.(5) Although his intentions were well, he did not succeed. As previously mentioned, it were the followers and students of Martin Luther that would later establish the Lutheran church.
Nearly 50 years later, John Calvin another primary leader of the Reformation, instituted a series of doctrines called T.U.L.I.P., better known as the five points of Calvinism. This acronym stands for: T - Total depravity of man; U - Unconditional election; L - Limited atonement; I - Irresistable grace; and P - Perseverance of the saints. These doctrinal issues led a group of loyal followers of John Calvin in Geneva, Switzerland where he later wrote the Institutes of the Christian Faith which firmly established the biblical role of church leadership. This form of leadership was formally called the presbyter and was later adopted into what is today, the Presbyterian church.
During the 17th century, the first Baptist congregation was started by John Smyth and 36 exiled Englishmen, who later became the pilgrims of New England. Due to missionary work, most countries today have at least a small Baptist community. Roger Williams, an Englishman, has been called the father of the American Baptist Church. He formed a Baptist church in Providence, Rhode Island in 1639. During the years just before and after the Revolution, the number of Baptists increased greatly. The Methodists, at one time, ranked as the largest Protestant denomination in America. Baptists now form the largest Protestant group in the United States.
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church started out as an itinerant preacher who preached to the poor and middle working class in 18th century England. He started by going out to the people rather than the people coming to the church due to their often excessive and laborious work hours. Many years later, John and his brother Charles would come to America and travel from church to church preaching the gospel. He was known to have traveled thousands of miles both in England and the United States on horseback. The men and women who followed after him were to become known as the Methodists, named after the methodical ways of service that John Wesley established.
From that time on, scores of new denominations had started. The 19th century saw the formation of the Pentecostal movement, the Assemblies of God, the Seventh Day Adventists, the Church of the Nazarene, and the Churches of Christ. Additionally, it was in the 19th century that we saw many of the abherrant teachings of the major cults begin as well, the Mormon church under the leadership of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, and the Jehovah's Witness under the leadership of Charles Taze Russell.
These are just a few of many examples of how denominations began. As you can see, it was from all but one man that each of these mainline denominations were established. Just like the Biblical text above, some have decided to follow after the teachings of Wesley, Luther, Smyth, and Calvin, just to name a few. Is this necessarily wrong or evil? Well, I am a black and white person, I let Scripture speak for itself. I do believe the Scripture clearly condemns any form of division in the church whatsoever. If denominations are a source of that division, then yes, it is in fact wrong and goes against the very Word of God. I do believe the devil is well pleased by seeing the hundreds of denominations that exist within the Body of Christ. A fragmented Body is a vulnerable Body, open to the attacks of the enemy. Lest there be a reformation of the Protestant church, the Body of Christ, the church, will only be reunified on the day of the "blessed hope". Until then, I pray that believers will reunite as one unified Body of Christ as we eagerly await this "blessed hope" that is before us.
(2) J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary Series, I Corinthians, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991, Nashville, Tennessee, pg. 22
(3) Ibid. pg 22
(4) Ibid. pg. 23
(5) Garrett Eriks, Luther and Erasmus: The Controversy Concerning the Bondage of the Will, Protestant Reformed Theological Journal, April 1999, Volume 32, pg. 26
