[Biblemat] S) QUESTION AND ANSWER

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is another question and
answer adapted from my files.  Use to the glory of God.

QUESTION AND ANSWER

QUESTION: -- Is the church of Christ a denomination?

ANSWER: ---  The word "denomination" is defined:  "The act of
                           naming; a religious group; a sect." (Webster).  
In
usage today, the word denotes a religious group that is part of
the aggregation of those who claim to be believers in Christ.  Thus, we 
hear people speaking of variaous groups as being 
"Christian Denominations."  The purpose in naming a group is
to distinguish between it and other groups.  This is a matter of
"denominating."  And this is the root of the word: "denominate."
So,  a denomination si a "sect" as that word is used in the Scrip-
ture.  During the time of Jesus walking upon the earth, the Jews
had the "sect of the Pharisees," "the sect of the Sadducees," 
etc.  Incidentally, synonyms for the word: "denominate" are:
"denomination",  "sect", "faction" , "heresy." etc.

       Jesus promised:  "Upon this rock I will build My church" Matt. 
16:18).  For Him to build upon the rock, we recognize that
the rock was the confession that Peter voiced on that occasion:
"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God."  So, the church
that Jesus would build, would be established and governed by
the Law of the Lord.  It would not be named and separated into
one of many differing denominations.  It would be the Body of
Christ, as is mentioned in Eph. 4:1-6.  It would also be referred
to as the Bride of Christ.  How many brides would you think that
the Lord would have?

       Once again:  to denominate is to name and separate into diff-
ering parts.  We read nothing of the church that Christ built ever
being named and separated according to the whims and fancies
of man's ideas and opinions.  All denominations in the world 
today are of man-made doctrines and ideas.  Each having its own creed and 
doctrine concocted by one man or a group of
men.  Wearing different names and following different doctrines
or ideas.  This is in opposition to the prayer that Jesus prayed
before He ascended into heaven, to His Father.  (Jno. 17:20-23).
This is also in opposition to the teaching of the inspired apostle
Paul:  (1 Cor. 1:10).

       No, the church that Christ built, and His Word maintains, is
not a denomination.  It is not named and separated as one of
many churches devised and started by man.  It is the one body
that is made up of those who have obeyed the Lord according
to His Word and is thereby added to the church, the body, the
kingdom, by the Lord Himself.  The hundreds of denominations
that are found in the world today were all devised and started
by a man or group of men.  Such denominations are following
the commandments of men and are therefore making the the
the Word of God void, in their case, and their worship is there-
fore vain in the sight of God.  No, the church of Christ is not a
denomination, it has the Word of God as its guide and it thereby
speaks where the Bible speaks, and is silent where the Bible is
silent.  I does Bible things in Bible ways, and calls Bible things
by Bible names.  It is the pillar and ground of the truth.  It is the
family of God.  God has only one family.  That family consists of
each and everyone that has believed and obeyed the Word of
God on how to become a Christian, and how to live as a Christ-
ian, and to worship as a Christan.  A true Christian is a follower
of Christ, is one of thousands who make up the church of the
Lord, the church of Christ.   --- Adapted from an article by Clem
Thurman, found in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 59, No. 34, Aug. 20, 2010.</HTML>