What is the role of a Denomination?

[Riverwalker]

Let us consider what a denomination IS NOT.

It is NOT the body

There is just ONE Body...one church and we are all part of the same church. As individual members we make up the one body.

1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

1 Corinthians 12: 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

So a denomination does not unify the church. Jesus does that.

A Denomination is NOT our teacher.

The Body is taught by the Holy Spirit, through the word, through a pastor or a teacher  or other source, but all in all if it is to bring life to us, it must be in the power of the Holy Spirit, known in the Gospel of John to be "The Helper"

John 14:26

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

So the role of the denomination is not to teach us. The Holy Spirit does that.

A denomination does NOT decide what is the truth.

The role of the denomination is not to decide what the truth of God is. The Father does that. and we are lead to discover it as he reveals it.

2nd Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth

Romans 1 18 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 19 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made

2nd timothy 3: 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work

So then the role of a denomination is not to impart the truth to us.

In short some of us have allowed the denomination to takes the place of God in these aspects, and that it just not right

So then the open question is, what is the role of the denomination and why  do we insist ours is better than theirs, when it is the express will of God that there be no divisions in the ONE body of which Christ is the head?

 

(full disclosure I am a non-denominational Christian who grew up Roman Catholic)

[Waggles]

43 minutes ago, Riverwalker said:

(full disclosure I am a non-denominational Christian who grew up Roman Catholic)

What is nondenominational? Is that a mishmash of all doctrines? 

[Riverwalker]

43 minutes ago, Waggles said:

What is nondenominational? Is that a mishmash of all doctrines? 

It means my church is my church. There is no ruling body above it but God. And like Bereans we make sure what is being preached is of God, or we don't go. Sola Scriptura

Edited February 12, 2021 by Riverwalker

[Waggles]

1 hour ago, Riverwalker said:

It means my church is my church. There is no ruling body above it but God. And like Bereans we make sure what is being preached is of God, or we don't go. Sola Scriptura

So then you lot would be exactly the same as the first century apostolic church I read of in Acts and the epistles?

[Starise]

The denominational role is supposed to be a role of support and sometimes representation for the local churches. 

I'll list a few ways denominations can help. There are undoubtedly more.

The printing and distribution of Sunday school literature.

The support and organization of missionaries across the world.

Pastoral support. Often retirement and benefits and possibly pay are managed through the larger body.

Help in finding a new pastor.

Collective funds distribution to areas the denomination agrees on. This could be funds for building new churches, funds for new ministries, feeding/helping the poor, prison ministries, youth ministries etc. Really anything the denomination decides is a priority.

Help in maintaining the teachings of the denomination to make sure teachings don't go off base. Accountability.

 

[Riverwalker]

3 hours ago, Waggles said:

So then you lot would be exactly the same as the first century apostolic church I read of in Acts and the epistles?

The point being is that there has only ever been 1 church

[Sower]

9 hours ago, Riverwalker said:

So then the role of a denomination is not to impart the truth to us.

In short some of us have allowed the denomination to takes the place of God in these aspects, and that it just not right

So then the open question is, what is the role of the denomination and why  do we insist ours is better than theirs, when it is the express will of God that there be no divisions in the ONE body of which Christ is the head?

 

(full disclosure I am a non-denominational Christian who grew up Roman Catholic)

I was raised catholic 30 yrs, then herd the gospel in a little Baptist church. Left the catholic denomination. Started searching.
Short time later we moved to the country, the wife visited a small Baptist church nearby, then I went, and have been there
for about forty yrs. Only church home as believers. Sure, they're not perfect, and I do not think it better than yours or anybody's, but when I witness to the lost and they ask what church do I recommend, I tell them to find a small Baptist church, because they all preach the true gospel of the bible. Then find a church you feel right in that preaches the bible, regardless of denomination.
I can go on vacation and feel comfortable visiting in another Baptist church, because that denomination has a 'standard' or a statement of faith that I and my wife agree with. I agree with Starise above, there is a lot going on behind the scenes that help each church obtain there goals, which in the Baptist churches is to proclaim the gospel of the bible. Mission oriented.
Each church is autonomous, we govern our own affairs, but with the umbrella of the denomination.
The Baptist convention does not nor can not dictate anything concerning our church. We support our missionaries through them.
They do not take the place of God, ever, in any way. Nor do they decide for us in any way the truth/interpretation of scripture.
Based on what I see and hear here on Worthy, with so many frustrated with their churches, and most actually not going to church any more at all, I feel I am truly blessed to belong to a body of believers who assemble regularly, with families for generations.
The church is over 130+yrs old. Can only imagine how many came to know the Lord there.
I would rather be able to go to any/every church of the body of Christ, that all of them  preached Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
But that is not how it is, unfortunately. Thus the denominations,a recognized autonomous branch of the Christian Church.
It works at our church. Many are saved there, discipleship is taught, including my family which were saved and baptized there.
May sound corny, but it is like you go to your favorite restaurant, perhaps a 'chain' restaurant, so when out of town, you see their sign and know they will be serving 'food'  you know is healthy for you, and taste good.  Preference/familiar/wise.

 

[johnthebaptist]

19 hours ago, Riverwalker said:

Let us consider what a denomination IS NOT.

It is NOT the body

There is just ONE Body...one church and we are all part of the same church. As individual members we make up the one body.

1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

1 Corinthians 12: 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

So a denomination does not unify the church. Jesus does that.

A Denomination is NOT our teacher.

The Body is taught by the Holy Spirit, through the word, through a pastor or a teacher  or other source, but all in all if it is to bring life to us, it must be in the power of the Holy Spirit, known in the Gospel of John to be "The Helper"

John 14:26

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

So the role of the denomination is not to teach us. The Holy Spirit does that.

A denomination does NOT decide what is the truth.

The role of the denomination is not to decide what the truth of God is. The Father does that. and we are lead to discover it as he reveals it.

2nd Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth

Romans 1 18 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 19 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made

2nd timothy 3: 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work

So then the role of a denomination is not to impart the truth to us.

In short some of us have allowed the denomination to takes the place of God in these aspects, and that it just not right

So then the open question is, what is the role of the denomination and why  do we insist ours is better than theirs, when it is the express will of God that there be no divisions in the ONE body of which Christ is the head?

 

(full disclosure I am a non-denominational Christian who grew up Roman Catholic)

For full disclosure, I am a United Methodist - always have been. I don't insist my denomination is better than anyone else's. Our denomiation is in a war right now, and it is very painful to me. People might say, why not find another church? But I believe in loyalty to my own church and doing what I can to make it better.

[Hopefully]

“Brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, I beg all of you to agree with each other. You should not be divided into different groups. Be completely joined together again with the same kind of thinking and the same purpose.

This is what I mean: One of you says, “I follow Paul,” and someone else says, “I follow Apollos.” Another says, “I follow Peter,” and someone else says, “I follow Christ.” Christ cannot be divided into different groups. It wasn’t Paul who died on the cross for you, was it? Were you baptized in Paul’s name?”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:10, 12-13‬ ‭

“You are still not following the Spirit. You are jealous of each other, and you are always arguing with each other. This shows that you are still following your own selfish desires. You are acting like ordinary people of the world. One of you says, “I follow Paul,” and someone else says, “I follow Apollos.” When you say things like that, you are acting like people of the world. Is Apollos so important? Is Paul so important? We are only servants of God who helped you believe. Each one of us did the work God gave us to do. I planted the seed and Apollos watered it. But God is the one who made the seed grow. So the one who plants is not important, and the one who waters is not important. Only God is important, because he is the one who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have the same purpose. And each one will be rewarded for his own work.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:3-8‬ ‭
 

 

[Guest clancy]

The word “ denomination “ isn’t mentioned in the word, so surely it must be man made?