Is This a Good Thing, or a Bad Thing?

Dec. 9

Read: 1 Cor . 1:10-17, John 17:20-23

Is This a Good Thing, or a Bad Thing?

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” - 1 Cor. 1:10

“The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” - Jesus, John 17:22,23

The researcher and author David Barrett in the World Christian Encyclopedia counts 8,196 different protestant denominations in the world!* The total number of Christian “denominations” (including Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, and “non-denominational” and “bible” churches) is tremendously difficult to calculate; with some estimations ranging as high as 23,000 - 33,000.** Although these larger numbers are outlandishly large and have been proven to be inflated, nevertheless it causes one to wonder - what are the actual numbers? When one considers how many “non-denominational” churches and “bible” churches there are, if they are each counted as their own denomination then maybe we would approach those larger numbers again! Think about this: there are an estimated 1,750 Protestant MEGAchurches in the United States alone. (These are churches with a sustained weekly attendance of more than 2000 people) Of those 1,750 - 40% counted as “non-denominational”*** That means there are some 700 MEGAchurches that potentially function as their own “denomination”! You could get lost in these numbers forever, but what is the number that seems BIBLICALLY ACCEPTABLE? Just how much division are we supposed to have as Christians… as the Church… as the body of Christ? It seems like Jesus and the scriptures say NONE!

How should we see all these denominations? Are they a good thing or a bad thing? Should we celebrate them as some sort of “tapestry” and testament to our “diversity”? Or should we mourn them as a picture of the people of God being divided and dis-unified? It is sobering to think that Jesus says it is through our “perfect oneness”  that “the world may know that (God) sent him (Jesus)  and loved (the people of God) even as you loved me.” (v. John 17:23) How is it that Christianity could remain unified for almost 1000 years before it’s first division (East vs. West) and then hold on for another 500 years until another break (Protestant vs. Roman Catholic)? That Protestant branch off of the Roman Catholic branch has sprouted  (conservatively) some 200 denominations… 200 smaller branches and branches off of branches.**** Now set this against the backdrop of the scriptures… against the words of Jesus and Paul:

“The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” - Jesus (John 17:22,23)

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” - (1 Cor. 1:10)

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” - Jesus (John 13:34,35)

Are these denominations actually “new religions”? I know how each camp thinks about the other… trust me. If we are honest with ourselves, many of these “churches” have irreconcilable differences. They look nothing like one another in extreme cases. If we turn back again to the scriptures, we see grave warnings against this:

“But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.” (2 Cor. 11:3,4)

“Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.” (1 Cor. 11:2)

“Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.” (2 Thes. 3:6)

“So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.” (2 Thes. 2:15)

“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all,” (Ephesians 4:4,5)

Everyone thinks they are “right”. No one thinks they have the “inferior” or “wrong” version of Christianity… I mean that is why they choose to be that sort of Christian. Despite this truth, 2 Corinthians 11 shows us that we can be deceived into following a false Jesus, spirit, and gospel… and embrace it “readily”! Maybe we need to “lean not on our own understandings” and begin to seek the Lord through his Scriptures and His Spirit, to re-shape and unify his People! This will take some humility because it may even mean admitting you were wrong about something…that you held a position that was “unbiblical” or “off base”. Somehow - for almost 1000 years - Christians managed to have discussion and debate amongst themselves and yet not be DIVIDED into 100’s of not 1000’s of splintered and fragmented groups. I have studied Church history enough to know not to romanticize the past… but you cannot negate the fact that it did not always look this way - we were not always this divided. I don’t know exactly what the answer is, but I do know that all of this division is not good. It is not to be celebrated. I believe that the Lord is drawing his people back together.  I think sound theology and doctrine will draw the people of God together… not divide them. I think there is such a thing as “the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.” (cf. 1 Tim. 3:15) I don’t know how it will all shake out… but I do trust The Lord in it. What would it be like to say, “I am a Christian” and that is enough!? Love you guys! - JDP

*Barrett, David B. World Christian Encyclopedia. Nairobi ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1982 p.14-15, etc.

** (23,000) World Census of Religious Activities. U.N. Information Center, NY, 1989 / also cited in Schaeffer, Frank. Dancing Alone. Brookline, MA: Holy Cross Press, 1994 p. 4.

(33,000) Barrett, David B. World Christian Encyclopedia. Nairobi ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1982

*** Hartford Center for Religion Research

**** Pew Research Center , Association of Religion Data Archives