Is denominationalism wrong?

Jesus said He would build His church in Matthew 16:18. Notice He said church—singular, not “churches” —plural. Jesus built one church. There were many congregations but 1 church. For example, you have a Baptist church, it is 1 church but with many Baptist congregations all over the place.

In the Bible, the congregations of the church that Jesus built were called churches of Christ In Romans 16:16. The church that He built wore His name because He was its founder. Ephesians 5:23 says Jesus is the “head” of His church which He built—- not some board of directors, council, synod, or Pope! She is described as a bride and he was the bridegroom Eph. 5:27, Rev. 21:2. Also portrayed in the parable of the 10 virgins. Doesn’t the “bride” usually wear the name of the “bridegroom?” It is significant that the Lutheran church wears the name of its founder.

The first “denomination” didn’t come into existence until 600 years AFTER Jesus built His church. And that was the Catholic Church. They claim to be the first church—that is not true but they ARE the first denomination.

In John 17, Jesus prayed to the Father concerning His disciples, “…that they may all be one Father as I am in you and you are in me…” Can you imagine Jesus being a Baptist and the Father a Methodist?? One believes baptism is immersion and the other believes it is sprinkling. That is not unity. That is not oneness. The name “denominationalism” means “division.” If you give someone a 10 dollar bill and ask for change, they will say “what denominations do you want?” Meaning how do you want this DIVIDED. Money is DIVIDED into denominations of Pennie’s, nickels, dines and quarters or paper money of one’s, fives, tens, twenty’s, etc. Denominations mean division. This is not what Jesus prayed for in John 17.

At the very least it's misguided. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:19 that factions are a sign of who is approved and who isn't. The way I understand that, those who were involved in creating factions weren't among the approved; they were more interested in creating strife.

"Denominations", I think, is an outdated framework that people used to describe and try to understand what they saw happening in the religious world following the protestant reformation.

Maybe you used to be able to tell something about a church by it's name; but that's not really true anymore, if it ever was. "Baptists" in particular tend to not be part of any hierarchical structured organization: there are actually many churches that call themselves "baptists" but are nothing like the other churches that call themselves by the same name.

That's more of a western tradition than a biblical concept.

I think during the Protestant reformation, the Catholic Church actually named the protestant churches; because that's how they named heresies- they called them after the name of the false teacher. The protestants stuck with the labels, probably for communication purposes; because it was a relatively quick way for people to understand what group you were a part of.

Even that might be more credit than they deserve.

How did this end up in Christian Teens forum? I only ask because I dont know any in my age asking this question. Maybe is because I dont know many Christian my age.
Blessings to you 🙏🫶

It is a judgement call, but many teens are confused by all of the division in religion. Many of them are searching… trying to find answers…Most are not yet established in any particular sect. While older people are by this time very established in what they believe and practice. And unwilling to consider anything new or change.

I would like to give them information to consider; help them make an “informed” choice. There is one post on here about a young person considering converting to Catholicism. Now is the time to teach these young people; they are standing at the “door” of their lives.

I was hoping to

As I looked at the posts on this site, I see some young people who are asking questions about religious practices like, “ are we born in sin?”, do I have to keep the Sabbath?, and “I’m considering converting to …”. I know teens are interested in things that are more relevant to their age, but some teens are also thinking more seriously about spiritual things. Information is a good thing and allows you to make better decisions. What you choose to do with it is up to you.

I did not been that Im not interest in talking about Bible ore the belief and how to be a Christian. I just who det because this was new to me. Maybe it is difirwnt in other part of world. Here in Sweden i have never meet any who ask about this. Is more like we are difirwnt churches but in the end we all believe in same god so herein Sweden we dont talk much about it.
So thank you for make it more clear for me 🫶🫶🙏🙏

Thank you for your good attitude. Keep studying the Bible. It is God “speaking” to you.

Are denominations wrong?

It's wrong to think that you're right, that's what wrong.
But different groups doing their own journey in faith is not wrong.

Where is the scripture for that? I can’t accept it just because you say so. 1 Thess. 5:21 says to “prove” all things and the only way to prove that is to show us in the Bible where God said it. Here is what I know God said:
God said in Jeremiah 10:23 that it is not within man who walks to DIRECT HIS OWN STEPS. I think that applies to those groups that “are doing THEIR OWN journey.”
God also said, to trust in Him and not “lean on your Own UNDERSTANDING.” Just deciding on your own-regardless of what the Bible says—what is right or wrong is not Biblical. Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 both say that there is a way the SEEMS RIGHT to a man but it leads to “death.” How do those people who are making THEIR OWN JOURNEY in the faith know if they are in the right way??? No, I don’t think—judging from what the scriptures say—that God approves of people doing “THEIR OWN THING.” 1 Cor. 7 says God’s commandments MATTER. What I think doesn’t matter—it’s “what does the Bible (God) say” that matters.

"Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand." Romans 14:4

There are good churches and churches that have lost their way. God had a message of correction for many churches in the entire new testament letters to the churches. The book of Revelation opens with instructions to 7 churches who were making different kinds of errors. Nothing is different today.

Should we all be one denomination? I don't see how a common name fixes our errors.

Are we one church if we have given ourselves different names? Sure. My baptist church has joined with methodists, church of the nazzarine, and others for joint projects, Christmas services, and let other denominations use our building while they were under construction. One church working together. Different names.

" For just as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body—though many—are one body, so too is Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. "

cs lewis said something like this[ despite the shepard leading the sheep wrongly wont some sheep still enter there in?] - mere Christianity. at this time Lewis was talking about the Anglican church he was attending but he switched to the catholic church later on.

denominations are not wrong because we are only human.

1 Cor. 12 is talking about “people” not “churches.” Christians are the “members” of the “body” of Christ. Not talking about many “churches.”