Contrary to the title, I wish to emphasize that this post is in no wise an attack on any particular denomination. I choose this title to address a very serious issue in the church today; the issue of denominationalism, that is, the division of the Church of God into several denominations.
Many church folks today love and would rather associate with a particular denomination rather than the Christian faith. We love to say we are Catholic, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Adventist, Jewish, etc., instead of saying “I’m a Christian.” I have seen many stickers on people’s cars telling how the owner is “Proud to be a Catholic,” “Proud to be a Methodist,” “Proud to be a Presbyterian,” “Proud to be a Jewish,” etc. and only very few saying “I’m Proud to be a Christian!” Besides all these, I feel that the Church is currently experiencing a new and more severe form of division where people side with one man of God, and despise and criticize other men of God and their followers.
As Christians, I believe we should first and foremost identify with Christ! We are Christians first, and church members second. Second Timothy chapter one verse nine (2 Timothy 1:9) teaches us that Christ saved us first before calling us into a particular ministry or church. In essence, we are to see ourselves first as Christians.
While denominations in themselves are not wrong, it must be noted that prioritizing them over the Christian faith breeds divisions and contention. In the Bible, the word “Church” is used to refer to the entire body of Christ. The scripture says, “… Christ love the Church and gave himself for it” – Ephesians 5:25. By this scripture, I believe the Bible was not saying that Christ died for only the congregation of the Church of Pentecost, or Trinity Baptist Church, or T.D. Jakes’ Church. Jesus sees all churches as one, so far as He is the center of concentration. As a matter of fact, Christ’s aim on earth was to build a Church, not churches. Jesus said He will build His Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).
Denominations that would not make it to Heaven
While on earth Jesus taught on many issues, pivotal among them was how to make it to Heaven. As it turned out, belonging to a particular denomination or another does not guarantee entry into the Kingdom of God. The following denominations will not make it to Heaven: Pentecostals, Charismatic, Calvinists, Adventists, Catholics, and all other denominations you know on this earth, including yours. There is only one denomination that will make it to Heaven, and it is called “Christians.” Yes, Jesus emphatically taught that the only way to make it to Heaven is to accept Him as your Lord and Saviour and become a Christian. In effect, only CHRISTIANS will make it to Heaven!
The Bible has an interesting story on this. A man named Nicodemus, who belonged to a very notable denomination called the Pharisees, went to see Jesus to inquire of his eternal destiny as to whether or not he will make it to Heaven. As their tradition was, Nicodemus started his inquiry by raining some praises on Jesus Christ hoping to prove to Jesus that he was very religious, because he belonged to the then famous and most notable denomination. However, Jesus, who is all knowing, knew exactly what Nicodemus had come to find out and said to him without hesitation, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” – John 3:3.
Dear friends, we cannot go to Heaven based on our affiliation with any particular denomination but only by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. Our Lord Jesus Christ was very explicit on this, He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6 NLT. We should therefore learn to identify with Christ and with the Christian faith first. If indeed we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, then we must always see ourselves as Christians and one body and not allow our denominational differences to divide us.
Many church folks today love and would rather associate with a particular denomination rather than the Christian faith. We love to say we are Catholic, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Adventist, Jewish, etc., instead of saying “I’m a Christian.” I have seen many stickers on people’s cars telling how the owner is “Proud to be a Catholic,” “Proud to be a Methodist,” “Proud to be a Presbyterian,” “Proud to be a Jewish,” etc. and only very few saying “I’m Proud to be a Christian!” Besides all these, I feel that the Church is currently experiencing a new and more severe form of division where people side with one man of God, and despise and criticize other men of God and their followers.
As Christians, I believe we should first and foremost identify with Christ! We are Christians first, and church members second. Second Timothy chapter one verse nine (2 Timothy 1:9) teaches us that Christ saved us first before calling us into a particular ministry or church. In essence, we are to see ourselves first as Christians.
While denominations in themselves are not wrong, it must be noted that prioritizing them over the Christian faith breeds divisions and contention. In the Bible, the word “Church” is used to refer to the entire body of Christ. The scripture says, “… Christ love the Church and gave himself for it” – Ephesians 5:25. By this scripture, I believe the Bible was not saying that Christ died for only the congregation of the Church of Pentecost, or Trinity Baptist Church, or T.D. Jakes’ Church. Jesus sees all churches as one, so far as He is the center of concentration. As a matter of fact, Christ’s aim on earth was to build a Church, not churches. Jesus said He will build His Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).
Denominations that would not make it to Heaven
While on earth Jesus taught on many issues, pivotal among them was how to make it to Heaven. As it turned out, belonging to a particular denomination or another does not guarantee entry into the Kingdom of God. The following denominations will not make it to Heaven: Pentecostals, Charismatic, Calvinists, Adventists, Catholics, and all other denominations you know on this earth, including yours. There is only one denomination that will make it to Heaven, and it is called “Christians.” Yes, Jesus emphatically taught that the only way to make it to Heaven is to accept Him as your Lord and Saviour and become a Christian. In effect, only CHRISTIANS will make it to Heaven!
The Bible has an interesting story on this. A man named Nicodemus, who belonged to a very notable denomination called the Pharisees, went to see Jesus to inquire of his eternal destiny as to whether or not he will make it to Heaven. As their tradition was, Nicodemus started his inquiry by raining some praises on Jesus Christ hoping to prove to Jesus that he was very religious, because he belonged to the then famous and most notable denomination. However, Jesus, who is all knowing, knew exactly what Nicodemus had come to find out and said to him without hesitation, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” – John 3:3.
Dear friends, we cannot go to Heaven based on our affiliation with any particular denomination but only by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. Our Lord Jesus Christ was very explicit on this, He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6 NLT. We should therefore learn to identify with Christ and with the Christian faith first. If indeed we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, then we must always see ourselves as Christians and one body and not allow our denominational differences to divide us.