Topic(s): Church, Denominationalism

Bob Prichard

It is widely accepted that you should “Attend the church of your choice.” It is assumed that all churches are right in their own way, and we should worship wherever and however we choose. While we should be grateful that we have such religious freedom, perhaps we should consider how we should exercise this freedom. Is it possible that another issue should be considered? Are God’s desires more important than ours?

As Jesus faced the cross, he prayed to the Father for His disciples: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth” (John 17:17-19). He wanted them to be able to reach the world with the truth of God’s word. His prayer continued: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (John 17:20-23). Jesus prayed for unity for those who would believe in Him through the word of the apostles.

What does Jesus see, however, when He looks at today’s religious world? He sees a religious world that lacks the unity that He prayed for. Was the disunity in His plan? As Jesus was with His disciples at Caesarea Philippi, He asked them, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” While some men said that he was John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or another of the prophets, Peter gave the great confession of faith, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied to Peter that “upon this rock,” his confession of faith in Christ, “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16: 13-18). He said, “I will build my church.” He did not say he would build churches (plural), but that he would build his church (singular). He never planned for there to be a multiplicity of churches or denominations.

Writing in the middle of the first century, Paul spoke of seven great unities: “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:4-6). The “one body” he spoke of is the church. He said that God “hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23). God only intended one body, the church for which Christ died. Yes, there are too many churches. Make sure that you are a member of the one church by studying the New Testament, looking for the distinctives of the church. Jesus warned, “Every plant, which my heavenly father hath not planted, shall be rooted up” (Matthew 15:13). Be a part of the church of Christ’s choice, not man’s choice.