BIBLE TALK
This week the question is:Is your church mentioned in the Bible?.
If you want to make your preacher feel uncomfortable, ask him this question - it's a question he hopes you will not seriously ask:
- Why isn't your denomination mentioned in the Bible?
- And why do you teach that good people from all denominations will go to heaven?
The Bible teaches that denominations are wrong and sinful.Anything that divides God's people is sinful.
Romans 16:16-18
16Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.
17Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
18For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
First, notice the Bible speaks of the "churches of Christ."This is why the church which I am a member of calls itself the "church of Christ."The "church of Christ" simply means the church that belongs to Christ.Listen to me:
(a)A church is either the church "of Christ," or it is not the church of Christ.
(b)If it's not the church "of Christ," then you should not be a member of it.
Second, we learn that dividing the church with different doctrines is wrong.God did not give sinful men and women the liberty to invent their own beliefs and offer worship which they themselves designed.
Third, we learn that denominations which teach their own doctrines do not serve the Lord Jesus, but rather themselves according to Romans 16:18.
My friend, there's a good reason why your denomination isn't mentioned in the Bible!It's because all denominations were invented by men for men.They are not of divine origin, but of human origin.If you're concerned about your soul, this should alarm you.
Matthew 15
7"Hypocrites ! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.
9And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' "
13 But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.
14"Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."
When men divide into denominations they are violating the Lord's commands for unity.
(a)Their worship is in vain (worthless), because they teach for doctrines the commandments of men.
(b)Their denomination is like a plant which the heavenly Father did not plant; it will be rooted up.
Some might argue that their denomination was planted by the heavenly Father.If that's so, why can't they read about their denomination in the Bible.Surely if God planted a denomination, we could read about it in the Bible!
(c)Anyone following along with denominations is like a blind person following a blind leader; eventually both will fall into the ditch of ruin.
The apostle Paul wrote and warned all people to come out of religious groups that are rooted in human origin.When men disbelieve Bible commands and Bible doctrines, they make themselves unbelievers!Should saved people continue affiliating with groups of unbelievers who refuse to teach and practice what the Bible teaches?
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
14Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
15And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
16And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."
17Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you."
18"I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."
Listen to this:"Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you."Words could not be plainer!
SUMMARY
In summary, here is why your preacher fears these two questions:
Why isn't your denomination mentioned in the Bible?
REPLY:Because every denomination was started and is maintained by doctrines and commandments of mortal men and all the worship and service rendered in those denominations is in vain.
Why do denominations teach that good people from all denominations will go to heaven?
REPLY:They teach this because they feel compelled to.They cannot afford to teach that men will be lost in their denominations.But Jesus taught plainly that when men follow along blindly they will fall into ruin along with their blind leaders (Mt 15:14).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Well … thanks for listening to our message this week. We invite you to visit our website There you may download the notes and the audio file of the message you just listened to.
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