Is Undenominational Christianity Possible?

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            To most people, “denominationalism” and “Christianity” are the same thing. Do modern men have the courage and objectivity to accept and face what the Bible teaches about the New Testament church and denominationalism? The New Testament church is essentially undenominational or nondenominational. Some groups claim to be “nondenominational” while they really mean “interdenominational,” that is, accepting people from all denominations, “as is.” When I affirm that the New Testament church is nondenominational, I mean that it does not participate in denominationalism, is opposed to the denominational concept of the church, and is itself essentially, not a denomination. Notice some of the contrasts:

            New Testament Church                                      Denominationalism

1. Christ is the founder (Mat. 16:18)                        Men are founders.
2. Christ is head (Eph. 1:22–23)                                Men are heads
3. Follows only the Bible (2 Tim. 3:16–17)               Follows human creeds/traditions
4. God’s saved people (Acts 2:47; Eph 5:23)           Not necessary to salvation.
5. God-honoring designations (Rom. 16:16)           Names of men or doctrines
6. Preaches only one Gospel (Gal. 1:8–9)                Preaches many “gospels”
7. Is one body (John 17:20–21; Eph. 4:4)                  Is many bodies
8. Can and must be united (1 Cor. 1:10–13)            Unity unnecessary, impossible
9. Sound doctrine essential (1 Tim. 4:16)                 Sincerity outweighs doctrine
10. Saved by faith and works (Jam. 2:18–26)            Saved by faith alone

When one hears the Gospel, declares his faith in Christ, turns from sin in repentance and submits to baptism for remission of sins, the Lord saves him and adds him to His church, not to a denomination (Acts 2:37–47). Denominations result when either more or less than the Gospel is preached, believed, and practiced. The Gospel only produces only the Kingdom of Christ (Luke 8:11).

[Note: I wrote this article for, and it was published in the “Bible Thoughts” Column for the Hood County News, Granbury, Texas, November 28, 1976.]

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