Just Because a Denomination Teaches It, Doesn’t Make It Wrong by Dylan Stewart

I imagine after reading the title of this article you are probably thinking, "What! He is going to defend denominationalism?!" To be clear, I am by no means defending any false doctrine held by any man-made denomination, nor am I defending the concept of denominationalism. Beyond any shadow of doubt, denominationalism – in and of itself – is unscriptural. However, I hope we will be able to see from this article that just because denominations are off on any number of matters pertinent to our souls’ salvation, that does not necessarily mean they are wrong on everything.

Jehovah’s Witnesses (Watchtower)

The Jehovah’s Witnesses are notorious for going house-to-house trying to conduct Bible studies with people. I’m afraid much judgment is levied at the Watchtower group for their time spent knocking on doors even though they really should be commended for their awareness of the very simple fact that personal evangelism is something God requires of ALL Christians. The Jehovah’s Witnesses typically do not even consider a member to be faithful unless he works diligently in trying to reach the lost. Yet, most churches – even a significant portion of the Lord’s church – treat personal evangelism like it is not required. Passages such as Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 5:40-42, 8:1-4, 20:20, 28:30-31 all teach, whether by command or approved example, that personal evangelism is required of all Christians. It is arguably the most important work a Christian has been called to do, and yet how many of us are doing it? Instead of making our next Facebook post a complaint about gas prices, inflation, what the President is or is not doing, etc., why not post a Bible verse and inform those who see the post that you are available for a Bible study? Just think of how much work we can do for the Lord in the area of personal evangelism with the technology we have at our fingertips!

Holiness / Pentecostal / Church of God

I am related by marriage to many members of the Pentecostal, Free Holiness, and Church of God denominations. I take great issue with much of what these folks believe, teach, and practice, yet I also commend them for their understanding and acceptance of a few points which the Lord’s church increasingly refuses to accept.

First, there is the subject of hair length. Most conservative Holiness and Church of God groups recognize that God commands women to have "long hair" and that such hair is a "glory to her" (1 Corinthians 11:15). Today, many brethren claim this verse only teaches that women should look like women and men should look like men (the verse does teach that but that is not the only thing it teaches). Women in the Holiness and Church of God denominations accept the plain meaning of this verse better than any religious group I know. These women show their clear desire for glory by letting their hair grow "long." How many women in the church of Christ do this? And how many men preach/teach that this verse demands women to do so? Not very many.

Secondly, many members of the Lord’s church find it odd whenever a person physically lifts up his hands in prayer during a public assembly. Pentecostals, however, should be commended for accepting the truth of 1 Timothy 2:8, which reads, "I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." I recently heard a gospel preacher attempt to get around the idea of "lifting up holy hands" as a prayer posture by saying this phrase is figurative. The phrase is absolutely figurative, and it being figurative – by its very definition – only proves the point that "lifting up holy hands" is indicative of a type of prayer posture we should regularly perform, just like kneeling (Acts 9:40; 20:36), bowing (Mark 15:19), and standing (Mark 11:25-26). We ought to be like the Pentecostals and never be ashamed to lift up holy hands in prayer to God, whether in private or public. We have many examples in the Bible who did (1 Kings 8:22-23, 54; Lamentations 2:19; 2 Chronicles 6:13; Ezra 9:5-6; Psalms 28:2, 141:2), so why shouldn’t we at least occasionallypractice what 1 Timothy 2:8 teaches?

Lastly, even though the Holiness, Church of God, and Pentecostals are incorrect in believing Christians receive a miraculous measure of the Holy Spirt today (1 Corinthians 13:8-10), they are correct in recognizing that Christians do possess a personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians; 6:19, Acts 2:38; etc.). This truth is becoming increasingly unpopular among the Lord’s church. Could that be because brethren are afraid to be told, "You sound like a Pentecostal!" I cannot judge anyone’s heart, but it would not surprise me if many Christians hold the view that we do not possess a personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit for fear of that very accusation. Yet, rejecting the truth simply because it causes us to share similar beliefs as a denomination does not change the fact that we are rejecting the truth. Let’s accept God’s truths exactly as they are written and if a denomination agrees with us – great! That is just one less issue we need to address when we try studying with them.

Calvinism

For some reason, a debate among the Lord’s church has come about in the last few decades concerning the substitutionary death of Christ, sometimes referred to as "vicarious atonement." Substitutionary/vicarious atonement is the idea that Jesus died in place of us due to our unrighteousness. Out of fear of sounding like a Calvinist, brethren are rejecting this very basic foundational truth of the gospel. For instance, in the July 2010 edition of Gospel Truths, Maurice Barnett wrote, "It is said that Jesus took every sin of mankind into Himself on the cross . . . I deny that any . . . scripture says such a thing." Such statements are regularly made even though the most well-known prophecy about the Messiah does, in fact, plainly teach the truth that Jesus bore every sin of mankind when He died on the cross – "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:4-6). I do not care one bit if I sound like a Calvinist; the truth is the truth, regardless if a Calvinist or a member of the church of Christ says it. God placed our chastisement (punishment) upon Christ so we could have spiritual peace with Him. Jesus bore the punishment for our sins so we would not have to endure the punishment that we deserve to suffer. This simple, basic, and foundational truth of the gospel fits the very definition of substitution – "The action of replacing someone or something with another person or thing;" and it also fits the definition of vicarious – "acting or done for another" (Oxford Languages Dictionary).

Daniel King explains, "God sent his Son to be the chosen Lamb, the perfect sin-offering which accomplished three spiritual goals. First, he provided a ransom or redemption price, paying the debt that man could not afford. Second, he became the substitute victim who suffered vicariously on man’s behalf. He died that we might live. Third, he willingly and lovingly died in such a cruel and heart-rending fashion that he motivates the tender heart to repent and turn to God, loving him in return" (Truth Magazine Vol. XLIV: 1 p 20 January 2000). I think Mr. King describes the substitutionary death of Christ perfectly and, more importantly, in perfect harmony with the scriptures! It’s just like the song says – “For every sin on Him was laid, Here in the death of Christ I live” (In Christ Alone, Adrienne Camp). We ought not dare to compromise this truth, thus downplaying the significance of our Lord’s sacrifice.

Seventh-Day Adventists

In the first paragraph on the Wikipedia page for the the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, one can read how this denomination holds the unpopular but scriptural belief that "marriage is defined as a lifelong union between a man and a woman." How many denominations still proclaim the teaching of Christ that marriage is between one man and one woman for life (Matthew 19:4-5)? Most denominations teach it is lawful for a person to marry whoever they want and divorce as many times as they want for any possible reason, all in direct contradiction of the scriptures (Matthew 19:3-9, 5:32; Romans 7:23; 1 Corinthians 7). Similarly, more and more denominations now approve of homosexual marriages, but the Adventists seem to have not compromised on any of these truths. Yet, a large portion of the Lord’s church has compromised the clear teachings of our Lord regarding who is and who is not eligible for marriage. How many churches with "church of Christ" written on the sign accept members who are living in unscriptural marriages? I personally know of several just in my immediate area and at least one of them is a non-institutional church. Remember, even if we are scripturally married and recognize God’s law regarding marriage, divorce, and remarriage but we are members of a congregation allowing people in unscriptural marriages to be considered faithful members, the Bible tells us we are partakers in their sin – "Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds" (2 John 9-11). We all ought to be like the Adventists, having people say of us that we believe and teach the truth of God that "marriage is defined as a lifelong union between a man and a woman."

Conclusion

The examples listed here are just a few of I’m sure many areas in which various denominations deserve to be commended. Before immediately jumping to a conclusion that whatever a member of a denomination practices or teaches is inherently wrong, let us all examine the scriptures to see if it is authorized (Acts 17:11). If we find what we hear/see to be in harmony with God’s Word, let us then examine ourselves and see if we can possibly learn from their example (2 Corinthians 13:5). It is never right to reject sound doctrine simply because a false church believes and teaches it. Denominations may be wrong on most matters, but they are not wrong on all matters. I hope we all can see that.

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