What are some differences
between denominational
churches and the assembly?
It is easy to understand the attraction that a denominational
church would have for any Christian. Often these churches
have:
•wonderful believers as members
•attractive buildings
•beautiful music
•exciting youth groups (sometimes complete with gymnasium)
•numerous outreach programs
•dynamic pastors delivering interesting sermons
God is faithful, by whom you
were called into the fellowship of
his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:9 (NKJV)
Most denominational churches are marked by
many of the following components:
1. A “church” is a company of Christians
gathered under and distinguished by a
denominational name (Ex. Baptist, Lutheran,
Methodist, etc.).
2. The building in which they gather is usually
called a “church”.
3. Such a church is held together by agreement
to a set of Bible teachings, usually called a
“Creed” or a “church constitution”.
4. Such a church usually requires membership in
the church organization.
5. Such churches are presided over by a clergyman
who:
a) Is called “Reverend”, “Father”, “Pastor”, etc.
b) Presides over the worship
c) Administers the ordinances of the Lord’s
Supper and Baptism
d) Has sole rights in the pulpit
e) Is paid a salary for his services
6. Such churches are supported financially by an
unrestricted collection plate.
Do any of these practices have scriptural
support?
A study of 1 Corinthians 1:9 will be very
helpful in studying this topic.
God is faithful, by whom you were called
into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ
our Lord. (NKJV)
God has called us to be in fellowship with
Him.
The word “fellowship” from the Anglo-Saxon
and the word “communion” from the Latin, are
both translations of the same Greek word
(koinonia), meaning the same thing:
“the holding of things in common”
Act 2: 41-42 (ESV)
41. So those who received his word were
baptized, and there were added that day
about three thousand souls.
42. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’
teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking
of bread and the prayers.
1. Denominational Names The Name of the
Lord Jesus Christ is a Name above every other
name (1 Corinthians 1:10-13, Philippians
2:10-11).
Taking any second name detracts from the
uniqueness of the Name of the Lord Jesus (1
Corinthians 5:4, Colossians 1:18b).
Several other scriptures support this truth
(Matthew 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; 3:34, Philippians 2:9-11).
1 Corinthians 1:10-13 (ESV)
10. I appeal to you, brothers by the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no
divisions among you, but that you be united in the same
mind and the same judgment. 11. For it has been
reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling
among you, my brothers.
12. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow
Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I
follow Christ.”
13. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were
you baptized in the name of Paul?
Philippians 2:10-11 (ESV)
10. so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in
heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11. and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father.
Colossians 1:18b (ESV)
18. ...that in everything he might be preeminent.
2. The Name “Church” Nowhere in scripture is the
meeting place of Christians referred to as a church.
There are examples of several “churches” meeting in
houses (Romans 16:4-5, Colossians 4:15).
Church (ekkleesia) is made up of two words: “ek”,
meaning “out of” and “klesis”, meaning “a calling”.
Literally this means “a calling out of” or an “outcalling”.
Romans 16:4-5 (ESV)
4. who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I
give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give
thanks as well.
5. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my
beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ
in Asia.
Colossians 4:15 (ESV)
15. Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and
to Nympha and the church in her house.
3. Creed or Constitution The Holy Scriptures are
the final authority on all teachings (2 Timothy
3:16-17, Acts 20:32) not a man made creed or
constitution.
Assemblies are held together by the Spirit of God
(1 Corinthians 3:16), acknowledgement of His
Lordship (Philippians 2:9) and obedience to His
Word (Revelation 3:8).
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
16. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for
reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17. that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Acts 20:32 (ESV)
32. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able
to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are
sanctified.
1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV)
16. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know
whether I baptized anyone else.)
Revelation 3:8 (ESV)
8. I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no
one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have
kept my word and have not denied my name.
4. Church Membership There is no hint of
teaching in the New Testament that requires a
believer to “join” an assembly. The practices of
making vows or joining a church membership are
man made and not found in God’s Word.
The Holy Spirit moved on the day of Pentecost
and those that “gladly received his word were
baptized: and the same day there were added
unto them about three thousand souls.” (Acts
2:41)
5. Presided Over by a Clergyman
a) “Reverend”, “Father”, etc. The word
“reverend” appears once in the Bible (Psalms 111:9). It
refers to God’s name and the word literally means “to
fear, to show reverence”.
In Philippians 1:1, Paul refers to saints, bishops and
deacons (always plural). The word “pastors” appears
once in the New Testament (Ephesians 4:11). The word
is plural and it means “shepherd”. Elders or overseers
are always mentioned in the plural (Acts 20:28).
Philippians 1:1 (ESV)
1. Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To
all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi,
with the overseers and deacons:
b), c) and d) Ministry of a “Reverend” or “Pastor”
No one man has all the gifts needed for assembly
ministry (1 Corinthians 12:7-11; 28-30, Ephesians 4:716).
All gifts are needed in the assembly (1 Corinthians
12:21-25). 1 Corinthians 14:29-31 and Romans 12:1-8
show teaching that is contrary to sole rights to the
pulpit.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (ESV)
7. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
8. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the
utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
9. to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
10. to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to
distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the
interpretation of tongues.
11. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one
individually as he wills.
1 Corinthians 12:21-25 (ESV)
21. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the
feet, “I have no need of you.”
22. On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
23. and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater
honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
24. which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the
body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,
25. that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the
same care for one another.
e) Paid Pastors The Apostles received general
instructions about their financial support from the
Lord, Himself. Sometimes they worked with their
hands to earn a living (Acts 18:1-3,
1 Corinthians 4:9-12) but they were never paid a salary
for their labors (Luke 9:2-5; 10:3-8, 22:35, 1
Thessalonians 2:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:8, 1 Corinthians
9:14 with Philippians 4:14-19). Some have used 2
Corinthians 11:8 as justification for a paid pastor. If we
believe that some assemblies paid literal “wages” to
Paul we must also believed that he literally “robbed”
them when he took their support.
Luke 22:36 (ESV)
36. And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no
moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They
said, “Nothing.”
1 Thessalonians 2:9 (ESV)
9. For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked
night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,
while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
1 Corinthians 9:14 (ESV)
14. In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who
proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
6. Unrestricted Collections 3 John:5-8 teaches that the
disciples went forth “taking nothing from the Gentiles”,
or the unsaved.
3 John 5-8 (ESV)
5. Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts
for these brothers, strangers as they are,
6. who testified to your love before the church. You will do
well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of
God.
7. For they have gone out for the sake of the name,
accepting nothing from the Gentiles.
8. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that
we may be fellow workers for the truth.
“Occasional fellowship”
“Fellowship” means “holding things in common”
I Corinthians 1:9 (ESV)
9. God is faithful, by whom you were called into
the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.