2,630 and counting…
Posted on May 1, 2007
Filed Under Denominationalism, Weylan Deaver
by Weylan Deaver
Jesus affirmed the devil is the father of lies (Jn. 8:44). Two of the biggest lies Satan has ever foisted onto a gullible world, and which have had the most deleterious effect on mankind are these: (1) Darwinian evolution, and (2) denominationalism. Through the first lie, the devil has succeeded in destroying or preventing faith in countless men. Through the second, he has succeeded in keeping untold millions away from the Lord’s true church.
In the latest (seventh) edition of the Encyclopedia of American Religion, compiled by J. Gordon Melton,aa American and Canadian faith groups are detailed to the count of 2,630. That’s two thousand six hundred and thirty. And that number stands in extreme contrast to Jesus’ promise in Matthew 16:18, “on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Yet, many act as if the existence of over two thousand churches is fine with God. In fact, many are glad for the diversity because they think it gives everyone opportunity to look for a church that “fits” him.
Did you know there are, according to this encyclopedia, 116 denominations within the Catholic Church? The Pentecostal Church has even more divisions than that. Then there are the Episcopal Church and the Free Episcopal Church and the Metaphysical Episcopal Church. How about the Unitarian Universalist Pagans? The Church of God Anonymous? The Nudist Christian Church of the Blessed Virgin Jesus? There is Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church, the Church of Scientology, the Only Fair Religion, the Embassy of Heaven, the Church of the New Song, and the standard fare of Baptists, Methodists, Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, Church of God, Mormons, Lutherans, Presbyterians, etc., etc., etc., etc.
Think that number won’t continue to spiral? Just wait till the next printing. Melton’s denomination cataloging research fills 40 filing cabinets, and 250 religious groups have been added to his encyclopedia–just since the 1999 edition. The number keeps growing. The world keeps turning. The clock keeps ticking. God’s patience keeps lasting–for now. And the devil must be beside himself with laughter. Does the status quo even remotely resemble the apostle Paul’s description of “the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Ac. 20:28)?
God’s plan is simplicity itself. Jesus promised, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18). Jesus is “the head of the body, the church” (Col. 1:18). So the church is described as the body of Jesus. How many bodies (i.e. churches) are there supposed to be? “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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” (Eph. 4:4-6). The Bible also says that “Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body” (Eph. 5:23). If you want to be saved eternally, you must be in the body of Christ–the church of Christ.
Think about it. If there is only one church that Jesus promised and then purchased with His own blood, that means every church which is not the church is a wrong church. So how can anyone tell which church is the right one? Again, God’s plan is so simple. He wrote an instruction manual for us, called the New Testament. When a person obeys the commands in that book, he is a Christian. When a group of people all obey the commands in that book, you have a church. Which church? The church–the body of the Lord, planned, promised, purchased and protected by God. To find the genuine church today, study your New Testament for the earmarks of the church in the first century, then find who is practicing the same now. Find a church which believes, teaches, and practices exactly what the New Testament demands and you will have found the church.
But beware. Satan is a subtle deceiver. If he can get you to be content with a church not named in the Bible, or a church not organized according to God’s pattern, or a church that does not believe and practice pure doctrine, then he has you in his diabolic grasp. Jesus said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted” (Mt. 15:13).
If there are 2,630 churches, then there are 2,629 too many. We in the church of Christ lovingly invite you to investigate us–thoroughly. Put our beliefs under the microscope. Shine a spotlight on our teaching. Check our practice against the words of the apostles. Ask hard questions. Think deeply. Dig until the truth is uncovered. It could very well mean you have to leave the church you are in. If so, pay the price. Eternity hangs in the balance. And one church–the Lord’s true church–outweighs every other. Find it.
a- See Richard N. Ostling’s Associated Press article, “Religious Sects Guide Counts American Religions,” posted 1/31/03 on the USA Today website, usatoday.com.aaa
RELATED POSTS:
When should we keep the Lord’s Supper?
Comments
Leave a Reply
Polls
Loading ...-
