This was written by a dear Christian who was one of my mentors when I was first saved in 1956 and James explains why denominations are not good for believers.
Gary
This is a reprint of a letter addressed to the �Harmony Baptist Church�
of Coleman, Texas, Baptist Association, giving some reasons for my
resignation as Pastor of this organization. Written on July 22, 1952,
by James Cox.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
It was the apostle Paul who wrote to the Colossian Christians: �Let the peace of
God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body: and be ye thankful�
(Col. 3:15). The same apostle wrote to the Roman Christians and said: �Therefore, being
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ� (Rom. 5:1). As
he addressed his letter to the saints at Corinth, his greeting was this: �Grace be unto you,
and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ� (I Cor. 1:3).
Certainly you are conscious of the fact that every �born again� child of God has
been forgiven and cleansed of all sin, and has been given a �peace that passeth all
understanding;� that is the peace of God�s indwelling Spirit (Philip. 4:7). Paul tells us
that we are to let this wonderful peace of God �rule� in our hearts, that is, we are to
consider as sin anything that would disrupt fellowship with our heavenly Father.
When I resigned as the Pastor of the �Harmony� assembly on the 29th day of June,
I told you that I did not feel, under the circumstances, that I could explain my leaving to
your full satisfaction. I also sought to make it clear that it was not because of any
difficulty that had arisen in the work at �Harmony.� I therefore hope in this letter to
explain more fully my actions. Will you, as a brother or sister in Christ, bear me out and
hear me in this? I beg you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to do so.
On the night before our Lord was crucified he, the Son of God and our Savior,
prayed for you and me. He had been praying for the eleven disciples, and then He made
this petition for us: �Neither pray I for these alone (the disciples) but for them also which
shall believe on me through their word: that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in
Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou
hast sent Me� (John 17:20-21). We see two specific things that our Lord prayed here: the
first one was that every Christian, every real child of God, be joined together as ONE.
The second petition gives the reason for the first. Christ prayed that we as born again
children of God may be ONE in order that the world may recognize our Lord Jesus
Christ as the One Who was sent of God into the world. We see, then, that the greatest
testimony to the power of God in Christ is to be found in the UNITY OF CHRISTIANS!!
In a very real and precious sense God answered the prayer of our Savior. �And the
Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved� (Acts 2:47). From the day of
Pentecost God has continued to add to His church every single member of Adam�s fallen
race who has been saved by the shed blood of His dear Son. This same truth is stated in I
Cor. 12:13 in this way: �For by one Spirit are we all baptized into ONE BODY�and
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have all been made to drink into one Spirit.� God�s work is always a complete work, so
we find that in making all true Christians ONE, He not only joins us to Christ in a
spiritual unity but He also makes us members one of another. �For as we have many
members in one body, and all the members have not the same office: so we, being many,
are ONE BODY in Christ, and every one members one of another� (Rom.12:4-5). God
has answered the prayer of His Son by bringing every redeemed son of Adam (born again
and justified) into ONE great spiritual body, THE CHURCH WHICH IS CHRIST�S
BODY (Col. 1:24 & Eph. 1:22-23).
Now, we must remember that this is God�s work! We should and must consider it
the gravest sin for anyone to disrupt the unity which God has made of and for His
children. In fact, we are expressly commanded to keep this unity and to support it in
every way. �Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye
all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be
perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment� ( I Cor. 1:10). The
Spirit exhorts us through Paul�s letter to the Ephesians that we �walk worthy of the
vocation wherewith we are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering,
forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace�THERE IS ONE BODY AND ONE SPIRIT�� This stands regardless of our
attitude or understanding, but we are commanded to �endeavor to KEEP� this unity (Eph.
4:1-6).
In many places God goes even further than this. He not only commands us to keep
the unity which He has made but also to have no fellowship with anyone who causes
division and strife among brethren! �Now I beseech you, brethren, MARK THEM
WHICH CAUSE DIVISIONS and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have
learned, and AVOID THEM. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but
their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple�
(Rom. 16:17-18). Anyone who causes division among the children of God should
immediately become a marked man or woman, and should be avoided by those who are
truly endeavoring to �keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace� (Eph. 4:4).
There is one great illustration in the Word of God of how some Christians became
divided. They were the Christians at Corinth. In I Corinthians 1:12 we find that they had
chosen for themselves leaders�Paul, Apollos, and Cephas�and had separated
themselves into various groups under the name of the man they favored. In the third
chapter of this same book, God gives the reason for this division. The Corinthian
Christians were CARNAL, FLESHLY MINDED, and not walking in the Spirit! �For ye
are yet carnal; for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye
not carnal; and walk as men?� (I Cor. 3:3). The Lord further rebukes these carnal
Christians through the apostle Paul by pointing to their apparent ignorance of the fact that
they were the temple of God, �Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the
Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God
destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are� (I Cor. 3:16-17). We can
see by these Scriptures that God will not tolerate the division of His people.
Are there any modern day Corinthians? Assuredly so! Where shall we find them?
Are there any such divisions among the redeemed sons of God today? If so, in what way
are we divided and what is the result of this division? Please consider these questions
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with me carefully! In view of the foregoing Scripture passages, I think you will admit that
these are vital questions!
I am thoroughly convinced that the various denominational splits that exist today,
that is, the Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterians, the so-called �Churches of Christ,�
�Pentecostalists,� Episcopalians, Roman Catholic, Greek Catholics, and so on evidence
exactly the same kind of spirit that was seen in the �church of God at Corinth.� Modern
Corinthians are those who say: �I am a Baptist,� �I�m a Methodist,� etc., etc. I am sure
that you can see that this amounts to the same thing that the Corinthians were doing!
PLEASE READ I CORINTHIANS 3:1-4 SLOWLY AND PRAYERFULLY.
WE must conclude then, that denominations are a source of rank division among
Christians and are therefore wrong and sinful! But is this to say that those who belong to
such organizations are not Christians?? I will hasten to add that I believe there are real,
born again Christians in most so-called �church� organizations, but they are not
Christians because they belong to that organization!! The only reason any person in this
world is a Christian is because he belongs to Christ and is a �new creature in Christ� (II
Cor. 5:17). There are Christians in these organizations, to be sure, but they are misguided
and misinformed on the Word of God, and they are walking in the traditions and
doctrines of men!
Sincerely, why do most Christians belong to some religious corporation today? Is
it not because we were either brought up in them or, when we were saved, we were told
that it was God�s will that we join them? Perhaps some have joined out of convenience
in one respect or another. But may I, in all fairness, ask this question: Have we ever
searched God�s Word, which is able to �thoroughly furnish us unto all good works� (II
Tim. 3:16,17) to see if these organizations are part of God�s program? Perhaps a few of
us have, but if we have it has always been with sectarian and denominational views
clouding our thinking so that the sunshine of God�s truth could not come through.
Let me point this out in still another way: Can you find in God�s Word any
command, anywhere, which tells you or me to join a so-called �church� organization??
(Baptist, Nazarene, etc.). WE MUST ANSWER, NO!! We have been taught all our lives
that it is a fine thing to be a Christian but we have also had it drilled into us that we
haven�t done the will of God completely until we have joined or been made a member of
some �church.� But may I point out to you what God has to say on the subject�
AS A CHRISTIAN you have already been �blessed with all spiritual blessings in
heavenly places in Christ� (Eph. 1:3).
AS A CHRISTIAN you have already been enriched by Christ �in all utterance
and in all knowledge� (I Cor. 1:5).
AS A CHRISTIAN God has promised to supply all your needs �according to His
riches in glory by Christ Jesus� (Philip. 4:19).
AS A CHRISTIAN you have already been made COMPLETE IN CHRIST in
Whom �dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily� (Col. 2:9,10).
AS A CHRISTIAN you have already been added to the �church which is Christ�s
body� for �the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved� (Eph. 1:22,23 &
Acts 2:47).
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AS A CHRISTIAN you have already been �thoroughly furnished unto all good
works� by the WORD OF GOD (II Tim. 3:16-17).
ALL OF THIS was and is yours before you (or any other Christian) ever joined or
were made a member of the �Baptists,� �Methodists,� or so-called �Church of Christ� or
any other religious denomination. You did not need the addition of a thing these
organizations can offer! In fact, when we joined them it was our way of admitting that
we did not really believe Philippians 4:13, which says: �I can do all things through
CHRIST which strengtheneth me!� CHRIST IS EVERYTHING that we need now and
forever! To belong to some religious corporation is to deny HIS SUFFICIENCY, and to
rob HIM of HIS glory!
But let me give you God�s final blow to religious organizations. You will admit
with me that in every one of these so-called �churches� there are some lost people, either
deceived or deliberately hypocritical. In other words, right in with the beloved redeemed
of the Lord are those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; there
are those who are unbelievers.
Hear God�s Word to His sons and daughters: �BE YE NOT UNEQUALLY
YOKED TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS: for what fellowship hath righteousness
with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? �Wherefore
come out from among them (the unsaved) and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch
not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters,
saith the Lord ALMIGHTY� (II Cor. 6:14-18).
What is God�s ANSWER TO DENOMINATIONS?? It certainly is not that we
stay in them and seek to purify them; may I say from sad experience that this is
impossible. �Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?� God
commands that we come out from among them and be separate!! But with this command,
He also gives a blessed promise! We will not be coming out to nothing, we will be
coming out to ALMIGHTY GOD Who has promised to receive us as His sons and
daughters. Notice, the command is �come out (not �go out�) from among them�
indicating that God is on the outside waiting for Christians to obey His voice. Thus
Hebrews 13:13 is written: �Let us go forth therefore UNTO HIM without the camp,
bearing His reproach.�
These, then, are some of the reasons for my resignation as Pastor of the
�Harmony�(?) so-called �church.� Burnadette (my wife) and I have come out of the
Baptist organization and have determined to live only unto the Lord, for we believe that
we can �do all things through Christ which strengthens us� (Philip. 4:13).
May I assure each of you to whom this letter is addressed that we (my wife and I)
are not leaving the Baptists in order to start some new movement or sect. We have come
out only in order to worship with other separated Christians, to live and walk in the light
of God�s Holy Word, and to do all things� in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
unto God and the Father by Him� (Col. 3:17).
It is our earnest prayer that you will seriously consider the truths contained in this
letter, and be willing to come to the decisions made necessary by them.
Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes, Ebionites, Zealots, Sicarii, Herodians and the Therapeutae - There were at least 24 different sects in Judiasm at the time Jesus was walking on the earth. I suspect that it will only be when He returns that we can eliminate denominations.
I see that there is a lot of truth in what that pastor is writing, about there is only one body of Christ and that we are not to split it up, that it isn't about denominations but about Christ.
And because of that I cannot understand what he is doing. Because he is splitting up the body of Christ even more. He said he didn't want to start another denomination, but this is exactly what he is doing. There are Christians now that left their denominations and want to start the one "true" church of God. This is always the way new denominations did start orthodox, catholic, baptist, whatever.
Finally, after all his reasoning and good thoughts and scripture he is giving he does exactly what he claims to be wrong: Seperating the body of Christ.
As a pastor it would have been his job to lead those to Christ who are in the church as unbelievers, or ask them to go. His job wold have been to work for fellowship between denominations, to actually unite denominations again as far as he can.
He did neither of that, but left his sheep alone and got himself another herd that he found easier to get along with. I understand his concern about things that do go wrong and are not like the Lord wants them to be. But I believe that you do not change things when you lock yourself up in your closet. Sadly that is what he did, and the enemy had a small victory in breaking up the frontlines of the Lord a bit more. United we stand, seperated we'll fall one by one.
I hope he will find his way back to other christians, back to the herd, so he can work for uniting denominations and organisations, rather then splitting things up even more. Because splitting means hurting the body of Christ. He said himself that there are good Christians within denominations. How can he think he would not split up Christ's body by no longer having fellowship with them as he had before?
PLease consider my lines not as judgmental. It's just the thoughts of a guy that is as well concerned by splitting up of denominations and does because of that stay in his church organisation, trying to get it closer to other christians, from orthodox to pentacoastal.
De Benny, I will give you what stated, then I will give my replies in Parentheses so I won't miss any of your comments.
You stated, " I see that there is a lot of truth in what that pastor is writing, about there is only one body of Christ and that we are not to split it up, that it isn't about denominations but about Christ." {You are correct Benny, we are not to split up the body of Christ but since satan is the god of this world we will always have heresies. You may have missunderstood Bro. Cox's reason for leaving the Baptist church was because he didn't want to be part of denominations and found that for Him just being a part of the body of Christ was sufficient because that is where Christ added him when He was saved. Acts 2:47. Also being a part of a denomination James and his wife also believed they would be adding to the sin of heresey by staying in the Baptist church.}
You stated, " And because of that I cannot understand what he is doing. Because he is splitting up the body of Christ even more. He said he didn't want to start another denomination, but this is exactly what he is doing. There are Christians now that left their denominations and want to start the one "true" church of God. This is always the way new denominations did start orthodox, catholic, baptist, whatever." {Again I think you may have misunderstood James's motive for leaving the Baptist church. The reason he quit was just for the opposite reason; so he wanted to be content where Christ placed him in the body of Christ. Perhaps you don't completely understand just what the body of Christ is Benny. The one of many answers is found in 1st Peter 2:5.
1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
In other words all believers make up the church Christ is building and we are living stones that comprise this church. Christ's church is not made of wood and stone but of believers only.
There are no unsaved in it as there are in denominations because Christ adds the members and the Lord, does not make mistakes, You also stated the way denominations get started is by men leaving one and starting another denomination and that is so very true. But with James He couldn't start a new church or heresy since he never began anything new. I can attest to the fact, all James did was minister to other believers who just met in Christ's name and were of one mind and one judgment as Christ instructs us. I'll give you the scripture for that.
1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.}
You stated, " As a pastor it would have been his job to lead those to Christ who are in the church as unbelievers, or ask them to go. His job wold have been to work for fellowship between denominations, to actually unite denominations again as far as he can."
{James activities as Pastor within the church was limited. It would not have been a good testimony for James to take an advantage of his position to lead others way as long as he was Pastor. Once he left and the church had his resignation then James was free to lead those away who would want to go and be separated from worldly religion.}
You stated, " He did neither of that, but left his sheep alone and got himself another herd that he found easier to get along with. I understand his concern about things that do go wrong and are not like the Lord wants them to be. But I believe that you do not change things when you lock yourself up in your closet. Sadly that is what he did, and the enemy had a small victory in breaking up the frontlines of the Lord a bit more. United we stand, seperated we'll fall one by one."
{Who said James locked himself in a closet? When you stated what he did, the enemy had a small victory by breaking up the frontlines of the lord a bit more. When James was a paster in a denomination, indeed he was breaking up the frontlines but once he left he corrected that, once he saw God's truth about not being a part of man's religion and philosophies.}
You stated, " I hope he will find his way back to other christians, back to the herd, so he can work for uniting denominations and organisations, rather then splitting things up even more. Because splitting means hurting the body of Christ. He said himself that there are good Christians within denominations. How can he think he would not split up Christ's body by no longer having fellowship with them as he had before?"
{James went on to continuing to minister to several assemblies in various areas and also had a radio ministry. Seem like you may be reading a lot of things into his letter. If James had continued in the denomination he was in, he would have been continuing sin to do his work. God instructs us no to do that.
Romans 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Since James knew that continuing as a Baptist paster as being in sin and separating God's people, James had to leave for he come to know what he was doing was wrong and he couldn�t do good if God said it is sin if he knew better.}
You stated, " PLease consider my lines not as judgmental. It's just the thoughts of a guy that is as well concerned by splitting up of denominations and does because of that stay in his church organisation, trying to get it closer to other christians, from orthodox to pentacoastal."
{Your thoughts are noted and I appreciate your concern. But the reality is there will always be divisions with believers and believers fellowshipping with the unsaved. Once in awhile there is always others like James who want to break away from Christianity as the world offers it and be just identified with just Christ in word and deed. Thank for your replies De Benny}
Thank you for your reply. I do know what the church is, don't get me wrong on that. But I believe that whenever we start and break from people we have fellowship with, whatever the denomination, we bring seperation to the church.
We cannot have something perfect here on earth. We will not have the true church of God as an organisation present here, we leave our congregations, we break up things.
True there are nonbelievers among us. So what? Christ told us to go like sheep to wolves.
I think it is close to pride trying to sort out the true church here on earth. It's not our job to do this. Christ knows about His body.
If there are believers in our denominations, then have fellowship with them. Do not leave because some are nonbelievers (you might even be wrong on that, no one sees into the hearts) and try to get the other believers out as well. This is too much caring for the organisation of the church, we are not to do this, we are not the head of church, that is Christ.
If we always break away from imperfection, we will end up alone one day, we might try to regroup, but all this breaking away and regrouping with others that agree takes a lot of effort one could use to witness to those in our original denominations.
You say the pastor wasn't locking himself up in a closet and that he went to speak to other christians. Were they also leaving their denominations? So there was even more breakup.
What should be the end of this: Everybody who is a true member of the church of Christ leaving all the others and witnessing to those who can witness themselves? A group of saved ones sent to one another rather than to the world?
If people misunderstand denominations as the church of Christ, I cannot help them. But there is a form of organisation for every christians that meet. Those organisations sometimes bear the name "church" but in no way mean they were the only christians (those that do are more often than not mislead).
If pastor Cox is now setting up a group, and that is what he is doing from what IU read in the letter and from what you said about him, this will be nothing else than another denomination, even if they call themselves nondenominational. And there will be, sooner or later, some nonbelievers among them. That is the way the world goes, for everything here is infected by sin.
So in the end he will have nothing gained but another seperation of the body of Christ. How does he think he could be the only one after 2000 years to put up the real church? How should this not have happened before, if it was possible for men to do?
I am sorry to be so harsh, but the more I think about it, the more I see pride here at work, pride about being a better christian, pride about not wanting to intermix with others.
It is true, Paul told the Corinthians to stay pure and have no fellowship with the world. But did he tell people to leave their denomination and to start a new group? Or was his message rather to get back together and join one faith? Running away is never a solution.
�Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment� ( I Cor. 1:10)
Maybe this is exactly what denominations do in a imperfect world rife with sin and confusion. Bring together believers that speak and believe the same thing. I do believe there is one true church of God's followers, but I don't think it is affected by denominational lines. God's people are everywhere....the fact that one is a Baptist and one is a Lutheran doesn't make any difference in God's view. It's their character He looks at. "Are they striving to be like Christ?"
Can you find in God's word where it will support your belief that God says denominations are OK? He does say there has to be heresies and that is what makes up denominations. Have you ever researched their origin, I have, and they all come from Rome, they all have more or less family ties, like wearing a cross, glass stained windows, religious garb, some more then others, Sunday being the sabbath, many use tithing to leach money form people, communion, water baptism the way its done today, Christmas, Easter, the Christmas tree, submerging in water, that is a few of the family traits.One big one I forgot to add, is calling a man reverend. Reverend is only found one time in the bible.
Psalms 111:9 �He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
Student, so I do nothing for livin'...:glow: Live on my parent's expense... still. And I don't like it...
@Gary: One of those "family traits" might be the bible, right? Or is there any denomination without a bible at all?
What about praying or preaching. They also do this everywhere in denominations...
And finally, they all talk about this old man called God none of them have ever seen...
Strange families that are.
Honestly: The bible does nowhere say that denominations were evil. Heresies are, but heresies are sets of thought, denominations are sets of people. People aren't thoughts.:angel:
So take it easy, your denomination that is the denomination without a name will also have something in common with others and there will be some kind of relation to other denominations. Mabye you believe in God like Catholics do, or you baptise full immersion like Jehova's Witnesses...
Denominations didn't exist in the bible. Hard to find scriptural support for or against it if they didn't exist. Like calling a man "reverend". Not in the bible. Does that make it a heresy?:laugh: It's just a title. Like King, or Prince, Judge, officer...all kinds of stuff. All it means is "worthy of reverence" and all reverence means is "deep respect". So...doesn't seem like a big deal to me. Same thing goes for denominations. You have several beliefs that I believe the bible disagrees with and you don't belong to a denomination...so I don't think denominations have some kind of "evil" aura about them. I believe denominations have a lot of God's church in them....some of them may have misguided views, but when the time comes God will take matters into His own hands and call His true people out. Right now we should be trying to mold our own character into Christ's likeness and not arguing over how much water to use in a baptism. Not saying we can't talk about our beliefs...but I guess my point is that that's all we should do. When 2 people think they are right and in God's will, then an argument is pretty pointless...but a friendly sharing of beliefs is not. Just seems like a lot of people(including me) accidentally start a pointless argument by pointing out(:laugh:oxymoron?) where they think other people are wrong instead of just sharing their belief....something we all should work on more so the cattle doesn't stampede.
