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.
A denomination is a class, society or collection of individuals, called by the same name. The Jewish sects of the Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes, Ebionites, Zealots, Sicarii, Herodians and the Therapeutae I mentioned were called by different names because they believed differently.
21 �Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Please notice heresies is listed right between sedition and envying.
2 Peter 2:1 �But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
Please notice God calls heresies damnable, even denying the Lord.
I believe one way today we can deny the Lord is by putting our faith in the law instead of his finished work the cross for our salvation.
In Scripture and primitive usage, heresy meant merely sect, party, or the doctrines of a sect, as we now use denomination or persuasion, implying no reproach.
You can see this in Acts 24 5 and 14:
Acts 24:5 (KJV)
For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
Acts 24:14 (KJV)
But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
The Greek word for sect and the word heresy are both hairesis.
We see �the way� is also �sect� and �heresy.� I�m not referring to the word hairesis here. Rather, �the way� is used in the same technical sense to refer to the beliefs and practices of Yeshua�s followers.
Here are few more verses to show �the way� which also implies �sect� or �heresy�
Acts 9:2 (KJV)
And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Acts 18:25-26 (KJV)
This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. [26] And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
Acts 19:9 (KJV)
But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
Acts 19:23 (KJV)
And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
Acts 22:4 (KJV)
And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
rapio, lol, you would have made a good lawyer.You forgot one thing, denominations are divisions that teach a little different doctrine from the next one. If denominations didn't have different doctrines there wouldn't be any denominations or divisions. The bottom line is; none of the doctrines adhere to God's and that is heresy.
When Satan tempted Eve, he used mostly truth and only said you will not die. Satan still works the same way today and so does his servants.
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.
Again, if denominations, cults, sects were of the same mind there would no divisions, all would be of the same mind and same judgment, and would be perfectly joined together. Since they are not they are in heresy.
Ok, Gary...so then everyone that belongs to a denomination is a heretic, right? You believe differently then me. According to my beliefs that would make you the heretic, right? Do you see it yet? Technically you are in your own sect. We're both zealous for our faith, but I think the difference is I don't believe you're a heretic for following what you truly believe to be the truth from the bible, and you seem fine with calling everyone a heretic that doesn't believe like you do. You're right and everyone else is wrong.
Man...I want to say it so bad...:prayingm::ribbit::prayingm:
Hmm, thinking of or Lutheran, Reformed denominations in Germany, we have no real differences that matter other than the tradition how we do the service on sundays.
There is full communion, even with branches such as the Old-Catholics (in Switzerland called Christ-Catholic), Anglicans, Methodists and more denominations in other countries, like the URC in England or the Presbyterians in Ghana and Korea...
Denominations sometimes came up because of historical events, but in many times have nothing to do with dogmas, or are based on things that don't matter too much.
So again, take it easy. There are heresies, surely, but not everybody that has a different opinion on things than you is a heretic. Therefore he would have to reject Christ or what He did. Not even the Eastern Orthodox or Catholics do that!
Alrighty then...SOooo...Everybody that is a NOT a Completed Jew...a Israel/Hebrew/Jew that has come to believe and accepted the Mesiah of Prophesy is Truely the Christ...Yashua ( Jesus )...is a Heritic..???
Actually, my original point was simply that even at the time of Jesus there were denominations within Judaism. My replies have progressed along with the topic.
We can see Paul use his beliefs (of his own sect or denomination) to create a division among the Sadducees and Pharisees; two different denominations (sects). Paul declared himself a Pharisee and emphasized his beliefs in the resurrection, angels and spirits. So is Paul a heretic too because he
Acts 23:6-11 (KJV)
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. [7] And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. [8] For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. [9] And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. [10] And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle. [11] And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
DontHitThatMark, thank you for the laugh and I'm so glad you got it off your chest. Please feel free to say what is in your heart. I won't be offended as some seem to do on here. lol
Christ is building one church not churches. Christ adds the members, Acts 2:47 and all believers are living stones that build up a spiritual house. 1st Peter 2:5. Why is that so hard to understand?
Also God says if anyone builds on anything other then the Cornerstone, they are building in vain and their works are in vain.
1 Peter 2:6 �Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 �Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 �And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9 �But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
When a person is not added to Christ spiritual house by Christ Himself, they have either not excepted Christ yet or they have rejected him and are not part of his Body. It says Christ is a stone of stumbling and just as it says they stumble at His word as well. It says those that are his have been called out of darkness and into His marvelous light.
I'll be surprised if any here will comprehend what I'm trying to get across. But t that is ok, maybe someday someone will.
It would be interesting if one could count all the different faiths found on this site, yet Christ says there is only one hope, one calling and one faith. In denominations, accepted doctrine is the faith of your choice.
Also please notice we can be called out of darkness and we can be in his marvelous light, but only God can do that with us. Its not divinity school at all, its God's Holy Spirit teaching us.
1 John 4:6 �We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
