Denominations

Were Stephen or Mark or Job or Peter or Adam or Zacheaus Presbyterians? Baptists? Lutherans? Pentecostals? Seventh Day Adventists? Greek Orthodox? Catholic? Episcopalian? Missionary Alliance? How about Paul or John or Moses. Free Methodist? Four Square? Vineyard? Community? Bible? Church of Christ? Primitive Baptist? First Anything?

So the obvious answer is, they weren't. So then what's the deal with denominations? Why does something so powerful and pervasive exist in the Christian world when it's not found in the Bible? What does it all mean? Why do we have so many denominations (800+) in the Christian world when not one of those denominations is mentioned in the Bible? Aren't we all on the same side? All for Jesus, Jesus for all?

I realize there are different cults and sects of cults and people who think they're religious but really aren't. Christian Science, Mormons, Jehovah's Witness, Moonies, Hare Krishna, Heaven's Gate, Buddhism, Islam, Taoists, the list goes on and on. But I'm talking about within the traditional 'Christian' church. Why so much division? Why so much difference?

This was one of the mysteries of life when I was growing up. I was shocked when I found out that there's nothing in the Bible about going to church on Sunday's at 11am. There is no mention of Wednesday night prayer meetings. That people in Bible times didn't have hymnals or bulletins or women pastors. That the Sabbath isn't really Sunday?

Turns out that all this is more proof that 'church' as we know it is totally man-made. Wow.

Presbyterians are formal and wear robes. Primitive Baptists are law-based and handle snakes. Southern Baptists don't agree with General Baptists or Northern Baptists. Lutherans and Episcopalians and Catholics all have sub- denominations like the Blue Army.

There is nothing in the Bible about kneeling, or crossing yourself, or having the Priest give you communion, or only worshipping on Saturdays or Sundays. But a ton of neat Christian men and women put a lot of stock in denominations and their specific rules.

I was raised as what was called then an Evangelical Presbyterian Bible Church. We believed pretty much the traditional line when it came to God and Christ. We differed from the Baptists in that we sprinkled and the Baptists dunked. We had to wear ties. All the big pooh bahs, including the choir, wore robes and used big fancy words. (I think they felt if they made it too simple, well, they'd be out of a job!

But as 'Christian' as this church was, it split at least twice. Once when I was about 8, and yet again when I was about 15. New pastors, different pastors. Some people liked them, some didn't. Some people wanted to not mention the announcements before the sermon. Some wanted to sing more songs. Some wanted to get blue robes instead of maroon. Some thought that we were saved by grace. Some thought we were saved by grace-but we'd better do really good things for people and be really good just in case. Some hoped they were saved. Some got saved every couple of weeks. It was very odd to me that there would be so much indecision and in-fighting.

After the last split our family settled in with the 'correct' faction (how did they really know?) The people on the other side were all heathens and surely destined for hell. I didn't realize at the time that since we're all sinners, we act like sinners sometimes.

But real questions remained: Could a Lutheran be confirmed in a Baptist church? Could a Catholic take communion at a Presbyterian church? Could an Elk have dinner at a Moose Lodge? Could a United Methodist serve potluck at an Alliance church? Could a General Baptist eat dinner with a Southern Baptist? Could a United Methodist have a beer with an Episcopalian?

Why can’t we just be one people, united under God? Washed in Jesus' blood, saved from sin, serving mankind, and heading towards that sweet by and by? I don't get it. If you have the answer, send me mail at DenominationallyChallenged.