Why is the Church divided? Why are
there so many denominations?
I receive these questions from
Christians of all denominations and people of other religions. There is a
difference between a local church and the division of the universal Church
in denominations. Having made this point clear we should ask the same as
Paul did to the Corinthians in the first letter, chapter 1, verse 13:
“Is Christ divided?”
Surely not. The unity of the Church
depends in part of the work of its members, as a body, Body of Christ, of
the work of the joints that, as Paul tells the Ephesians, they help each
other. I said, in part, on purpose because not all the work depends on us as
Church, but of the unity of the Spirit: Ephesians 4.
Therefore, what is Paul referring
to, when he writes to the Ephesians telling them about the unity of the
Spirit? Let us see the Text in Ephesians 4:1-16 to make some points clear
and how far we should go in tolerating for the sake of remaining united, and
where are the limits.
TEXT: Ephesians 4:1-16:
“I therefore, the
prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation
wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness,
with longsuffering, forbearing
one another in love;
endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are 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. But unto every one of us
is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he
saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts
unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first
into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that
ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And He
gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the
unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a
perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That
we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with
every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may
grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom
the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint
supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every
part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
PROTESTANT REFORM AND THE
UNITY OF
THE CHURCH
The Protestant Reform is unjustly
accused of causing division in the Church, and it is know that Protestants
are called “separate brothers” by Catholics, and they want us to be
attracted though the ecumenical movement so we may go under the roman
papacy, instead of under Christ and under the Bible. Jesus did not remain
united to the Sanhedrin but he separated from them and founded the Church,
choosing the 12 Apostles, because the doctrine of Scribes and Pharisees was
not the Word of God, but commandments and traditions of man. Shall we not do
as our Master and form Church with those that put first the Word of God to
that of men? This reminds me that in this season they always coincide –with
a small margin of time, of course– the celebration of the Reform with the
Feast of Tabernacles. In both cases the people of God gather under the unity
of the Spirit and of the Word of God. This is the spirit of the Reform, to
return to Scripture and accept salvation by faith alone.
Jesus says: “...Thus have ye
made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.” Matthew 15:6.
http://www.yahshua.net/Protestant-Reform.htm
ECUMENISM AND THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH
The ecumenism that many denominations are embracing shows that the unity of
the Church is placed before the Word of God, not realizing the danger of
abandoning the Sane Doctrine to swallow any doctrine. After the Christian
ecumenism, we could face that of all religions of the world, a syncretism
that the Catholic Church already practices since its division from the one
called Orthodox Church, in times of Constantine, the so called Cism of East,
in the IV century. The unity of the Church only depends of the Spirit of God
who is who unites His Church and therefore this ecumenical project will not
include the Holy Spirit, because it does not include His Doctrine, shown in
the Bible, on the contrary, it includes a mixture of all kind of traditions
of men.
PROPHECY OF THE APOSTASY IN THE END TIME CHURCH
The last era of the Church, according to what the prophecy of the New
Testament tells, will be marked by a visible apostasy clear to all. We could
say that we are living the beginning of the structure of that last era of
the Church by the growth of ecumenism which tolerates all the traditions not
considering the Word of God, not considering the Sane Doctrine of Jesus
Christ. 2Thesalonians 2:3. The events of celebrations between different and
antagonist churches proves it, now that we are coming to the 500th
anniversary of the Protestant Reform.
CONCLUSION
We conclude, then, that the unity of the Church does not come from the
visible, but from the invisible, from the hand of God, but the unity of our
local church is, indeed visible by our work. The Holy Spirit is who unites
the congregations and puts it in the hearts of Christians loyal to the gift
of being joints that help each other mutually for the glory of God; this is
our task, our common ministry, and for what we shall fight for. The unity of
the church can also be seen through this proof of mutual love, through the
proof of love to God, to love Him and keep His Commandments, to keep the
Bible and fulfil it in the New Testament, in the teaching of Jesus Chris –
Yahshua, because prophecies are finishing and the Lord will come for His
Church, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still
alive and are left will be caught up for His Kingdom. 1Thesalonians 4:13-18.
Revelation 1:7. Amen! Yes, come Lord Jesus.