The journey to denominationalism is taken when the language of a person or
congregation emanates from denominational thinking. In some ways the mouth is a conduit
of the heart. The content of a person's heart will find a way to express itself, and the means
of doing so is usually through what one says. The Master said, "But the things that proceed
out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man." (Mat. 15:18, NASB-95)
We should earnestly strive to "speak as the scriptures speak, and be silent where the
scriptures are silent." (cf. 1 Cor. 4:6; 1Pet. 4:11)
It is not uncommon to hear people speak of the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and
John as "the gospels." Such speech is not biblical nor is it accurate. According to the
sacred scriptures there is one gospel. (Gal. 1:6-9) The gospel is identified by several words
or phrases in the New Covenant: "the word" (Acts 8:4), "the good tidings" (Acts 8:12),
"the word of the Lord" (Acts 8:25), "the word of God" (Acts 11:1), "the gospel" (Acts 14:7),
"the word of truth" (Eph. 1:13), "the word of the truth of the gospel" (Col. 1:5), "the faith"
(Jude 3), etc. But, we have no record of any writer guided by the Holy Spirit ever speaking
of "gospels" as if there is more than one body of "good news" from the mind of God. I am
aware that most denominational "scholars" and commentators often use such terminology,
but they erroneously do so. There is no authority in the New Testament for the concept.
It is accurate to refer to the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as accounts of the
life of our Lord.
People often speak of "joining the church." That is another concept that is foreign to
the word of the Lord in the sense that most people intend the phrase to be understood.
It is possible for a person to join a local congregation. Luke tells us that after Paul
obeyed the gospel, "When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the
disciples..." (Acts 9:26, NIV-11). Notice that the text says, "When he came to Jerusalem."
This informs us that there was a body of disciples in Jerusalem, and Paul attempted
to "join," that is, "be involved, associate, or unite" (Grk. kollao) with them and their work
of serving the Lord. Generally, those who speak of "joining the church," indicate they placed
themselves in some universal group or denomination. The New Testament clearly informs us
that no human being places those who obey the gospel among the universal assembly of the
saved. This is something that God does, for he knows those who are his, and he "adds
together day by day those who are being saved." (Acts 2:47; 5:14)
Another phrase that is commonly heard among people is "church of Christ preacher."
The New Testament does not explicitly use the phrase nor is it implied. For instance, some
preachers refer to themselves as "Baptist preachers." All of us are well aware that we do
not read of any denominational Baptist preachers in the word of God. As used today, the
phrase implies that one is a Baptist, that is, a member of the Baptist denomination, and that
he preaches Baptist doctrine. The phrase "church of Christ preacher" seems to imply that
one preaches "churches of Christ doctrine." Church of Christ doctrine is no
more acceptable than Baptist doctrine and one man cannot be a "church of Christ."
Furthermore, those who preach among the Lord's people are proclaimers, preachers of
the gospel, or evangelists who teach the word of the living God. (Acts 21:8; 2 Tim. 4:1-5)
Finally, the word "brother" is often misused by religious people. We who are Christians
are aware that God forbids wearing and assigning religious titles of distinction to those who
preach. The denominational world is filled with terminology that is unauthorized in God's
word. Titles such as reverend, rabbi, pastor, priest, and doctor are frequently used among
men who are "too big for their spiritual britches!" They violate the principle of humility
taught in passages such as (Mat. 23:5-12; Col. 1:1; 4:7,9; 1 Thes. 3:2, etc.) Sometimes
the word brother is misused among the Lord's disciples. Some people will refer to a
preacher as "brother" and address other members of the Lord's body by their first or last
name. The fact is, a preacher of the gospel is no more a brother in some specialized sense
than anyone else. We who are in Christ are all brothers. Brother (Grk. adelphos) is a
word that describes the relationship of all who are in association with Christ and one
another. It indicates a filial relationship and it is used with reference to the close affinity that
we share; we are fellow members or associates in the family of believers. (1 Tim. 3:15;
1 Pet. 2:17)
Let us do our very best to be true to the Book in the way we speak and act. When we
use the language of sacred scripture, we can be sure that we are right, and we will not take
the journey to denominationalism because we are walking in the truth. (3 Jno. 3-4)
R. Daly
Copyright 2011
congregation emanates from denominational thinking. In some ways the mouth is a conduit
of the heart. The content of a person's heart will find a way to express itself, and the means
of doing so is usually through what one says. The Master said, "But the things that proceed
out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man." (Mat. 15:18, NASB-95)
We should earnestly strive to "speak as the scriptures speak, and be silent where the
scriptures are silent." (cf. 1 Cor. 4:6; 1Pet. 4:11)
It is not uncommon to hear people speak of the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and
John as "the gospels." Such speech is not biblical nor is it accurate. According to the
sacred scriptures there is one gospel. (Gal. 1:6-9) The gospel is identified by several words
or phrases in the New Covenant: "the word" (Acts 8:4), "the good tidings" (Acts 8:12),
"the word of the Lord" (Acts 8:25), "the word of God" (Acts 11:1), "the gospel" (Acts 14:7),
"the word of truth" (Eph. 1:13), "the word of the truth of the gospel" (Col. 1:5), "the faith"
(Jude 3), etc. But, we have no record of any writer guided by the Holy Spirit ever speaking
of "gospels" as if there is more than one body of "good news" from the mind of God. I am
aware that most denominational "scholars" and commentators often use such terminology,
but they erroneously do so. There is no authority in the New Testament for the concept.
It is accurate to refer to the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as accounts of the
life of our Lord.
People often speak of "joining the church." That is another concept that is foreign to
the word of the Lord in the sense that most people intend the phrase to be understood.
It is possible for a person to join a local congregation. Luke tells us that after Paul
obeyed the gospel, "When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the
disciples..." (Acts 9:26, NIV-11). Notice that the text says, "When he came to Jerusalem."
This informs us that there was a body of disciples in Jerusalem, and Paul attempted
to "join," that is, "be involved, associate, or unite" (Grk. kollao) with them and their work
of serving the Lord. Generally, those who speak of "joining the church," indicate they placed
themselves in some universal group or denomination. The New Testament clearly informs us
that no human being places those who obey the gospel among the universal assembly of the
saved. This is something that God does, for he knows those who are his, and he "adds
together day by day those who are being saved." (Acts 2:47; 5:14)
Another phrase that is commonly heard among people is "church of Christ preacher."
The New Testament does not explicitly use the phrase nor is it implied. For instance, some
preachers refer to themselves as "Baptist preachers." All of us are well aware that we do
not read of any denominational Baptist preachers in the word of God. As used today, the
phrase implies that one is a Baptist, that is, a member of the Baptist denomination, and that
he preaches Baptist doctrine. The phrase "church of Christ preacher" seems to imply that
one preaches "churches of Christ doctrine." Church of Christ doctrine is no
more acceptable than Baptist doctrine and one man cannot be a "church of Christ."
Furthermore, those who preach among the Lord's people are proclaimers, preachers of
the gospel, or evangelists who teach the word of the living God. (Acts 21:8; 2 Tim. 4:1-5)
Finally, the word "brother" is often misused by religious people. We who are Christians
are aware that God forbids wearing and assigning religious titles of distinction to those who
preach. The denominational world is filled with terminology that is unauthorized in God's
word. Titles such as reverend, rabbi, pastor, priest, and doctor are frequently used among
men who are "too big for their spiritual britches!" They violate the principle of humility
taught in passages such as (Mat. 23:5-12; Col. 1:1; 4:7,9; 1 Thes. 3:2, etc.) Sometimes
the word brother is misused among the Lord's disciples. Some people will refer to a
preacher as "brother" and address other members of the Lord's body by their first or last
name. The fact is, a preacher of the gospel is no more a brother in some specialized sense
than anyone else. We who are in Christ are all brothers. Brother (Grk. adelphos) is a
word that describes the relationship of all who are in association with Christ and one
another. It indicates a filial relationship and it is used with reference to the close affinity that
we share; we are fellow members or associates in the family of believers. (1 Tim. 3:15;
1 Pet. 2:17)
Let us do our very best to be true to the Book in the way we speak and act. When we
use the language of sacred scripture, we can be sure that we are right, and we will not take
the journey to denominationalism because we are walking in the truth. (3 Jno. 3-4)
R. Daly
Copyright 2011
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