Resources/Articles
The Undenominational Character of the Church
The word “church” means “called out.” Those who have been “called out” of the world (Colossians 1:14) into the kingdom of God’s Son are the saved. These saved people are not a denomination. They are not part of a fraction or part of a whole. They compose the whole church of God. The church includes every saved person on earth. These people are saved by God and added to the church by God (Acts 2:41-47).
One of the unique traits of the church in the Bible is its singular reference. The scriptures refer to the church as “My church” (Matthew 16:18), “the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 3:2), and “the church, which is His body” (Ephesians 1:22-23). It is called “the body” (Ephesians 4:4): One body with many members and without division (1 Corinthians 12:20,25). The church is referred to as a bride subject to Christ, the one bridegroom (Ephesians 5:22-32).
To preserve its undenominational character, the church must have:
- No denominational name (Acts 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 1:10-15)
- No denominational creed - The only authority is Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Galatians 6:2)
- No denominational organization - The church has Christ as the head with elders, deacons, and teachers (Acts 14:23; Ephesians 4:11; Philippians 1:1)
- No denominational requirements for membership - The church instructs people to do as they were told in the New Testament (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38-41).
Error in religion can be avoided if a person would simply follow the Bible’s pattern for the character of the church.
