THE THREE MINUTE WORD

Sunday – June 16, 2024, Sivan 10, 5784

DENOMINATIONS – PART FOUR

Video link: https://youtu.be/v45HFq7QxZ8

Greetings dear brothers and sisters in Christ, joint-heirs of all things and welcome back to The Three Minute Word blog. As you know I have been teaching on divisions, denominations in the body of Christ. The question is this; are these divisions within a Church or the creation of a new denomination necessary, are they of God, or perhaps they are even desirable. I have been focused on the early Church but that was not when divisions started. What about the rebellion of Korah?

Numbers 16:31-35 (NIV)

31 As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart

32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah’s men and all their possessions.

33 They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community.

34 At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!”

35 And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.

I think it should be clear to all that God takes zero pleasure in rebellion against leadership and divisions among His people. Splits, divisions occur due to sin.

1 Kings 11:11-13 (NIV)

11 So the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates.

12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son.

13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”

It seems to me that the persons at the crux of denominational splits, divisions, have become nearly deified, given hero status, and their writing given a status by many on a par with canonized Scripture. I am talking about people like Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Wesley although there are many others. I am no historian but it seems that the first recognized spit and formation of a denomination was Catholic in 1054 AD. Following this there has been a continuous splintering of the Christian Church from the 1500’s to this day. In Heaven will there be a special area for Catholics, another for Methodists, and so on? What is the will of God? Unity of the faith. There is one Truth not hundreds of conflicting truths.

Ephesians 4:11-15 (KJV)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 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:

14 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;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Notice verse thirteen and the phrase “unity of the faith” and the cause of disunity is in verse fourteen, we are “children, tossed to and fro”. I hope you have enjoyed, benefited, and been challenged by this brief study of divisions in the Church otherwise known as Denominations.

Lord willing, I will pick up right here next Sunday with fresh revelation from the Throne. Remember, we love you, the Lord loves you, and there is nothing you can do about either one.

By: Dr. David R. Wood, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice

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