What is a Denomination?

A brother from another country asked a simple, yet overwhelmingly difficult question, “What is a denomination?” Thinking about how to answer the question causes me to pause. As some of you know, I often teach an Introduction to Public Speaking class at a nearby university. When we talk about clearly explaining information, I ask the students to think about describing Niagra Falls to someone who had never seen water. If you do not know about a denomination, where do you start to explain them?

We will take a few moments to discuss this non-biblical phenomenon in simple terms because you asked for it. Think with me about this biblical example.

Early Differences, Division and Denomination

Paul writes to Christians in Corinth and warns them about divisions in the church.

What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”: another, “I follow Cephas”; still another,”I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?

1 Corinthians 1:12-13 NIV

Even in the early days of the church (1 Corinthians was written in the early 50’s), people were saying, “You know, I like the teaching of Apollos the best. He really knows the Jewish Scriptures. He is very eloquent as a speaker. And his wife is SO nice!” With that sentiment, divisions cause the church to splinter. Those “splinters” are called denominations.

The Cause of Division

Usually denominations form over doctrinal matters, but sometimes they form over policies or even preferences. The number of denominations vary according to your definition of a denomination, but according to Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, there are as many as 40,000 denominations world-wide. The World Christian Encyclopedia defines a denomination as an organized Christian group within a specific country. Using that definition, there are 200 denominations of the one denomination of the Roman Catholic Church.

Even though Jesus prayed that the disciples would be united, there were natural divisions or separations from the very beginning. The church began on the Day of Pentecost when Jews from the entire region had gathered at the Temple for the feast. They heard the gospel message of the Messiah and returned to their homes believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Notice the different geographic regions represented in Luke’s rendition.

Geographical Seperation in Acts

Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome ¹¹ (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” ¹² Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

Acts 2:9-12 NIV

In addition to the geographic distance between Christians, discussion began almost immediately about how to incorporate Gentiles into a body of Jewish believers. A large group of Christians believed that the Gentiles must first become Jews before they could be included into the church. These believers – known as Judaizers – had a strong presence around Jerusalem, but also in Galatia, Corinth, and Colossae. The destruction of the Temple in _AD70 curtailed this movement.

Other Disagreements

Another early set of differing beliefs were held by Christians known as gnostics. Gnosticism is a term derived from the Greek word gnosis which means “knowledge.” These believers seems to weave Christian beliefs with Hellenistic philosophy. These believers tended to ignore the God of the Old Testament as inferior to Christ. They also believed that the flesh and body were evil. Therefore, Jesus only appeared to be in bodily form.

Technically, a denomination in Christianity is a religious organization (a governing board or association) that unites local congregations through a single and legal administrative body. Members of a denomination share the same or similar beliefs articulated in a creed. They participate in similar worship practices. The word “denomination” comes from the Latin word denominare which means “to name.”

History of the Denomination: A Growing & Dividing Church

For Christianity’s first three hundred years, the new religion was underground, meeting secretly to avoid persecution from the Roman government. In _AD 313 the Roman Empire officially recognized Christianity as an accepted religion. Because of Constantine’s conversion to Christianity, the religion became the Empire’s official religion.

As early as 100 years later, differences among believers were becoming evident from geographic distance, doctrinal nuances, and resistance to the Roman government’s involvement in the faith. By _AD1054 a formal split occurred between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. These two branches became the first official denominations of Christianity.

The next major split inside the church occurred in the 16th century with what became known as the Protestant Reformation. The doctrinal shifts began when Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses in 1517. Officially the movement began in 1529. The Reformation leaders contended that each geographic area has the right to determine the faith of their territory. This movement marked the beginning of the concept of the denomination as we know it today. There are several groups that we need to follow and discuss.

Lutheranism

Martin Luther originally wanted to reform doctrines within the Roman Catholic Church. This became impossible when Luther was excommunicated from the church in 1525. Luther developed his theology around the idea of faith alone – no works of penance, no practice of indulgences. Luther’s ideas gained popularity as the result of a debate against a local Catholic bishop.

Anabaptists

The name anabaptist comes from the belief that one must be baptized again as an adult believer. This belief grew in popularity in Switzerland and southern Germany. The group became known as the “Swiss Brethren.” Many of the anabaptists followed a teacher named Menno Simons and those who followed him became known as Mennonites. Jacob Amman split from this group because of more conservative ideas resulting in the Amish faith. Anabaptists were persecuted by Roman Catholics and Protestants alike. Eventually, they sought refuge in the new nation in North America.

Calvinism

In 1536 John Calvin crystalized his theology in the work The Institutes of Christian Religion. Calvin was heavily influenced by the teachings and writings of Augustine. Calvin influenced the belief system of many, including John Knox. Knox took Calvinism to Scotland and formed the Presbyterian church. In many ways, Calvinism has influenced thought in almost every Protestant denomination. Calvinism took root in Congregational churches, Puritan churches, and the Reformed Church.

Anglicanism

The Church of England began in 1537 when King Henry VIII of England split from the Roman Catholic Church. The King of England did not split from doctrinal differences, rather because the Pope would not grant an annulment for Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Anglicanism still exists in England and is known as the Episcopal Church in America.

Baptists

Many people associate the Baptist church movement with America, but it officially began in England by John Smythe in 1608. The movement did spread quickly in America. Baptists believe in the need for immersion in water for the remission of sin. In doctrine, the denomination embraced may of the concepts of Calvinism. One source figures today there are 412 Baptist denominations in the United States alone.

Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)

Another denomination in the church began in England. George Fox has “revelations” given to him in 1648. He urged for the church to think of itself as a society instead of a church. The group became known as “Quakers” when those around them noticed the people were shaking with emotion during their meetings. The movement was often persecuted, but is best known for its colonization of Pennsylvania in America.

Wesleyanism

Brothers John and Charles Wesley were members of the Anglican Church. In 1729 they came to America to minister in missionary work in the new country. When they returned to England, they formed a Methodist society to speak about the need for personal faith and personal holiness. Their message was an attempt to bring about reform within the Anglican Church. It was relatively successful in England, but those holding to Methodist beliefs in America decided to break from the Church of England and they formed their own Methodist denomination. Wesleyan holiness theology founded many holiness churches. In the 20th century, many of these churches united to form the Church of the Nazarene.

1800 into the Present

The freedom of religion enjoyed in the American constitution have rise for new ideas and thus new denominations. The Restoration Movement, led by Alexander Campbell in the 1820s, sought to restore New Testament Christianity, but itself began to splinter over differing opinions about the use of church music and missionary organizations. Today Christian Churches, Disciples of Christ and Churches of Christ are loosely connected through this movement.

Mormonism, Seventh-Day Adventism, Christian Science, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Pentecostalism are all a process of the growth of a denomination mentality within the church. Today, several movements are occurring within the church, crossing barriers from this denomination background. Community churches, home churches, megachurches, and the emergent church are all movements which seek to communicate Christianity to a more liberal culture.

Hope this helps.