"I don't care denominations! Jesus is Enough! Enough!! and... Enough!!!

I Don't Care About Denominations. Jesus Is Enough.

Hook: Consider These Questions First

Consider these questions first:

Does your church baptize babies? Should they be baptized? Why or why not?
Does your church allow women to serve as pastors and preachers? Why or why not?
Do believers in your church speak in unknown and unusual languages during praise and worship? Why or why not?
Does your church teach that the bread and juice served during the Lord’s Communion are merely symbols or representations of Jesus’ body and blood? Why or why not?
Does your church teach that salvation can be lost? Why or why not?

Several years ago, a friend from India asked me a question: “Brother, I want to talk about the gift of tongues with you.” I was astonished when he labeled the gift of tongues as “GIBBERISH,” which means “valueless syllables or babblings.” Later, I came to know that not all churches embrace the gift of tongues. Some even consider it fake and demonic. Meanwhile, Pentecostal churches emphasize it greatly as an initial evidence of being baptized by the Holy Spirit.

Next, I know of a sister from my own church who is now abroad. She used to say that she did not care about denominations. But when she went abroad, she started asking questions about several churches, such as Catholic, Methodist, and others.

Similarly, another sister from my church asked why there are so many types of churches and which one is right. Another person asked what kind of Christians we are and why the church does not teach us about these things.

REAL-LIFE MOMENT — A FRIEND FROM INDIA

Asked to talk about the gift of tongues, and called it “GIBBERISH” — valueless syllables or babblings. Not all churches embrace this gift; some call it fake and demonic, while Pentecostal churches treat it as initial evidence of Spirit baptism.

REAL-LIFE MOMENT — A SISTER FROM MY CHURCH, NOW ABROAD

Once said denominations didn’t matter to her. Once abroad, she began asking questions about Catholic, Methodist, and other churches.

REAL-LIFE MOMENT — ANOTHER SISTER, AND ANOTHER BELIEVER

One asked why there are so many types of churches and which one is right. Another asked what kind of Christians we are, and why the church never teaches us about these things.

The thing I have noticed about believers is that they keep fighting over denominations, but when it comes to Jesus, they come together hand in hand—worshipping in unity, loving one another, respecting one another, and serving one another. Perhaps Zac Poonen saw this very beauty of love among Christians despite their differences, which he regards as a reason God allows so many doctrinal differences.⁽ⁱ⁾ One popular YouTube channel called Redeemed Zoomer concludes that denominations are like “different provinces of the Kingdom of God.”⁽ⁱⁱ⁾

I personally recommend these channels if you are eager to learn about denominations:

Ready to Harvest
Redeemed Zoomer
Bhojraj Bhatt Church History

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Why Are There So Many Denominations?

Talking about denominations might get uncomfortable. If the Bible is one, God is one, and Jesus is one, then why are there so many churches?

The Study the Church website, created by Dr. Mark Nickens, has this to say (paraphrased):

The Bible contains many clear teachings but also numerous vague teachings. Christians take them and go in different directions. On primary issues, they agree, but on secondary issues, they can agree to differ. Perhaps this is one reason the church is called the Family of God. Indeed, not a single member of a family can agree on all issues. Since the precise meanings of certain concepts in the Bible are not made clear, it is fine to have different views as long as foundational ideas remain the same. Those non-essentials are technically called “adiaphora,” which means things that are not essential to our faith.⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾

Different Denominations, Different Emphases

Baptists and Assemblies of God

A Baptist church might oppose speaking in tongues, while Assemblies of God (AG) churches might focus on it. However, both of them agree on the need for the Holy Spirit to live a healthy and empowered Christian life.

AG believers should refrain from the idea that other denominations reject the Holy Spirit, while Baptists should embrace the fact that the Holy Spirit can also work magnificently in a believer’s life when they come to God with a broken heart.

A Baptist can teach an AG believer that careful exegetical Bible study is needed for nurturing our spiritual growth, while AG believers can teach them that an active experience of God is also needed for powerful Christian testimony and living.

Too much focus merely on the academic study of the Bible without a genuine encounter with God’s touch in life can make a believer grow cold. On the other hand, too much focus on experience without proper knowledge about God can lead a believer toward emotionalism and often make them captive to heretical teachings.

Presbyterians and Baptists

A Presbyterian church might focus on baptizing babies, while a Baptist church focuses on baptizing only believers. The former captures the concern of God’s covenant promised to all, including children, while the latter understands baptism as a confession of inner faith declared through an outward sign.

Whatever the case, both agree on God’s sovereign work in salvation. Presbyterians would agree that baptizing babies does not guarantee their salvation when they grow up, and Baptists can agree that baptism is not given to open the door for salvation.

Both agree on salvation by grace through faith alone.

Assemblies of God and Presbyterians

An AG church might teach that we may lose our salvation, which is typical of Arminian theology, while Presbyterians might teach “Once Saved, Always Saved,” which is typical of Calvinist theology.

Whatever the case, both denominations believe that nobody can earn God’s favor by their own efforts, and both emphasize holy living and perseverance in faith.

One might focus more on human free will, while the other might focus more on God’s sovereignty and predestination. In the end, both believe that salvation is ultimately the work of God’s choice and not ours.

These are a few examples that demonstrate how denominations can disagree on certain things while agreeing on foundational matters.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Denominations differ on secondary issues (adiaphora) — baptism mode, tongues, Communion, eternal security — while agreeing on primary, foundational doctrines.
Baptists and AG both affirm the need for the Holy Spirit; they differ on tongues but can learn from each other’s emphasis on study versus experience.
Presbyterians and Baptists differ on who should be baptized, but both agree salvation is by grace through faith alone, not through the ordinance itself.
AG (Arminian) and Presbyterian (Calvinist) views differ on whether salvation can be lost, yet both hold that salvation is ultimately God’s work, not ours.

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Unity Does Not Require Uniformity

The church is ultimately God’s family, and there will certainly be differences. However, we must keep these things in mind:

Even God’s triune nature has differences, yet there is unity.
Paul talks about different spiritual gifts and ministering areas, and yet they are like different parts of one body.
The Scriptures contain books of different genres, and many things progressively develop in concepts and ideas throughout time, yet the core message about redemption remains one and the same.
Jesus chose disciples with different natures, yet their goal was to go out for the mission.

Having differences does not mean having a chaotic environment. Church denominations still serve the same Lord. They may have different beliefs on non-essential issues, but ultimately, they practice them for the glory of God and for extending His Kingdom.

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What Do We Need in Churches to Address Different Denominations?

1. Humility

Nothing much is needed but humility—thinking that the other side could be right as well. For this, we must have fellowship with one another.

Seeing another person as correct and oneself as being wrong does not demean us. Doctrine does not determine our value, as we are already special in the eyes of God, who saved us.

2. Freedom from Prejudice

We should have no prejudice regarding our personal beliefs, keeping in mind that those beliefs did not save us.

Paul said something similar when people were dividing over leaders in 1 Corinthians 1:10–17.

3. A Willingness to Continue Exploring

Many unclear passages in the Bible need further exploration, contextual study, and investigation that can continue throughout our lives. At the same time, we have an important mission task given by Jesus that is far more important than all of those things.

None of those unsettled issues matter to our salvation. Let those issues continue to be investigated as the world advances in exploration.

Issues such as women pastors, tongues, end times, and others need investigation and updates, as views might change under further investigation.

4. Education About Denominations

The church should educate its people about denominations. At least then, it would not create chaos when one believer visits another church.

I have seen believers become astonished when they visit other churches and begin wondering whether those churches are false.

5. Fellowship With Christians From Other Denominations

In the context of Nepal, one can join fellowships such as CBS (Christian Students’ Fellowship) to engage with Christians from other denominations.

They provide a very facilitative environment and important training, such as SMTC, to equip believers better. They allow open discussions and interactions.

I myself grew to this stage because of CBS.

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“Jesus Is Enough. I Don’t Need Denominations.”

Finally, do not ever say, “Jesus is enough for me. No denominations.”

Being part of a denomination does not make you a divided Christian.

Also, do not say, “Jesus didn’t call us to be Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal, etc.” Yes, He did not—but that point of view fails because none of these denominations existed during Jesus’ own time. Every denomination began later when people realized that it was hard to fit everyone into one group.

That argument is a chronological fallacy. Only someone ignorant of church history would talk like that.

ALERT!

Saying “Jesus didn’t call us to be Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal, etc.” is a chronological fallacy — none of today’s denominations existed in Jesus’ own time. Dismissing denominations on this basis reflects unfamiliarity with church history, not sound reasoning.

Hence, keep learning, keep loving one another, be humble, and respect one another. Denominations are not big issues unless you make them something greater than foundational Christian doctrines.

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