Is Denominationalism Sinful?

If denominationalism is sinful then there are a lot of people in a very precarious position for many are members of various religious denominations. According to the American Heritage Talking Dictionary, the term denominationalism refers to the tendency to separate into religious denominations. A denomination is a word or words by which one is called or identified. It is also a religious body united by common beliefs. In this article, we will define a denomination as a religious group which has separated itself from something and whose members are united by common beliefs. The implication being that the reason for the separation or division is those beliefs.

Division may or may not be sinful. The Bible clearly commands God’s faithful are not to be spiritually united with the sinful. "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? . . . Therefore Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord" (2 Corinthians 6:14,17). However, there should not be any division among Christians. Jesus prayed for the unity of believers, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me" (John 17:20-21). Paul commanded that the spiritually divisive should be "marked" and "avoided" (Romans 16:17) and also "rejected" (Titus 3:10). He also told the church at Corinth that division was one of the things which made them "carnal" (1 Corinthians 3:3). Sinful division is carnal and is to be avoided and rejected. Sinful division divides the believers. Denominationalism divides the believers. Is denominationalism sinful?

As previously stated, the implied reason behind denominationalism is the individual specific beliefs of each denomination. It is interesting that when the church in Corinth was starting to divide into various factions (denominations ?) Paul wrote them, "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10). Notice the apostle implores them to "speak the same thing" and "be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." Implied in his statement is the fact that the Corinthians could all speak the same thing and all be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. Also there is the implication the only thing keeping them from unity was themselves. If there can be religious unity and the only thing which prohibits it is ourselves but denominationalism promotes division and differing doctrines, again I ask, is denominationalism sinful?

The apostle Paul gave the foundation for Christian unity in his letter to the church at Ephesus. He wrote, "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:1-6 NKJV). All Christians are to be one, united in one faith (2 John 9), united in one church (Ephesians 1:22-23), united in one hope (1 Peter 1:3-5), united in worshiping and serving one God (Matthew 4:10), and united through immersion by one baptism (Galatians 3:27). God has given us the means for religious unity and it is His will for Christians to be united. Since there is obviously religious division among believers, is such division sinful? Is denominationalism sinful?