Tag Archives: Division

BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHURCH

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT “REVEREND” AS A TITLE FOR MINISTERS? — BOB  PRICHARD

It is a common assumption today that every minister ought to be addressed as “reverend.” Fortunately, though, many ministers are rejecting the use of this title, recognizing that it is unauthorized by the Bible, contrary to the Bible doctrine of the priesthood of all believers, and divisive to the cause of Christ.

The word “reverend” comes from the Latin word reverendus, meaning “worthy of respect.” The dictionary defines it as “a title of respect often used with the name of a clergyman.” “Reverend” is found only one time in the King James Version of the Bible. An unknown psalmist wrote, “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name” (Psalm 111:9). The application of the term is to God, not a man. The word is used frequently in the original languages of the Bible, but it is always applied to God, and never to man. Since the practice of using the title “reverend” is so popular today, it may be surprising to remember that neither Jesus nor any of the disciples ever used this or any other man-made title. There is never any mention of “Reverend Paul,” or the “Right Reverend John,” or the “Reverend Mr. Peter.” The use of titles such as “reverend” by the humble servants of Christ would have been contrary to their attitude of service to Christ. 

Paul said, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14). In other words, Paul was saying that he would glory in nothing but the cross of Christ. He demonstrated his humble attitude toward serving Christ many times in his letters. Paul was well educated and could have claimed human titles, but he chose to give all of these up for Christ (see Philippians 3:1-7). He began some letters with the words, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ.” Many times he simply referred to himself as “a servant” or “a bondservant.” The desire to use man-made religious titles such as “reverend” comes from a desire for exaltation. We must remember the words of Christ: “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28). 

The use of titles such as “reverend” helps to perpetuate a wrong concept of the nature of those who serve Christ. Peter referred to all Christians, not just a select clergy, as “an holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5). The clergy/laity division of our religious world is a man-made division. Though some, because of special training and a special desire to serve God may serve as ministers or preachers [not titles but descriptive terms of service], and may be called ministers [servants], in actuality every Christian is a minister, or servant, when he serves God. We need to reestablish the concept of the priesthood of all believers in service to Christ. Jesus warned, “Be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren” (Matthew 23:8).

BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHURCH

IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST A DENOMINATION? — BOB PRICHARD

A frequent follow-up question to “Are you a Christian?” is “What denomination are you?” “Denomination” is not found in the Bible, and the idea is based on sectarianism and division. “Denomination” is not simply an incidental name, but a choice to be divided from other believers who do not share the same sectarian doctrines. Religious denominations are divisions among people who may all claim to follow the same Lord and same Bible but cannot agree because of their denomination.

As Jesus prayed for His apostles before His arrest, he said, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20-21). Jesus wanted unity among His apostles, and among “them also which shall believe on me through their word.” He prayed for the unity of everyone who would believe the teaching of the apostles (whether through their direct preaching or through the written word of the Bible). This unity is not possible, however, as long as the divisive denominational system exists.  

The denominational system has developed with various creeds, manuals, handbooks, hierarchies, and systems of organization, which have grown more and more complex over time. Years ago many men and women understood that the denominational system was a violation of God’s will, and sought to leave the denominations so that they could restore the “undenominational” church of Christ of the New Testament. By being just Christians, without being associated with any denomination, they believed that they could better serve and obey God. That is why the modern day churches of Christ are undenominational. They have no creed but the Bible, no denominational or church hierarchy over the local congregation, and no authority for faith and practice other than the Bible. They are not “Church of Christ Christians,” but simply Christians.

There were “seeds of denominationalism” in the church at Corinth. Paul wrote, “it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:11-12). Some at Corinth were not satisfied to be Christians only, but wanted to be “Paulite Christians,” or “Apollosite Christians,” or “Cephasite Christians.” Paul asked, “Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1:13). They had divided the church into warring factions. Paul emphasized the seriousness of the situation by saying he was glad he had only baptized a few at Corinth, so few could claim to follow Him, instead of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:14-16). Of what denomination were Peter and Paul? They were just Christians, and not members of any denomination. The church of Christ, if it truly is the church we read of in the New Testament, cannot be a denomination and at the same time pleasing to the Lord.

BIBLE, BIBLE QUESTIONS, CORINTHIANS, FIRST

WHY DID PAUL TELL THE CORINTHIANS,  “I THANK GOD THAT I BAPTIZED NONE OF YOU”? — BOB PRICHARD

It seems strange that Paul would tell the Corinthians that he was thankful that he baptized none of them, when he taught more about the importance of baptism than any other New Testament writer. For example, he reminded the Roman Christians of their common experience of baptism into Christ: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4).

Most apparent contradictions in scripture are easily be explained by looking at the context (the surrounding verses). Problems filled the church in Corinth: abuses of the Lord’s Supper, abuses of miraculous spiritual gifts, problems concerning marriage, Christians taking one another before the law, and most importantly, divisions within the church. Jesus prayed for the unity of all of His followers: “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:21). The church in Corinth, however, was dividing itself into sects and denominations.

Paul wrote, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). Division was so severe, however, that some were saying “I am of Paul,” and others were saying “and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.” Paul asked, “Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:12-13). The divisions were so severe that they were no longer simply Christians, or followers of Christ, but they were becoming “Paulite Christians,” “Apollosite Christians,” and “Cephasite Christians.” They were not following Jesus as much as they were following the preachers who had taught or baptized them.

It was because of these terrible divisions that Paul said, “I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:14-18). Paul did not want to contribute in any way to the divisions within the Corinthian congregation. He was glad there were very few Corinthians who could claim to be “Paulite Christians,” because he had only personally baptized a few. This is likely the reason that Jesus did not personally baptize.  “Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples” (John 4:2). Paul preached the whole gospel of Christ, which includes water baptism.

BIBLE QUESTIONS, CHURCH, JOHN

ARE THE DENOMINATIONS BRANCHES OF THE TRUE VINE? — BOB PRICHARD

As Jesus prepared His apostles for His departure, He told them the parable of the vine and the branches. He had just instituted the Lord’s Supper, with the elements of the bread and the fruit of the vine, so the picture of the vine and the branches would have been very clear to the disciples. Jesus immediately identified Himself as the vine: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman” (John 15:1). Having identified Himself as the vine, He identified the work of the branches as that of bearing fruit, warning that the husbandman takes away unfruitful branches. “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15:2).

Some suggest that this parable is a picture of the contemporary church, with all the various denominations and sects coming together to form the Lord’s church. It is sometimes shown in the form of a tree, with various branches depicting the way in which different religious groups have grown out of one another. The text reveals, however, that the branches are not the different religious sects of “Christendom,” but instead are individual Christians.

Jesus was speaking in John 15 to the apostles, individuals, not religious groups. Notice the emphasis on what the individual disciple must do. “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples” (John 15:5-8). Jesus told the disciples, “ye are the branches,” and “if a man abide not in me.” The branches are people, not churches!

The branches must bear fruit for the husbandman. The fruitfulness that the Lord wants, which is the product of a Christian life, comes only from abiding in Christ. The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, “for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:4-5). What we can do in Christ, however, is unlimited. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). The key is to be in Christ, abiding in Him. Paul said, “as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).

Christ did not want His followers to be divided among the various religious groups and denominations. As He prepared for the cross, He prayed, “Neither pray I for these alone [the apostles], but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20-21). He wanted all who believe the testimony of the apostles to be united.