There Is A Difference
All denominations were founded by uninspired men or women. The Presbyterian Church was founded by John Calvin in the middle of the sixteenth century. The Roman Catholic Church was founded in apostasy, and came to fruition under the head of Boniface III in 606 A. D. The Assembly of God Church was founded by a group of Holiness people at Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 1914. The Baptist Church was founded upon the teachings of Konrad Grebel and the first congregation was established by John Smyth in London about 1607. The Methodist Church came into existence by the teachings of John and Charles Wesley, and dates from about 1792 A. D. But the church you read about in the New Testament was founded by Jesus Christ, in the city of Jerusalem, on the day of Pentecost in 33 A.D. Christ had said, "I will build my church." (Matt. 16:18) He did build his church nearly 2,000 years ago; and all the man-made churches built this side of the apostolic age were built without the authority of Christ.
II.
All denominations have their earthly heads and headquarters. For example, the Jehovah's Witnesses have their headquarters in Brooklyn, N. Y. The latter Day Saints have their head and headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah. The head of the denomination may be a pope, a synod, a conference, a convention, or an association, but all denominations have these unscriptural heads and headquarters. But the church established by Christ on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47) has no earthly head or headquarters. Christ is the head (Col. 1:18) and heaven the headquarters. (Eph. 1:21-23)
III.
All denominations have their man-made creeds. These creeds may either be written or oral. But, every denomination has them. And, it is these creeds which form the different sects. For example, it takes the Methodist Discipline plus the Bible to make a member of the Methodist Church. It takes the Baptist Manual plus the Bible to make a Baptist. It takes the Book of Mormon plus the Bible to make a Mormon. It takes the Bible plus "Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures" to make a Christian Scientist, etc. But, the Bible only will /make Christians only. The Bible only, when believed and obeyed, will make one a member of the church found in the New Testament (Acta 2:41-7)
IV.
Most all denominations are guilty of wearing names not authorized by Christ and the New Testament. For example, men were never authorized to call the church "the Baptist Church," or "the Methodist Church," or "the Catholic Church." Such names cannot be scriptural because they cannot be found In the Bible. But, the church built by Christ wears only scriptural designations. Local congregations are referred to as "churches of Christ" or "churches of God." (Rom. 16:16; 1 Thess. 2:14)
Members of the local congregations are called "Christians." (Acts 11:26, 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16) But, this does not hold true with the denominations. They would not be content to be known as Christians only. They must identify themselves and divide themselves into sects by claiming to be "Baptist Christians" or "Catholic Christians" or 'Presbyterian Christians," etc. Members of Christ's church refuse to cause division, they refuse to divide into sects; therefore, they identify themselves simply as "Christians."
V
All denominations practice one or more things in worship which cannot be found in the Bible. Whether it is the use of instrumental music with the singing, or water on the Lord's table, or burning incense with the prayers, or saying the rosary with the scriptures, or praying to departed saints or to Mary, whatever it may be, they all add to the scriptural items of worship as practiced by the true church of the New Testament. Also, they take from the true worship. Most denominations do not partake of the Lord's Supper weekly as was the apostolic pattern (Acts 20:7); most denominations have choirs to do their singing for them which is not according to the scriptural pattern. (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; 1 Cor. 14:26) The New Testament church practices in worship exactly what was authorized by Christ in the first century. (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Eph. 5:19)
VI.
To show how Christ plays such an important part in the worship, work, and doctrine of the Lord's church, may I introduce the following chart for your consideration? We challenge any denomination on earth to compare its teaching and practice with this same chart.
Chart Goes Here The Church Of The Lord
Its builder is Christ Matt. 16:18 Its foundation is Christ 1 Cor. 3:11
Its head is Christ Col. 1:18 Its owner is Christ Acts 20:28
Its saviour Is Christ Eph. 5:23 Its authority is Christ Matt. 28:18
Its creed is the gospel of Christ Rom. 1:16
Its members are Christians Acts 11:26 Congregations are churches of Christ Rom. 16:16
It Is the body of Christ 1 Cor. 12:27 It is the bride of Christ Rev. 21:9
It Is the kingdom of Christ Col. 1:13-14
Its prayers are in the name of
directed Christ John 15:16
Its assemblies are in the name of Christ Matt. 18:20
It remembers
Christ's death in the Lord's supper 1 Cor. 11:26
It sings praise
according to "the word of Christ" Col. 3:16
It follows the words of Christ in its giving Acts 20:35
Whatever It does in word or deed it does all in the name of Christ the Lord. (Col. 3:17) There is salvation in none other name. (Acts 4:12) This church, which is not a denomination, must be right, for its center and circumference is Christ Jesus and Him crucified. (1 Cor. 1:23, 2:2)