1 Corinthians 1:10-13, John 17:20-21, Ephesians 4:4-6
A Surprising Number
Estimates of the number of Christian denominations worldwide range from several thousand to over forty thousand, depending on how "denomination" is defined. For anyone who takes seriously Jesus' prayer that His people would be one (John 17:21), this is at best an embarrassment and at worst a scandal.
How did we get here, and what should we make of it?
A Brief History
The early church was one — though never without conflict (Acts 15, Galatians 2). The first major split was the Great Schism of 1054, which divided Western (Catholic) and Eastern (Orthodox) Christianity.
The second major rupture was the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. Luther's protest against indulgences and other Roman abuses opened a door through which dozens of reforming movements walked, each with its own emphases and convictions: Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, Anabaptist.
The centuries since have seen further proliferation — Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals, and hundreds of others — driven by theological conviction, cultural adaptation, and, less charitably, personality conflicts and human stubbornness.
Not All Division Is Equal
Not all denominational difference represents sinful division. Some differences reflect genuine, serious disagreements about significant doctrines — the nature of baptism, church governance, the gifts of the Spirit, the nature of the Lord's Supper. Christians have disagreed about these things for centuries, and different denominations exist partly to preserve and practise these different convictions.
Paul warns against divisions driven by personality loyalty ("I follow Paul... I follow Apollos" — 1 Corinthians 1:12) and against creating unnecessary stumbling blocks. But he does not demand organisational uniformity across the universal church.
What to Do With Denominations
The existence of denominations is not ideal — it reflects the reality of human fallibility, pride, and genuine disagreement. The right response is not indifference ("all churches are equally valid") or sectarianism ("only our denomination is the true church"), but a kind of committed humility:
- Belong to a specific congregation with genuine commitment
- Cooperate gladly with other gospel-preaching churches across denominational lines
- Hold secondary convictions firmly without treating those who differ as enemies
- Pray and work for greater visible unity among those who share the essential gospel