Understanding Christian Denomination And Its Historical Origin

One word which has come to be widely used by the body of Christ today is denomination. It arose from the establishment of Churches with differing theological understandings, doctrines, worship, governments, names and others, over the centuries.

Unfortunately, many church people have little or no understanding of the word, its historical origin and its biblical perspectives. This short article, therefore, seeks to shed light on these things to add to the knowledge of believers.

A Christian denomination may be defined as a distinct group of believers of the Christian Faith bound by common theological beliefs, name, history, constitution and leadership.

First of all, Jesus Christ declared to build His Church, one united assembly of called-out ones, but the Lord never gave a hint about building denominational churches. Thus, the specific word “denomination” does not appear anywhere in the Bible.

Clearly, the churches Christ built through His earliest apostles in various communities were not denominational in form, appearance and worship. They were not known or identified by specific names such as we have today.

The earliest churches though found in many towns and cities were simply one group of sons and daughters of God or commonly described as belonging to the Way (Acts 9:2).

They were not divided, segregated or separated by differing theologies, beliefs, worship style, leadership style or traditions.

But, of course, there were some disagreements and divisions in the earliest Church, as the New Testament itself records (1 Corinthians 1: 10-12). The apostles’ teaching on unity was necessary because the Church evidently faced the challenges of divisions.

However, they knew that the Church of Christ was one and the same everywhere notwithstanding the different servant- leaders that shepherded them. The apostles, especially Paul had taught about the oneness of the Church. Paul boldly wrote:

“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).

Historically, denominational divisions began to creep into the body of Christ in Europe arguably after the fifth-century. That was when the Church split into two denominations, the Roman Catholic Church based in Rome and the Eastern Orthodox Church based in Constantinople, which is Turkey today. The split came about as a result of disagreement over the authority of the Pope.

Furthermore, in the 16th Century, Martin Luther, a Catholic priest, revolted against the many corrupt practices and theological authority of his own Church, the Catholic Church, led by the Pope. His revolt led to a movement which is widely referred to as Protestant Reformation.

Luther broke away from the Catholic Church and established a new Christian denomination called the Lutheran Church. But the Protestant Movement was severely attacked, driving out many ministers to start their own churches in various Europeans countries or cities. “These newer Protestant groups are called in general “reformed” Churches” (Roland H. Bainton).

These Churches which grew to become denominations included the Reformed, the Baptist Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church (Church of England), the Methodist Church, the Assemblies of God, the Salvation Army and others.

It is important to note that the development of Christian denominations did not end in those days. It has continued till today. Hundreds if not thousands of smaller denominations have emerged from the larger denominations as most pastors left to establish their own churches in this generation.

Many are Pentecostal and Charismatic churches whose leaders broke away over various factors. In the next article, attention will be focused on the causes of denominational divisions in Christianity, their motivations and implications.

By James Quansah