The Church and Ecumenism

Some people are constantly working for the fusion of various denominations. Ecumenism seems more important to them than anything else, but there is no Biblical background for their position. Christ spoke of sheep that were not of the Jewish fold, and said that He must bring them also, and continued, "There shall be one flock and one shepherd" (John 10:16). Note especially that we have used the Revised Version, for the Lord did not say what the King James Version records, that there shall be onefold. The Bible definitely teaches that there must be various branches of the church.

In the great passage that leads up to the doctrine of the Lord's Supper, Paul tells of the moral difficulties in the church and says, "I hear that there be divisions among you . . ." (1 Cor. 11:18). The word "divisions" in the original is schismata, an old word for cleft, or split, and was used in ancient times for "splinters of wood." These splinters were not yet shaped into separate organizations, but they would soon have to move in that direction, for the next verse says, "For there must be also factions among you . . ." (11:19). Why did God say that there must be denominations, divisions, sects? The answer is found in the preceding chapters. There was moral and ecclesiastical evil in the midst of the church; therefore, those who followed God's way had to take a firm and definite stand. This resulted in choosing, taking sides, holding views of one party, and that is what exists today. To get everyone in Christendom back in the same fold would mean smoothing over all the difficulties and differences that have arisen over the centuries. There are great and important differences, such as those which divide Romanism and historic Protestantism, which involve the sufficiency of Christ and His sacrifice; and there are minor differences concerning organization, bishops, ordination, baptisms, and so on, but these do not usually cause real separation. The true flock is divided into many folds, and there may be wolves inside the folds, but the sheep are all sheep and they know the Shepherd's voice.

1. Is it a biblical conviction to try and see one giant denomination? Why or Why not?
2. What are some weaknesses to denominations?
3. What are some weaknesses to trying to make all denominations one?
4. What would you do with theological differences under one banner?