To the Denominational Leaders:It is not the will of the Lord that His church be divided. There is but one Church, one body, one Spirit, one God. The apostle Paul clearly spoke against this division. (1 Corinthians 3:3 & 4) For you are yet carnal. For in that there is among you envying and strife and divisions, are you not carnal, and do you not walk according to men? For while one says, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are you not carnal? [MKJV]There was not to be division among the Body of Christ. We are not to even boast of one teacher over another. Paul struggled to keep unity in every way among the believers in the early Church. We are in rebellion to God when we work to keep division established among the body of Christ. The division of the Church into “denominations” should have never happened, for we were called to be one body with different parts, only. There is no excuse for any group to proclaim to have the truth more than any other. There is only one truth and every member of the body of Christ must be established on that truth, alone. While some denominations were formed in rebellion, or to cater to false winds of doctrine, many denominations were formed as a result of a revelation from God to a devout believer, and were intended to draw the Church back into repentance and purity of faith. Such movements were God's attempt to correct the Church of the spiritual laziness and false teachings which often crept in, leaving Her without spirit and power, and woefully steeped in traditions of men. Those unwilling to be corrected and preferring to keep their status quo, remained as a pre-existing denomination, while the fresh movement of the Holy Spirit had to rename itself to establish its position as a revived movement. They were driven to form a new denomination, usually because the previous one refused to allow them to practice what the Holy Spirit had told them to do. Thus, the old one has grieved the Holy Spirit and often tends to remain a stagnant monument to a past movement of God or a stubborn tradition. Today the many divisions already exist, but leaders should encourage the establishment of a whole, single Body of Christ, acknowledging that all are part of the Church and no particular group of believers should be excluded, criticized, or exalted. Jesus has one Church, and it is not made up of a single denomination. All the denominations need to repent of such “nationalism” and its resulting spiritual deadness, and be refreshed and be revived by the Word and the Holy Spirit. (Jude 1:19) It is these who set up divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. [RSV]I like this verse in the New International Version, too: (Jude 1:19) There are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. [NIV]Furthermore, all denominations must not hold those teachings that are particular to their group as a banner to their superiority, condemning other denominations. It is spiritual pride that causes a denomination to make and uphold a name for itself. There are basic truths in the Word which matter. We must agree to proclaim Christ and Him crucified, the atonement for sin accomplished through the blood of Jesus Christ on the cruel cross, our eternal hope through His resurrection, and the sending of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit who communicates God's will and empowers the believers. Beyond that, all other teachings are not so important. Arrogance and pride is the usual spirit that causes denominations to think they alone have the full truth. Repent of any encouragement of this abomination of divisive behavior. We should allow one another the freedom to worship and serve God in the way each of us feels the Spirit leading, and do not judge how others worship and serve Him. To encourage division within the body of Christ is to try and hold on to one's own hierarchy, which is not under submission to God's truth, and it is rebellion to Christ who certainly desires unity of His Church. Furthermore, you are contributing to the cause of the enemy of the Church, Satan, assisting him in his tactical plan of “divide and conquer.” (Eph 4:4-6) There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. [NIV]There is a Pharisee spirit among many leaders of denominations and those of this spirit glory in their ranks. As heads of their denominational realm, they strive to keep it all going at any cost. This sort of power and authority goes beyond any example of headship of the twelve Apostles and early church fathers. Instead, it takes on the nature of the business world, running the denominations and their “churches” like corporations and paying huge salaries to those in executive positions. Paul, himself, made tents for his living, not wishing to be a burden to the Church. Yet, many of today's Church leaders enjoy wealth and privilege within the hierarchy of organizational levels of status. Sadly, such would crucify Christ anew, if they thought He threatened their security and prosperity. There are men who enjoy the respect and patronage of other men more than they love God. Hear the Word of the Lord, for He shall destroy these divisions and organizations with their many titles. Such will lose their position of honor among the ranks of their denomination, when it is ripped out from under them. God shall put an end to the practice of hirelings, those who “serve” for great financial gain and for honor among men. As persecution of the Church increases, it will be unbeneficial and even dangerous to pastor a fellowship of Christians. When that happens, those who are in it for gain will vanish. Which of us will still want that lofty position, if it means poverty, humiliation, and might possibly cost our lives? A day is coming when leadership of the Church will not be something to be desired or coveted by any carnal man. The worldly benefits will cease, and with them, any appeal to the flesh. This will be a healthy change for the Church, weeding out wolves in sheep's clothing, and making God's people more honest and better able to reach the skeptical lost, who are weary of hypocrisy. (John 10:12-13) He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. [RSV]In truth, there is only one true Shepherd and that is Jesus Christ, but there will be others in the days ahead who will prove they have the heart of our Lord and will care for those who are the Lord's regardless of what it costs them. But these will be equal brethren, not men established and paid as “the leader” and given a title of rank and authority by men. We are all instructed to study to show ourselves approved, so that we can rightly divide the Word of truth. But God is not pleased with the practices of qualifying leaders, pastors and teachers by way of certificates, degrees and titles, with which men vie for positions in denominational and church leadership. With such worldly credentials, many men and women alike, seek better opportunities for power and wealth, at the expense of the flocks. They negotiate for money and benefits, houses, car allowance and insurance, retirement funds and the like, and the poor man, unable to afford this “higher education,” is often effectively excluded from leadership. This is man-designed qualification, which creates “professionalism” among servants of God and works to promote pride and corruption in the Body of Christ. The credentials God desires are the faith and humility of one who bows the knee or prostates himself before the Lord his God in obedience. That is the person that it pleases God to use, not those whose credentials are professional resumes and Ph Ds. (2 Cor. 3:1-5) Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. [NIV]Repent of this abominable practice of demanding the completion of degrees in faith-destroying, scripture-degrading, worldly seminaries. This practice may have been started with good intentions and God may have blessed within their ranks over the years. It is not my place to judge, however, much of the present day fruit of it indicates it has carried on too far and too long. These institutions have become worldly, often run by prideful and unbelieving men and women, who have placed their confidence in degrees rather than God. (I have read of atheist professors who teach theology in major seminaries and even atheist “pastors” of churches. How can this be? This is the result of applying the world's ways to the Church. Flesh does not mix with spirit any more than water mixes with oil.) The Church must repent of establishing worldly standards by which we measure and reward pastors! With degrees, titles and a long list of letters behind their names, they justify their privilege to speak before the people. Study of God's Word is good. Humility is good. Boasting of one's worthiness on resumes is not. For God searches a man's heart to determine who will best serve His purpose. (2 Cor. 10:18) For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. [NIV]Let the Bride forsake these manufacturers of white-washed tombs and dying denominations of tradition. Come away from the Pentecostal universities as well, who, while they boast of faith and works, have many among their people who spend much time avoiding true repentance. Instead, they devote themselves to learning how to commercialize their ministries. Many of these institutions promote a materialistic prosperity that God's Son and his faithful servants the apostles, never enjoyed. No servant is greater than his master. By what apostolic, scriptural example, did such entitlement and proselytizing rise in the hearts of those who would serve the Lord? All this hierarchy and prosperity teaching prods the carnal-minded to scramble for positions of power and authority and its accompanying salaries. But here is what Jesus told his disciples after the mother of the Zebedee brothers tried to establish them in a high position in the kingdom: (Matthew 20:25-28) Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” [NIV]Distribution of funds is corrupt in many ministries and “churches.” Hierarchy tends to distribute the tithes and offerings of the people in an unbalanced and unscriptural manner. They assign small portions to many of God's sincerest servants, while giving large portions to themselves and those whom they favor. Such favor is often politically or “professionally” obtained, rather than God-inspired. Missions suffer, while organizers' and leaders' own salaries are increased. Humble, hard-working missionaries in depressed countries “pray in” every penny of support, food and supplies, while Western-minded administrators live in luxury comparable to any corporate CEO. There are denominational leaders who need to repent of launching officials “stands” or edicts for their particular denomination that is contrary to God's Word. They vote upon and issue rulings to the churches, for religious practices and doctrines, more in the spirit of politicians, lawmakers or corporations, rather than in the Spirit of God and His holy, declared Word. Church leaders often hold meetings and weigh the cost of their decisions, based on selfish concerns, such as financial loss or gain, or out of fear of the worldly public, rather than seeking the absolute will of God. They will officially compromise the integrity of the Bride to preserve their popularity with the masses. (James 4:4) Unfaithful creatures! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. [RSV]Denominational leaders need to risk everything to stand for the truth. God will no longer exercise patience, while denominations disgrace His holy name by condoning sin. God will not allow His Church to keep indulging sinners within the Body, while they continue in unrepentant wickedness. Slaughtering infants is wrong. It is murder, and every single body of believers must make that statement. The practice of adultery and fornication must not be tolerated within the body of believers and leaders, and this includes pornography, for Jesus made it clear that “just looking with lust” is the same to God as the act itself. It is shameful to find sexual sin running rampant, not only among the believers but among the leaders as well. Practicing homosexuality is unacceptable to the professing Christian, and certainly not to be allowed in Christian leadership. That must be said, because the Word of God is clear about it, but unlike many Christians, God does not single them out as “worse” offenders than any others. Those who crave sexual immorality of any kind, must be lovingly but firmly told they must repent and believe that the Father can and will deliver them from that sin. (Gal. 5:19-21) The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. [NIV]We all had better cry to Jesus for mercy and repentance, before that terrible day of the Lord, seeing that all these things are abominable practices in the sight of God. Biblical stands must be made kindly and gently to sinners, but they cannot be compromised. Sin must be firmly rejected first in ourselves, (get your log out) and then in the Body, (so you can help your neighbor with his splinter.) Leaders must set the example for the Church and the world by not giving in to temptation themselves. Do not condone sin in your own life while condemning it in others. How dare we accept mercy for ourselves, while we unmercifully judge another? We are not to treat any one sinner as if he or she is worse than any other. Equally wicked in the sight of God, are the gossipers, slanderers, busy-bodies, revelers, gluttons and drunkards among us, so don't think that He singles out any particular sin as being more evil than others. One's lying tongue and slandering gossip cost just as much of our Savior's blood as that person who commits sexual perversion. No body of believers has a license to display hate against anyone because of the type of sin they commit, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Hating and bashing one type of sinner while seeing another as more forgivable or acceptable, is a gross misunderstanding of the heart of God. We must repent in sincerity so that we can humbly lead others to repentance. (Luke 18:9-14) To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” [NIV]There have been Christian leaders who, after falling into sin from their lofty rank, have enjoyed the blessed peace of forgiveness and restoration. For this, we are thankful to our merciful God; the cross of Christ has made this possible. But the damage to the kingdom, as a result of their lack of resistance to temptation, is great. Surely souls have been lost, because they have seen wicked behavior in those whom God had called to be holy. Sinful preachers and evangelists have done more to profane the name of God and desecrate the cross, than any heathen evildoer, and they have been the prize tools of Satan, himself. Repent of defiling the sacred blood of Christ and trampling the cross of Jesus underfoot. We are all called into a holy priesthood. Those given higher positions of authority, whether by God or by men, will have a greater accountability. Make no mistake, God will clean you up or take you out. Unless repentance occurs, judgment will come upon those who do these things. The continual and deliberate practice of sin among those who profess to belong to Jesus will disqualify those who would have otherwise heard, “Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou into thy rest.” Jesus said many will say to him, “Lord we prophesied in Your name.” But He will reject them. God has been patient, but He is about to bring His wrath upon the earth for these very things. (Eph 5:6) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. [RSV]The Church must stand against sin, yet in the process exhibit the fruit of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, humility, etc. We want to forgive ourselves and those whom we have loved and adored when sin enters in, but we want to rail at the lost who don't understand that the things they do are wrong. We want to forgive our own and condemn the unsaved. A skeptical world full of people whose only understanding of Jesus is what we proclaim, are watching us. It is time we become mature citizens of the kingdom of God and do what Jesus told us to do, love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and our neighbors as ourselves. But because evil abounds, the hearts of many have waxed cold. We have become a bunch of selfish, materialistic, unloving noisy gongs. A dear woman, explaining why she didn't attend a church, recently told me, “I love God, but I don't let the churchy people get in the way of my relationship with Jesus and misrepresent Him.” People need fellowship with believers who don't have an ambitious, organizational agenda or a selfish heart. It is not about our pastor, our “church,” our ministry, our denomination, our programs or anything else. It is about Jesus, the Christ, who gave up His life so that all mankind could be reconciled to God and have restored to us what was lost at the Fall in Eden. Denominationalism is eroding the purpose of the Church. No denomination has all the truth, but each has much to contribute to the Body, and all have something to repent of. Some are strong in studying the scriptures but weak in things of faith and of the Spirit. These are often found resisting the Holy Spirit of God, therefore they lack power. Others are strong in practicing faith and gifts, but are lacking in scriptural background, therefore, they are easily swayed by every wind of doctrine and more prone to fall into error. Some are strong in love and charity but weak in discipline, others are strong in discipline but lacking in love. We all still have much to learn. Stop criticizing and back-biting other groups! Unite to further the cause of Christ, which is to love God and one-another, and spread the Gospel to every corner of the earth. (Eph. 4:2-3) Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. [NIV]But let's get clear on what the Gospel is and is not. It is good news. It means reconciliation to God and forgiveness of sins. It is help for the poor and love for the enemies and liberty for the captive and healing for the sick and broken-hearted. It is NOT, give your heart to Jesus and join our church, pay your tithe and help build and maintain our social club or lofty ambitions. It is NOT, do what we do and do as we say or get booted out of our fellowship. It is NOT paying homage to the pastor, exalting him and supporting the building of his kingdom. It is NOT sitting quietly in a seat every Sunday, passively listening to sermons over and over, rarely getting a chance to interact with the Holy Spirit in way that produces a life-changing revelation of one's function in Christ. The goal of the Church is not to make a name for a particular denomination or church, but to glorify Christ Jesus. We must stop accusing other groups of heresy. If they preach the forgiveness of sins through the blood sacrifice of Jesus, and our hope through His resurrection, and His deity, they are your brethren. If they are in the practice of loving God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and their neighbor as themselves, they are practicing the holy faith. Our denominational dogmas won't be allowed in the eternal kingdom, therefore we should not harbor them now. (Philippians 2:3-4) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. [NIV]Those who do not heed this warning will be taken from the service of the Lord by His own hand. This division is hindering the work of the Gospel, and discrediting the Church in the presence of the heathen. Denominations that have stood for centuries are about to crumble. Even now, the Lord has blinded many of them and taken away their light. A growing number of vacant buildings stand as a sad testimony to their ruin. There will be many more. Denominations that were once great beacons of light, their birth spurred by a revival of faith and revelation, have either lost their luster to traditions of men or they have fallen into sin and compromise of the truth, in order to keep pace with society. Steeples of once-thriving churches stand like tombstones, marking the place where the rotting body lies. In fact, many churches have more members in the graveyard out back, than in the building. The numbers of those who are spiritually alive keep dwindling.
Those who repent will be blessed and their anointing will remain and be increased. These will partake of the final harvest of the Church and will be a sign and a wonder and do great works in the name of Jesus, in these final days. These will not be put to shame on the day of the Lord.
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