In recent months, a very close relative of mine decided that she and her girls would leave the church of the Lord for the supposed greener pastures of denominationalism. When I received the news I literally felt like the breath had been knocked out of me. You see, the husband of this young woman, is one to whom I am also very close. This man has never obeyed the gospel. I have written to him and spoken with him about it in the past but yet he never seemed to be very serious about the matter. Now, he is also attending this denominational church with his wife and daughters. My fear is that he will determine that he needs to say some sort of "sinner’s prayer" and then be baptized into this denominational body, all the while believing that he has forged a new relationship with God, when in reality, he has only paid obeisance to the doctrines and commandments of men (Mt. 15:1-9).

The title of this article is "Why she left." In reality, I don’t know why she decided to leave. I suppose some of it had to do with the entertainment this group provided for her children. I suppose some of it had to do simply with convenience in a number of areas. I may not know why she left the church of the Lord, but I do know why she did not leave. Consider…

1. She did not leave because denominational religion provides truth. I understand that those caught up in sectarianism do teach some truth. However, I know full well that they do not teach the whole counsel of God on many subjects (Acts 20:27). In fact, the Bible teaches that division (which is what denominationism is all about) is condemned in Scripture (1 Cor. 1:10-13). Will she ever hear in this denominational atmosphere that Jesus only built one church (Mt. 16:16-19; Eph. 1:22,23; 4:4)? Will she hear that a person must be a member of this church to be saved (Acts 2:47)? No! Why? Because this truth strikes at the heart of what denominationalism is all about and condemns it.

2. She did not leave because denominational religion preaches the truth in regard to the plan of salvation. Most protestant denominations teach that a person is saved at the point of faith without any acts of obedience whatsoever. When the question is asked, "What must I do to be saved?" The response is usually something like this, "Say this prayer with me, ‘Jesus I am a sinner and I ask your forgiveness and also that you come into my heart…’" It is at this point that most denominational folk will pronounce one saved. However, there is not one single example in Scripture of someone saying a prayer to become a Christian. In fact, when this question was asked for the first time, those who inquired were told to "repent and baptized everyone you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins" (Acts 2:38). Jesus Himself said, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved" (Mk. 16:16). You will never hear either one of these responses (which teach the same thing) in most denominational environments. A person is not saved by "faith alone" (Jas. 2:24) but by obedient faith which responds to the will of God (Mt. 7:21-23). The young lady under consideration recently told my mother that as long as she has been attending this organization of men that she has never heard the preacher say anything wrong. I can guarantee this much, at the end of every sermon, when this man extends an invitation so that one can supposedly become a Christian, he has NEVER said anything right! I know full well that he urges those there to, by faith alone, ask Jesus into their hearts, teaching all the while that they will be saved at that point. Again, the Bible teaches this nowhere. Therefore many people are deluded and deceived, still in their sins, because they have never obeyed the gospel (2 Thess. 1:7-9).

Certainly other things could be mentioned. I know she did not leave because the group she has joined herself worships in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24). I know she did not leave because the ‘church’ she is now attending is found in the Bible because it is not. I know she did not leave because this church is Scripturally organized because it is not. I know she did not leave because this group believes the truth about the second coming of Christ, because they do not. Why did she leave? I do not know. But I know this, when a person leaves the truth of God’s word for counterfeit religion they leave the Lord (Mt. 15:13). What a shame. I pray that something will transpire that will change her mind. Until then, let us remember the words of the wiseman who said, "Buy the truth and sell it not." Truth is worth the stay (Jn. 8:31,32: 17:17).

~ Bill Burk