What's so bad about denominations, anyway?

Catholics, as well as ecumanics, lament the proliferation of Christian denominations. Much breast-beating and gnashing of teeth.

This is set in contrast to some fabled golden age when things were far different and far better. But were the good old days all that different or that much better?

1.To begin with, there’s a striking parallel between the Catholic view of church history and the Protestant view of church history. It goes something like this:

Catholic view: Once upon a time the church was fairly pure and united. But then, to some extent, it went off the rails–what with the Photian Schism, followed by the Protestant Reformation.

Mind you, the true church (i.e. the church of Rome) always kept on track.

Protestant view: Once upon a time the church was fairly pure and united. But then, to some extent, it went off the rails–what with the cumulative effect of so many unscriptural traditions.

Mind you, the true church (e.g. the remnant) always kept on track.

Both sides think that things went from better to worse. Both sides also think that, throughout the ups and downs of church history, there always was a true church. They simply define it differently: centralized v. decentralized.

So, at one level, both sides see a common, downhill trajectory to church history. They just have different ways of defining what’s good and what’s bad.

2.What, if any, are the major differences between the NT churches and modern churches?

The major difference is that NT churches were planted and overseen by apostles, while modern churches are not.

We might qualify this a bit. Some NT churches may have been planted and/or overseen by charismatic evangelists (e.g. Philip) or handpicked disciples of the apostles (e.g. Timothy, Titus).

But that also distinguishes the NT churches from modern churches.

In this respect, all modern churches are in the same boat.

(I, of course, realize that some churches lay claim to apostolic succession. However, I’ve addressed that claim on many different occasions.)

This difference is inevitable. For we are living in the post-apostolic age. While, then, this differentiates modern churches from NT churches, that, of itself, doesn’t represent a spiritual defection from the status quo ante.

3.Beyond the major differences, what, if any, are the major similarities?

i) In the NT, we have a number of local churches. At a concrete level, there’s no such thing as “the church” in NT times. Rather, the church is localized in time and place. It’s exemplified in a variety of local expressions or extensions. Decentralized.

Likewise, there’s no such thing as “the church” in modern times. Rather, the church is localized in time and place. It’s exemplified in a variety of local expressions or extensions. Decentralized.

We have denominations and independent churches. Yet a denomination is just a set of local churches. Precisely how this set of local churches chooses to affiliate with one another varies from one denomination to the next. But a denomination is not something over and above the local churches which compose it.

You can throw in some parachurch organizations which are sponsored by the denomination, but it’s the same principle.

In that respect, there’s no essential difference between NT churches and modern churches.

ii) NT churches range along a spiritual continuum. At one end of the spectrum, some are quite faithful in doctrine and practice. At the other end of the spectrum, some are dying churches while some are on the brink of apostasy. Then you have some churches in-between. Conversely, no local church is ideal.

Likewise, modern churches range along a spiritual continuum. At one end of the spectrum, some are quite faithful in doctrine and practice. At the other end of the spectrum, some are dying churches while some are dead (apostate) churches. Then you have some churches in-between. Conversely, no local church is ideal.

This is a difference, but it’s a difference of degree rather than kind. It represents the final stage of a phenomenon which was already incipient in NT times.

And it’s a difference that you’d expect once we transition from the apostolic age to the post-apostolic age.