treasures from the storeroom

by eric lange

Denominationalism has a spotty record within church history. Despite Jesus’ prayer that his followers “may all be one” after he has gone (John 17:21), the past two thousand years have shown that Christians are more likely to separate themselves from one another based upon doctrinal, practical (and political) reasons, often through tremendous fighting, turmoil, and bloodshed. The Eastern and Western churches split a thousand years ago; five hundred years ago the Protestants distanced themselves from Catholics, and these splits have continued until there are now as many as 40,000 different denominations worldwide.

Denominations have divided Christians into different camps where each advocates their own spiritual practices and theology as correct while denying the validity of other traditions (even labeling them as un-Christian). Within the greater Christian tradition, this culture of denominationalism has accentuated the differences between different groups, and we often have confused the basic message of the Gospel by highlighting the particular ‘wedge issues’ that obscure the work of Jesus in the world with esoteric discussions that someone following Jesus will struggle to comprehend.

Denominations have all too often promoted their particular style as the only way to follow the teachings of Jesus. In so doing, they have suppressed dynamic and creative expressions of faith: they can force people into rigid systems of thinking and ways of practice that inhibit more genuine spiritual and theological understanding. In these cases, leaving denominational ties behind has been a welcome change: people have broken out of oppressively strong hierarchies in order to discover a truer, more authentic faith that fits their particular context. It appears that this recent ambivalence towards denominations brings us back to the “true” church that Jesus had envisioned. After all, how else could we unify the greater Church except by rejecting denominations?

Unfortunately, this rejection of denominations may only follow the greater pattern of church history towards even greater separation and fragmentation within the Church. In past eras, people creating new forms of faith still relied on others to create new denominations; this kind of support seems unnecessary in our individualistic culture. Without denominations (or a close affiliation to the traditions represented by a particular denomination) Christians increasingly belong to isolated churches with no connections to the greater Church body and the valuable traditions within denomination.

An individualized focus on spirituality can limit growth because it lacks continuity with the greater history of the Church. Along with their many flaws, each denomination holds remarkable depth and insight within their understanding of faith and the nature of their spiritual practices. Denominations are not created in a vacuum; they reflect the contexts in which they were created, and each one represents how people have tried to understand how the teachings of Jesus can transform their particular setting. In most cases, the greatest depth within these experiences can only be mined within a congregation that shares its commitment to its spiritual legacy and tradition.

Denominations are at their most vibrant when people belonging to them can be “like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old” (Matthew 13:35), because their connection to the greater tradition can provide perspective on insight to the spiritual realities they face today.