What denomination do you belong to?

For those of you who are ‘’regulars” on this site, you will know my standpoint on the “so what denomination do you belong to” question. Almost every person I meet that learns that I am a preacher, asks me this question. I understand why they ask this question because of all the different denominations there are, and if they know what denomination you are part of, then they know how to package you and put you neatly in a religious box with a denominational label on it.

This issue is not something new to our generation, and Paul addressed this matter in the Corinthian church:

1 Corinthians 1:10-13 KJV  (10)  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.  (11)  For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.  (12)  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.  (13)  Is Christ divided?

In today’s terms Paul would say this, “all of you are saying things like, “I am a charismatic; and I am a Pentecostal; and I am a Presbyterian; and I am a Methodist; and I am a Baptist…… etcetera”

Then Paul continues this thought in Chapter 3:

1 Corinthians 3:1-23 KJV  (1)  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.  (2)  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.  (3)  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  (4)  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?  (note that Paul did not mention Christ here) (5)  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?  (6)  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  (7)  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.  (8)  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.  …….  (16)  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  …….  (21)  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;  (22)  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;  (23)  And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

Paul is clear that as born again believers, we belong to Christ. We are of Christ – the body of Christ. So the next time someone asks me what denomination I belong to, I can answer accurately according to the Word of God: “ I belong to Christ!”

For more on this subject please follow this link:  https://inchristinme.wordpress.com/2012/01/08/dam-busters/