The number of religious bodies outside of the
body of Christ is staggering. This book details 200 different
denominations in the United States during the 1990s. Denominationalism
is a direct contradiction to the prayer for unity made by Jesus.
There were no denominations until hundreds of years after the
establishment of the one true church during the first century.
There is a fundamental question we must always ask our misled
friends in denominations "Is the name of your denomination
in the New Testament?" Indeed there is something in a name!
A member of the church of Christ did not publish
this book; however, there is a wealth of information about denominational
bodies in the United States. The writers group some denominations
under broad categories (which further illustrated the divisive
nature of denominationalism) including Adventist, Baptist, Brethren,
The Christian Church (The Stone-Campbell Movement), Church of
God, Episcopal/Anglican, Friends (Quakers), Judaism, Latter-Day
Saints (Mormon), Lutheran, Mennonite, Methodist, Moravian, Old
Catholic, Orthodox (Eastern), Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Reformed,
and a host of other religious groups that do not fall into these
categories. A brief article is written about the founding of the
denomination, its headquarters, population estimates, sponsored
institutions, and peculiar teachings.
In the Appendix there is a wealth of valuable
information including a listing of headquarter addresses for denominations
and schools associated with the organization. There is also a
very informative glossary of terms in the Appendix as well.
Let me emphatically state that I do NOT believe
the church of Christ is a denomination. A denomination is part
of a whole of religions established by men, but the church of
Christ is the whole body of Christ, not a part. With this in mind,
it is interesting to read the information the writers provided
about Churches of Christ.
The text reads as follows: "A distinctive
plea for unitya unity that is Bible-basedlies at the heart of
Churches of Christ. It is believed that the Bible is 'the beginning
place,' in and through which God-fearing people can achieve spiritual
onenessto 'speak where the Bible speaks and to be silent where
the Bible is silent' in all matter pertaining to faith and morals.
Consequently, members recognize no other written creed or confession
of faith. In all religious matters, there must be a 'thus said
the Lord.'"
The book goes on to describe churches of Christ
as follows. "Stressing strict adherence to the New Testament
pattern of worship and church organization, they refused to join
any intercongregational organization such as a missionary society.
Worship was simple, and they opposed the addition of instrumental
music on the grounds that the New Testament did not authorize
it and the early church did not use it."
Is it not amazing how accurate the plea of churches
of Christ is stated in this book? It is tragic that some read
this book and do not see the confusion of denominations versus
the simplicity of the New Testament pattern! This reference book
is a valuable tool to learn about various religious groups from
a denominational source. It illustrates how denominations are
like the grains of sand of an unstable foundation while the church
of Christ is founded upon the rock of Jesus Christ! -29 Flora
Dr., Bedford, OH 44146-2011. DRKenney@email.com For previous book
reviews, visit www.streetsborochurch.org