#CHURCHTALK 15: Christianity or Denominations? (Part 2)

IS IT ABOUT HIM OR YOU? 

John 3:30-31 [NKJV] 
30. He must increase, but I must decrease. 31. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. (KJV)

"If it is about Him, it cannot be about you; if it is about you, it cannot be about Him." I heard this statement from my teacher and ever since then, it has become the guide for my Christian walk and ministry. The very scriptures which form the basis of our worship was written concerning Jesus. That is to say that Jesus is the message of the Bible, and Christianity is the conformance of our livestyles to the life and message of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, our ministry is centered on Him; not on our church organizations, church leaders, nor even our own selves. Our Christian walk and ministry is not about our personal gains but about the will of Jesus. That means we are to be led to do what He wills. This is what John the Baptist knew which was why he said Jesus must increase but he must decrease.

See also: #CHURCHTALK 14: CHRISTIANITY OR DENOMINATIONS? (PART 1)

John 15:5 [KJV] 
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 

We cannot fulfill ministry on our own without Jesus. That is why He is in us carrying out His ministry in us and through us. Clearly, it is evident that no man will give account to himself but to Jesus. Jesus will judge every one for what he/she did while in the body. This reality should be a wake-up call to make us fix our eyes on Jesus and not on ourselves for He said, "Without Me, ye can do nothing".

The life that I live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God. It is not about me but Him. Hallelujah! (see Galatians 2:20)

2 Corinthians 4:5 [KJV] 
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

The message of the gospel is not about individuals but about Jesus. A preacher is not called to preach himself or spend time narrating what he has done or what he can do. He is called by the Caller to witness Him, Christ.

A Believer is not a man who has his own mind. No, you cannot be a Believer and say, that is the way you see it or say as for you that is what you choose to believe in Christ. Believers are those who have died to their mind in Christ and no longer have their own mind but the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5).

Jesus is the thought of the believer. He is the perspective and wisdom of the Believer. He is the explanation of all things and by Him are all things judged.

1 John 5:20 [KJV]
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

The reason why denominations have been taken for Christianity is that we have not been able to separate Jesus as the message of the scripture from other things. Many doctrines have been built on what the prophets of old did, instead of on Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:11
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

All doctrines must be found in what Jesus taught, and attested to in the writings of the Apostles as first hand eye-witnesses.

Another reason for denominationalism is that it is seemingly what a General Overseer deems right that becomes the doctrine of his church. If he is not a fan of dancing, he forbids it and makes a denominational doctrine out of it. If he likes dancing, he gives it priority without necessarily looking at what Christ thinks and what the Apostles wrote on that subject. Another General Overseer may have been influenced by his culture, thus disliking certain acts like lipstick; such forms his church doctrine from off of that.

See also: #CHURCHTALK 13: HOW SERIOUS IS CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION AROUND THE WORLD TODAY?

Funny enough, there is hardly any act that you will not find a verse in the Bible to back up whatever you choose to use a a denominational doctrine. There are scriptures to support not wearing of shoes, not drumming, not clapping, not using certain instruments, wild dancing, gentle dancing, killing one's enemies, not killing one's enemies, etc.

So, how do we know how the doctrine of the Church must be known and formed? It must not just be mentioned in the Old testament; it must be found in the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ and must be attested to in the writings of the Apostles.

Act 2:42 [KJV] 
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

The early Church continued in the Apostles' doctrine.

Ephesians 2:20 [KJV] 
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

The Church is built on the foundation of the Apostles' teachings, with Jesus as the chief corner stone.

The Apostles saw and heard Jesus teach them what to teach for forty days after his resurrected. Today's believers were not there, it is more humbling to God to accept their writings and stay with their teachings. Peter attested to Paul's witness also as being through on the subject of Salvation.

Luke 24:27,31-32 [KJV] 
27. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
31. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

Acts 1:3 [KJV] 
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

In christianity, you are sufficiently provided for in Jesus. Denominations serve personal revelations about Christ which are often in part; but Christianity serves Jesus Christ's mandate in full.


Pastor Mark Desmond is the Senior Pastor of The Embassy of Zion Ministries, Nigeria. He is also the proprietor of Bismac Model Schools, Ifo, Ogun State, from where he writes. Pastor Mark can be reached via his Facebook page @Mark Desmond

Chukwubuikem Paul Anunaso contributed to this article. 


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