As much as I have always struggled with the book of Revelation, the 7 letters to the 7 churches have always been of great interest to me. It is interesting to see what Jesus says to His people, and I often wonder, if He was to send me such a letter, what would it say? Of course, this leads to self reflection. I study the letters He has already sent me (the Bible) and see if I can figure out what He would write based on that.
As I look at the letters, one thing in particular sticks out to me. To the Church at Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7), Pergamos (2:12-17) and Thyatira (2:18-29), Jesus expresses some pleasure with them, but also some grievances. This one scary phrase "nevertheless, I have this against you" shakes me to my very core. Jesus, though He can obviously be pleased with our righteousness, can nevertheless be grieved by our shortcomings.
Of course, ultimately, we all fall short. As individuals, we are still sinners, and as congregations made up of individuals, that just grows on a larger scale. Praise be to God, ultimately, our punishment was levied upon Christ. Because of the cross, our iniquities are forgiven, and there is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus. But we are still His servants, and our works will still be judged. Observe the teaching of our brother Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15:
"For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."
And so we see, our works will still be judged. We cannot lose our souls, but we can lose Heavenly rewards, and so we really need to beware of this "nevertheless, I have this against you". And this, my brethren, is where I express my own grievance with the modern Church. We are so very divided. Make no mistake, the division is not as great as is claimed. There are nowhere near the alleged 30,000 - 60,000 denominations. But are there denominations? Yes! And my brethren, this is a problem.
See, the Bible clearly presents sectarianism as sin. It is a problem on its own, the Lord Himself said a house divided against itself cannot stand (Mark 3:25). But beyond that, it is sin. When Paul heard of such divisions, he was quite upset. So much so that he wrote an entire epistle. He pleaded with the Corinthians, saying "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:10). A little later on in that same epistle, He called such divisions carnal, and stated that those who fall for such divisions are babes (1 Corinthians 3:1-4). Yet are we called to be babes? In malice, absolutely, yet in understanding, we are called to be mature (1 Corinthians 14:20).
So, denominations are carnal. They are, in effect, spiritually childish. Yet, to some extent, they are actually necessary. Why? Because ultimately, they are the Church. At least, the Godly ones are. Needless to say, Satan has erected a Church or two of his own. But ultimately, denominations are the Church, and so are the iron sharpening the iron (Proverbs 27:17).
But as the Jews before us, we go off script. We add our own traditions, which in and of itself is not a bad thing, but we ought to heed the words of Scripture: "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." (Deuteronomy 4:2). "Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar." (Proverbs 30:5-6). Denominations break these rules on a regular basis. If they do not add or remove from the word, they twist it, and if they do not twist it, they neglect it. Tradition should always be put in its proper place. It should always be judged by Scripture, but the issue with denominations is they instead judge Scripture by tradition.
Now, I'm not saying if you are a part of a denomination, therefore you are somehow not saved, or you're less of a Christian. What I am saying is this: If you must take up a denomination, take up your cross first. You should never be able to say "my denomination says" before "the Bible says". What your denomination teaches, if it comes from Scripture, is true because it comes from Scripture, not because it comes from your denomination. If it does not come from Scripture, but also does not find itself at odds with it, then let it be for you, and you alone. Do not seek to impose it on a fellow believer, and do not divide from believers who disagree. But if your denomination teaches that which is in conflict with Scripture, then it is in conflict with God, whose word Scripture is. Therefore, let it be disposed of, and if necessary, leave the denomination. Otherwise, what greater hope have you than the Pharisees? These were men who valued their tradition above their God. For this, Jesus rebuked them sternly, and we need not assume we will meet very many of them in His Kingdom. Let us not assume we would escape that same rebuke. The same crime would merit the same response: 3 hours on a cross, or eternity in Hellfire.
My brethren, literally for Christ's sake, lay aside these petty divisions. Hear the word of the Lord, and in the words of Paul, teach no other doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3). Let Scripture speak, and when it speaks, speak the same thing, as one voice with your brethren. Let not our unity be diminished, but let us be one, as the Godhead is one. Sing us out, brother Paul:
"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:1-6)