Hating Denominations is Dumb, Unbiblical and Anti-Black Church.

Denominations are old wine skins. Denominations breed division. Denominations keep people stuck in tradition. These are the assertions I’ve heard from anti-denominational critics.

One major problem with these critiques is the implicit assumption that all of this can’t occur in non-denominational/interdenominational settings. Another major problem with these critiques is creating generalizations which overlook the NUMEROUS healthy, life-giving, Gospel-preaching churches which happen to be denominationally affiliated.

We live in an individualistic, anti-establishment society. Notions of American “rugged individualism,” and an aversion toward institutions have seeped into the Church. Additionally, recency bias causes many people to prioritize the “new,” “contemporary,” and “latest” above the “old,” “established,” and “ingrained”. Some see denominations as relics of the past which need to be disbanded. They don’t think critically about the detrimental impact such action would have upon the Church.

Oftentimes, what drives hostility toward denominational affiliation is an anachronistic interpretation of certain Biblical texts. Those that claim to derive their disdain for denominations from the Bible, typically express the most antipathy towards affiliated churches and members. We need to talk about this!

Catch the conversation here.