Yes! By definition a denomination is a religious sect that was founded usually around the
teachings of one man. For example, Baptist doctrine was formed around the beliefs of John
Smith and Roger Williams; Lutheran doctrine from Martin Luther; Presbyterian doctrine from
John Calvin; Episcopal doctrine from Henry VIII; and Methodist doctrine from John Wesley.
The teachings of Martin Luther and John Calvin have greatly influenced most of these de-
nominations.
Jesus said, “I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18). Ephesians 4:4 states that all “religious
plurality” today is wrong, for there is but “one body” or church. In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9,
Paul said that the coming of the Lord would not happen until the church fell away. We know
from history that the Lord’s church, in later centuries, did develop into something that was
not revealed in the pages of the New Testament. If all denominations are the eventual re-
sult of this apostasy and if their doctrines do not reflect what is in the New Testament, then
they are wrong. If they are wrong, then one denomination would be as good as another.
In all fairness, denominations were the outgrowth of the Reformation which sought to cor-
rect the doctrinal error of the Catholic Church. But they did not go far enough. They
brought with them doctrines derived from the Catholic Church or doctrines which were at
the extreme opposite end of the Catholic Church. One needs to appreciate the effort to
change doctrines which are wrong, but one needs to fully follow the truth that is revealed in
the Bible.
