Chapter Four: What's Wrong With Going to a Denominational Church?

 •  22 min. read  •  grade level: 8
Question:
What is wrong with some of the “gathered saints” going with other Christians to their church? After all, they love the Lord too!
The person who asks this question does not understand the position we have taken in separation from the ecclesiastical confusion in Christendom. It makes us wonder why they are among the “gathered saints” in the first place. Don’t misunderstand me; we are happy and thankful for all who have taken their place at the Lord’s Table, but we do need to understand why we are there—and it’s clear from this question that some do not.
Answer:
There are several reasons why it is inconsistent for those who are gathered to the Lord’s name to be attending services in a denominational church.
1) It is Hypocritical to Support Something That We Protest Against
First of all, we need to understand the position we have taken as gathered unto the Lord’s name “outside the camp” (Heb. 13:1313Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:13)). “It is a practical but Scriptural protest against the unscripturalness of the denominational order in Christendom.” (This is a quote from H. E. Hayhoe, but he was quoting W. Potter.) If a person puts his hand in with those who have taken this position, we must assume that he agrees with that stand. It only follows that if someone who has taken that position in standing apart from the unscriptural order in the denominations, goes back and has fellowship with it, he would be a hypocrite.
Paul speaks of this principle in Galatians 2:1818For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. (Galatians 2:18); he said, “If I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.” As a converted Jew, he had taken the Christian position outside of Judaism. He was actively engaged in encouraging others who had taken that same stand to “hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering” (Heb. 10:2323Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (Hebrews 10:23)). For him to return to that which his conscience had led him to step away from, and what he preached, would make him “a transgressor.” While Galatians 2:1818For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. (Galatians 2:18) refers to Judaism, the principle is the same with regard to the denominational order in Christendom. To go to a so-called church, after we have taken a position of protest against it, is hypocritical. Mr. W. Kelly said something to the effect that it would be sin in him to return to that which his conscience had led him to step away from, and any person who urged him against his conscience was really encouraging him to sin against God.
2) It is Putting Our Sanction on the Unscriptural Order in the Churches
Secondly, by going to a church (so-called), we are, by our act, having fellowship with it, and thus, we are sanctioning and approving of the order there, which is clearly not according to God’s Word. Surely, we cannot expect the Lord to be happy with us doing that.
There is a type in the Old Testament that illustrates this very point. Let’s turn to that passage in 1 Kings 13 and read it, because I believe there is something we can learn from it. “And behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee. And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out. And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him. The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before. And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward. And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: for so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest. So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.
Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father. And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah. And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon, and went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am. Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: for it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest. He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him. So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water. And it came to pass as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: and he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee, but camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the LORD did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.” Well, we know the rest of the story; a "lion" met him in the way and killed him. What a sad ending to his life!
There are some valuable lessons that we can learn from this. In the 12th chapter, Jeroboam had set up two rival altars to the Lord’s altar in Jerusalem.
They denied the unity of God in that there were two calves to represent the one God of Israel. “The LORD our God is one LORD” (Deut. 6:44Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: (Deuteronomy 6:4)).
In response to this, God raised up a testimony against those false centers of worship and sacrifice. “A man of God” was sent out of Judah (where God’s center was) to protest against the false position set up by Jeroboam in Bethel. He came “by the word of the LORD,” which shows that it was of God that there should be a testimony against the unscripturalness of those false altars. Similarly, the position the gathered saints take in Christendom in separation from all the unscriptural order in the churches is a Scriptural protest that is of God.
It is significant that the man of God “cried” against the altar, but he prayed “for” the king and the people who offered their sacrifices there (vss. 2, 6). Similarly, this Scriptural protest of the gathered saints is not against the dear believers who worship in their church denominations, but it is against the unscripturalness of the systems that they are involved in. We do not condemn our fellow believers in the church denominations; we love them and pray for their good and blessing. That the king put forth his hand to lay hold on the prophet, points to the fact that there is reproach and persecution connected with the separated position that we take, and we need to be prepared for it. “Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach” (Heb. 13:1313Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:13)).
After the king’s hand was restored, those at Bethel made a two-fold attempt to entangle the man of God in a false association with them in that place. There was the offer of the king’s “reward” of some worldly advantage, if he would but come home with him and refresh himself. It was an obvious attempt to entice the servant of the Lord out of the path of obedience to God’s Word. This ruse was defeated by the man of God obeying what was given to him by “the word of the LORD” (vss. 7-10). This teaches us that, when tested, we must hold to the principles that we have been taught in God’s Word and let them guide us.
Having failed in that first attempt, the enemy came at the man of God on a far more subtle line. The “old prophet in Bethel” caught up to the man of God and told him a blatant lie to try and get him to turn back and have fellowship with him in that false position. To convince the younger prophet, the old prophet used what he said was, “the word of the LORD.” Sad to say, it worked; the man of God was deceived into returning to Bethel to eat bread with him (vss. 11-32). This teaches us that we must be on guard against fellow servants misusing God’s Word to persuade us in a wrong path. Many sincere Christians have been persuaded by fellow believers to act on some false principle regarding fellowship, and thereby, have been drawn away from the Lord’s table into some false position. Let us, then, be warned by this.
You will notice that the old prophet of Bethel put out considerable energy to get the man of God to compromise and to have fellowship with him in his false position. He desperately wanted him to eat and drink (an expression of fellowship) in that place. The old prophet obviously had a conscience about being in that unscriptural position, and he wanted others to be there with him to ease his burdened conscience.
The man of God failed in that he did not depart from the “place” that he was sent to testify against (vs. 16). He went a short distance and then sat down under a tree, but he was still in Bethel. If he had kept going, perhaps the old prophet would not have caught up to him. His lingering became the occasion of his downfall. It is abundantly clear from this what God thinks of those at His divine center having fellowship with those in a false ecclesiastical position. I think that this answers the question about whether “gathered saints” should go to a church.
In summary, there were three things that happened as a result of the man of God going back to eat and to drink with the old prophet of Bethel. By doing it:
He put his sanction on that place of sacrifice that did not have the sanction of the Lord.
He put his sanction on the unfaithfulness of the old prophet who was in that false position.
He nullified his own testimony against the unscripturalness of the false center, and thus, he ended his history as a witness to the one place of God’s appointment.
3) We Will Lose Our Power as a Witness to the Truth of the Assembly
A third reason why we need to walk in separation from the church denominations is that in joining with them, we will lose our power as a witness to the truth of the assembly. In the case of the prophet who was told by the Lord not to eat bread with the old prophet in Bethel, by his disobeying the Word of the Lord, a lion slew him, and that ended his history as a witness for the Lord.
The Lord said to Jeremiah, “If thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as My mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them” (Jer. 15:1919Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. (Jeremiah 15:19)). The point we are to see here is that if Jeremiah remained separated from the corruption in Judah, He would continue to be used as the Lord’s “mouth.” If he returned and joined in fellowship with the people who were going in the wrong direction, he would lose his power in testimony. Similarly, if we remain in the ecclesiastical position to which we have separated as gathered to the Lord's name, we can and will be used to bear a witness to the truth amidst the confusion in Christendom, and in a sense, be as the Lord’s “mouth.” We will be “a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet [fit] for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (2 Tim. 2:2121If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:21)). Those who remain in the confusion in the church systems can be used by the Lord for some works, but not for “every good work,” as this verse says. For instance, they could surely be used of the Lord to preach the gospel, but they could not be used to teach people the truth of the assembly and its proper order—at least with any kind of power—because if they knew it and taught it, it would condemn the false position they are in. Therefore, if we return to that which we have separated from, we will also lose our power in testimony.
4) We Are Associating the Lord’s Table With the Unscriptural Order in the Churches
In regard to Christianity, Paul said, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not fellowship with the blood of Christ? The loaf which we break, is it not fellowship with the body of Christ?” (1 Cor. 10:1616The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:16) – W. Kelly’s Trans.) Our act of breaking bread (partaking of the Lord’s supper) is the expression of our fellowship with those with whom we break bread. In regard to Israel, the same principle existed. He said, “See Israel according to the flesh: are not they that eat the sacrifices in fellowship with the altar?” (1 Cor. 10:1818Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? (1 Corinthians 10:18) – W. Kelly Trans.) The person who partook of the sacrifices on the Jewish altar was identified with all that that altar stood for. He also showed that the same principle holds true with the idolatry in paganism. He said, “The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils [demons] and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils [demons]” (1 Cor. 10:2020But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. (1 Corinthians 10:20)). In this case those who partook of the “cup of demons” were in fellowship with the demons behind the idols.
Paul’s point here is clear: our act of partaking in a particular religious fellowship—Jewish, Pagan, or Christian—identifies us with all that goes on there. This principle applies to the tables of men in denominational church order. If we partake with them, and they teach evil doctrine, then we are in fellowship with it. If they are engaged with an unscriptural practice of worship, and we partake with them, we are also in fellowship with it. I know that this is terribly unpopular, but the fact remains that when we associate with any unscriptural order in denominational Christianity—whether we hold what they practice or not—we are still identified with it. And more importantly, if we are breaking bread at the Lord’s Table, by our act of fellowship with the unscriptural order in Christendom, we are associating it with the Lord’s Table. This surely cannot be pleasing to the Lord.
5) There is a Danger of Getting Drawn Away into the Church Denominations
A fifth reason why we need to be careful about our associations with denominational churches is that there is a danger of getting drawn away into them. There is a real possibility of picking up bad doctrine—especially as to ecclesiastical views. The principle I would give for this is, “None of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself” (Rom. 14:77For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. (Romans 14:7)). This shows that we are affected by our surroundings. The erroneous ideas of those with whom we associate in these church groups will rub off on us. It may take some time, but it is a fact. “Evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Cor. 15:3333Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (1 Corinthians 15:33)). (See also Haggai 2:10-1410In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, 11Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, 12If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No. 13Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean. 14Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the Lord; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean. (Haggai 2:10‑14).) Now you might object to this, saying, “These Christians are not evil!” As far as their personal lives are concerned, this may true, but I am speaking of the principle involved in 1 Corinthians 15:3333Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (1 Corinthians 15:33) only. Scripture abounds with examples that show us that we need to be careful as to our associations, and if we have communication with false principles, we will become affected by them.
Women's Bible Study Groups
Perhaps some of you are asking, “Is there anything wrong with sisters gathered to the Lord’s name going to women’s Bible studies put on by church organizations?” I understand the point here; these functions are often not held in a church building, so technically, you couldn’t say that you were going to a church if you attended one of them.
Surely there is nothing wrong with sisters getting together to read the Word of God and pray; let’s encourage it. But I believe that organized, Christian women’s Bible studies, set up for the purpose of teaching, are not Scriptural. 1 Corinthians 14:3535And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. (1 Corinthians 14:35) says, “If they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home.” A parachurch organization set up for teaching women is not found in Scripture. This might be difficult for you to grasp, because they are doing something good and right—after all, studying Scripture can’t be wrong! But there is such a thing as doing a right thing in a wrong way—and that’s my point here. This verse I have given you is Scripture. I realize that this may not be popular, but it is the Word of God.
The usual retort to this is, “What if a sister does not have a husband?” However, the word translated “husbands,” here in the KJV, is really broader in reference than just to married men; it refers to men-folk in general. The same word is translated simply as “men” in many places in the New Testament (Acts 1:16, 29, 37; 3:2; 7:2; 9:2; 13:15; 15:716Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. (Acts 1:16)
2And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; (Acts 3:2)
2And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, (Acts 7:2)
2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. (Acts 9:2)
15And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. (Acts 13:15)
7And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. (Acts 15:7), etc.). I believe that it could be translated as such in this verse. The point Paul is making here is that the sisters can ask the men-folk (the brothers) "at home" in a domestic setting, if they wanted clarification on some point that was taken up in one of the assembly meetings. Again, I understand that this is probably pouring cold water on what some of you want to hear, but it’s what Scripture says, and we are not wiser than the Word of God.
The point that we have been focusing on—that we are affected by our associations—is a real danger. As mentioned, there is a possibility of being drawn away into the church denominations through fellowship with Christians connected with those systems—especially by attending organized functions for the study of the Scriptures. I have been told that in one assembly gathered to the Lord’s name, there were seven sisters who went to an organized women’s Bible study put on by people from the churches; and now, a few years later, only two of them are still gathered. So, let’s not say that fellowship with this kind of a thing doesn't have an effect on a person. Feeding on ministry that has its roots in the camp has the affect of drawing a person into the camp. And there is no ministry in the camp that will lead a person “without the camp”—the Christian’s proper place (Heb. 13:1313Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:13)). I would just hate to see a bunch of our young people get drawn away by something like this. But it wouldn’t be the first time it happened.
Years ago, when I was young and hungry to learn the truth (I trust that I can say that I am still hungry for the truth), we had an ideal situation in our local assembly. There were many well-taught teachers there—Mr. Clark, Mr. Coleman, brother Graham; and then, in a secondary role, there was my father, uncle Stan and my uncle Jim, and brother Keating. All of these men had good libraries of sound ministry, and they taught us much truth in the weekly meetings, for which I am very thankful. When we went to a reading meeting, we just sat there making notes, drinking it all in. Much of what I have today came from those men.
Anyway, in the midst of this, there was a sister in the assembly who went regularly to an organized woman’s Bible study put on by some church denomination in town. When she was asked why, her answer was that she wasn’t getting fed at the meetings! What? How could this be, I thought? Here we were feverishly making notes of the wonderful truth that was coming out from these men, and she wasn’t getting fed! Needless to say, that sister is no longer gathered to the Lord’s name; she is in a church denomination today.
What a pitiful state we must be in! It used to be that those in the church denominations (150 years ago) would come to us to learn the truth; now we have to go to them to get fed! It reminds me of the children of Israel having to go down to the Philistines to get their farm implements sharpened (1 Sam. 13:19-2219Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: 20But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. 21Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. 22So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. (1 Samuel 13:19‑22)). I’m not implying that our brethren in the church denominations are ungodly Philistines; I’m just saddened that the gathered saints think that they need to go to those for the truth who should be coming to them for it.
Perhaps the problem is two-fold. It could just be a symptom of a dissatisfied, restless spirit wanting something different. But on the other hand, we need to ask ourselves why someone in our local assembly would want to go to a Bible study in a church. Why does a sister feel that she is not being fed in the assembly meetings? It could be her state, but it could also be that we are not giving the saints much food. We need to think about this. I believe that some of the fault falls on those who have the responsibility of teaching in the assembly. Are we giving them food? Are we teaching the saints the truth? When we come to the meetings, are we just hunting around for something to say to fill out the hour, or are we really giving them something? I’m not trying to find fault with those who teach; I want to be exercised about this myself. But if we haven’t spent time learning the truth ourselves, it won’t just magically come out of thin air when we come to the reading meeting; we need to be diligent during the week in our personal studies to be sure of bringing something to the meetings in the way of food. Then, maybe people would be glad to be at the assembly meetings and will not be looking elsewhere.
Summary:
Someone who is in the position of being gathered to the Lord’s name—in separation from the unscriptural order in the denominational churches—who goes to a church service is inconsistent with the stand he or she has taken because:
It is hypocritical to support something that we protest against.
It is sanctioning something that is clearly not according to God’s Word.
We will lose our power as a witness to the truth of the assembly.
It is linking the Lord’s table with the unscriptural order in the denominations.
It puts a person in a position where he or she could pick up bad doctrine and get drawn away from the Lord’s table.