A denomination--as defined by Webster--is “a class or
kind with a specific name or value.” Coins (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters,
half-dollars, dollars) are different denominations of the class of “money.” They
are all money, but they are different denominations
of money.
In the context of the Bible and Christianity,
a denomination is an organization that is Christian that has a number of local
churches under its auspices. In order to qualify as a denomination, the
organization must believe that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ and
have some sort of authority over more than one local church. (Some denominations
only have two or three churches.) These organizations would be
denominations of Christianity. Organizations like
the Jehovah Witnesses, Roman Catholicism, the Seventh Day Adventists, and the
Mormons, would not be considered denominations of Christianity because they
don’t believe that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Organizations
like the Baptists, the Lutherans, the Methodists, the Presbyterians, the
Assemblies of God organization, the Foursquare Gospel organization, would be
considered denominations of Christianity because they all believe that salvation
comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Some of these denominations actually have
several sub-categories, each of which would be a denomination. (e.g. American
Baptist, Southern Baptist, Evangelical Lutheran, Missouri Synod
Lutheran)
Denominations are NOT of God. Denominations are the work of man
and are contrary to the Word of God. The Bible says that God calls some men to
the office of pastor and then places them in the office when they are ready.
There is to be NO ONE between the man of God that God called to the ministry,
and God. The pastor was called by God. The pastor was placed in the ministry by
God. And the pastor receives all his instructions from God. The instructions as
to what the pastor is supposed to do in his ministry come
directly from God. They do not come through
anybody else. In a denominational structure, the pastor is somewhat accountable
to his denomination. He is not free to just hear from God and obey
God.
Some churches join various organizations or fellowships. If the
organization or fellowship that the church joins has any say-so about how the
individual church operates, or what they preach and teach, etc., the
organization or fellowship is a denomination and the church has become
denominational.
Some churches have “branch churches.” These churches with
“branch churches” would also be denominations. It doesn’t matter that the pastor
who is over the “main church” and also over these “branch churches” doesn’t
consider it a denomination. It is a denomination none-the-less. Each church is
supposed to have its own pastor who is accountable only to
God.