Why We Left Lutheranism--Upholds Denominationalism

Attention must be drawn to inspiration again when Paul declared, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned; and turn away from them" (Romans 16:17). The attitude that we can have different doctrines is contrary to Truth. Christ said, "I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18) not churches. He said "there is one fold," not folds (John 10:16). Paul said, "there is one faith," not "the faith of your choice." (Ephesians 4:5).

Here again, we must clarify terminology. We must also recognize the ideal and the real; the goal and the reality; what's real in a sinful world and what's real in a world where we are saints washed in Christ's blood.

Yes, the goal of the church is unity. And for over a thousand years the church had outward, visible unity. The Great Schism occurred in the 11th through 13th century AD. The last turn of the millenium saw one Christian church!

But a closer look at church history sees an entirely different picture bubbling beneath the surface. As Mr. Guild points out, Paul did write words about Christian unity: "Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them that are of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos: and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized into the name of Paul?" (I Corinthians 1:10-13). But why did Paul write these words?

Context tells us that Paul wrote these words because of factions within the Corinthian congregation. Some favored one "pastor;" others another "pastor." Some even took the Pious Route (the High Road) and claimed to be followers of Jesus! But reading through the letter from Paul, we see that Paul is addressing a division not from doctrinal conflicts, but as much from society. There were the "haves" and the "have nots" that found themselves either gorged from or excluded from the fellowship meal. There were the

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