By Art Irvine

We sing their songs; “…and somehow Jesus came and brought the victory…” or “…come into my heart Lord Jesus…” We extol their virtues, “I heard so and so (some denominational preacher) and he sounded so spiritual.” Some of our numbers are even joining their ranks by accepting any and all without a thought of their salvation doctrine. “After all,” they say, “you can be just as saved when you pray or just have faith, as if you are baptized. It doesn’t matter, as long as you believe in Jesus.” People who disagree about doctrine do not fellowship together in the Lord, for very long, unless they care very little for the doctrine of Christ.

Interdenominationalism is a little like beef stew. All the ingredients are mixed together until there is a blend of flavors. Beef stew is very good unless you want to taste the individual flavors, separately. In beef stew you have to care very little for the individual flavors. Interdenominationalism is much the same way. You must care very little for the individual doctrines.

Once I tried to eat a stew that had too many carrots in it. I loaded it with salt and tried it again. Then I put more salt on it because I could still taste too many carrots. I finally ruined the stew with too much salt. Similarly, (if you care about doctrine) you will need too much salt. You will ruin the stew, so to speak, adding enough salt to counteract those unsavory characteristics of Interdenominationalism.

I would prefer to eat a steak and baked potato than beef stew. The individual flavors come out. At the same time, I don’t like other ingredients of the stew (in comparison to the steak and potato), like carrots. Similarly, Interdenominationalism has some unsavory ingredients mixed in by the denominations. Each has a different salvation doctrine. Which one is right? Each has it’s own form of hierarchy. Which one is right? In an interdenominational society, how can we tell who is right? Some claim to have special Bible interpretation, gotten from God or a heavenly being. There are hundreds of them, who is right and how do we know the truth?

Interdenominationalism will not restore the Church of Jesus Christ. We will not be the Church of Christ if we are not exclusively His and obey His commands and those of His Apostles. Interdenominationalism has been the cause of division and separation even though the thought is to promote unity. Jesus came not to promote unity but He said “division,” Luke 12:51-53. Families are torn apart over doctrine, or the lack of it, with Interdenominationalism. Until we agree about what the Bible actually says, there will be no true unity!

Jude :3, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” NKJV. Keep the church undenominational not interdenominational.