Religion seems so confusing. Look around the city and you’ll see hundreds of church buildings with various names. Investigate further and you’ll find that these various churches teach different doctrines. If you are like many people, you might be fed up with everything that is done in the name of religion. People are tired of the confusion. Which church is right? How does a person know what to do and where to go? It just seems hopeless sometimes.

The divisions that exist in the religious world do not represent what God wants, according to the Bible. Jesus prayed, concerning all believers:

"that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me" (John 17:21).

Jesus prayed for unity among believers. Therefore, when we see the divisions (denominations) that exist among those professing faith in Christ, then we know it is not what Jesus wants.

Sadly, the consequences of such division result in the world disbelieving in Jesus. This is what Jesus said would happen. It is no wonder that there is so much confusion and disbelief.

Is It Possible To Be Just A Christian Without Being A Member Of A Denomination?

The common thought is that if you are a member of any church, then you must be a member of a denomination. This is not true. It is possible to be just a Christian without being a member of a denomination.

Read the New Testament. During the first century A.D., when the events of the New Testament were taking place, there were not a bunch of various denominations. There were Christians in various locations. In their own locations, they would meet with other Christians in order to carry out work that God desired for them to do together. But when one became a Christian, he or she did not have to become anything else. A Christian was just that (Acts 11:26), and there is nothing in the Bible to support the idea of joining a denomination. In fact, God directly spoke against fragmenting off into various groups and identifying with certain creeds or men. By inspiration, the apostle Paul wrote:

"Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" (1 Corinthians 1:10-13).

Christians at Corinth were beginning to divide (denominate) themselves and call themselves after men. This was expressly forbidden. Why should we think it any different today?

Denominationalism is based upon division, and is therefore not what God designed. God designed a simple plan, wherein there would be "one body" (universally) and "one faith" (Ephesians 4:1-6). When we divide ourselves by men and doctrines into differing religious bodies with differing "faiths," we are not honoring God’s plan for His people, the church. This is why we must oppose denominationalism.

How Can I Be Just A Christian?

You can be just a Christian, nothing more or less, by obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ through faith (Romans 6:3-5, 17-18; 10:13-17; Hebrews 5:9; Galatians 3:26-27, etc.). By doing exactly what the people in the first century did to become Christians, you will become exactly what they were: Christians.