What Is Denominational Thinking?

by Floyd Chappalear
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 20 No. 3, September 1994

Too few preachers seem to understand what constitutes denominational thinking and, as a result, decry denominationalism while espousing its precepts. Thus, we need to know a little bit about what constitutes denominational thinking.

Denominational thinking blurs the distinction between the church universal and the church local. When brethren write about what’s wrong with the Church of Christ, for instance, they are thinking denominationally.

Denominational thinking consists of attributing to the church something it does not have. For instance, when we speak of the "backbone of the Church of Christ" or "Church of Christ doctrine," etc., we betray denominational thinking.

Denominational thinking is that which begins a man’s spiritual journey with the horizontal relationships rather than the vertical. In other words, we enter the church to be saved.