If God’s Word is Clear, Then Why So Many Denominations?

One of the hallmarks of a Protestant view of the Bible is that God’s Word is clear. We readily acknowledge that there are some places in Scripture which are more clear than others—

…yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them. (WCF 1.7)

This doctrine is what drove William Tyndale to labor to get the Bible in the native of tongue of every person. We do not believe we need a magisterium to lay down the authentic teaching of the Church. We believe the Scripture is clear enough to be interpreted by even the unlearned.

But the legion of Protestant denominations doesn’t bode well for the doctrine of the clarity of Scripture. If God’s Word is clear then why are there so many different denominations?

A common, though in my opinion unsatisfactory, answer is to say that there are so many different denominations because everyone except my particular church or denomination is wrong. In this view, if people would simply believe the way that I do then we wouldn’t have all these denominations.

While I believe there is truth in this, I don’t believe it is the whole truth. Yes, there are certain denominations that I would never be part of because I believe they are fundamentally mistaken in their interpretation of Scripture. But there is another reason why we disagree; namely, we are “seeking to make affirmations where Scripture itself is silent” (Grudem, 109)

In other words, we’ve drawn lines in the sand where Scripture hasn’t. Some of these lines might be necessary for practical reasons. Others are foolish.

Foolish Lines in the Sand

There are many questions—even important questions–which God has determined not to clearly answer in this age. In these matters I believe the counsel of Calvin is correct:

…the moment we go beyond the bounds of the word we are out of the course, in darkness, and must every now and then stumble, go astray, and fall. Let it, therefore, be our first principle that to desire any other knowledge of predestination than that which is expounded by the word of God, is no less infatuated than to walk where there is no path, or to seek light in darkness. Let us not be ashamed to be ignorant in a matter in which ignorance is learning. Rather let us willingly abstain from the search after knowledge, to which it is both foolish as well as perilous, and even fatal to aspire…There is good reason to dread a presumption which can only plunge us headlong into ruin. (From Institutes, 830)

I think of churches splitting in the Puritan era over lapsarian views. Silliness. Or even today churches which split over such things as views on the timing and manner of the Lord’s return. God has not made these clear.

There are some issues which are not even overtly doctrinal which churches split over: ways to do ministry, preaching styles, where to spend money, Bible translations, church structure, etc.

When things are not clearly propounded in Scripture and we start drawing lines in the sand we are being foolish. We are like a team of sumo wrestlers river dancing on thin ice. You might get a few moves in but eventually they’ll plunge themselves headlong into ruin. But not all division is of the foolish sort.

Practical Lines in the Sand

There are some secondary issues (like views on baptism and the Lord’s Supper) which are not “so clearly propounded”. Because of the practicality of it we cannot in good conscience be members in the same local body.

Consider infant baptism for example. I have a ton of respect for Kevin DeYoung. He’s far wiser than I am. I’d trust him to teach folks in our church on about anything. But I believe he is incorrect in his view of infant baptism. I understand his views, believe he articulates them well, but at the end of the day remain a committed Baptist.

Because of our views on baptism we could not in good conscience serve in the same local church. But I believe I’ll be worshipping with him in glory.

This is not discouraging to me because baptism and the Lord’s Supper are secondary (though still very important issues). I believe in God’s wisdom he has allowed our differences on doctrinal issues to continue for the good of the kingdom. He is building something beautiful that we won’t fully appreciate until glory.

This means I can pray for, learn from, and be encouraged by brothers and sisters in any denomination so long as they are faithfully teaching and preaching on the things which God has clearly propounded. In fact, even though we likely couldn’t worship in the same church (because of the practical issues related to our views of Baptism) I consider myself in fundamental unity with folks like Kevin DeYoung.

Conclusion

There are many different reasons for the multitude of denominations. Some because of human sin. Others because of the limits of our human understanding. And still other reasons have more to do with things like locale than even anything doctrinal.

Yet, regardless of the reasons the number of denominations does nothing to harm our doctrine of the clarity of Scripture. Scripture is clear—even to the unlearned.

So take heart and dig in.