… gospel preachers joining the local ministerial association and church members joining denominational churches just to sing and be in plays. ~ Reva McIntyre
Amos 3:3 poses a rhetorical question, the answer of which is, “No!” “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” The principle contained therein is applicable to the questions posed above.
As long as the New Testament church about which one can read upon the pages of the New Testament, and which faithful Christians earnestly try to be without addition or subtraction, differs from denominationalism, we cannot participate in it. The motto of at least one ministerial association (and the practice of the them all) is: “We have agreed to disagree.” The doctrines over which the denominational members of ministerial associations have agreed to disagree include: the plan of salvation, Christian worship, the nature of God, Christian living, etc. Essentially, members of ministerial associations have concluded that their doctrinal differences do not matter, that is, how one is saved from his sins, how one worships God, the characteristics of God, whether moral living is important, etc.
This is hardly the unity for which Jesus prayed (John 17:20-21). This is hardly the fellowship of which the apostle John wrote (1 John 1:3, 6-7; 2 John 9-11). Joining denominational ministerial associations and denominational churches to be in their music and theatrical programs is hardly in keeping with the directive of the apostle Paul (Ephesians 5:11); “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” According to Jesus Christ, deviations from God-authored religion will ultimately result in the rooting up of any counterfeit religious bodies (Matthew 15:13); “… Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” Why would anyone want to align himself with something that is unlike the church Jesus built (Matthew 16:18), to which our Lord adds the saved (Acts 2:47) and for which he will return someday (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:24)?
Anyone who purports to join a denominational church to participate in its programs (or for any other reason) (1) does not grasp the difference between New Testament Christianity and manmade churches, (2) is not truly converted, and (3) sins by joining and as long as he remains in a denominational church. The New Testament church is distinctive in what it teaches regarding the plan of salvation, Christian worship, Christian living, Christian service, the nature of God, etc. Those who endeavor to duplicate first century Christianity today are not trying to be different from anyone or anything, but rather identical to the church of the Bible. Denominationalism postdates New Testament Christianity from 600 years to 2,000 or so years.
Summarized, it is extremely doubtful that a Gospel preacher should join a ministerial association. Some suppose that doing such provides an opportunity to persuade denominational preachers with the Gospel, but that is unlikely a scenario for accomplishing that and more likely a circumstance that will dilute the influence of a Gospel preacher and may lead to compromise. Positively, Christians ought not forsake the Lord’s church (Hebrews 10:25) for a mere counterfeit copy of the church of the Bible. While not trying to be unkind or arrogant, we are nothing religiously unless we have convictions respecting the unique church of the Bible and have equal confidence in the New Testament as God’s revelation respecting that church, salvation, Christian worship, Christian living, Christian service, the nature of God, etc. Many articles on the site of Gospel Gazette Online discuss the singular qualities of the church Jesus built.
