Do Denominations Matter?
Oasis Church belongs to the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia, or the CRCA for short. We are part of a family of 55 churches located right across Australia. Recently, our staff team attended the CRCA Gospel Workers Conference on the Northern Beaches of NSW. It was a wonderful time of rest, refreshment, and encouragement from the Scriptures and from other gospel workers. As part of the conference, I was asked to give a talk on the importance of belonging to a denomination (like the CRCA). The talk was titled ‘Why denomination matters’.
You might wonder about that very question: Why do denominations matter? Are they really that important? Isn’t it easier to just do our own thing as a local church? After all, working with other churches takes time, effort, and patience.
Let me share with you some of what I shared with my ministry colleagues. Being part of a denomination matters—for at least three important reasons.
- It Reminds Us of a Theological Truth
The church of Jesus Christ is always bigger than just our church or any particular local church. We are all just one small part of Christ’s body, which stretches across all times, people, and places. Paul writes in Ephesians 1 that the church is: ‘…his (Christ’s) body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way’ (v.23).
When our local church belongs to a denomination, we’re saying in a practical way: We’re not the whole story. We’re not the full picture. We’re part of the wider body of Christ. Partnering with other churches reminds us of this wonderful truth.
- It Reflects the Biblical Pattern
In the New Testament, churches worked together. They shared a common faith (Jude 3), defended sound teaching (2 Tim 1:13–14), and supported each other financially (2 Cor 8). They made decisions together (Acts 15), shared leaders, and encouraged one another.
Denominations continue this biblical pattern of churches co-operating theologically, missionally, financially, and practically. As Murray Capill puts it: “When we pool wisdom, agree on doctrine, share resources, and send missionaries together—we’re not inventing something new. We’re simply walking in the path of the early church.”
- It Provides Practical Benefits
Working together gives us things we could never achieve alone:
- Doctrinal clarity and accountability
- Training and support for leaders
- Shared resources and financial help
- Stronger churches helping weaker ones
- Planting and revitalising churches
- Sending missionaries and supporting global mission
It’s a bit like playing a team sport—you need to agree on the rules, wear the same uniform, and commit to your team. That’s what our confessions and church order do for us: they help us pull in the same direction for the sake of the gospel.
Better Together
Yes, being part of a denomination takes work. It requires patience, commitment, and sacrifice. But that’s also what the Christian life is all about—bearing with one another in love, encouraging each other, and serving side by side.
In the end, this isn’t about making our denomination great. It’s about making much of Christ. It’s about ensuring his gospel goes forward, his church is built up, and his name is glorified.
That’s why denominations matter. That’s why we really are better together.
Grace and peace,
Adam
