The last few weeks and months have been difficult for some denominations in Scotland – with the talk of more divisions! In such a situation, we are compelled to ask very serious questions: What constitutes a Church? What doctrine, or doctrines, are fundamental to the faith? When is it right, when is it wrong, to leave a denomination?

All of us, apart from Roman Catholics, are in a denomination that separated from the one to which the Early Church Fathers belonged, so we are all in this together.

It is important to distinguish between ‘The Church’ and a denomination. Our Confession of Faith teaches that there is one ‘catholic or universal Church which is invisible’ and ‘consists of the whole number of the elect’ and of which ‘particular Churches ... are members thereof’ and are ‘more or less pure according as the doctrine of the gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them’, (Westminster Con­fession of Faith, chapter 25, paragraphs 1 and 4 – emphasis mine – Ed).

So individual churches, ie, denominations, can be part of the one true Church of Christ, and some of them are more pure than others.

The Confession holds that out of the church ‘there is no ordinary possibility of salvation’! (paragraph 2). (When did you last hear a sermon on that subject?) It also states that some denominations ‘have degen­erated so as to become no Churches of Christ’ (paragraph 5).

Is there a demarcation line when we cross over from being a true church and a false one – and if so, where? Is the line not in the phrase we have emphasised, viz ‘according as the doctrine of the gospel is taught and embraced’? The gospel is the central thing. The Cross of Christ is central. The Good News is an announcement that Jesus has died for our sins and risen again for our justification and salvation. The gospel of Jesus Christ is what the Church is all about.

The gospel was certainly central in the Apostle Paul’s preaching. He advised the young preacher Timothy “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel ... therefore I endure everything ... that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 2:8). The gospel in which we find salvation was paramount in Paul’s ministry.

Paul in fact tells us what was of prime importance in his ministry “I delivered to you as of first import­ance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accord­ance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3).

A denomination must hold to the central matter of Holy Scripture – the meaning and significance of the cross of Jesus Christ. All other matters, even baptism, fade into the background. Paul was thankful that he could not remember who he baptised, “For Christ did not send me to baptise but to preach the gospel ... lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power” (1 Cor 1:17).

A church, to remain a church, must believe, teach and embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ as outlined in Holy Scripture. If it officially denies the central themes of what Scripture clearly states concerning God and His Son Jesus Christ, then that church has departed from its roots and foundation. If its official and public position is a denial of the gospel, then it is no longer a church.

Individual members belonging to a true church, and who deny the gospel ought to be disciplined by that church. Every church has members who fail in their pro­fession, but a true church ought to sanction members who deny the very kernel of the gospel.

Israel, the OT Church, backslid and allowed terrible sins to take place, yet God still owned Israel as His people, but once they denied the Lord Jesus, and refused to repent, He disowned them and transferred His Covenant to the NT Church.

There will be debates until the last day about some issues in the Scriptures, but it seems that of first importance is the gospel of Jesus Christ. All other issues are secondary to this fundamental. If a church denies the work of Christ it is no longer a church – time to go.

This is not to say that there are no other issues over which a separation is necessary, there are plenty other reasons, but that is the most important one. We live in an imperfect world with imperfect churches, waiting for a better life above, or as Peter put it “waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (1 Pet 3:13). May God ever guide all of His dear people.