Aunt Sevvy, what denomination would Jesus be a member of?
28 April 2025 |
Dear Aunty,
If Jesus were physically present with us today, which denomination would he join?
Signed, Looking for the Right Church
Dear Looking,
The concept of an organized religious denomination isn’t a biblical one. The Jews weren’t a denomination. They were an ethnic group bonded by shared history, faith, and culture. Within that group some people might follow the teachings of a particular prophet or rabbi, but they were all still Jews.
Jesus was one of those rabbis. He had followers and an inner circle of friends, but he never incorporated as a church with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
It was Paul who made Christianity into a religion. Paul suggested that not just the local church, but all congregations together, could be under the authority of religious leaders. We know from the New Testament that these leaders visited churches, sent letters, gave theological advice, and took up offerings for those in need.
The church in Rome took it a step farther: it became a monarchical system. Like the Roman state, there was a top minister whom all the other Christians had to obey.
When the Reformation happened, the reformers adopted the church structure they knew: they didn’t have a pope, but they maintained a hierarchy of ministers and elders and bishops.
Later, when democratic forms of leadership supplanted caesars, emperors, and kings, modern church leaders changed the title of the top leader to “president” and called their governing advisors an “executive committee” rather than “college of cardinals.”
Aunty suspects that many Adventists are certain that Jesus’ first stop on earth would be Silver Spring, Maryland, his first meeting with the General Conference president. After all, aren’t we God’s “one true church”? How arrogant to think that of the thousands of religions in the world, one has the hubris to say, “God favors us above everyone else!” How completely contrary to the teachings and ministry of Jesus is denominational pride!
If Aunty had to guess, Jesus would eschew all denominations. He would mingle with, teach, and help those who are most needy: the poor, the despised, the sick, the immigrants, the rejected. He would ignore invitations from kings, prime ministers, popes, and General Conference presidents.
And probably, like the first time, they would all hate him for it.
Aunt Sevvy
Aunt Sevvy has collected her answers into a book! You can get it from Amazon by clicking here.
You can write to Aunt Sevvy at DearAuntSevvy@gmail.com. Your real identity will never be revealed.
