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You have heard this statement made many times, no doubt, when there has been any discussion of denominationalism. We know that the religious world is woefully divided, with conflicting sects of every kind. Not only do denominations differ in name; they differ in teaching and practice.

Their doctrines are in direct conflict with one another. In no sense is there unity, harmony or concord, but there is discord, disagreement and division.

We sometimes ask if God is pleased with a condition like this, and we are told that it is perfectly all right, for all denominations are just branches of the same vine. Now if you have heard your preacher say this, please ask him where the Bible says so.

I have read the statement made by Jesus in John 15:1-6 that is often relied on to sustain this idea. But it doesn't say anything that even remotely resembles it. In this passage Jesus is talking to his disciples. He is not talking to denominations - but to his disciples.

And to his disciples Jesus said in Verse 5: "I am the vine, ye are the branches." He was not even speaking of denominations, for in that case he would have said: "I am the vine, THEY are the branches." But he did not say "THEY are the branches." He said: "YE are the branches."

A number of disciples made a number of branches. Christ was the vine; the disciples were the branches; and each disciple in Christ was a branch in the vine. It took just one disciple to make a branch, for Jesus said in verse 6: "If a MAN abide not in me, HE is cast forth as a BRANCH." This destroys the idea that Jesus referred to denominations as branches, for in that case, it would take a great group of men to make a branch, but Jesus said one man makes a branch.
So this is not the passage that must be found. If your preacher refers you to this passage, call his attention to the fact that one man is a branch and that he must find some other passage. This one will not do, for it does not even begin to say that all denominations are branches of the same vine.
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