The Church’s Exaltation of Man

How Human Religious Names Betray a Human Focus

Richard Hollerman

Down through the ages, men have had a tendency to exalt themselves over others. In addition, many men and groups of men have lifted others to a place of prominence and rallied around them as their leader. This has been demonstrated in many different ways at many different times.

Biblical instructions are numerous.  Paul writes, “Let no one boast in men” (1 Corinthians 3:21). The apostle further wrote “that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other” (4:6). Instead of exalting in other men—religious leaders—Paul said, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1:31). We must never elevate people, especially at the expense of God.

One leading way is for a church to exalt a man who founded the congregation—or even originated an entire denomination. Or some churches take their identity from a leading Biblical person.  These common practices violate Paul’s instructions in his first letter to the Corinthians:

Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, ‘I am of Paul,’ and ‘I of Apollos,’ and ‘I of Cephas,’ and ‘I of Christ.’

Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Corinthians 1:10-13)

These Corinthian brothers and sisters were to be united—and not divided.  Instead, they were dividing themselves according to certain preachers, such as Paul, Apollos, and Cephas (Peter). Today, they may have been called Paulicites, Apollosites, and Cephasites. (Some even think that there was a fourth division of those who claimed to follow Christ alone. On the other hand, these may have been ones more loyal to Christ and were content to be known by His name or title alone.)

Today people do the same thing.  They identify themselves with the use of certain religious leaders of the past or present. Let’s notice a selection of these from our own local area, supplemented by other areas.

Churches named after certain “saints”

The first category are congregations named for certain Biblical personalities. Although these are local, I think that you will find the same practice in your area:

  • Joseph Catholic Church
  • Paul Lutheran Church
  • Peter and St. Paul Church
  • St Simon of Cyrene Episcopal Anglican Church
  • Holy Apostles Episcopal Church
  • James AME Church
  • East St. Paul Baptist Church
  • John Baptist Church
  • Matthews Baptist Church
  • Jude Missionary Baptist Church
  • Luke Missionary Baptist Church
  • All Saints Catholic Church
  • Our Lady of Fatima Church
  • Our Lady of Guadalupe
  • Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Roman Catholic Church
  • Bartholomew Catholic Church
  • John the Apostle Catholic Church
  • Jude Catholic Church
  • Mary’s Catholic Church
  • Paul’s Catholic Church
  • Peter the Apostle Catholic Church
  • Stephen’s Catholic Church
  • Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church
  • Saint Mary Church of God in Christ
  • Saint Barnabas the Apostle Episcopal Church
  • Elisabeth Episcopal Church
  • Timothy’s Episcopal Church
  • Saint Andrew Lutheran Church
  • Matthew’s Lutheran Church
  • John Lutheran Church
  • Greek Orthodox Church of St. John the Baptist
  • Mary’s Romanian Orthodox Church
  • Peter’s Orthodox Church
  • Paul Presbyterian Church
  • John Presbyterian Church
  • Peter Presbyterian Church
  • Philip Presbyterian Church
  • Stephen Presbyterian Church
  • Mark’s Cumberland Presbyterian Church
  • Mark’s Episcopal Church
  • Matthew Presbyterian Church
  • Timothy Cumberland Presbyterian Church

We know that this is a long list but it highlights the fact that churches are not embarrassed to give an official name to their congregations. Further, they are not ashamed to attach the label “Saint” to their names.  (We should keep in mind that, separate from the human name attached to these congregations, these churches are using unscriptural terms to describe them, e.g., Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, etc.)

As a sub-category under “saints” we might list a few churches named after Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican/Episcopal personalities they have elevated to the status of “sainthood.” We need to remind ourselves that “saint” (hagios) means “one who is separated” or “one who is set apart” from sin and the world to God and His service. It refers to all of God’s children (e.g., Acts 9:13, 32, 41; Romans 1:7; Philippians 1:1). They surely didn’t go through a canonization process instigated and carried out by a Roman or Orthodox hierarchy!

  • Abanoub Church
  • Ann Catholic Church
  • Francis Cabrini Catholic Church
  • Francis Catholic Church
  • George Catholic Church
  • Maria Goretti Catholic Church
  • Patrick Cathedral
  • Rita’s Catholic Church
  • Vincent’s De Paul Catholic Church
  • Christopher’s Episcopal Church
  • Saint Francis Episcopal Church
  • Gregory’s Episcopal Church
  • Michael Anglican Church
  • Vincent’s Episcopal Church
  • Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
  • Barbara’s Orthodox Church
  • Giles Presbyterian Church

Churches named after religious leaders of the past

These leaders may have been the founders of their denomination or prominent personalities in the denominational formation. Here we are referring to whole denominations or sects:

  • Lutheran Church
  • Wesleyan Church
  • Mennonite Church
  • Amish Church
  • Swedenborgian Church
  • Schwenkfelder Church
  • Hutterite Church

Along with this, some local congregations are named after these early religious personalities. Most of the following come from this area:

  • John Knox Presbyterian Church
  • Calvin Presbyterian Church (in Pennsylvania)
  • Wesley Chapel AME Church
  • Wesley United Methodist Church
  • Moody Church

Churches named after local congregational leaders or founders

These congregations are named after the founder or an early prominent member and this must have caused the congregation to actually name the church after them!

  • C. Martin United Methodist Church
  • Allen Chapel
  • Baker Chapel AME Church
  • McKinney Memorial Bible Church
  • Branham Tabernacle

A Plea to be Undenominational

Instead of following these denominations and congregations, let’s be content to be simply followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. There was a time when there was no institutional, formal religious bodies. There surely would not have been congregations calling themselves after prominent men. When one congregation leaned in that direction, Paul soundly exhorted them simply be Christians who would “all agree” and there would be “no divisions” among them, but they would be “made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). This is the way it should be today!

The early followers of Christ were simply called “disciples” (Acts 9:1, 10, 19, 26), “saints” (9:13), children of God (1 John 3:1-2), brothers and sisters (1 Corinthians 7:15), Christians (Acts 11:26), or those “belonging to the Way” (9:2). The people as a whole were called the body of Christ (Romans 12:5), the temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:16), God’s household (Ephesians 2:19), the assembly of Christ (Romans 16:16), or the congregation of God (1 Corinthians 1:2). If this was what Jesus Christ began (Matthew 16:18) and the apostles taught (1 Corinthians 14:37), who are we to change this and introduce these religious and human innovations? Where will you, personally, take your stand?