Why are they many denominations in Christianity?

[Fady4Jesus]

I just want to ask...

Why are they many denominations in Christianity?...Have they contradictions between each?

Are they all accepted by God?, can we consider them many "methods" to approach Jesus?

and what about denominations like Jehovah's Witnesses, can we consider them christians?

Thank you!

Edited July 18, 2007 by Fady4Jesus

[ColleenLovesMischief]

I believe that the different demoninations cover the small issues of christianity such as giftins, using this word or that, ect ect ect. Personally I would not consider Jehovas Witnesses or Mormans to be Christians because of a totally different beliefs system relying on works and such. We are saved by grace through faith! All in all there are many denominations, but one HUGE family united in Christ Jesus!

[ParanoidAndroid]

Hi Fady,

In general, most denominations pop up because of small doctrinal differences. They are most often minor. Seriously, sometimes it can be as silly as the difference between holding Communion every week or only once a month. Sometimes it is a little bigger (Eschatology differences, or maybe a difference of opinion on the importance of Spiritual Gifts, or sometimes matters of Tithing). The thing about Religious Organizations is that by nature they require laws and rules, cast in stone, written in black-and-white. When in reality, sometimes in the Bible these matters are not clear cut. They might be part of a passage that is so steeped in symbology that it is hard to interpret. But the nature of Organizations demand that these laws be cast in stone. And so different denominations pop up in response to this.

In general, as long as the primary ideas of Christianity still exist within the denomination, they could be seen to be part of the larger Church community - "Church" as in a body of believers, not a building, btw.

However, certain beliefs such as the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) or Jehovah's Witnesses have wildly different beliefs, and even have their own Holy Text which supersedes the Bible, therefore I would be loathe to consider them part of the Christian community (there may be individuals within those organisations who act in a Christ-like manner, but they may not understand Christ's sacrifice, and therefore not understand Christianity at all).

Hope that helps you, Fady. All the best,

~ Paranoid Android

[MeCajunboy]

I just want to ask...

Why are they many denominations in Christianity?...Have they contradictions between each?

Are they all accepted by God?, can we consider them many "methods" to approach Jesus?

and what about denominations like Jehovah's Witnesses, can we consider them christians?

Thank you!

Excellent question L4J, Without causing dessessension amoung believers, allow me to first say that as a person raised in the "Catholic" denomination I saw at a very young age that there were many discrepencies in what I knew in my mind and heart to be TRUTH and what the religion wanted us to know and taught us. Also, there are many denominations that are "branch-offs" from Catholic Church and other older churches world wide. But you have to go back quite a ways to find the likenesses and differences.

The first thing I want to say that for the most part, in ones' walk with God, God will CONVICT your spirit within you , if you choose to follow HIM ! This should make you very comfortable with HIS Word from the start. Another words, generally that first feeling of doing something wrong with many issues in your life, are usually the correct feeling/intuition. Later, you must learn to discern the differences from the experiences you take in during your walk with God and use those experiences to determine if satan is actually trying to "trip you up," or whether it is God who is guiding you.... When you have collected much information/wisdom and experience, it then becomes very easy to discern if God is present in any situation. But always stay on your guard.

This information may not necessarily be for you, but you can bet there are many young that are tuning in to see and hear if we are taking our beliefs from the Bible and walking the proper walk. We all know that we will always fall short of HIS grace, and we also know that because of this, God is always there to help guide us even in our most "ill" of sins. Even when we are in the lowest of lows, and we are too ashamed to share them with anyone......HE IS THERE! And we also know that all we have to do is CALL HIS NAME in sincerity and genuinness and when God sees our efforts HE will help us through our toils and torments.

So to sum up what you've originally asked, YOU KNOW THE TRUTH BECAUSE THE TRUTH LIES WITHIN YOU! Ask yourself this question, " Do I honestly believe that any religion/denomination who believes it is there right to kill, torture, and terrorize others, are following the true walk with God??? Do you think any "man-made denomination" who goes against the grain of life, as in a homosexual sector who believes that God is going along with their lifestyle, and allows same-sexed parteners to dwell and co-habitate together. You only have to search your heart and mind to know that God would and could not allow this type of living in its simplist form to exist with the heterosexual sector in life.

In another way, I ask you to view Jesus' walk in life as a measure or example to how we should live. Although, Jesus walked alone, because HE knew HE was following HIS Father's requests/instructions He too spoke out on the many defiled and disordered ways that people tried to change life. And this is exactly what satan wants to accomplish. I hear all too often when homosexuals are trying to defend their side against heterosexuality, or pro-homosexuality , one of the first statements that is thrown out there is, " do you really think if God didn't make them that way, that they would want to BE or LIVE that way, or do you think if God didn't support and encourage it that they would have a better choice." All this only points to a WEAKER walk with God in my personal opinion. Many are so determined to find total happiness and contentment within themselves, they don't even take quality time in their lives to examine their own true conscious and remain in the consciousness of the "demon" within them! Even though it can mirror the likeness of god .......IT IS NOT!

LET HIM IN!

Cajunboy

[OopsMartin]

I just want to ask...

Why are they many denominations in Christianity?...Have they contradictions between each?

Are they all accepted by God?, can we consider them many "methods" to approach Jesus?

and what about denominations like Jehovah's Witnesses, can we consider them christians?

Thank you!

I agree with everyone thus far.

What makes a church a denomination of Christianity is it's belief in Christ and Messiah. Without that belief as it is laid out in Scripture, they cannot be considered Christian churches. that is where Mormonism and Jehovah Witnesses fail. They do not believe Christ is God and human. They consider Christ to be only a good man or an angel.

Christianity has so many denominations because we don't know how to disagree on doctrines and principles and live together. The Hebrews were so much better at that although they weren't perfect either. At some point our differences become too uncomfortable to live with such as charismatics and cessationists, that we must separate in order to worship God in freedom. I AM thankful though that Luther separated from the Catholic church. Because of Luther, the average person is able to read Scripture on his own..... and fight and bicker over it's meanings.

[Servus Christi]

I just want to ask...

Why are they many denominations in Christianity?...Have they contradictions between each?

Are they all accepted by God?, can we consider them many "methods" to approach Jesus?

and what about denominations like Jehovah's Witnesses, can we consider them christians?

Thank you!

Excellent question L4J, Without causing dessessension amoung believers, allow me to first say that as a person raised in the "Catholic" denomination I saw at a very young age that there were many discrepencies in what I knew in my mind and heart to be TRUTH and what the religion wanted us to know and taught us. Also, there are many denominations that are "branch-offs" from Catholic Church and other older churches world wide. But you have to go back quite a ways to find the likenesses and differences.

The first thing I want to say that for the most part, in ones' walk with God, God will CONVICT your spirit within you , if you choose to follow HIM ! This should make you very comfortable with HIS Word from the start. Another words, generally that first feeling of doing something wrong with many issues in your life, are usually the correct feeling/intuition. Later, you must learn to discern the differences from the experiences you take in during your walk with God and use those experiences to determine if satan is actually trying to "trip you up," or whether it is God who is guiding you.... When you have collected much information/wisdom and experience, it then becomes very easy to discern if God is present in any situation. But always stay on your guard.

This information may not necessarily be for you, but you can bet there are many young that are tuning in to see and hear if we are taking our beliefs from the Bible and walking the proper walk. We all know that we will always fall short of HIS grace, and we also know that because of this, God is always there to help guide us even in our most "ill" of sins. Even when we are in the lowest of lows, and we are too ashamed to share them with anyone......HE IS THERE! And we also know that all we have to do is CALL HIS NAME in sincerity and genuinness and when God sees our efforts HE will help us through our toils and torments.

So to sum up what you've originally asked, YOU KNOW THE TRUTH BECAUSE THE TRUTH LIES WITHIN YOU! Ask yourself this question, " Do I honestly believe that any religion/denomination who believes it is there right to kill, torture, and terrorize others, are following the true walk with God??? Do you think any "man-made denomination" who goes against the grain of life, as in a homosexual sector who believes that God is going along with their lifestyle, and allows same-sexed parteners to dwell and co-habitate together. You only have to search your heart and mind to know that God would and could not allow this type of living in its simplist form to exist with the heterosexual sector in life.

In another way, I ask you to view Jesus' walk in life as a measure or example to how we should live. Although, Jesus walked alone, because HE knew HE was following HIS Father's requests/instructions He too spoke out on the many defiled and disordered ways that people tried to change life. And this is exactly what satan wants to accomplish. I hear all too often when homosexuals are trying to defend their side against heterosexuality, or pro-homosexuality , one of the first statements that is thrown out there is, " do you really think if God didn't make them that way, that they would want to BE or LIVE that way, or do you think if God didn't support and encourage it that they would have a better choice." All this only points to a WEAKER walk with God in my personal opinion. Many are so determined to find total happiness and contentment within themselves, they don't even take quality time in their lives to examine their own true conscious and remain in the consciousness of the "demon" within them! Even though it can mirror the likeness of god .......IT IS NOT!

LET HIM IN!

Cajunboy

"I AM thankful though that Luther separated from the Catholic church. Because of Luther, the average person is able to read Scripture on his own..... and fight and bicker over it's meanings." - Oops Martin........LOL

[senerhu]

I just want to ask...

Why are they many denominations in Christianity?...Have they contradictions between each?

Are they all accepted by God?, can we consider them many "methods" to approach Jesus?

and what about denominations like Jehovah's Witnesses, can we consider them christians?

Thank you!

In Ephesians 4:4 it says there is only one body which is the church of our Lord Jesus. It doesn't say one congregation or denomination. The church is a spiritual body with Jesus as its head. So no matter what denomination you are, if you are born again and have given your heart to Jesus then you are a part of the mystical body of Jesus Christ...

jehovah witness is a cult...

[Fraught]

I just want to ask...

Why are they many denominations in Christianity?...Have they contradictions between each?

Are they all accepted by God?, can we consider them many "methods" to approach Jesus?

and what about denominations like Jehovah's Witnesses, can we consider them christians?

Thank you!

I would just like to add that in my experience, there are not contradictions. There are just different ways of doing things. This is a risky thing to say but it might be more unusual NOT to have different christian denominations. I believe that the variety of denominations reflect the great variety in the followers of Christ. One Christian may like to have a formal ritual that they feel brings them closer to God before they worship. Another is able to walk right in praising God. Either way, both are worshiping.

[Miss Elly]

I just want to ask...

Why are they many denominations in Christianity?...Have they contradictions between each?

Are they all accepted by God?, can we consider them many "methods" to approach Jesus?

and what about denominations like Jehovah's Witnesses, can we consider them christians?

Thank you!

In Ephesians 4:4 it says there is only one body which is the church of our Lord Jesus. It doesn't say one congregation or denomination. The church is a spiritual body with Jesus as its head. So no matter what denomination you are, if you are born again and have given your heart to Jesus then you are a part of the mystical body of Jesus Christ...

jehovah witness is a cult...

Well said - I agree 100% and also about the cult.

[nikki1]

Blessings,

I think one of the biggest reasons for so many Christian denominations since the reformation is because people within the body cannot agree in the interpretation of scripture causing strife and leading to a power struggle going on within the body itself.

People cannot even agree if homosexual marriage should be allowed within Christ's church, or if it o.k. for an ordained minister to be in a homosexual relationship when the obvious answers are right in scripture, so someone starts a new denomination to suit his or her needs that cater to sin rather than look at God's Word.

Nikki

Edited August 28, 2009 by nikki1