Why the divisions in the church?

Neostarwcc said:

That's true the Catholics seem to agree on everything and I was raised Catholic but I never really shared my moms faith. My mother believes in a lot of strange things. Not to call catholics strange but a lot of their beliefs like purgatory and showing penance to a priest just aren't found in the Bible. And I believe that the bible is the source of all truth. So when I became a Christian I left the Catholic church.

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I think I am reading into your post; but Jesus Christ is the Truth and so the source of all truth. The bible, as it reflects Christ and his teachings, is the inspired written recollection of Christ by the authors, only that and no more. To give it more is to create a second Christ that can be and is only found in a book. Like I said, I don't think you believe this; but it is a point that is a major difference in how a Catholic or an Orthodox would view Truth and how a bible-only church sees this. I have drawn a sharp divide to highlight this issue; but it is really much more complex than what I have painted. Since we are talking about division, unless we can start understanding the other paradigm, they will continue.

There is division because of pride. In the early church splits would always happen because of one Bishop personally interpreting the Bible differently then the entire church had agreed.

Later in history it was the papacy trying to personally interpret scripture that caused the great schism.

After that it's now the Protestants. Now every man is his own Pope interpreting the Bible at will, and all differently. This causes schisms every day.

Personal interpretation of scripture has destroyed the church, and is a doctrine based on pride. If everyone had stuck to church councils like the apostles set up as the correct system, then there would be no division.

Protestantism is not, and has never been, a unified religious movement like Catholicism or Orthodoxy.

This question comes up a lot.

How can I get a high paying powerful prestigious, position in a denomination?

I might have to form my own church and win some followers (thus another denomination is formed).

If the highest position for a church is unpaid home church leader and that position puts you are risk of going to jail and maybe never being seen again, there is no reason for me to start another denomination.

The Chinese unregistered home churches are under severe persecution, which eliminates any uncommitted, hypocritical, power seeking, money hungry “leaders”. The really good leaders spend all their time mentoring new small home church leaders to be like they are, who is like Christ and not trying to be famous, popular or grow the group to large and bring attention to home church (he will be captured if he gets “big”). So, he just trains others to lead the splitting of the house church as it grows.

Denominational Commentaries are not allowed in China, but Bibles are allowed and the Government had 100 million printed and distributed freely by the registered churches, plus up until this year you could order a bible on Amazon for a few dollars (cheaper than trying to smuggle them in).

Amazingly these 100 million members of the unregistered house churches teach and practice the same thing in their groups of 20. I contribute that in part to the communist government publicly listing out what could not be taught. The list of nots began the list of what they would teach: Believer full emersion baptism, Christ death on the cross, communion, Jesus being God, heaven, hell, judgment trinity, evangelizing and so on.

There are no divisions in THE Church, that is, the ONE Church Jesus Christ founded, which He said was to remain ONE, to which He promised "The Holy Spirit will guide you into ALL truth", and Whatsoever you bind upon Earth is bound in Heaven", and "He who hears you hears Me". That Church remains ONE in belief, ONE in teaching, ONE in worship, ONE in biblical understanding throughout the world after 2,000 years, which we would expect since Jesus promised to be with it until the end of time. There is however a tremendous amount of division among those who have defected from the Church Jesus founded, and created their own unauthorized manmade churches. In abandoning Jesus Christ's Church they have also abandoned the promises of truth that Jesus made to His Church, which is why they have fragmented into thousands of conflicting manmade denominations teaching thousands of conflicting, and therefore false beliefs, in just a few hundred years. Truth cannot conflict with truth.

I am really going to butcher this badly....

The eye, the ear, the nose, the tongue, and the finger were walking along one day. Suddenly, the eye exclaimed, "Wow, look at that sunset!".

"Hmm, I dont hear anything.", replied the ear.

"And I certainly dont smell anything.", added the nose.

"Yea, I dont taste anything.", said the tongue.

"And I dont feel anything", said the finger.

And soon they all agreed that something is seriously off about that eye.

...

Assumming we are all biblical Christians called out of sin, we have to remember that the body is made up of many parts. Spiritual gifts manifest in different places upon a congregation, and remember that in revelation there was more than one right spirited church.

Read 1 Corinthians 12 and 13

Things in the Bible are often reflect in one sense what God intends in another sense. So people in a congregation being divided about each others gifts and baptisms could reflect todays churches as a whole doing that. And God isn't telling us that we are divided because we dont all do the same, but because we come after one another when what what is most important of all is love.

Neostarwcc said:

Yet we as Christians can't agree with each other and sometimes kill each other for it.​

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Do we even agree on this?

And maybe more amazing is that there's any unity at all. We all seem to agree on some of the most improbable things (eg, the resurrection, miracles, etc..) and the most incomprehensible things (eg, the Trinity, the crucifixion). Maybe it's not as bad as you say?

Neostarwcc said:

Why are there so many divisions in the Church? Why can't two churches agree with each other on doctrine? Why does the Church exist as Catholic or Protestant or Orthodox? And why can't two Catholics or two Protestants agree with each other? Like for example most Protestants believe In Eternal security. Yet there are Protestants who deny the doctrine. Why? And why don't Catholics and Orthodox believe? Or wehy do Catholics insist that baptism is a requirement for salvation yet Protestants claim that it isn't? Why the divisions in the church? Shouldn't all Christianity be the same? I.E. people coming to Christ for salvation and getting saved. It sure would gert more people saved. Back when I was an atheist one of the strongest arguments to me was that the Christian church was so divided and couldn't agree with each other. So truly the true church would agree with each other on doctrine. Yet we as Christians can't agree with each other and sometimes kill each other for it.​

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When you get it right the first time, you don't have to change anything.

And there's no such thing as a non-denominational church or Christian. Almost all of them will be found to fit into one of the existing structures. The rest are simply fringe sectarians.

I am a pentecostal and obviously believe very much this is ideal but not all can receive it. But when people start condemning and calling into question people's salvation, something is wrong.

Neostarwcc said:

While I don't agree with every Christian I meet I still try to be respectful of their beliefs. Yet there are Christians killing other Christians out there because of differences in doctrine and because people interpret the bible differently than others. So is it just because Satan does a good job at keeping Christians divided or what?

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That is pride and not denying oneself for one's brother.
James 4:1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you?
2 you want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it.
John 13:34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.
35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."

Jesus is talking about love within Christians especially. We should truly understand that other Christians are our family and we need to keep this bond stronger than any other. If we want to do that then we will help each other and not kill each other. And love is not lovy dovy feelings and pretending that all is good, love is being kind and gentle but is also accepting rebuke and being able to be honest with our christian family without thinking that the rebuke is to hurt us but rather to fight the good fight.

JesusYeshuaisLord said:

That is pride and not denying oneself for one's brother.
James 4:1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you?
2 you want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it.
John 13:34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.
35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."

Jesus is talking about love within Christians especially. We should truly understand that other Christians are our family and we need to keep this bond stronger than any other. If we want to do that then we will help each other and not kill each other. And love is not lovy dovy feelings and pretending that all is good, love is being kind and gentle but is also accepting rebuke and being able to be honest with our christian family without thinking that the rebuke is to hurt us but rather to fight the good fight.

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Truth clothes itself in love.

Neostarwcc said:

Why are there so many divisions in the Church? Why can't two churches agree with each other on doctrine? Why does the Church exist as Catholic or Protestant or Orthodox? And why can't two Catholics or two Protestants agree with each other? Like for example most Protestants believe In Eternal security. Yet there are Protestants who deny the doctrine. Why? And why don't Catholics and Orthodox believe? Or wehy do Catholics insist that baptism is a requirement for salvation yet Protestants claim that it isn't? Why the divisions in the church? Shouldn't all Christianity be the same? I.E. people coming to Christ for salvation and getting saved. It sure would gert more people saved. Back when I was an atheist one of the strongest arguments to me was that the Christian church was so divided and couldn't agree with each other. So truly the true church would agree with each other on doctrine. Yet we as Christians can't agree with each other and sometimes kill each other for it.​

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There is only True Christian Church. The members of The One True Christian Church know who know who they are. All you can do is read The Word of God and seek Him with all of your heart and all of your mind and all of your strength. God makes this promise in His Word that if you seek you will find. You might read Numbers 16:29 and the entire story that surrounds the word “visitation” in that verse. After you read the story, you might want to read all of the places in The KJV where the word visitation appears. In almost every instance of use, it is a Spiritual reference. Christ comes as a thief in the night. There is a day coming when the world at large will be visited with few if any exceptions. First, God The Father must call you. When you are called, Christ comes and you experience illumination. That is when you will begin to understand The Word of God and the mysteries therein. Once you begin this walk, you will be clear on the Word.

1John.2

1. [27] But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Have you experienced The Word of God above in 1 John 2:27? When you have the experience referred to, True understanding will occur. As much as you will want to share your new understanding, you will find it to be almost impossible to do so. There may be times when Christ has prepared the soil and you will be allowed to share The Word and plant the seed by which the person may grow. There are a number of Bible verses that have a very absolute meaning but are not clear between various Christian churches and factions. Your question is or should be a very common one. Why are there so many different Christian churches both Protestant and Catholic?

Heb.8

1. [11] And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

The Word of God Above in Hebrews 8:11 is what is coming. When that day comes, your question will finally be answered.

I pray that what is written above helps you in your walk.

I guess, they were differences so big, they have to separate from each other, most protestant denominations accept each other though. And if there is someone that holds the actual truth to something, because for example was revealed to that person, then good luck convincing everybody else, except if a person raises that do the miracles by God that Jesus did someone will listen better, but i would say there are already people that through Jesus have done those things, but everyone else is too entrenched in their thinkings....

Just my opinion.

Neostarwcc said:

Why are there so many divisions in the Church? Why can't two churches agree with each other on doctrine? Why does the Church exist as Catholic or Protestant or Orthodox? And why can't two Catholics or two Protestants agree with each other? Like for example most Protestants believe In Eternal security. Yet there are Protestants who deny the doctrine. Why? And why don't Catholics and Orthodox believe? Or wehy do Catholics insist that baptism is a requirement for salvation yet Protestants claim that it isn't? Why the divisions in the church? Shouldn't all Christianity be the same? I.E. people coming to Christ for salvation and getting saved. It sure would gert more people saved. Back when I was an atheist one of the strongest arguments to me was that the Christian church was so divided and couldn't agree with each other. So truly the true church would agree with each other on doctrine. Yet we as Christians can't agree with each other and sometimes kill each other for it.​

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Technically, we are all supposed to speak the same thing (1 Corinthians 1:10, Philippians 2:1-4, Romans 15:5-6). However, Paul also wrote that there must be also heresies in the church, so that those who are approved might be made manifest (1 Corinthians 11:19).

Those who are listening to the Holy Spirit will have the truth (John 16:13). Being a Berean (Acts of the Apostles 17:11) and studying to shew thyself approved (2 Timothy 2:15) is also important.

Erik Nelson said:

but, why don't you both acknowledge a higher authority, with final say, that you will both brook, for the sake of unity ?

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You mean sacrifice truth in favour of unity?
Mmm. great idea.

Why the divisions in the Church? Answer: THE DEVIL. The devil knows about “United we stand, divided we fall.” Thus, if he divides us Christians into (literally) thousands of splinter groups, Christianity will fall.

The division of the church is not only caused by the devil, but God as well. Didn't Jesus say He came to divide family and friends to love Him more than they? Of course! But that has little to do with the church and more on the heart as individuals.

Jesus gave this parable: Matthew 13:24-30 The Wheat and Tares
Matthew 25:31-46 The Sheep and Goats

God is constantly dividing His people from those who are not and that's including the fakes/deceivers. You have to remember that God's Word has been under attack since the very beginning, so nothing is new under the sun. It's our responsibility to remain in His love by loving and keeping Jesus' Word. John 15:9-10

I also want to direct you to Revelation, where Jesus speaks to the 7 churches on their strengths and weaknesses. Perhaps that will help shed some light.

Philip_B said:

Thanks for that. What you have then quoted is the Nicene Creed, the Creed of the 1st Council of Constantinople in 381 AD. This is the Creed as used in the Eastern Churches and in a number of eastern rite Catholic Churches, and in some of the Reformed or Protestant Churches, and by some Anglican Churches and not by others.

Since 1014 (earlier in some places) in Rome the Filioque has been inserted into the Nicene Creed, and this was one of the major sticking points that led to the Great Schism in 1054.

The point you make is valid, though somewhat challenged by the simple fact that the Nicene Creed was an the centre of one of the greatest divides in Christian History. If you think the Filioque does not matter, then you are most probably a Western Christian.

My view is that if we are serious about Christian Unity then we should use the Nicene Creed without the Filioque. The Apostle Creed is a western creed probably proposed by Ambrose of Milan (C390) in the aftermath of the 1st Council of Constantinople, though clearly built on the Earlier Roman Symbol. The Apostles Creed is not used in the Eastern Churches, and I suspect they view its christology with some concerns or reservations.

I guess I wish what you are contending was true, but glossing the detail does not actually resolve some of these differences. The Nicene Creed of the 1st Council of Constantinople is also the Statement of Faith on CF, and this certainly is the best argued single creed for all christians.

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What I'm trying to say is that if you believe either or The Apostles' / Nicene Creed (Even with the Filioque Clause) I'm your brother and on your side.

I get what you are saying though.

W2L said:

What good is agreeing on the creed if we are divided over everything else?

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To have at least "Some" unity and commonality.

Neostarwcc said:

Why are there so many divisions in the Church? Why can't two churches agree with each other on doctrine? Why does the Church exist as Catholic or Protestant or Orthodox? And why can't two Catholics or two Protestants agree with each other? Like for example most Protestants believe In Eternal security. Yet there are Protestants who deny the doctrine. Why? And why don't Catholics and Orthodox believe? Or wehy do Catholics insist that baptism is a requirement for salvation yet Protestants claim that it isn't? Why the divisions in the church? Shouldn't all Christianity be the same? I.E. people coming to Christ for salvation and getting saved. It sure would gert more people saved. Back when I was an atheist one of the strongest arguments to me was that the Christian church was so divided and couldn't agree with each other. So truly the true church would agree with each other on doctrine. Yet we as Christians can't agree with each other and sometimes kill each other for it.​

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Selfishness, denominationalism, pride/arrogance (egotism), and unBiblical (usually Psychology) doctrines. Lack of Bible study discussion groups and careful Bible teaching sermons are rare. We should be going for the facts about what pleases God, instead of opinions and theories. The shoulds in local churches are found in Philippians 2:1-5 and Ephesians 4:11-16.

Philippians 2:1-5
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ,
if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit,
if any bowels and mercies,
2 fulfill you my joy, that you be like-minded,
having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory;
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man [or woman] on his [or her] own things,
but every man [or woman] also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Ephesians 4:11-16
11 And He [Jesus Christ] gave some Apostles; and some Prophets;
and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers;
12 for the perfecting of the saints,
for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 till we all come in the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of The Son Of God,
unto a perfect man,
unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
14 that we henceforth be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine,
by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 but speaking the truth in love,
may grow up into Him in all things,
Who is The Head, even Christ:
16 from Whom the whole body
fitly joined together and
compacted by that which every joint supplieth,
according to the effectual working
in the measure of every part,
maketh increase of the body
unto the edifying of itself in love.