Denominations: Doctrinal/Theological Differences

[Albion]

This list seems to have overlooked about 3 million non-ELCA Lutherans.

Right. Any World Almanac or similar publication from Barnes and Noble would do a much better job.

Apparently, this listing (the link) only intended to mention the particular church that has the largest membership in each of the chosen categories, but even so, it doesn't cover the field at all well and omits many denominations or families of faith altogether.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

1. If you want to know what Roman Catholics believe study The Catechism of the Catholic Church (available online).

2. If you want to know what Reformed Protestants believe study The Westminster Confession of Faith (also online).

3. If you want to know what other evangelical and fundamentalist Christians (including Baptists and Pentecostals) believe, study their Statements of Faith.

4. If you just want straight Bible doctrine, study the Word of God -- the Holy Bible.

After that you will have a pretty good idea as to where to look for sound Bible doctrine.

Don't forget the Book of Concord, for Lutherans either. Next to the Catholics, there are more of us than the rest put together.

 

[Meowzltov]

The point was simply that age does not confer correctness.

The issue is not simply age. It direct connectedness to the Apostolic Church (not just doctrinal connectedness). The TRUE church would historically be the Apostolic Church, having never ended, as Christ said the gates of hell would never prevail against it. Any notion that the Church somehow fell into error and vanished, to be recreated at a later date, simply makes Christ a liar.

 

[Albion]

The issue is not simply age.

That's true, but if you read all the posts that come along on this subject, you'll notice that, time after time, the claim is made that it's old--or the oldest--or older than any other church, etc. That is the claim. Age. I merely pointed it out. It's not necessarily true, either, but that's the claim.

It direct connectedness to the Apostolic Church

To be fair, this is sometimes added to the claim about age itself. However, it's not as common as you think...and it's definitely never shown to be an accurate claim.

If "Apostolic" does get thrown into the argument, it's normally just the word itself being injected. There is no effort to show that the alleged "connectedness" actually exists.

As a matter of historical fact, that does not exist. There may be a reference to one or several Early Church Fathers. They are usually separated in time by centuries and quite obviously do not show any "connectedness" or continuity, even we were to be impressed by what they said.

 

[Job8]

Any notion that the Church somehow fell into error and vanished, to be recreated at a later date, simply makes Christ a liar.

Well, as a matter of biblical record, the apostolic churches by and large went into apostasy and needed severe rebukes and even judgments. Please study Revelation 1-3, which is a microcosm of Christianity in the first century. Every church had to be admonished.

Then as we progress through to the fourth century we see error after error and fiction after fiction entering into the churches. The churches in Galatia were being undermined by Judaizers, the Colossians and Ephesians by the Gnostics, and before you know it Gnosticism was corrupting both the Scriptures and the churches, hence we have a body of fiction known as the New Testament Apocrypha. Philip Schaff in his History of the Christian Church tells us how paganism entered into the church of Rome.

 

[Albion]

Well, as a matter of biblical record, the apostolic churches by and large went into apostasy

There is no record of that happening.

Please study Revelation 1-3, which is a microcosm of Christianity in the first century.

That's one theory among many. Most Christians believe the whole thing is about coming events.
So, nothing's gained by this tack.

Philip Schaff in his History of the Christian Church tells us how paganism entered into the church of Rome.

I'd love to have you quote from Schaff to show us that this is what he meant. And also, how this, if true, would amount to "Apostasy."

 

[Job8]

There is no record of that happening.

Let us see if there is no record of apostasy among the apostolic churches:

and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

 

[Meowzltov]

Well, as a matter of biblical record, the apostolic churches by and large went into apostasy and needed severe rebukes and even judgments. Please study Revelation 1-3, which is a microcosm of Christianity in the first century. Every church had to be admonished.

There is a difference between saying a local church needs to be rebuked and saying the Church as a whole, to which those local churches belonged, has fallen into apostasy. APOSTASY IS MUCH MORE SERIOUS. It means they are no longer teaching the basic gospel that Christ has died for our sins, has risen, and will come again and that we should repent and be baptized. Which church in Revelation does it say was no longer teaching the gospel?

 

[Job8]

Which church in Revelation does it say was no longer teaching the gospel?

Did you check the quotations from the Bible? Does the doctrine of Balaam and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans contradict the Gospel? You have the answers staring you in the face. The synagogue of Satan would never proclaim the true Gospel. What about Jezebel the false prophetess?

 

[Meowzltov]

Did you check the quotations from the Bible? Does the doctrine of Balaam and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans contradict the Gospel? You have the answers staring you in the face. The synagogue of Satan would never proclaim the true Gospel. What about Jezebel the false prophetess?

They were certainly in a state of sin, and needed to repent, but they had not apostasized.

 

[ConquerorPlus]

I've been a Christian for six years and I really don't know what denomination I belong to, if any. I attend an Assembly of God church currently, which I know is a Pentecostal organization, but I really don't know what makes Pentecostals different from, say, Baptists, or Methodists, or Lutherans, or Protestants... etc. On the one hand, Paul clearly steered people away from divisions within the body of Christ, in 1 Corinthians 1, and elsewhere. On the other hand, it's almost unavoidable these days... which, I'm tempted to say shouldn't matter, because God's Word doesn't change along with our society. But with so many denominations out there, let's face it: best case scenario, only one of those enormous organizations is teaching the Bible correctly. Finding the right one should be a priority, to ensure we're receiving the truth. The thing is, if we don't even know the differences between them, how can we find the right church?

Surely there exists somewhere an accurate guide to the theological and doctrinal differences of the various "major" Christian denominations. Can anyone point me toward a reliable resource on the matter? Really hoping the solution isn't researching every denomination individually...

Frankly, this brings me to my next point, which can be found here.

 

[ConquerorPlus]

There are sheep, goats and wolves in sheep's clothing in the sheep's pen. The sheep HEAR HIS VOICE, which is the result of justification, having the righteousness of Christ before the Father, because Jesus took our punishment. They don't cry out for another infilling, but value the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit in the Kingdom WITHIN, who teaches them everything and guides them.

Goats turn elsewhere for knowledge of good and evil and die like Adam did. They don't deny the gospel, but preach what they have replaced it with; their carnal interpretation of the gospel. Their Inquisition in the past would have murdered or tortured you, if you dared to disagree. Goats are stubborn and will tell you that you are an anathema, if you think you are justified and can HEAR HIS VOICE. Goats love their legion of imaginary mediators on earth and elsewhere, ceremonies and rituals, which are needed according to their theology to keep them on the right track. They also keep supporting a hierarchy, which tried to HIDE the SIN of systemic paedophilia, because it affected their image.

Then there are wolves in sheep's clothing, who are generally very well informed about Christian matters. They too preach justification by faith. But mock the idea that their relationship with the Father is actually restored, so one can HEAR HIS VOICE. Theirs is the false gospel, as it doesn't lead to Christ. Their Christianese is merely a hobby. They can entertain you for hours with their self inflated worth and bible-bashing, which appears holy, but doesn't lead to Christ.