There is only one type of Christian. A Christian is a disciple of Jesus Christ. By definition, a disciple is a follower; one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another. The word disciple was derived from the word discipline, which means to submit to the control of a set of standard rules and regulations. In other words, a person must reject his personal beliefs and accept another. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. (Acts 11:26) They were called Disciples of Christ before they were called Christians. The word “Christian” was derived from the name “Christ” as “American” came from America. The name “Christian” qualifies what flock and leader we belong to, or follow. It tells the world and other religions who we belong to and what we believe. To be a Christian disciple means to act like Christ; think like Christ, walk and talk like Him, and do what He did. When people look at me, they should see Christ in me. We all have heard that saying; “he’s the splitting image of his father”. Remember, in the beginning, God created man in His own image and likeness. Christ came to this earth to restore that image. Attending church regularly, wearing a white collar and being involved in Christian-like activities or dressing in a robe does not indicate that a person is a Christian. Those outward actions could indicate that a person is religious like in many other religious groups.
A person cannot be a Christian if he/she is not a disciple of Christ because the name “Christian” denotes a “Christ-follower”. A person cannot follow Christ if he does not desire to go and to do what Christ did, and to have love and compassion for all people as Christ did. Christians have a special allegiance to Christ that would be understood by a military personnel or a member of a gang, as far as understanding what commitment is.
John 14:12
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
According to the 1998 United Nations Census on Religion, there were at that time, about 23,000 Christian denominations in the world and they all differ somewhat. A divided house will never stand (ineffective).
God has given us different gifts and abilities so that we could work together (collaborating) thus producing unity of the body. Ephesians 4:11-13
There is only one Lord, faith, baptism; Ephesians 4:4-6; One doctrine – John 7:15-17; 2 John 1:9.