Question regarding Denominations

How important are the differences between denominations? Off the top of my head I can name a few of them...

Catholic
Lutheran
Presbyterian
Baptist
etc.

I understand that there are many denominations in Christianity. What is the reason for many of these denominations, especially the major ones such as the ones I listed above? Are they mainly due to differing translations of the Bible? I understand that there are many different Bibles.

The reason for my question is the following...

If, for example, you are a Lutheran, how important is it to your salvation that you are a Lutheran and not a Baptist? I know certain denominations are probably much more similar than others and so the answer to this question may vary. Is it generally accepted that if you are a member of one denomination that members of other denominations will still achieve salvation and go to heaven? If you are a Presbyterian do you believe that Catholics will go to heaven?

Thank you for your help!

and also... is it commonly accepted among Christians that Jews cannot go to heaven? Is there an accepted Christian belief regarding members of other religions and their ability to reach heaven? My main question however is in regard to the individual Christian Denominations...

I can only answer that with a comparison.

When you walk into an "All-U-Can-Eat" Buffet, how important is it to select potatoes over rice, or the chicken over the steak?
Does it really matter compared to the need to eat or go hungry?

We do not all find satisfaction by eating a continual diet of bread and water.

I know of many who have moved from denomination to denomination, each time picking up another bit of Spiritual Nurishment and from that they grow stronger.

are you then trying to say that it does not matter what denomination you are... as long as you are in a denomination? Your salvation is NOT determined by if you are in the "right" denomination? If you are a protestant, do you believe members of the catholic church, or lutheran church, will be able to achieve salvation?

True_KeN said:

and also... is it commonly accepted among Christians that Jews cannot go to heaven? Is there an accepted Christian belief regarding members of other religions and their ability to reach heaven? My main question however is in regard to the individual Christian Denominations...

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To my knowledge, we as Gentile Believers are the "Grafted Branch" to the main trunk of the Jewish Vine. Our Brother Judah is the "Firstborn" Son, the Chosen of God. They are not forgotten by God, he has always redeemed them from bondage, and will continue to do so.

True_KeN said:

are you then trying to say that it does not matter what denomination you are... as long as you are in a denomination? Your salvation is NOT determined by if you are in the "right" denomination? If you are a protestant, do you believe members of the catholic church, or lutheran church, will be able to achieve salvation?

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You are not "Saved" by the sign over the doorpost.
You are "Saved" by your Faith and Obedience to Our Lord Jesus.
There is a select "Remanent" in all faiths, just as there are Decievers from Satan in all faiths.

Each individual must work out their own Salvation with fear and trembling.
Those that blindly follow "leaders" are often being led by the blind, therefore everyone must seek their own path.
Broad is the way to distruction, but narrow is the path of righteousness for those who find it.

One Big Clue...
Jesus said that HE is THE WAY, The Truth, and The Light.
Try following HIM.

How does one know that they find it? Is it clear to you that you have found your path, or do you question it? If so, how "rock solid" is your belief that you are on the correct path to salvation?

I would suggest that you begin by seeking that for yourself.
Remember that "You Judge a Tree by it's Fruit"...

You will be known by your lifestyle and actions, not by your speech.
If you follow the path as Jesus showed, you will do well.

Galatians 5:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

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My question was not directed in a way to understand how I myself should try to achieve salvation. I just would like to know your experience with it.

I'm not sure about what your asking from me, but if you would like to read something about experiences along the path I suggest Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan.

All that I really could say about myself is that I walk by Faith that Jesus is guiding me, and that I strive daily to do what is right and just. And though I do fail Him often, he is quick to correct, and put me back to the task at hand.

Check out the "deeper fellowship" forum and the thread "the devils workshop" on page 2 I think.. I opened this discussion about the splintering denominations and there are some very good views in there as well. I will post here what I placed back there as well.....


I notice so many people in here with denominational names for their faith. So many look over the "Christian" symbol. I was just wondering what people thought about satan cutting Gods log (unity) down to halves, quarters, and eventually splinters as we become more denominational. Christian means Little Christ. It was the first term used to anoint those to follow Gods ways. Now we have broken things down to denominations. Are we going to be known by satans splinter or Gods log? We, as Christians, have to stop this division.

I say these things in Christs love and refuse to argue the matter and ask that others follow this ethic. I simply want to know what people think about satan breaking christians down by church instead of His name.

In Christs Love,
All4one

God is a body.. unified and ultimate. If you read into that thread I go on and point out that names given to the church only seperate one from another and that is not of Christ. He is one.


In Christ,
All4one

I believe that it does not matter one bit whether you are Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Jewish or any other denomination or sect as long as you believe one thing....that Jesus Christ is Lord and you have professed this aloud. Then you are saved. Have faith, love is in you.

I truly believe there is so many denominations cause of the various "opinions and ideas" of what is right and wrong. Such as how to worship, what day is sabbath, and many
other such things. I believe opinions and ideas have gotten in the way of Sisters and brothers in the Lord. Denomination has created seperation amongst the believer. We
are raised and taught particular things and unless we are able to open our mind to
other such things, we get ourselves in a rut of not growing or becoming one with the
majority. The church isn't denominations. The church is Jesus Christ and all those that
participate in him and in his body are of his church. It isn't about what denomination
is right and what is wrong, cause when it comes down to it, the only truth is
christ and if you are in him, then the truth will shine from your vessel as he is the
light of the world and those in him will also shed light on the world. God bless....

Want2Bpure

True_KeN said:

How important are the differences between denominations? Off the top of my head I can name a few of them...

Catholic
Lutheran
Presbyterian
Baptist
etc.

I understand that there are many denominations in Christianity. What is the reason for many of these denominations, especially the major ones such as the ones I listed above? Are they mainly due to differing translations of the Bible? I understand that there are many different Bibles.

The reason for my question is the following...

If, for example, you are a Lutheran, how important is it to your salvation that you are a Lutheran and not a Baptist? I know certain denominations are probably much more similar than others and so the answer to this question may vary. Is it generally accepted that if you are a member of one denomination that members of other denominations will still achieve salvation and go to heaven? If you are a Presbyterian do you believe that Catholics will go to heaven?

Thank you for your help!

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It depends on the denomination.

I think (and Catholics and Orthodox can correct me on this--please do!) that since Catholics and Orthodox christians consider their respective churches the true church, (and not just another denomination), then it can affect your chances for salvation--though the Orthodox position is that "you know where God IS working, but you can't say where God ISN'T working."

I'd say that the majority protestant opinion (Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist) is that the different denominations don't really make that much difference. We all believe in Jesus, we all believe in the same basics, so it shouldn't affect one's salvation in the least.

But there are others, especially fundamentalists, who'll say that Catholics aren't saved... and there are others who divide salvation on theological lines (only Calvinists can be saved, or only people who believe in the inerrancy of the Bible can be saved) that also tend to be denominational lines.

The differences in the denominations, I'd say, aren't over translations but over interpretations of the Bible, the authority of the Bible, and the emphasis on tradition. Orthodox, Catholic, and to some extent Anglican churches look to tradition as well as the Bible for their beliefs, while Presbyterian and Lutheran churches tend towards just looking at the Bible. But... you can look at a single translation of the Bible and come up with a lot of different interpretations. Calvinism, Arminianism, the different beliefs about the apocalypse, the role of women... and you also get different rituals, different practices, seemingly inconsequential stuff that's often not inconsequential at all for the people involved.

Arikereba said:

I think (and Catholics and Orthodox can correct me on this--please do!) that since Catholics and Orthodox christians consider their respective churches the true church, (and not just another denomination), then it can affect your chances for salvation--though the Orthodox position is that "you know where God IS working, but you can't say where God ISN'T working."

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I think you expressed this very well Arikereba, and Catholics would say the same thing.

As far as salvation goes: Catholics teach Extra Ecclesiam Nullus Solus, Outside the Church there is no salvation. BUT, one can be united to the Church in ways other than professing oneself as Catholic.

Side note: This Catholic sincerely appreciates your balanced presentation.

personally, i'm not sure what denomination i would fit into if i had to classify myself as one or another. the very first church i attended as a primary school student was Uniting Church (in Australia), then after that i attended a non-denominational church. the church i currently attend is not named for any denomination, but apparently was founded by an Anglican (-or possibly Baptist, i've heard both) church. i guess you could consider me an evangelical protestant... in what follows, i hope i am not seen as "Catholic bashing" - i do believe that Catholics may be saved and considered Christian - and my sincere apologies if anyone regards me as doing so, please forgive me; let us be united in Christ Jesus!

to me, it doesn't matter what denomination you are, if you believe that Jesus Christ, who was both man and the Son of God, died on the cross that all your sin would be forgiven by God, and that he rose again that if you believe in Him, you will have eternal life with him, you are "saved" and can be considered Christian. However I would have to add the belief that you are saved through faith in God's grace in giving us Jesus for this, and that you don't believe you are saved through any good works you may do, although good works are certainly an indication that you are saved (my apologies if this offends anyone, but this is what i believe; my reasoning is that if you need good works to be saved, then that implies that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross wasn't perfect, and that you are as good as God since you can save yourself).

i don't believe you have to attend a particular church or type of church in order to be "saved", nor do i believe that participation in sacraments,eg baptism or communion, determine salvation either.

that said, i think that there are some doctrinal differences between denominations which may be quite important to our Christian lives (eg whether you believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God or not, etc); however these do not determine if you are Christian or not. i also believe that there are some doctrinal differences between Christians of any denominations, and sects/cults which would (by most Christians) be considered non-Christian (for example, whether you believe that Jesus Christ was actually God or not, or whether you believe there is one God or not).

Denominations and non-denominational. Wow. I think non-denominational is becoming a whole denomination in itself. Denominations are based on the laws and rules of man and slightly different interpretations of certain biblical passages; but as many have said here already, if the core belief is in Jesus and the Bible, then denomination becomes void. God sees children...not Catholic children, Pentecostal children, etc.

hoosiermichael said:

if the core belief is in Jesus and the Bible, then denomination becomes void.

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Does it? Does simply believing that the same things have authority bring people together? If that were true, then it seems there would be no denominations, for all agree that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and that Jesus is the Incarnate Son of God. It seems that there must be more to it than agreement about Jesus and the Bible.

God sees children...not Catholic children, Pentecostal children, etc.

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Does your denomination define you? Is it personal? Is it a part of you? I ask those in all sincerity, because I see myself as a Catholic. But "Catholic" is not just one hat that I wear, it is who I am. There is no Carrie apart from Catholicism.

quite interesting, isn't it?

1Co 3:1-7
But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.
I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?
For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human?
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

clskinner said:

Does your denomination define you? Is it personal? Is it a part of you? I ask those in all sincerity, because I see myself as a Catholic. But "Catholic" is not just one hat that I wear, it is who I am. There is no Carrie apart from Catholicism.

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Carrie, I agree. My Catholicism makes me who I am. It guides me in dealing with the world and all people and situations in it. I do not see myself in the Protestant terms---"it's between me and God."

In that light, I believe there are many differences in denominations. I am a convert so I have experienced this personally. I think it would be niave to think that all denominations are the same. If so, why would we have so many?