Why is Christianity so divided?

[Basil the Great]

I could be wrong, but I suspect that in time there will be fewer and fewer denominations. I doubt that we will ever all merge into one visible Church, but anything is possible.

 

[prodromos]

I could be wrong, but I suspect that in time there will be fewer and fewer denominations.

What leads you to believe the trend over the last few centuries will reverse itself?

 

[Basil the Great]

I am convinced that Modernism and Atheism will continue to spread and that in the coming decades, the number of Christians will decline and that some denominations will go away and others will be forced to merge.

 

[bbbbbbb]

I am convinced that Modernism and Atheism will continue to spread and that in the coming decades, the number of Christians will decline and that some denominations will go away and others will be forced to merge.

I was told that when I was a child in the 1960's, but in the last fifty years the exact opposite has happened. Atheism and Modernism in China and other Communist countries is in sharp decline as Christianity grows by leaps and bounds. China, if it does not so already, will have the largest Christian population in the world soon.

 

[Monk Brendan]

The source is the World Christian Encyclopedia. See following link for a breakdown on the 30,000

This is faulty. Barrett et al. have split one denomination (Roman Catholic) into 270+ denominations, based on the number of countries in the world where there are Roman Catholic parishes. If that datum is wrong, how many others are wrong as well?

 

[Major1]

I am convinced that Modernism and Atheism will continue to spread and that in the coming decades, the number of Christians will decline and that some denominations will go away and others will be forced to merge.

I would say that the Rapture will lead to a One World United church. I personally believe that the next Sunday after the Rapture, the churches all over the world will be packed with people looking for what they have rejected.

 

[VanillaSunflowers]

I could be wrong, but I suspect that in time there will be fewer and fewer denominations. I doubt that we will ever all merge into one visible Church, but anything is possible.

Were we ever one visible church of peace?

The problem as I see it is that people are under the false teaching understanding of the church becomes the edifice men construct and populate claiming authority of God as their anointing. The one truth Jesus Christ embodied as the Father has been fractured by all the subsequent ego's after the last Apostle was martyred. And only John was left to foretell the revelation of God to come upon the world in which that transpired.

Now we have people who claim to be able to define the words of our Father and compile them under neat little titles seeded as denominations. And no denominations can agree with each other so they're fractured into this idea that there is only one right way to hold faith. And each one affirms theirs is "it".

One Jesus. One God. One truth.
How many denominations are there in the world? How many versions of the word of God? Some that are actually edited to be politically correct?

Why is Christianity divided? Because the minds of men latched hold of the word of a spirit. Planted their flag and claimed they speak for the spirit.

The sorry reality is, after 2000+ years of mucking about God's people themselves prove we need to be saved from ourselves.

Ain't it a pity?

 

[Major1]

There are 30,000 denominations all based of one book. Did the Lord intend for division of this scale? Or did we do it?

First of all.....a determination must be made between what is Christian denominations and what is a cult.

I would not consider a cult to be included in the total number of denominations.

Example of churches that are not Christian..........
Mormons
Jehovah Witnesses are
Oneness Pentecostal
Rosicrucianism
Scientology
Self Realization Fellowship
Silva Mind Control
Swedenborgianism
The Farm
The Unification Church
The Way International

Those are all "cults" and should not be counted as Christian.

We should recall that at one time we only had the Catholic church and the Reformation then led to many different denominations such as the Methodists and Luthern's and so forth.

Then let’s not forget that denominations are made up of churches and churches are made of people; and sometimes people just don’t get along. After all, just because people are Christians doesn’t mean they always agree. Moreover, Christians still struggle with pride, selfishness, and stubbornness, and this means they sometimes respond to relational conflict poorly.

Another reason Christians are sometimes divided is legitimate disagreements about secondary areas of belief or practice. What does baptism mean and who should get baptized? How should local churches be structured? Who should fill leadership roles? How often should communion be practiced? How should certain passages in the Bible be interpreted? These are good questions and the answers aren’t always clear in the Bible.

My advice is to take lots of prayerful time to look for and find a church where Christians believe in the Trinity, that all humans are sinful and in need of grace, and that only Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to have a relationship with God through his death and resurrection. Also a church where Christians believe that the Bible is the Word of God and that it clearly reveals who God is, how we can have a relationship with him, and how we can extend God’s love to other people.

 

[Major1]

Were we ever one visible church of peace?

The problem as I see it is that people are under the false teaching understanding of the church becomes the edifice men construct and populate claiming authority of God as their anointing. The one truth Jesus Christ embodied as the Father has been fractured by all the subsequent ego's after the last Apostle was martyred. And only John was left to foretell the revelation of God to come upon the world in which that transpired.

Now we have people who claim to be able to define the words of our Father and compile them under neat little titles seeded as denominations. And no denominations can agree with each other so they're fractured into this idea that there is only one right way to hold faith. And each one affirms theirs is "it".

One Jesus. One God. One truth.
How many denominations are there in the world? How many versions of the word of God? Some that are actually edited to be politically correct?

Why is Christianity divided? Because the minds of men latched hold of the word of a spirit. Planted their flag and claimed they speak for the spirit.

The sorry reality is, after 2000+ years of mucking about God's people themselves prove we need to be saved from ourselves.

Ain't it a pity?

Yes it is a pity. I heard a joke many years ago.

“I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said ‘Stop! Don’t do it!’

‘Why shouldn’t I?’ he said.

‘Well, there’s so much to live for!’

‘Like what?’

‘Well… are you religious?’ He said yes. I said, ‘Me too! Are you Christian or another religion?’

‘Christian.’

‘Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant ?

‘Protestant.’

‘Neat, me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?’

‘Baptist’

‘Wow, this is amazing! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?’

‘Baptist Church of God!’

“Amazing! Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you reformed Baptist Church of God?’

‘Reformed Baptist Church of God!’

This is unbelievable! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?’

He said, ‘Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!’

I said, ‘Oh. In that case, die you heretic scum’, and I pushed him off the bridge myself."


The first thing to keep in mind is that Satan himself loves denominations. Most denominational splits happen for two reasons: Pride, and false teaching, and Satan is the master of both. Those two things probably account for every denominational spit in the history of Christianity. This shouldn’t surprise us, for Jesus warned that there would be an increase in false teachers as the end times nears.

Denominations, as bad as they may be, also do one thing well: They help preserve truth when absolutely necessary.

One of Christianity's greatest preachers Dr. Adrian Rogers used to say..........
“I’d rather be divided in truth than united in error.”

 

[VanillaSunflowers]

Yes it is a pity. I heard a joke many years ago.

“I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said ‘Stop! Don’t do it!’

‘Why shouldn’t I?’ he said.

‘Well, there’s so much to live for!’

‘Like what?’

‘Well… are you religious?’ He said yes. I said, ‘Me too! Are you Christian or another religion?’

‘Christian.’

‘Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant ?

‘Protestant.’

‘Neat, me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?’

‘Baptist’

‘Wow, this is amazing! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?’

‘Baptist Church of God!’

“Amazing! Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you reformed Baptist Church of God?’

‘Reformed Baptist Church of God!’

This is unbelievable! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?’

He said, ‘Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!’

I said, ‘Oh. In that case, die you heretic scum’, and I pushed him off the bridge myself."

Goodness, it has been years since I heard that one.

The first thing to keep in mind is that Satan himself loves denominations. Most denominational splits happen for two reasons: Pride, and false teaching, and Satan is the master of both. Those two things probably account for every denominational spit in the history of Christianity. This shouldn’t surprise us, for Jesus warned that there would be an increase in false teachers as the end times nears.

Denominations, as bad as they may be, also do one thing well: They help preserve truth when absolutely necessary.

One of Christianity's greatest preachers Dr. Adrian Rogers used to say..........
“I’d rather be divided in truth than united in error.”

"Denominations, as bad as they may be, also do one thing well: They help preserve truth when absolutely necessary." Do they really?
How many differences in teachings can you think of that different denominations teach and that conflict with the words of God himself?

 

[Question ?]

The source is the World Christian Encyclopedia. See following link for a breakdown on the 30,000
http://www.philvaz.com/apologetics/a106.htm

(We might have different teachings in peripheral doctrine but the gospel is the same.
How true! name-one

 

[Major1]

Goodness, it has been years since I heard that one.



"Denominations, as bad as they may be, also do one thing well: They help preserve truth when absolutely necessary." Do they really?
How many differences in teachings can you think of that different denominations teach and that conflict with the words of God himself?

Well I am pretty old!

As believers, we must be of one mind on the essentials of the faith, but beyond that there is great deal of latitude in how Christians should worship in a corporate setting. This latitude is what causes so many different “flavors” of Christianity. A Presbyterian church in Uganda will have a style of worship much different from a Presbyterian church in Colorado, but their doctrinal stand will be, for the most part, the same. Diversity is a good thing, but heresy is not. If two churches disagree doctrinally, debate and dialogue over the Word may be called for. This type of “iron sharpening iron” is beneficial to all.

 

[VanillaSunflowers]

Well I am pretty old!

As believers, we must be of one mind on the essentials of the faith, but beyond that there is great deal of latitude in how Christians should worship in a corporate setting. This latitude is what causes so many different “flavors” of Christianity. A Presbyterian church in Uganda will have a style of worship much different from a Presbyterian church in Colorado, but their doctrinal stand will be, for the most part, the same. Diversity is a good thing, but heresy is not. If two churches disagree doctrinally, debate and dialogue over the Word may be called for. This type of “iron sharpening iron” is beneficial to all.

I would agree save for one thing. And maybe that is the meaning in that parable slogan. To test the spirits and look deeper than the superficial?
Because iron does not sharpen iron.
In order to sharpen iron you need a metal that is stronger than iron in order to get an edge.

 

[LadyByTheLake]

According to this article, there are 40K+ organizations in Christianity. 1/2 to 2/3 are independent churches, especially in Africa. Also, are national churches.

https://theway21stcentury.wordpress.com/2012/11/23/how-many-christian-denominations-worldwide/

 

[Major1]

I would agree save for one thing. And maybe that is the meaning in that parable slogan. To test the spirits and look deeper than the superficial?
Because iron does not sharpen iron.
In order to sharpen iron you need a metal that is stronger than iron in order to get an edge.

That is not actually true. A piece of iron will in fact sharpen another piece of iron but the lesson is deeper that.

The proverb also indicates the need for constant fellowship with one another. Man was not made to be alone, for did not the Lord God say this, even before the Fall? How much more, then, after the Fall of Man, do we need to come together with our brothers and sisters in Christ for seasons of fellowship and prayer?

Clearly, this was recognized by the saints of the early church who “devoted themselves” to teaching, fellowship, communion, and prayer, all corporate activities that provided opportunities for sharpening one another.
https://www.gotquestions.org/iron-sharpens-iron.html

 

[VanillaSunflowers]

That is not actually true.

No, it is actually true.Iron does not sharpen iron.
And of course the iron sharpens iron metaphor is deeper than the truth of the fact that iron does not sharpen iron.

 

[Major1]

No, it is actually true.Iron does not sharpen iron.
And of course the iron sharpens iron metaphor is deeper than the truth of the fact that iron does not sharpen iron.

Fact check does not agree with you......
"Iron in its pure form is rarely manufactured or I can safely say that is NEVER manufactured. All the different specimens or even the different parts of the same specimen of Iron are most likely to have a different composition(Especially Carbon Concentration) at some level of precision. So since two specimens do have different compositions then their hardness values are different. So it definitely is possible to sharpen a piece of Iron by another of a different composition."

Not only that but you are talking a really old country boy. I have been there and done that.

 

[VanillaSunflowers]

Fact check does not agree with you......
"Iron in its pure form is rarely manufactured or I can safely say that is NEVER manufactured. All the different specimens or even the different parts of the same specimen of Iron are most likely to have a different composition(Especially Carbon Concentration) at some level of precision. So since two specimens do have different compositions then their hardness values are different. So it definitely is possible to sharpen a piece of Iron by another of a different composition."

Not only that but you are talking a really old country boy. I have been there and done that.

Well, I have a family background of armorers, so I don't really care what fact check claims.
And by the way, "definitely possible to sharpen a piece of Iron by another of a different composition." proves the prior assertion. Iron doesn't sharpen Iron. Otherwise, a "different composition", wouldn't come into your facts.

 

[Major1]

Well, I have a family background of armorers, so I don't really care what fact check claims.
And by the way, "definitely possible to sharpen a piece of Iron by another of a different composition." proves the prior assertion. Iron doesn't sharpen Iron. Otherwise, a "different composition", wouldn't come into your facts.

Honestly, I really do not care.

 

[Dave-W]

Christianity is divided because of the Early Church Fathers rejecting the Jewish believers in the 2nd and 3rd centuries.