I don't know if this question was ever asked and if this is even the most appropriate place to ask it.
Why are there so many denominations that seem to believe something from the Bible that in some instances contradicts the beliefs of one or more denominations with the beliefs of one or more other denominations?
Not an easy question....
I guess one could ask, why are there so many different kinds of restaurants and automobiles? Why doesn't everyone live in San Diego (although I SURE don't want them to, I wish a LOT would leave!)? Why are their two political parties in the USA and a couple of zillion in France?
Some thoughts.....
1. MUCH of the "answer" lies in HISTORY. Until very recently, life was very regional. People were born, lived and died within just a few miles. UNDERSTANDABLY, culture, customs, traditions, songs, and yes ideas developed that were'nt always IDENTICAL everywhere. Not so surprising.... In the USA for example, there were once over a dozen different large Lutheran denominations - even thought theologically there wasn't a nickel's difference. But in just the 200-300 years since Luther, Lutheranism developed differently in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the various areas and principalities of German, in Slovakia, even England and Iceland. And there were different forms even in the same country. There were "high" Lutherans and "low" Lutherans, those that followed "pietism" and those that didn't. Their local church reflected all this. As they moved to the USA - they brought all that with them. Today, over 100-150 years after the big immigration of Lutherans, there are two main Lutheran denominations - still SOMEWHAT cultural in difference (German vs. Scandinavian) but MOSTLY alone the "liberal/conservative" line that we see happening in most Protestant USA denominations.
2. Unlike in the OOC, EOC, RCC and LDS - in Protestantism, there is an embrace of the church as US - the whole body of believers, spread out over all the continents and centuries. Protestants don't regard our denominations as "THE CHURCH" in any sense. For us, denominations are FREE ASSOCIATIONS of congregations, congregations that associate together for many purposes: cooperation, mutual support, accountability, edification - a LOT of reasons. Sometimes, a congregation may feel this associatation isn't "working" or just isn't best. USUALLY, leaving is permissible (depends on some legal issues - and whether property belongs to the congregation or denomination). The easier it is to disassociate, probably the more likely some will do that. There is a rather constant flow of congregations (or more likely groups of persons therein) all the time - especially in the USA where we have much ENORMOUS diversity available. But they also can choose to form a new association (rather than join one already in existence) - and thus, a new denomination is formed. Denominations are born (and die - and merge) quite regularly in the USA. While NO ONE considers this willy-nilly, NOR to PROTESTANTS take this as a huge theological thing. This is not the church, this is OUR free associations. Jesus never founded ANY denomination, Jesus neither promoted or condemned them, they are OUR invention to help US do the ministry He gave us to do.
4. There has
NEVER been agreement on what MUST be believed. Not in 2000 years! Think of the problem we've had at CF just determining what is and isn't a "Christian" (we gave up, and decided to change the question - who is and isn't in agreement with the Nicene Creed?"). Deciding what IS truth and what MUST be accepted as much has
NEVER been universally determined - and we STILL seem far from that. One denomination may decided that accepting male-only ordination is NECESSARY for membership in that demonimnation. Another may say that accepting female ordination is necessary. Another may not say anything on that at all. You've just created 3 entirely different groups of denominations - on just ONE of literally hundreds of different issues. It's one thing to say, "we hold to these beliefs and practices." I respect that. Even honor that! It's another to say, "ERGO, we are Christians and you are heretical pagans!" THAT causes me a LOT of discomfort.... I don't agree with the RCC on some things, BUT I regard Catholics as my FULL, Unseparated, and in every possible sense EQUAL and equally blessed brothers and sisters in Christ, with whom I'll be spending eternity in heaven. Are we in the same denomination? No. That changes nothing I said. But then I'm Protestant, I can hold to that position.
MY half cent.
Pax
- Josiah
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