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Why so many different denominations?

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newyorknewyork

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why are there all these different denominations?

what is the difference between denomination and religion?

were there different denominations in the early Bible days?

why isn't there just one denomination? why are there so many?

wouldn't it be nice if christians everywhere were more unified? :)
 

Faulty

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It would be nice but a small number of us can't even agree on things on a simple message board. How could we possibly agree on everything as a whole until Christ returns to set us straight?

We let stupid things divide us. Small things are breaking up the church, making us hypocrites and less effective in our testimony.

In the short time I’ve been on this board I’ve had a number of people argue with me on the matter of Christians eating meat or are people actually in Heaven. It’s incredible. So many live for strife because they have to be right at all costs just because pastor so-and-so or a book said whatever so it just has to be right.

Unfortunately, it’s been this was since the beginning. Paul talks of those preaching division, insisting believers cannot eat the meat offered to idols or that you cannot be saved unless you are also circumcised.

Since then the arguments have changed but the methods of the enemies of the church have remained the same. Churches have split over large and small divisions alike.

I find it amazing that even among the divisions in the early church, the faithful core remained on the same page. Galatians 1:22 thru 2:10, Paul talks about after 14 years preaching in the regions of Syria and Cilicia, he returned to Jerusalem to confer with the apostles of the message he had been preaching to the gentiles. They were unanimous in agreeing that his doctrine was correct. This gives me great optimism that there are still those today preaching a correct and complete doctrine.
 
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tapero

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I think God in his mercy has allowed us due to our choice to be of different denominations and such. How can someone who is staunchly conservative handle going to a contemporary service. Many older people couldn't handle it; some can. How can someone who wants to dance sit in a quiet service?

I couldn't go to certain churches that worship and believe differently than I have. My conscience wouldn't bear it.

The 7 churches in Revelation were all quite different from each other with different struggles and different personalities that handled things well or not well.

Jesus prayed for unity of the believers and we wonder if that prayer has been answered. Was Jesus' prayer not answered. (BTW I don't know the answer to that one.)

We all have different personalities and can not and would not bear certain things - so I don't think it's because we don't love enough. One easy example I'll give that's fairly safe without hurting a denominations feelings is- I don't want to be around snakes! (for those that believe we're supposed to worship with them).

So I would say I should be thankful I live in a free nation where I can worship and believe how I believe.

Sincerely, Tapero
 
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Godslilgurlalways

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why are there all these different denominations?
B/c ppl can't believe in the same thing, and the type of world we live in there are more now than ever.


what is the difference between denomination and religion?
I think that they are about the same thing.

were there different denominations in the early Bible days?
There were a few like the jews and I am not sure about Penetcost b/c really if you look it up it's about the speaking in tongues and all, and maybe non-denational

why isn't there just one denomination? why are there so many? Becuase some don't know really want to believe in haven't made up there minds and b/c we have free will

wouldn't it be nice if christians everywhere were more unified? :) I think that some demations are unfied not all they are kinda grouped in a sense where I live non-demonational and penecostal seem very similar at the moment I can't think of any differeances. (I use to go to a pentecostal church and it's no different than the one I go to now to me they are the same). Yes it would be nice if they was the case b/c a house divided against it's self can't stand alone.:) God Bless:)
 
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Sketcher

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There were denominational differences in the early days - Paul was speaking out against the beginnings of new ones, even:

"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." - Galatians 5:19-21

There were schisms and denominations well before 1054, such as the Donatists.
 
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Combatchuc11

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The issue is pride, people have to feel like they're more right, more good, more smart, more everything than other people, even though the bible teaches that we should be humble and less. John the Baptist, whom Jesus said was the greatest prophet in the history of history said, "He must become greater; I must become less." People want to be in charge, so when divisions arose, one side generally booted the other side out. That's how Protestants came about, Luther spoke about reforming the Catholic church, so they tossed him out. In some cases, it's also another form of idolatry, people come up with some pretty neat ideas and either they or someone else exalts them, or people get angry when they contradict their own exalted ideas. All the sudden, whether drums are sinful or not is more important than Christ Jesus' love. Instead of fellowshipping and growing, we tell people to ban target. It's kinda' like when Jesus is talking to the pharisees about how they did all these "righteous things" but neglected the stuff God really saw as important. Most of the time groups of Christians are the same way, we send stuff to missionaries and hold Easter dinners, but neglect loving our neighbor. If we were full of love, 25% of Christianforums wouldn't be discussing if you could really go to hell for reading the wrong version of the Bible.
 
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Wisdom's Child

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Matthew 13:31-32
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

The Christian faith began as a small seed planted into one small region of the world. It has since grown into a mighty tree with many branches.
All of these branches reach out to heaven.

Unity is not in the pruning of the tree, for that is the work of the husbandman. Unity is in recognizing that all the branches spring from the same stump and roots. That we are all a part of the greater whole.
 
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prophecystudent

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I believe that in the truest sense of the word there is only one church. That being the Church of Jesus Christ. All the others created by man are denominations. When the bible speaks about "the church" it is talking about the true Church (with capital C).

Denominations are simply different interpretations of what is stated in the bible. Different understandings of the same scriptures.

That, in itself, does not make denominations bad. Bible believing Christians can disagree on some points of the scripture, but must agree on the major doctrines as spelled out in the bible.

The bible itself tells us to test the word, and if the word does not agree with that taught by Christ in the bible then it is false. Christ said that many will come preaching in His name, but they would be false teachers.

What disturbs me more than the number of denominations is the explosion of TV "evangelists" who are now preaching unbiblical concepts.

Perhaps I am being too critical of some of them but when I see them using "sacred handkerchiefs", miracle spring water, etc I begin to wonder.

As I recall, the only "tool" used by the huge majority of the early evangelists was to annoint the person for whom prayer was offered with oil, lay on hands and pray.

I know there are examples where someone used something else. Christ, for example, used mud made from spit and dirt to restore sight to a blind man. However, I believe that He did that to test the recipient's faith that he then had to go and wash in a certain body of water to receive his sight back.

I simply don't believe it is necessary to use these "tools" to get God to answer prayer.

Fred
 
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