Why Are There Denominations?

WHY ARE THERE DENOMINATIONS?

Somewhere in a new Christian's walk, or even in a somewhat seasoned Christian's walk, they are going to invariably ask themselves this question.  But where do they go to get an honest answer?  I think the bible's New Testament has some impetus for why this is.  The drive to interpret the bible has given new meaning to what may have been the real meaning of the term false teacher; "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." (2 Pet. 2:1 - 2).  Who among us who believe in Jesus wants to be labeled a false teacher?  Certainly not me!  Yet Jesus' followers schismed through the ages into the many churches who claim to follow Christ today, and to the other denominations, they see them as less than followers of Him because they don't agree on certain aspects of faith in Jesus.  In this passage, Peter points out that a false teacher will deny that Jesus bought them, and true enough, there are churches out there that profess this, and when their followers ring your doorbell, feel free to tell them what Peter said of them!

Let us look at one more aspect of false teachers versus those who simply have a different interpretation of what areas of Scripture mean; "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:1 - 4).  There are religions that claim He was only a prophet, but not God's Son, and there are churches that deny Jesus was anything at all.  There are those who say He was a guru of sorts, and others claim He was a reincarnation of Moses, which is a subtle way of denying His Godhood by equating Him with one less than God.  These are false churches led by false teachers, whose congregations also go about bearing false witness of heresies not sustainable against Scriptural doctrine.  I found one of these type of people on one of my routes, and I literally flogged her with Scripture when she tried to feed me heresy, and so badly was she whipped with correction I gave her from biblical correctness, that she begged me to quit using the bible for my information!  I answered, "Why?  It is where I find all truth!"

For the first 1,000 years after Christ's death, only one church developed that was truly Christian; the Catholic, or "universal" church.  A number of branches developed, but were all labeled heretics.  They didn't become "Christianly correct" until around the 16th century, and these new churches were considered "UnChristian".  In 1054 occurred an event labeled the "Great Schism", causing an Orthodox church to break away based on irreconcilable differences of opinion on interpretation of Scripture.  The Catholic church was of the west, and the Orthodox, of the east.

Then came the Protestant Reformation.  Martin Luther starred in this major division of Christianity, and it began with his 95 theses in 1517 and grew to an official movement in 1529.  German princes protested matters concerning God's honor, salvation, and the eternal life of their souls.  It is this point at which denominations commenced to be created, emphasizing the desire of groups of people to form congregations of the like-minded, causing not merely a break between the Protestants and Catholics, but also many schisms among the Protestants.

The Roman Catholic hierarchy insisted the Protestants would cause confusion of doctrine and corruption of Christian beliefs, and that someone needed to be in control of regulating it, while the Protestants declared that was exactly why they were leaving the Catholic church; because it had already corrupted the true faith!  They demanded believers be allowed to read it in English and for themselves, as it was previously only available in Latin, and live it according to how their conscience led them.  From there other denominations splintered off the Catholic church.  John Knox founded Presbyterianism in Scotland, and Calvinism was founded by John Calvin in Switzerland.  Switzerland was also the land where the Anabaptists were born, which splintered into the Baptists, Quakers, Amish, and Mennonites.  When Henry the VIII chopped off the authoritative hand of the Catholic Pope in England in 1534, the Anglican church was born, and in America, it was renamed Episcopal.  Wesleyan and Methodist churches uprooted themselves out of Anglicanism.

So why are there so many denominations?  Would it seem logical to you that if the truth were agreed upon by all, Satan's control would be greatly diminished?  "Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, 'Doth Job fear God for nought?  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?  Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.  But put forth Thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse Thee to Thy face.'  And the LORD said unto Satan, 'Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.'  So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD." (Job 1:9 - 12)  Just as God gave Satan permission to work on Job, so the prince of the air is working on man, sifting everyone in various denominations.  Jesus NEVER named a denomination as His church.  Everyone is being sifted to see if they will follow heretical churches or be His church following all His commandments, rules, and statutes.

So here we have an explanation why denominations of Christianity exist.  Everyone interprets Scripture differently.  True Christian churches will differ over the concept of baptism, communion, and so many other things contained in Scripture, but their core beliefs are that Jesus is the Son of God, that He came and died for all sins, that He will come again, and that all who believe in Him will be forgiven all their sins.  All these churches also believe He will judge to eternal life and to eternal damnation, for all things are given from the Father into Jesus' hand.  "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand." (John 3:35).