Why all the denominations?

Question

The bible says not to divide the body of Christ, so why all the denominations? 1 Cor. 1:10 - "I appeal to you,brothers,in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought".

guardian _angel14701, why must you be mean to me? I just asked a question ... and you want to tell me I look evil? I don't come here to insult people. I come here for answers and advice and gladly give it. Not ridicule others' on the way they look! God forgive you!

Answer 1

Great question.
I wish I had the true answer.
There is disagreement.
We have not grown up to the full stature of Christ, have we?
I am not going to say I know this for a fact, maybe there are the Fathers of Faith amongst us.
They that have grown to that level.
I just keep asking for the Truth and have found that it is a growing experience.
I am very different from 20 years ago. Little by little you go your way.
The differences are because of our own individuality.
I have not met any that believe exactly like me.
Close but not exactly.
The pastors do not. They believe as they were taught in seminary.
This is the way we do it--- 1 2 3 or 321 or 213, etc.
What is needed? One teacher the Holy Spirit. The Truth.
He tells it one way.
Keep on asking for the Truth.

Answer 2

It comes down to perceptions of the flesh. I've witnessed first hand how a church breaks apart (not into separate denominations, but into two churches) over internal politics having nothing to do with scripture or religious views. It can be over something as simple as the time of services or a dress code or even over the collection plates.

I recently watched a Childrens Program (which was very successful) break apart at our church because of a few of the leaders had to have it their way or they would leave. Ten leaders and 6 were related. The four other disagreed with how things were being done and the 6 basically said they would leave if things were changed (which is what should have happened). Ultimately the other four left and the program went from having 40-60 kids weekly to 12-20 kids weekly. The balance of the kids ended up at another church where the four went. So, over a minor power struggle....the church lost not only four people...but they lost the four peoples families and all the children and some or most of their families.

I actually stopped going to that church myself due to internal politics and have come back (a year later) and the church has regrouped and ousted the six from the childrens program.

Answer 3

It has to do with false doctrine and the work of the evil one. The devil tries to introduce lies into the teachings of the church in order to;

1. deceive people so that they don't experience abundant life in Christ

2. cause strife and divisions within the body of Christ

3. lure people out of the church and into cults

James 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be watchful; your adversary the devil walks about as a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour. 9 Resist him, being steadfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Answer 4

People want to worship God the way that makes THEM feel good with little regard as to how God wants to be worshiped!

That is a very good scripture, and is one reason that I became one of Jehovah's witness. We worship in unity, and the way that makes Jehovah happy, not us (but knowing that we are making the true God happy, makes us happy as well)!

Try this, ask 3 people of the same religion a question.
Then ask 3 JWs the same.
You are most likely to get more than 1 answer from the other religion.
You will get the same bible based answer from a JW!

I done it, and was surprised how many people from the same religion will give you so many different answers! But when I did it to the witnesses, I got the same answer from the bible!

Check it out yourself @ http://watchtower.org


loj

Answer 5

Because the King of England wanted to divorce his wife and the Catholic church would not allow it. So he created the "Church of England." Then other people interpreted various things differently than the Vatican and rejected them. One was the teaching that the earth was flat and the center of the universe. Obviously wrong, but they excommunicated Galileo for teaching the truth.
It only took them about 300 years and several trips into space to forgive him. Then there was the Spanish Inquisition and the witch hunts. Both of which tortured and killed thousands of people in Christ's name. If they can be so wrong and so unrepentant about being so evil, how can people continue to see them as having the absolute truth of God???

Answer 6

I wish that were possible. The church was severely damaged in 251 over infant baptisms and some other things. It suffered for 1300 years. Since the reformation few denominations have been able to recover, none fully. Each group just has too much tradition of their own and not enough Jesus.

Answer 7

This is exactly why the Church originally did not make the Bible available widely. Too many different interpretations. That is what caused the division. Now that we are divided we need to focus more on what we have in common and less on our minor differences.
Peace Be With You,
Debra

Answer 8

There are two ways of looking at that. Either it's the work of Satan, splitting the Church into pieces, or it's a mercy of God, allowing men various ways of approaching His Son, so that all may come to the knowledge, etc. etc.

Answer 9

the bible also says that Jesus came to divide people.

Matthew 10:34 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword."

Luke
12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division."
Jesus did not come to bring peace, but division.
Is Jesus peaceful?
12:52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.(12:52-53)
"The father shall be divided against the son."
Jesus prophesies that families will be divided because of him and his teachings. Sadly, this is one prophecy that has been fulfilled.
12:53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

Answer 10

But even it that day there were those that had strayed from what the Apostles taught.
What did they teach was the way to be saved?
Open the book of Acts. That's where you'll find the truth!