I have a problem with denominations. The bible only states that we should be Christians. See below?

Question

When asked what religion I am I always say Christian because I feel all the names of denominations are manmade. The bible doesn't say Apostolic, Pentecostal, Baptist and so on. If we follow Christ that makes us Christians so we should all go by Christians, right? Well, I am chastised by my husband alot by not saying what denomination am. Do you feel I am right or wrong? He thinks I am disowning my faith.

Answer 1

You are completely right. Jesus forbade sectarianism and we should respect this. See Mark 9:38-41 and Luke 9:49-50. Paul clarifies at 1 Cor. 1:10-17 that sectarianism is a sin; he also explains at 1 Cor. 3:1-4 that "divisions" (i.e. sectarianism) among believers prove they are carnal (i.e. thinking with fleshy minds, not spiritual minds).

Do what I do: say "I'm a non-denominational Christian." That is sufficient to answer the question posed. You would only be disowning your faith if you answered that you are not Christian. Remind your hubby gently that his faith is not centered on any church -- it's centered on CHRIST.

Peace.

Answer 2

It is good to let people know that you are a Christian. There are some religions that claim the name of Christianity but follow the traditions of men.

Here are a couple of points that might help, if you bring them up in a loving way:

1. Is your faith in Christ or in a particular church or denomination?
2.What is the difference between Christianity and religion? (a relationship with Christ or following a religious practice)

If the church you go to IS a bible believing church, you could say, I am a Christian and we attend ___________church.
If the church you are attending is not a bible believing church then you should find one that is. THIS can be very difficult if your husband has a long history in that church or religion.

One of the best things you can do is read and study the bible for yourself. Encourage your husband to do this with you.

Look up James 1:26-27

Remember in all of this our responsibilities as Christian women,
Love God, love one another, respect our husbands, submit to our husbands.

Look up bible verses on husbands and wives.
Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I also have a problem with denominations. If you read early church history there was only one Christian faith for about fiftteen hundred years following the life and death of Christ: The Catholic faith...where the mass was celebrated and people believed that they were receiving Jesus Christ in the Eucharist....then about 500 years ago Martin Luther decided that the religion that Christ founded was not correct and so thus we had a break off and a new denomination. Today there are thousands of denominations all interpreting the Bible differently and believing different things....but Truth is Truth and so there can only be one Truth because only one of them can be right. The Bible tells us : "If we are neither hot nor cold I will vomit the from my mouth." Which means that we are required to believe one way or another rather than straddling the fence. If we are not sure then we are obliged to study and find out....best wishes.

Answer 4

Good question. I partially agree with you and partially with your husband.

1 Corinthians 1:10 says, "Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment."

So yes, we should all agree and be one. There should be no such thing as denominations. We should "all agree" and not be divided.

Unfortunately, some of the more intricate details of the Bible are disagreed over. It is your duty to determine the essentials, the peripherals and then the best denomination to be part of. If you are able to do this then you believe your denomination is the closest to the truth. Such an accomplishment should be shared with others (Jude 3, "Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.")

Answer 5

You certainly are Biblically right, and 1 Corinthians 1 deals with that very clearly. "...each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ." 13 Has Christ been divided?" The trouble is that many attempts have been made to do away with denominational names and it just doesn't work. In fact there is a "Christian Church" denomination, started by people who felt as you do. The Brethren movement was started by those who felt we were all just brothers and sisters in Christ. It doesn't matter what term you use it will soon become another denomination. Just accept whatever term you use, and use it as an opportunity to explain just what you believe and in doing so present Christ.
It is not worth having a conflict with between you and your husband, and if there is then follow the Bible teaching and submit.

Answer 6

It doesn't matter what denomination you are - we are all Christians. And yes, it does talk about Pentecost and Baptist and Jews and other religions in the Bible. The thing is - we are all Christians if we believe in the one true God and are saved by him.
The differences are simple - they all teach out of the same Bible, they all teach the same stories and scripture - it is just that some are living the old testament, some the new and some all. Baptist teach about salvation every Sunday and scare people into being saved. Pentecostals believe in speaking in tongues - it is in the Bible and is real -0 in case you are wondering. Church of Christ believe you have to be baptized in order to be saved and don't believe in music while they worship - which I don't understand either because you clearly don't have to be baptized to be saved and it clearly says to worship with music and sing praises. And The Assembly of God is the same as the Pentecostal and Church of God ( not Christ, it is different). Methodist is about the same as baptist except they are not as strict. So basically the differences are not major - it is just where you feel comfortable. I do believe you should go to church though because it is there that we learn and grow closer to God. You should worship him and talk everyday, but at church is where you learn.

Answer 7

I think you are right, but these days people may need differentiating, because some people say they are Christians, but only practice or believe certain aspects of the bible. I don't think denominations are anything to be hung up about, but they may be good at describing how one practices Christian Doctrine or how one's theology differs from another (Example Catholicism and Baptists-- their practice and theology is very different). Maybe your boyfriend gives you a hard time because he is unsure of your theological differences? Remember, the first churches of Paul differed from each other and from the early Christians before him...

Answer 8

denominations emerged after the Bible was written, that's why they're not present in the Bible. These denominations occured due to a disagreement in leadership or the bible's interpretation. Your faith is in God and the Bible, not in a certain set of doctrines based on variances on the same text. You are a Christian, but you go to a (insert name of denomination) church.

Answer 9

I agree with you. I think that when you start breaking things down, you lose sight of what you're really supposed to be doing - worshiping God.

I grew up Baptist but I've since just considered myself a Christian, and lately, I've been leaning more toward the agnostic side of things.

I'm really confused about the whole thing, really. But denominations only makes the confusion turn into chaos.

Answer 10

Ask him if his faith takes him to these limits (second paragraph below and continuing) because in a simple manner he's started on that road against you, then ask him to read you the passages from the Bible about persecution... Perhaps he'll take a different tack if he reexamines the teachings in his faith. Then perhaps you can start working on the passages in the bible which teach a husband to value his wife.

Religious persecution is the persecution of individuals within a group in the struggle to maintain their religious identity, or the abuse of power by an individual or organization that causes members of a religious group to suffer. Persecution in this case may refer to unwarranted arrest, false imprisonment, beatings, torture, unjustified execution, denial of benefits, and denial of civil rights and liberties.

Conflicts between Christians and non-Christians have at times resulted in the persecution by Christians of non-Christians. Christians have also persecuted each other when conflicts arose between different Christian denominations. Such persecutions have extended to a wide variety of religious and social minorities within predominantly Christian countries.

Such persecution has included unwarranted arrest, war, inquisition, imprisonment, beating, rape, torture, execution or ethnic cleansing. It also may refer to the confiscation or destruction of property, or incitement to hate non-Christians. In some cases such persecution has been visited upon those who consider themselves Christian, but are regarded as non-Christians by members of the dominant Christian denomination, such as Catholic Christians in majority Protestant areas, vice versa, and so forth.