different type of christian churches?

Question

how come there are so many different named churches all believing in Jesus? evangelical, protestant, church of god, etc...anyone can tell me the difference or a site telling me the difference...except the spelling of the names.(there's always someone who is going to say "the spelling")

Answer 1

Well, through history different churches broke away from each other and formed their own religions. IE the Church of England (Episcopals) broke away from Cathololicism, Methodist broke away from the Church of England. There are huge differences amoung many of them. I suggest visiting local churches to really know. beliefnet.com is a great religious resource.

Answer 2

some have chosen ways to worship and live, that are different from the others. So just as ice cream has many flavors, we have many different church organizations. You would be amazed at how many of them actually work off the same sheet of music (so to speak).

Keep in that the church was designed to be local and independent. This creation of big denominations is a structure with a higher archy that was never the Biblical design.

One other thing you should be aware of, and this one is BIG, we have an enemy who hates any church organization that teaches the truth. The enemy is a master at creating what look like good churches, when in fact they are miles away from teaching the truth. So many of these organizations are pedaling religion and not truth. They take advantage of peoples ignorance of the truth.

If you know the truth than you will see the lies! So my advice is to study the Bible and know the truth so you are not fooled by the phonies, or the ones who are off in a wrong direction.

Ilustration; why do so many go to see Benny Hinn??? Answer; they don't know the truth and they have a need and think he has the answer. They get fooled by their lack of knowledge of truth.

Answer 3

The differences in different Christian churches are as varied as the names and spellings themselves.

Here is what happens right from the bible.

Right after the Apostles were told to go out and start the churches with Jesus as the cornerstone, they did as they were told.
Humans being humans listened and believed and then as more and more joined in the movement, there started being disagreements as to who was a better teacher and so on.

Paul writes a letter to address this problem and reminds all involved that they are not to be following a teacher such as Apollos or even Paul himself, they are to be following Jesus Christ.

Alas, humans and human nature want to follow someone they can see and they continued to separate themselves according to whose teachings they enjoyed or could understand better.

As time went on the inevitable occurs, people start listening to men telling them about the bible instead of men teaching them from the bible. They stop reading the bible themselves or at least only reading the parts that the teacher is teaching from. THis leaves the door wide open for abuse and arguments between each other as to what was really being taught and written and viola , we have churches splitting and new off shoots who want only to teach one aspect of the bible and not the whole thing.

It is really impossible to give an absolute as to what distinguishes one church from another, other than to say at some point someone got frustrated with what one church was teaching or not teaching and decided to start a church of their own that held to their thoughts and desires as to what a church should be.

Answer 4

Everyone related to God differently. some are quite and get teary. others shout and dance. Each of those groups commune with others like them.

Then there is the mission piece. no one group can do all things so some focus on evangelism. Other focus on care giving. Still others focus on social justice.

The key is we all are part of the body of Christ.

Think of one group as a finger and anotheras a toe or ear, etc.

Answer 5

Different churches have either different focuses in their teachings, wholely different teachings from one another, different political liberal/conservative bents, different practices and customes, and generally despite all holding that Christ is the Son of God, all have slightly different views of the same man.

Answer 6

Many factors have contributed to the development of new religious groups. Some have said that the various religions all represent different ways of presenting religious truth. But a comparison of their teachings and practices with the Bible indicates, rather, that the diversity of religions is because people have become followers of men instead of listening to God. It is noteworthy that, to a large extent, teachings they hold in common, but that differ from the Bible, originated in ancient Babylon.
Who is the instigator of such religious confusion? The Bible identifies Satan the Devil as “the god of this system of things.” (2 Cor. 4:4) It warns us that “the things which the nations sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, and not to God.” (1 Cor. 10:20) How vitally important, then, to make sure that we really are worshiping the true God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and that our worship is pleasing to him!

Are all religions acceptable to God?

According to Judges 10:6, 7; If a person worships any thing or any person other than the true God, the Creator of heaven and earth, it is evident that his form of worship is not acceptable to God-JHVH.

According Mark 7:6, 7; Regardless of whom a group profess to worship, if they hold to doctrines of men instead of the inspired Word of God, their worship is in vain.

Also at Romans 10:2, 3; People may have God’s written Word but lack accurate knowledge of what it contains, because they have not been taught properly. They may feel that they are zealous for God, but they may not be doing what he requires. Their worship is not going to please God, is it?

Is it true that there is good in all religions?

Most religions do teach that a person should not lie or steal, and so forth. But is that sufficient? Would you be happy to drink a glass of poisoned water because someone assured you that most of what you were getting was water?

2 Cor. 11:14, 15: “Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light. It is therefore nothing great if his ministers also keep transforming themselves into ministers of righteousness.” (Here we are cautioned that not everything that originates with Satan may appear hideous. One of his chief methods of deceiving mankind has been false religion of all kinds, to some of which he gives a righteous appearance.)

2 Tim. 3:2, 5: “Men will be . . . having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away.” (Regardless of their outward professions of love for God, if those with whom you worship do not sincerely apply his Word in their own lives, the Bible urges you to break off such association.)

Is belonging to an organized religion necessary?

Most religious organizations have produced bad fruitage. It is not the fact that groups are organized that is bad. But many have promoted forms of worship that are based on false teachings and are largely ritualistic instead of providing genuine spiritual guidance; they have been misused to control the lives of people for selfish objectives; they have been overly concerned with money collections and ornate houses of worship instead of spiritual values; their members are often hypocritical. Obviously no one who loves righteousness would want to belong to such an organization. But true religion is a refreshing contrast to all of that. Nevertheless, to fulfill the Bible’s requirements, it must be organized.

Heb. 10:24, 25: “Let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you behold the day drawing near.” (To carry out this Scriptural command, there must be Christian meetings that we can attend on a consistent basis. Such an arrangement encourages us to express love toward others, not only concern about self.)

1 Cor. 1:10: “Now I exhort you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you should all speak in agreement, and that there should not be divisions among you, but that you may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought.” (Such unity would never be achieved if the individuals did not meet together, benefit from the same spiritual feeding program, and respect the agency through which such instruction was provided. See also John 17:20, 21.)

1 Pet. 2:17: “Have love for the whole association of brothers.” (Does that include only those who may meet together for worship in a particular private home? Not at all; it is an international brotherhood, as shown by Galatians 2:8, 9 and 1 Corinthians 16:19.)

Matt. 24:14: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (For all nations to be given the opportunity to hear that good news, the preaching must be carried out in an orderly way, with suitable oversight. Love for God and for one’s fellowman has caused people around the earth to unite their efforts to do this work.)