And why does one group think they are better than the other? Do they think that one group of christians is going to go to hell and the other is not?
2007-01-09 09:59:21 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Only Christians will be in heaven with God. If you study your Bible, you know the way of salvation is written therein.When you obey the commands of Christ to be saved, you become a Christian, that's all, nothing else. Christ is the head of the church, we are his followers, thus we are Christians if we have obeyed Him only. Hope this helps you.
2007-01-09 10:05:54 · answer #1 · answered by Denise M 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It all comes down to how different groups interpret the Bible. Unfortunately, many denominations will create an entire doctrine out of a single line of Scripture. We are told to compare line upon line, precept upon precept when studying the Bible. We must not glom onto a certain interpretation of a single line of Scripture when that interpretation is not in harmony with every other verse in the Bible where that subject is talked about. Let the Bible interpret itself. If you do not understand a verse or term, you will find the definition or interpretation of it in another part of the Bible. There are many denominations of Christianity that retain too many pagan elements from Catholicism, and some Christian denominations actually blend some Eastern religions
into their doctrine. You must remember that Satan is the author of confusion, so he has tainted many Christian sects and denominations with false doctrines so as to confuse people. The best way to know the truth is to let the Bible interpret itself.
The Bible tells us that God's true end-time church will have two primary characteristics: they will obey the Commandments of God (all 10, not just 9) and they will have the spirit of prophecy. I don't know about you, but I only know of one church that fits that description, and that's the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. They believe that God's saved people are in every Christian church, but just before Christ comes, there will be a "shaking" that will cause everyone to leave these churches and gravitate toward one side or the other (God's or Satan's).
2007-01-09 18:31:02 · answer #2 · answered by FUNdie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
>>Why are there so many variations of Christianity?<<
Study history. For example, the Eastern Orthodox couldn't accept that Jesus left Peter in charge (John 21:15-17), and this contributed to their breaking away from the Catholic Church. Martin Luther was mentally ill, and this led him to interpret scripture erroneously, fall into heresy, and break away from the Catholic Church. Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church because he wanted to get rid of his wife (now there's a spiritual reason!). Cut off from the protection the Holy Spirit provides the Catholic Church, the Church of England quickly fell into heresy (39 articles). Non-Catholic Christians are now constantly splitting because they believe that is the way to solve problems, and since they don't recognize Peter, they are literally lost sheep, wandering blind and aimless.
And NO, it is not Catholic teaching that everyone who is not Catholic is automatically going to Hell!
2007-01-09 18:31:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is important to know God and come to him by faith. All Christians must love truth according to Thessalonians... but that doesnt mean they explain truth perfectly.
Many differences are differences in styles, in governments, formal or informal... not differences of substance
Some are more serious differences... but they also will depend on the individual... one individual in a church might have saving faith and the guy next to him may not
Some groups are so eccentric that one would doubt they had saving faith is they have an eccentric view of the nature of God, or the work of Jesus on the cross
2007-01-09 18:08:04 · answer #4 · answered by whirlingmerc 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So many people do not investigate for themselves. They just believe something because their Daddy did, or their Mommy did; or they are lazy and just hitch their wagon onto the first train that comes to town.
It is your job to figure out which one is the truth
Or . . . You could do like a lot of agnostics and just sit on the sideline and throw stones, and act like you know something.
Why so many variations? People are liars at the core of their heart - it is human nature at its worst.
You were lied to if they told you this is a nice place.
2007-01-09 18:09:07 · answer #5 · answered by Clark H 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are so many variations because many people have interpreted the Bible differently. Some look at one verse and say, "Look here, it says we must be baptized in the Jordan", but they don't look at the beginning of the chapter to see who that verse is speaking to. Also some denominations have traditions and opinions from their culture that are melded into their doctrine.
2007-01-09 18:07:03 · answer #6 · answered by Droppinshock 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
People find they believe some things more than others but agree with the general principles. Just like the church of england states its fine to get divorced. People will then say they are C of E so divorce is ok.
2007-01-09 18:05:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are NO variations, there is only Christianity.
2007-01-09 18:11:39 · answer #8 · answered by The Question Man 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Different interpretations of the Bible create different Christian sects/religions.
And as far as I can tell, they all think themselves right and everyone else wrong. That would make a lot of Christians in Hell I think.
2007-01-09 18:08:07 · answer #9 · answered by crista 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Because the Christians don't even agree with each other. And every time that happens, they make a new denomination.
2007-01-09 18:05:12 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋