Why are there different denominations of Christianity?

Question

And why SOOOOO many?

Answer 1

Because the Bible is subject to interpretation. There isn't one codified way to read the passages written, and people tend to place different emphasis on different parts. So, one person gets a "vision", tells the world, and if enough people follow a new denomination is born. Martin Luther protested the abuses of the Catholic Church, enough people agreed and we have Lutherans. Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wives, the Pope kept saying no, so Henry created a Church to do his bidding and sanctify his divorces- and now we have Anglicans (Episcopalians in the U.S.). Even Rastas point towards passages where the Bible speaks of "the herb" as justification for the use of marijuana. Now where marijuana grows in a freakin' desert is anyone's guess, but I'm just the messenger.

Answer 2

There are a few reasons which would account for such. A comparison of Matthew 13:24-30, 36-42 with 2 Corinthians 4:4 should help you get started.

Jesus prophesied early on that there would come a day (which began in the first century) when true Christians would be surrounded by the countless counterfeit christians planted by the enemy.

It is this same enemy spoken of in 2 Corinthians 4:4 who sows disorder and disharmony. Is that not what can be seen in these countless different denominations?

If one compares the teachings of Christendom with the Bible, one comes away with the understanding that men have simply begun to follow men rather than listening to God. Moreover, most of the basic beliefs of Christendom can be traced to Babylon and its practices.

That they do not come from God can be seen in a reading of 1 Corinthians 14:33. God is not the author of disorder and disarray.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 3

Because there are differences of opinion on many aspects of Christianity. For example, most Baptists, I believe, are Calvinist in philosophy and believe that only an "elect" few will reach heaven and they often believe in predestination. Others, like Methodists, hold to free will.

Some denominations think faith alone will save you. Others believe that good works are required, in addition to faith.

The major break is between Catholics and Protestants - wherein the Catholics actually have 5 or so additional books in their Bible that the Protestants don't recognize. The Mormons have their own book of Mormon in addition to the Ol and New Testaments.

Go to the official websites of the different denominations and research their basic tenets. What's really interesting is the most Christians either don't know, or ignore, the differences.

Answer 4

A long history of stubbornness and conflict.

From the very beginning of the Christian faith, there were arguments over leadership, theology, interepretation, mission, purpose. The first of the hurdles was between those who saw Christians as just another group of Jews, and those who saw Christianity as a message for gentiles as well. The latter won out.

Then came heresies - gnostics, arians, docetists, etc - who preached all manner of things based on non-Canonical scriptures (the "other" Gospels, etc).

Then came the Great Schism when the Orthodox Church split from the Western (Roman) Catholic Church, following the lines drawn centuries before when Byzantium and Rome became two separate empires.

Then came the Reformation when Luther, wanting to reform the Church from within, was taken in by German princes who wanted an excuse to take the Church's land. Luther's students turned on him, Calvin condemned him and went his own way. The national churches followed their own branches and leadership (ie, Church of England --> Anglican, Church of Scotland --> Presbyterian). Some fled to the U.S. to start their own congregations, only to have a squabble over ego or an interepretation of a passage of Scripture lead to an entirely new congregation forming.

And let's not forget about the fighting, the bloody battles that were fought between Catholic and Protestant, and between Protestant and Protestant. Catholics became demonized among Protestants - they were the Spanish armadas, the symbolism of unenlightened monarchy and oppressive military action - especially among the settlers in the Americas.

Ultimately, then, it is our own stubborn history that has led to such divisions.

Answer 5

There is only one possible answer for this question and that would be..people.. Alot of people tend to twist the Bible into saying whatever it is that they want it to say...they disagree with others over the meaning, while in the mean time driving countless numbers of people away from the very gospel that was intended to draw people to God. I have personally seen churches divided over the color of the carpet that was to be placed in the church.
Not everyone believes the same thing..that's why there are so many..same reason that the pagans, satanist, wiccans and christians are seperated...different beliefs.

Be blessed

Answer 6

It's all about fights over words. In the Bible, God identifies himself simply by saying "I am."

This is not unique in world religions. In Taoism, they talk about the Tao "that can't be told." That means that nobody really knows what it is, or who it is. They just accept that the Universe has an intelligent design and, therefore, has an intelligence at least in effect. Hindus say that some part of God is in all of us. Buddhists believe that God may or may not exist - but it doesn't matter because nature (the universe) constantly changes and life goes by sacred patterns.

How do you define it? Your answer will only be the 80 millionth one.

Answer 7

Do you know about the Tower of Babel? Where everyone spoke the same language. God confused the languages because no one would have faith in Him. Everyone understood everything, and then tried to exalt themselves over Him. (power has always been a human need) Religion is kinda the same. If we all believed in the same thing, why would we have faith? What would we search for? We'd have all the answers. What would we need God for?

Answer 8

There are many denominations that claim to be Christian, but they teach things that contradict each other. How do you choose which one to believe?

Notice Acts 17:11

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

The Bible does not contradict itself. If two churches teach things that contradict each other, then at least one of them is in error, contradicting the Bible. Search the scriptures to see which one (if either) is teaching the truth!

The many denominations should not exist.

Notice what 1 Corinthians 1:10 says;"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."

Jesus prayed for such unity in John 17:20-21.

Why do we have so many divisions? Men are not satisfied to all speak the same thing. Men are not satisfied to teach only the word of God. Men are not satisfied to only speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent. Men are not content to do Bible things in Bible ways and call Bible things by Bible names. Too many wish to add their own desires and teach their own doctrine.

Notice 2 Timothy 4:2-4.
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

We should return to the Bible as our authority and only guide book. We should have a "thus saith the Lord" for everything we teach and do as a church.

The Bible teaches that the church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23) and that there is only "one body" (Eph 4:4).When the church first began, there were no denominations.

In Acts 2, we see that about 3000 all heard the same message, all understood it the same way, all believed it the same way and all obeyed it the same way. The result was they became Christians - nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. At this point, God added them to His church (Acts 2:47).

There is no authorization for Christians to "join the church of your choice", but they were added to the church Christ built and purchased! (Matt. 16:18, Acts 20:27)

After they became Christians they continued in one accord in fellowship and together in the apostles doctrine. (Acts 2:42-47) They had the type of unity Christians should have.

Today, if we read and understand what they understood, believe what they believed, and do only what they did, without adding any man-made doctrine, we will become only what they became - Christians!

This is the goal and plea of those who meet together under the name "church of Christ" today. We only want to be the church you can read about in the Bible.

Christ is the head of the church, therefore we have no "headquarters" on Earth that oversees the local congregation, but each congregation goes directly to the Bible to see what should be taught and practiced.

A denomination is larger than the local congregation, but smaller than the universal church. Since the church of Christ congregations are autonomous, only governed by local congregations, with no regional, national, or world-wide "headquatrers" they are not a denomination. There is no man-made organization in between the local congregation (which is not a denomination) and the church as a whole (which is not a denomination).

We only want to follow God's word in our name (Rom. 16:16), method of worship, organization, and teaching (doctrine). The word of God is sufficient for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction. Using it in this way, we can be completely furnished with everything we need, and there is no need to add any man-made doctrine. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

Those who teach as doctrine the commandments of men have form of worship that is vain. (Matt 15:9)

I invite you to examine the Church of Christ by a comparison with the scriptures! If the things we teach are scriptural, found in the Scriptures, then accept them. If the things we teach contradict the Bible, then reject them!

Any church that claims to follow the Bible should not object to such a comparison to scriptures. In fact, they should encourage it!

Answer 9

everyone is his unique and everyone has his own character and everyone has his own idea to interpret or to analyse something he think is right. Only one bible from Moses and there will come out many different interpretations. And if other religious which were created by their hollyman who had been proven his enlightenment. Their followers will have thousands of his interpretations. If we can empty our own, will accept more other ideas. Their will be no more arguement and fight for the right and kill.

Answer 10

Because Christians like to make up different rules about their religion based on what they want. Nice, huh?