33,000 protestant denominations plus 3 more each week. Isn´t that a proof against private interpretation?

Question

This number is the current estimate from a protestant source (David B. Barrett´s Dictionary of Christianity in America -Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press) that counted 22,150 distinct denominations in the world in 1985.
Each believes something different. Big or small difference doesn´t matter. The truth is one: Jesus.
Remember:
• 1 Cor. 14:33 - he is not the God of disorder
• Jn. 17:22-23 - that they may be one, as we are one, ... that they may be brought to perfection as one
• Rom. 15:5 - God grant you to think in harmony with one another
• Rom. 16:17 - avoid those who create dissensions
• 1 Cor. 1:10, 13 - I urge that there be no divisions among you... Is Christ divided?
• Eph. 4:11-14 - “he gave some as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers...for building up the body of Christ,...until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God ...so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching”

Answer 1

Yes, that is solid proof against the Protestant heresy that Jesus Christ promised the Holy Spirit would guide each Christian infallibly when interpreting the Scriptures.

This authority was only given to the Roman Catholic Church. (Matthew 16:18 and forward). Jesus promised that He will be with the Church always. Jesus' presence in the Church assures infallible teaching on faith and morals. With Jesus present, the Catholic Church can never be deceived. (Matt 28:20)

True unity and integrity of doctrine is to be found only in the Church. When Martin Luther and the other Reformers rejected the authority of the Church, they started the ball of private interpretation rolling and i'ts been doing catastrophic damage ever since.

With each passing year, the Protestant churches water down the teaches of Jesus more and more.

Answer 2

I am a catholic who once left to join a protestant denomination. I was a pastor for a short time but later became a catholic again after a spiritual awakening.

Protestants feel the need legitimize their own churches by making pronouncements against catholicism and others, but they really needent worry so much about the legitimacy of their church, rather the legitimacy of their faith. If they believe in the Lord and put their trust in him, pray and perform acts of mercy like jesus did, then tthey stand with Us at Calvary with tears in our eyes as we reflect on the great love of God who sacrificed his only son for our sakes.

For those protestants who's sole focus is the cross of christ, not on the legitimacy of your church of the catholic church,
this scripture was made for you:

" Whomever is not against us, is for us" (Luke 9:50)

Answer 3

I value the unity of the Catholic Church, though the clearly established heirarhcy of the Church may seem to political to other denominations, it has what kept the Catholic Church unified, and not constantly splitting.

Answer 4

What the number proves is that we are generally unsatisfied with what is presented as truth and have a hunger for "real" truth. No one has it. And we may never reach it. Religion is evolving as it always has, nearer, nearer, by millimeters, nearer to absolute truth. The major religions, all too political, are not leading anyone forward instead being stalled, seemingly satisfied with their own present statuses. I talk not only of Christendom, but all major faiths. A permanent grand council of wise ones to search spiritual truth would be a bold and welcome development but it seems none are capable of thinking on, let alone focusing on, the spiritual plane.

Answer 5

Not sure I find a real question here...

But, it seems to me that if there are sooo many interpretations of the bible and many of them,different as they are, claim to be "The Word", the author didn't get the message across at all. Can't fault the reader if the book is poorly written...

Perhaps that's why those old tales have been "translated" sooo many times by sooo many editors...

Answer 6

if there's a point in there somewhere, i fail to see it...denominations don't matter, whatever social traditions and rituals have been created by various denominations don't matter, either...Christ's church is the worldwide body of believers...nothing more, nothing less

Answer 7

You are on the right track. That is why Joseph Smith went to the Lord in prayer, to find out from the source which of all the churches was true and which he should join. He was told, in answer to his prayer that he must join none of them because they were all wrong. Thus began the dispensation of the fulness of times founded upon direct revelation from God to apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism and we are no longer tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. Our goal is to become one with Him as He is one with the Father.