Does anyone know the major differences between Baptist,Presbyterian,Lutheran ect.?

Question

i was raised as a baptist although i now don't even consider myself Christian but i was curious as to what the majoor differences are.
i know Martin Luther had the first large group to separate from the roman catholic church but what issues split up the protastant groups?

Answer 1

A really simply way to explain it is this...... If you ask a Baptist, a Lutheran, and a Presbyterian, how they know they're saved, here are the answers you'll get:

Baptist: Because I asked Jesus into my heart.

Lutheran: Because I was baptized.

Presbyterian: Because God chose me for salvation.


To elaborate a little......

Lutherans and Presbyterians both reject the Baptist teaching that salvation comes by asking Jesus into your heart.

Lutherans believe that Baptism and Holy Communion are sacraments which actually achieve what they symbolize. So we believe that we receive God's grace by receiving the sacraments. Lutherans also believe that preaching the Gospel is a sacramental act. So according to Lutherans, a person is never saved by making a choice. It is the actual preaching of the Gospel and baptism that save the person, so salvation is something done to you--not something you decide to accept.

Presbyterians believe that God chooses whom He will give grace to, according to His pleasure. Since I could not accept that premise, I never learned the specifics of how a person would "become a Christian" as a Presbyterian understands it.

Answer 2

Lutheran and Anglican (Episcopal) are closer to Catholic. Baptist and Presbyterian are almost interchangeable doctrinally, but the Presbyterian service is a little more formal. Some Baptist and Presbyterian are more Calvinistic, and some are more near Armenian-thought not completely. .

Answer 3

They called the "scriptures" the "Word of God". which means they can pull out some doctrine and say "It's Divine!" and all ya all who don't believe us are swine!

If everyone says the scriptures are divine, it is easy then, for people to miss use them and create new ideas based on dissected scriptures.

If we use the term (scriptures) as Jesus and the prophets, Peter Paul and Mary used (wait, I don't think it is written which term Mary used) then we know that a scripture is not divine until the Holy Spirit gives it life.

Still, I would have to say, that out of the bunch you mentioned, Baptists are probably closest to following the basics without too much dogma. They do take out some scripture and demand that you believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not for today but I think the others on your list do that as well.
I could go there and have, but I prefer a charismatic, nondenominational but not to radical.

just tryin' ta help
Gypsy Priest

Answer 4

One of the biggest divisions between the Lutherans and the rest is the concept of Real Presence. We see Baptism as God and Christ truely coming into us and being reborn as a child of God, through the Grace of God and Christ Jesus. It is all a gift from God and nothing of our own doing.
Secondly, in the sacrament of Holy Communion, we also see the true presence. The body and blood of Christ Jesus is in, with, and through the bread and wine.


A good resource for some of the main groups:
http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/denominations/comparison_charts.htm

There are quite a few different charts, and you'll have to scroll down quite a ways on the page to see them.

Answer 5

These are the biggest differences between Judaism and Xianity: Jews believe that one person cannot die for the sins of another person. Jews believe that we do not need a blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. Jews believe that Jesus was not the messiah. Jews believe that God hates human sacrifices. Who died on the cross? Was it Jesus-the-god, or was it Jesus-the-human? If it was Jesus-the-god, Jews don't believe that God can die. If it was Jesus-the-human, then all Christians have in the death of Jesus was a human death, a human sacrifice. Jews believe that God hates the very idea of human sacrifice. Jews believe that one is born into the world with original purity, and not with original sin. Jews do not believe in original sin. Jews believe that God is one and indivisible. Jews do not believe in a trinity. Jews believe in The Satan, but not in a devil. There is a difference between The Satan and the devil. Jews believe that God is God, and humans are humans. God does not become human nor do humans become God.

Answer 6

There are three branches of Christianity:
1 Catholic
2 Protestant (includes 1000's of sub-denominations)
3 Eastern Orthodox

If you are a Christian, you are one of those. People who think otherwise delude themselves (and they are probably protestants).

Every Christian church is an offshoot of the Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox churches broke away from unity with the pope in 1054. The Protestant churches broke away and were established during the protestant revolt, which began in 1517. Only the Catholic Church existed in the tenth century, in the fifth century, and in the first century, faithfully teaching the doctrines given by Christ to the apostles, omitting nothing. The line of popes can be traced back, in unbroken succession, to Peter himself (see list at: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm ).

For more info, go to:
http://www.catholic.com/library/Pillar.asp

Answer 7

different views of worshipping,
Wesley started the Methodists...we do less reading aloud but i also think Lutherans and Presbys have beautiful services..
Baptists are missing the beauty of the corss, candles etc
no robes all that

Answer 8

First the Lutherans, then Calvins, then other splits. Lutheran's (Angelican's) believe in only one Baptism ... Baptists believe in Baptism to forgive each sin (which Catholic's do through confession).

Answer 9

I know that the idea of predestination split of the protestant groups. Those descended directly from Luther don't have predestination in their doctrines; those from Calvin do.

Answer 10

The difference is in the doctrine and theology. They all ignore parts of the bible in order to support their denominations. if they all believe the bible is true and without error then they should all be catholics.