Why are there different denominations?

CARM

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The reason there are different denominations within Christianity is because the Bible allows for us to have differences of opinions.

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Within Christianity, there are very few essential doctrines that define what it means to be a Christian. These essential doctrines, however, are there.

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The first one is that Jesus is both God and man. That is John 1 .1 .14, John 8 .24,

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Colossians 2 .9, John 4 .1 -4. The second one is that Jesus rose from the dead physically.

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That is John 2 .19 -21, 1 Corinthians 15 .14. Salvation is by grace through faith.

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Romans 5 .1, Ephesians 2 .8 -9, Galatians 3, Galatians 5. The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

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1 Corinthians 15 .1 -4, Galatians 1 .8 -9. And finally, there is only one

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God. Exodus 20 .3, Isaiah 43 .10, 44 .6 -8. We also know that God exists as a trinity of persons.

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There is the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. And we know also that Jesus was born of the

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Virgin Mary. This is dealing with His incarnation. As long as a church believes in these essential doctrines, then it is

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Christian. However, there are many things in the scriptures that have been interpreted in different ways.

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For example, what day of the week should we worship on? Saturday, Sunday, or Wednesday? Should we be baptized by sprinkling, or baptized by immersion?

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Do we take communion every Sunday, or once a month, or once a year? The answers to these questions do not affect whether or not someone is a

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Christian. It is in these issues, and others like them, that denominations are formed.

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It does not mean that one denomination contradicts another. It means that though they agree in the essentials, they differ in some of the non -essentials.

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This is permitted by scripture. Romans 14, verses 1 -5 says this, 1.

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Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.

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2. One man has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. 3.

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Let not him who eats regard with contempt he who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him.

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4. Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls, and stand he will, for the

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Lord is able to make him stand. 5. One man regards one day above another, and another regards every day alike.

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6. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind. Sadly, there is another reason for denominational differences, and that is the failure of the

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Christians to live according to the will of God. The truth is that we are all sinners, and we do not see things eye to eye, not everything.

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It is unfortunate, but it is true, that denominational differences are due to our short -sightedness and lack of love.

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But the good thing is that God loves us so much that He puts up with our failures, He puts up with our differences.

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There awaits for us, in spite of our many disagreements, a great reward in heaven.

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Neither salvation nor damnation is dependent upon our differences of opinion on the non -essentials.