4 Types of Christianity

Four General Types of Christianity

Hello, in this video I'm going to present the four general types of Christianity. Of course there are many forms of it, and I'm going to leave out those expressions that are completely devoid of truth.

So we're going to be talking about those churches that at least make some serious claim that they believe the Bible is the Word of God. Maybe you've heard someone say that, you know, there's over 30 ,000 different denominations, so how do I know which one to attend, or how can I know which one is true?

That's really not accurate. So for the sake of simplicity, I'm going to make the case that in general, there are really only about four types of churches, four types of Christianity. They are number one, Baptist and non-denominational, number two, Reformed and Presbyterian, number three, Pentecostal and Charismatic, and finally, number four, Catholic and Orthodox.

Apostasy, False Gospels, and the Boundaries of Christianity

Which I have to say, evangelicals historically have regarded the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church as apostate, since they hold to a different gospel of salvation by faith plus works, and they put tradition ahead of the Word of God.

Now obviously there are churches that don't perfectly fit into any of these categories. For example, where would the Methodist Church fit in? Remember, those churches that are devoid of truth are not included in the conversation.

So we're going to forget about those Methodist churches that fly the rainbow flag. But Methodists who still claim to believe the Bible could either fit into the Catholic category, since they came from the Church of England, which broke away from Rome, and they still baptize babies, and many of them are still heavy on ritual and ceremony.

However, if they are more evangelical, they could fit into the Pentecostal-Charismatic category, since the Wesleyan holiness movement spawned the Pentecostal movement. But either way, I believe these four groups are the easiest way to categorize things.

The Trinity, the Deity of Christ, and Matthew 16

Now it should go without saying that we're not including Mormons in Jehovah's Witnesses. Why? Because they have been labeled as theological cults for denying the Trinity. So to be included, you must have the correct view of the nature of God, including the deity of Christ, to even be considered as a true Christian.

Many would point to Matthew 16, that the rock on which the Church is built is the profession that Jesus is the Son of God, Son of God being a reference to His divine nature. Now before I close, what are some of the distinctives of these four groups?

Catholic, Orthodox, and Pentecostal Views of Salvation

The Catholic and Orthodox churches are heavy on tradition and ritual. They believe that salvation comes through the Church, through the sacraments, in cooperation with good works, therefore they believe salvation can be lost at any moment.

In fact, the Roman Catholic Church teaches that in this life, you can never even really know that you are saved in going to heaven. Pentecostals and Charismatics, because they come from the Methodists, they are more Arminian in their theology.

They also believe you can lose your salvation. They emphasize free will, and they focus a lot on feelings and emotions, looking for a religious experience in worship. Reformed and Presbyterians are Calvinist in their theology, believing that salvation cannot be lost, however, you must show good fruit to make your profession of faith credible, and you must endure in the faith.

There is also a heavy emphasis on the sovereignty of God, including the doctrine of predestination. Their eschatology is typically either amillennial or postmillennial. This is because they view the Church as the new spiritual Israel, therefore prophetic passages are taken more allegorically, and of course they also baptize infants.

Baptists, Non-Denominational Churches, and Believer's Baptism

Finally, we get to the Baptists in non-denominational churches. These groups take a more literal interpretation of Scripture and are known for practicing believer's baptism, and that a person must be old enough to make that decision for themselves, a person is then baptized by full immersion after making a profession of faith.

These churches are typically premillennial and believe in a future for the nation of Israel. Baptist and non-denominational churches, while not always accepting the theology of Calvinism, they are usually very firm on the position that a person's salvation can never be lost and that you should walk in full assurance of your salvation.

Conclusion: Denominational Categories and Church Search

So, in conclusion, these four categories, again, are general. Obviously, much more could be said. It doesn't always break down this way. Sometimes there's overlap. But I hope this is helpful in clearing things up when you think of all the different denominations.

Let's face it, it can confuse people. Or if you are looking for a church, maybe you could use this as a resource to find what church or denomination fits you and your beliefs best. Or maybe, to you, what is important, along with your beliefs, is the whole other category of whether or not a church has a traditional worship service or a contemporary service.

Because these days, any one of these four groups could go either way on that, as well as the fact that the charismatic influence can be found in nearly any faith tradition. But, for the sake of keeping it simple, I'll stop here.

If this video was helpful, please consider clicking thumbs up and sharing it. And if you want to know where I stand, I will tell you in the comment section. So until next time, may the Lord be with you, and have a great day.