Introduction
What do different denominations teach? What are their origins? Who Founded my Church? These are just some of the questions this document tries to address.This document serves as a factual historical reference for the major denominations of Christianity. This document:
- Presents a chronological listing of all major denominations (or non-denominations).
- Discusses some Biblical considerations pertaining to the nature of the Christian Church.
- Illustrates why in simple terms, there is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
It should be noted that the list below does not get into specific detail covering all sects, splinter groups, et cætera hailing under each respective named denomination. As time permits, I add to and expand this document.
Index of Denominations
Catholic
Year Founded: Pentecost; 33 A.D.
Location: Jerusalem
Founder: Jesus Christ
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Church
Official Website: http://www.vatican.va/
|
Though Catholicism is not a denomination, but the antithesis of
such theology as creates them, it serves as a reference point to the rest of this index. Catholicism contrasts the rest of the
entries in this index in that it was not founded by men to and in contrast what
was already established. |
Eastern Orthodox
Year Founded: 1056
Location: Constantinople
Founder: Apostolic; Schismatic Catholic Bishops split from the rest of the Church in 1056. See East-West-Schism
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church
Official Website (Greek Orthodox): http://www.goarch.org/
Additional Links: Orthodox Wiki: http://orthodoxwiki.org/
The Catholic Church recognizes both the Apostolic Succession and Sacraments of the Eastern Orthodox Church as valid. Faithful members of both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church are actively striving for unity and reconciliation. Even though separated, Catholicism holds in common with Eastern Orthodoxy over 1000 years of shared history. Even through separation, these two unique examples of Apostolic Christianity distinguish from the latter schisms and denominational inventions, and testify to a Christianity of historical continuity.
|
Waldensian (Vaudois)
Year Founded: 1177
Location: Italy
Founder: Peter Waldo
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldensians
Official Website: http://www.chiesavaldese.org/indexen.html
|
An heretical sect which
appeared in the second half of the twelfth century and, in a
considerably modified form, has survived to the present day. Formally
declared heretics by Pope Lucius III in 1184 and by the Fourth Lateran
Council in 1215. Often argued to be of "ancient origin" however these
claims are easily proven false (as they have been) by scholars (see more
about that topic on the Wikipedia Page). The respected Waldensian
scholar Dr. Emilio Comba dismissed the theories related to the ancient
origin of the Waldensians in the middle of the 19th century. |
Lutheran
Year Founded: 1517
Location: Germany
Founder: Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheran
Official Websites: Various - Many Splinter groups. http://www.celc.info/ (CELC) or http://www.ilc-online.org/ (ILC) or http://www.lutheranworld.org/ (LWF)
According to a report
written by Philipp Melanchthon, Luther posted the
Ninety-five Theses on the doors of the Castle Church in Wittenberg,
Germany on October 31, 1517. This is the only documented account of the
story. Scholars question the accuracy
of this account, noting that no contemporaneous evidence exists for it.
It is likely that this detail is a theatrical elaboration.
- Martin Luther believed and taught that the Pope was the Antichrist -- as such, the Pope was caricatured as a Devil in Protestant
picture-tracts.
- Luther believed and taught that with the
"Peasant Revolt" and the increase in lawlessness it brought, that the
end of the world was nigh.
Luther was excommunicated by Pope Leo X on 3 January, 1521, in the bull Decet Romanum Pontificem.
See Also: Nazi Lutheranism |
Anabaptist
Year Founded: 1521
Location: Germany
Founder:
Nicholas Storch & Thomas Müntzer
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anabaptist
"A violent and extremely radical body of ecclesiastico-civil reformers which first made its appearance in 1521 at Zwickau, in the present kingdom of Saxony, and still exists in milder forms." (Catholic Encyclopedia).
|
Church of England (Anglican)
Year Founded: 1534
Location: England
Founder: King Henry VIII of England
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_England
Official Website: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/
The
English church was under papal authority for nearly a thousand years,
before separating from Rome in 1534 during the reign of King Henry
VIII. A theological separation had been foreshadowed by various
movements within the English church such as the Lollards, but the
English Reformation gained political support when Henry VIII wanted an
annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon so he could marry Anne
Boleyn. Under pressure from Catherine's nephew, the Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire,
Pope Clement VII refused the annulment. Eventually, Henry, although
theologically a doctrinal Catholic, took the position of Supreme Head
of the Church of England to ensure the annulment of his marriage. He
was excommunicated by Pope Paul III.
The Six Wives of Henry VIII
Catherine of Aragon
m. 1509 - 1533
Divorced so he could marry Anne Boleyn.
Anne Boleyn
m. 1533 - 1536
Executed by Henry VIII
Jane Seymour
m. 1536 - 1537
Died as a result of Child birth, though not immediately.
Anne of Cleves
m. 1540 Jan. - July
Divorced so he could marry Kathryn Howard. Died (most likely) of Cancer nine years after Catherine Parr.
Kathryn Howard
m. 1540 - 1542
Executed by Henry VIII
Catherine Parr
m. 1543 - 1547
Outlived Henry VIII
|
Mennonites
Year Founded: 1536
Location: Switzerland
Founder: Menno Simons (Anabaptist Religious Leader)
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mennonites
Official Website: http://www.mwc-cmm.org/
Summary:
A Protestant denomination
of Europe and America which arose in Switzerland in the sixteenth
century and derived it's name from Menno Simons, it's leader in Holland.
Menno Simons was born in 1492 at Witmarsum in Friesland. In 1515 or
1516 he was ordained to the Catholic priesthood and appointed assistant
at Pingjum not far from Witmarsum. After (1532) he was named pastor of
his native place, but 12 January, 1536, resigned his charge and became
an Anabaptist elder. The rest of his life was devoted to the interests
of the new sect which he had joined. Though not an imposing personality
he exercised no small influence as a speaker and more particularly as a
writer among the more moderate holders of Anabaptist views. His death
occurred 13 January, 1559, at Wustenfelde in Holstein. The opinions held
by Menno Simons and the Mennonites originated in Switzerland. |
Calvinism
Year Founded: 1555
Location: Switzerland
Founder: John Calvin
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CalvinismCatholic Encyclopedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03198a.htm
Official Website: NA - Various (No central Leadership)
Calvinism claims to adhere to Sola Scriptura (though uses the common redacted protestant versions of the Bible), and T.U.L.I.P, which is an acronym for Total Depravity, Unconditioned Election, Limited Atonement (or Particular Atonement), Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints (Also known as OSAS, or Once Saved Always Saved).
In general Catholicism is takes issue with the "T", "L", and "I" components of Tulip as represented by Calvinism. Catholics in general accept "P" and "U", with the exception of Molinism, though explanations may vary in the context of Catholicism (being that Catholicism treated these subject prior to the advent of TULIP as espoused by Calvinism).
|
Presbyterian
Year Founded: 1560
Location: Scotland
Founder: John KnoxCatholic Encyclopedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12392b.htm
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian
Official Website (USA): http://www.pcusa.org/
"Influenced heavily by Calvinism, Presbyterianism in a wide
sense is the system of church government by representative assemblies
called presbyteries, in opposition to government by bishops (episcopal
system, prelacy), or by congregations (congregationalism, independence),
in it's strict sense, Presbyterianism is the name given to one of the
groups of ecclesiastical bodies that represent the features of
Protestantism emphasized by Calvin. Of the various churches modeled on
the Swiss Reformation, the Swiss, Dutch, and some German are known as
the Reformed; the French as Huguenots; those in Bohemia and Hungary by
their national names; the Scotch, English, and derived churches as
Presbyterian. There is a strong family resemblance between all these
churches, and many of them have given their adherence to an "Alliance of
the Reformed Churches throughout the World holding the Presbyterian
System", formed in 1876 with the special view of securing
interdenominational cooperation in general church work." (Catholic Encyclopedia, Presbyterianism)
|
Congregational
Year Founded: 1582
Location: Holland
Founder: Robert Browne
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregational_church
"The retention by the Anglican State Church of the prelatical form of government and of many Catholic rites and ceremonies offensive to genuine Protestants resulted in the formation of innumerable Puritan factions, with varying degrees of radicalism. The violent measures adopted by Elizabeth and the Stuarts to enforce conformity caused the more timid and moderate of the Puritans to remain in communion with the State Church, though keeping up to the present day an incessant protest against "popish tendencies"; but the more advanced and daring of their leaders began to perceive that there was no place for them in a Church governed by a hierarchy and enslaved to the civil power. To many of them, Geneva was the realization of Christ's kingdom on earth, and, influenced by the example of neighbouring Scotland, they began to form churches on the model of Presbyterianism. Many, however, who had withdrawn from the "tyranny" of the episcopate, were loath to submit to the dominion of presbyteries and formed themselves into religious communities acknowledging "no head, priest, prophet or king save Christ".
These dissenters were known as "Independents" and in spite of fines, imprisonments, and the execution of at least five of their leaders, they increased steadily in numbers and influence, until they played a conspicuous part in the revolution that cost Charles I his crown and life. The earliest literary exponent of Independence was Robert Brown, from whom the dissenters were nicknamed Brownists.
Brown was born in 1550, of a good family, in Rutlandshire, and studied at Cambridge. About 1580 he began to circulate pamphlets in which the State Church was denounced in unmeasured terms and the duty was inculcated of separating from communion with it. The godly were not to look to the State for the reform of the Church; they must set about it themselves on the Apostolic model. Brown defines the Church as a "company or number of Christians or believers, who, by a willing covenant made with their God, are under the government of God and Christ, and keep his laws in one holy communion". This new gospel attracted numerous adherents. A congregation was formed in Norwich which grew rapidly. Summoned before the bishop's court, Brown escaped the consequences of his zeal through the intervention of his powerful relation, Lord Burghley, and, with his followers, migrated to Holland, the common refuge of the persecuted reformers of all Europe. The Netherlands were soon flooded with refugees from England, and large congregations were established in the principal cities. The most flourishing Independent Church was that of Leyden under the direction of John Robinson. It was to this congregation that the "Pilgrim Fathers" belonged, who in 1620 set sail in the Mayflower for the New World." (Catholic Encyclopedia).
|
Baptist
Year Founded: 1609
Location: Netherlands (Amsterdam)
Founder: John Smyth
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptist
Official Website: N/A - Various
|
In 1609, John Smyth led a group of
separatists to the Netherlands to start the General Baptist Church with
an Arminian theology. |
Dutch Reformed
Year Founded: 1628
Location: New York, United States
Founder: Michaelis Jones
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Reformed
Official Website: Unknown
Congregationalist
Year Founded: 1648
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Founder: American Pilgrims and Puritans
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregationalism
Official Website (UK): http://www.congregational.org.uk/
Quakers (Religious Society of Friends)
Year Founded: 1649
Location: England
Founder: George Fox
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_Society_of_Friends
Official Website: http://www.christianquaker.net/
|
The official designation of
an Anglo-American religious sect originally styling themselves
"Children of Truth" and "Children of Light", but "in scorn by the world
called Quakers". |
Amish
Year Founded: 1693
Location: France
Founder: Jacob Amman (Anabaptist Leader)
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish
Official Website: Most Amish do not use computers. No Central leadership, various splinter groups.
Year Founded: 1717
Location: London, England
Founder: Masons from four lodges
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry
Official Website: Ask your local temple.
Methodist
Year Founded: 1739
Location: England
Founder: John Wesley (Anglican Priest) and Charles Wesley
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist
Official Website: (Became United Methodist -- See Below)
|
Methodism is the result of a schism from the Anglican Church which itself engaged in schism from the Catholic Church formally in 1536. |
Unitarian
Year Founded: 1774
Location: London, England
Founder: Theophilus Lindey
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarianism
Official Website: http://www.uua.org/
Methodist Episcopal
Year Founded: 1784
Location: Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Founder: 60 Preachers
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Episcopal_Church
Official Website: (Became United Methodist -- See Below)
Episcopalian
Year Founded: 1789
Location: American Colonies
Founder: Samuel Seabury
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episcopal_Church
Official Website: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/
Time-line:
- The Anglican Church broke with the Catholic Church in 1534.
- Methodists broke form the Anglican Communion in 1739.
- Fast forward to 1784, Methodist Episcopalianism is born.
- Ahead again to 1789, Episcopalianism is born under Samuel Seabury.
|
United Brethren
Year Founded: 1800
Location: Maryland, United States
Founder: Philip William Otterbein & Martin Boehm
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelical_United_Brethren
Official Website: http://www.ub.org/
More information coming soon.
|
Disciples of Christ
Year Founded: 1827
Location: Kentucky, United States
Founder: Thomas Campbell & Alexander Campbell
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disciples_of_Christ
Official Website: http://www.disciples.org/
More information coming soon.
|
Mormonism (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints)
Year Founded: 1830
Location: New York, United States
Founder: Joseph Smith Jr.
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormonism
Official Websites: http://www.lds.org/ or http://mormon.org/
- Mormons deny the Trinity (Compare to Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14)
- Mormons deny God was always God and claim he was a man first, and no, they don't mean Jesus. (Compare Psalm 90:1-2)
- Mormons claim Man can become God's and Women can become Goddesses (Compare Isaiah 43:10, 13, Isaiah 44:6, Isaiah 44:8, Isaiah 45:5, Matthew 4:9).
- The "Book of Mormon" plagiarizes the King James Bible (25,000 words at least) and other works ( Documentation ).
- Mormons claim Native Americans are a lost tribe of Jews. ( Wiki )
- Many other historical and doctrinal errors within the Mormon "Church". ( More Info )
- Mormons claim God is a "Man" living on another planet, of which the Closest star is called "Kolob". ( More on Kolob here )
- Joseph Smith Jr. claimed, and Mormons believe, that the Garden of Eden was in Western Missouri.
- Mormons say that God the Father has a god above him, who has a god above him, ad
infinitum (and so on infinitely) (Compare Psalm 90:1-2, Isaiah 43:10, 13)
- Mormons believe in Celestial Marriage (Compare Matthew 22:30)
- Mormons believe God (a Man) had sexual relations with Mary. (Compare Luke 1:34)
- Mormons believe Jesus and Satan are "spirit brothers" (Source: Mormon Doctrine, p. 163).
- Mormons believe that the book of Mormon is more correct than the Bible, (Source: History of the Church, 4:461).
For these, and many other reasons, many consider Mormonism to be a non-Christian Cult.
"Many men say there is one God; the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost
are only one God. I say that is a strange God [anyhow]--three in one
and one in three. . .It is curious organization… All are crammed into
one God according to sectarianism (Christian faith). It would make the
biggest God in all the world. He would be a wonderfully big God--he
would be a giant or a monster," (Joseph Smith, Teachings, p. 372).
|
Methodist Protestant
Year Founded: 1830
Location: United States
Founder: Former members of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Protestant
Website: (See United Methodist - Below)
More information coming soon.
|
Church of Christ
Year Founded: 1836
Location: Kentucky, United States
Founder: Barton Warren Stone & Alexander Campbell
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churches_of_Christ
Official Website: http://cconline.faithsite.com/
More Information coming soon.
|
Seventh Day Adventist
Year Founded: 1844
Location: Washington, New Hampshire, United States
Founder: Ellen G. White
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh-day_Adventist_Church
Official Website: http://www.adventist.org/
|
Notable Beliefs Seventh Day Adventism is yet another creation of Sola Scriptura. Seventh Day Adventism is extremely hostile towards Catholicism.
Seventh Day Adventists teach that Jesus is the Arch Angel Michael. This is heresy because it denies that Michael, an Angel, is a created being. Seventh Day Adventists teach that Saturday is the only proper day for worship. While they are free to worship on Saturday, this becomes an issue when they condemn those who worship on Sunday (for example). See Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2 and Romans 14:1-12. Seventh Day Adventists deny predestination. This conflicts directly with Ephesians 1:1-11. Seventh Day Adventists deny the immortality of the Soul, which contradicts Luke 16:19-31 and Matthew 25:46. Seventh Day Adventists deny Baptism to infants. This conflicts with Scripture (see Acts 10:47-48, Acts 16:15 etc.) because "house" or "household" does not exclude infants or children, but includes them. Whereas Circumcision was the entrance to the old covenant (performed on Children 8 days old -- see Gen. 17:12, Lev. 12:3), Baptism is the entrance to the new Covenant of Christ. God's covenant did not get smaller, and Scripture nowhere says that Baptism is for adults only. For those who doubt that Baptism corresponds to circumcision, see 1 Peter 3:21. Seventh Day Adventists deny Baptism by Sprinkling is valid, and profess that only Baptism by immersion is valid. Compare to Hebrews 10:22. Also note that in Acts 10:47-48 Peter baptized in the house. There were no swimming pools or tubs in homes in those days. I may discuss this topic on a separate page, but also consider Ezek. 36:25 where Ezekiel prophesies that God "will 'sprinkle' clean water on you
and you shall be clean." Seventh Day Adventists deny Hell is eternal, which contradicts Revelation 14:11. Seventh Day Adventists teach, contrary to eternal punishment, that the wicked are "annihilated", which conflicts with Luke 16:19-31 and Matthew 25:46. Seventh Day Adventists are premillenialists. This conflicts with Matt. 16:27 and Matt. 25:31–32,
46. Seventh Day Adventists teach Soul Sleep (heresy) and that the dead no longer exist. Seventh Day Adventists teach that Christ's Sacrifice was not real, but simply Vicarious (e.g. Christ did not truly die on the cross). Seventh Day Adventists teach that our sins will ultimately be blamed on Satan. Seventh Day Adventists teach that Ellen G. White, the founder of the Seventh Day Adventist movement, was a messenger from God who had the gift of prophecy. Seventh Day Adventists teach that on October 22, 1844, Jesus started the second phase of his atoning work. This is a heretical denial of the sufficiency of Christ's redemptive sacrifice on the Cross. Failed Prophecies Like all false prophets, Ellen G. White made a huge number of failed prophecies. For a facebook page dedicated to this subject, click here.
"We fully recognize the heartening fact that a host of true
followers of Christ are scattered all through the various churches of
Christendom, including the Roman Catholic communion. These God clearly
recognizes as His own. Such do not form a part of the "Babylon"
portrayed in the Apocalypse."
– Questions on Doctrine, p. 197
More Information: Catholic Answers, Seventh Day Adventism
|
Christadelphian (Brethren of Christ )
Year Founded: 1844
Location: Richmond, VA
Founder: John Thomas
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christadelphians
Official Website: http://www.christadelphia.org/
Christadelphian tenets include:
- Denial of the Trinity.
- Denial of Infant Baptism.
- Denial the existence of the Devil as a fallen Angel.
- Denial the immortality of the Soul.
- Denial the preexistence of Christ.
- Denial current ability to posses gifts of the Holy Spirit.
- Denial the person-hood of the Holy Spirit.
- Denial that Jesus is God.
- Denial that anyone will go to Heaven.
There are an estimated 60,000 adherents to this denomination globally.
|
Salvation Army
Year Founded: 1865
Location: London
Founder: "General" William Booth
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvation_Army
Official Website: http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/
More information coming soon.
|
Holiness
Year Founded: 1867
Location: United States
Founder: Methodists
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holiness_movement
Official Website: http://mb-soft.com/believe/text/holiness.htm
|
More information coming soon. |
Jehovah's Witnesses
Year Founded: 1874
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Founder: Charles Taze Russell
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah%27s_Witnesses
Official Website: http://www.watchtower.org/ or http://www.jw-media.org/ or http://www.jw.org/
Jehovah's Witnesses:
- Deny the Divinity of Christ
- Deny Christ was God (Source: Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, p. 306.)
- Deny the Trinity (Source: Let God be True, p. 100-101; Make Sure of All Things, p.386.)
- Deny the Holy Spirit is alive. (Source: Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, p. 406-407.).
- Deny Christ died on the cross, but claim he died on a stake. (Source: Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, p. 89-90.)
- Refuse to vote.
- Refuse to sing the American National Anthem
- Refuse to serve in the armed forces.
- Claim Jesus was actually the Archangel Michael--who became a man: (Source: The Watchtower, May 15,1963, p. 307; The New World, 284.)
- Claim Satan was entrusted with the obligation and charged with the duty of overseeing the creation of the earth, (Source: Children, p. 55.)
|
Christian Science
Year Founded: 1879
Location: Boston, United States
Founder: Mary Baker Eddy
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Science
Official Website: http://www.csmonitor.com/
More information coming soon.
|
Church of God in Christ
Year Founded: 1895
Location: Arkansas, United States
Founder: Various churches of God
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_God_in_Christ
Official Website: http://www.cogic.com/
More information coming soon.
|
Church of Nazarene
Year Founded: c. 1850-1900
Location: Pilot Point, Texas, United States
Founder: Various religious bodies
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Nazarene
Official Website: http://www.nazarene.org/
More information coming soon.
|
Pentecostal
Year Founded: 1901
Location: Topeka, Kansas, United States
Founder: Charles Fox Parham
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecostalism
Official Website: http://www.upci.org/
More information coming soon.
|
Aglipayan
Year Founded: 1902
Location: Philippines
Founder: Gregorio Aglipay
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Independent_Church
Official Website: http://www.santa.gov.ph/ilocossur/heroisabelo.html
More information coming soon.
|
Assemblies of God
Year Founded: 1914
Location: Hot Springs, Arizona, United States
Founder: Pentecostalism
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assemblies_of_God
Official Website: http://ag.org/
More information coming soon.
|
Iglesia ni Christo
Year Founded: 1914
Location: Philippines
Founder: Felix Manalo
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iglesia_ni_Cristo
More information coming soon.
|
Four-square Gospel
Year Founded: 1917
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
Founder: Aimee Semple McPherson
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Church_of_the_Foursquare_Gospel
Official Website: http://www.foursquare.org/
More information coming soon.
|
United Church of Christ
Year Founded: 1961
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Founder: Reformed and Congregationalist
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_of_Christ
Official Website: http://www.ucc.org/
More information coming soon.
|
Calvary Chapel
Year Founded: 1965
Location: Costa Mesa, California, United States
Founder: Chuck Smith
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvary_Chapel
Official Website: http://www.calvarychapel.com/
More information coming soon.
|
Non-denominational ("Bible Teaching" or "Bible Church")
Year Founded: Circa 1990s
Location: United States
Founder: Various
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-denominational
Official Website: There's nothing official in non-denominationalism.
|
This form of "Christianity" is also known as Ecclesial Deism, and shares
in common with Mormonism the explicit denial of constant visible
preservation of Church hierarchy, and Apostolic Succession, both of
which are Biblical, and therefore causes these "Churches" to be
heretical. (cf. Matthew 16:18, 18:18). |
General Discussion
Christ founded one Church. He declared that his Church would last for
all time, and never fall into apostasy. He gave Peter and the other Apostles specific authority according to scriptures. Since the time of Christ, the One True, Holy and
Apostolic Church has survived. No gaps, no apostasy. True to the Word
of God.
Christ said that the Gates of Hell will never prevail against his Church (Matthew 16:18), that his Church is the light of the world and that a City set on a Hill cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14). This means that the Church he founded is a visible Church that will endure until the last day.
No
amount of foolishness, misguided zeal, or cruelty by man can undo the
divine foundation of the Church or send it into apostasy.Scriptural Considerations
The Bible condemns exactly what we see outside of Catholic Orthodoxy today.
St. Matthew 16:18
And
I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my
church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
St. Matthew 16:19
And
I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever
thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in
heaven.
Ephesians 1:22
And he hath subjected all things under his feet and hath made him head over all the church,
Ephesians 1:23
Which is his body and the fullness of him who is filled all in all.
Matthew 12:25
And
Jesus knowing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided
against itself shall be made desolate: and every city or house divided
against itself shall not stand.
Mark 3:24
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
1 Corinthians 1:10
Now
I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you
all speak the same thing and that there be no schisms among you: but
that you be perfect in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1 Corinthians 1:11
For it has been reported to me by Chlo'e's people that there is quarreling among you, my brethren.
1 Corinthians 1:12
Now this I say, that every one of you saith: I indeed am of Paul; and I am of Apollo; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:13
Is Christ divided? Was Paul then crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
1 Corinthians 3:3
for
you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife
among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving like ordinary men?
1 Corinthians 12:25
That there might be no schism in the body: but the members might be mutually careful one for another.
1 Corinthians 12:27
Now you are the body of Christ and members of member.
1 Corinthians 12:28
And
God indeed hath set some in the church; first apostles, secondly
prophets, thirdly doctors: after that miracles: then the graces of
healings, helps, governments, kinds of tongues, interpretations of
speeches.
Romans 16:17
I
appeal to you, brethren, to take note of those who create dissensions
and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been
taught; avoid them.
Romans 16:18
For
such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and
by fair and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the
simple-minded.
Titus 3:10
A man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, avoid:
Titus 3:11
Knowing that he that is such an one is subverted and sinneth, being condemned by his own judgment.
Jude 1:19
It is these who set up divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.
Man Made Christianity
- Man has founded many Churches. He has become schismatic from the Church which Christ founded.
- There
are at least 2600 separate groups claiming to be the true Church.
However, only one Church has existed since the beginning.
- Prior to 1056, The Catholic and Orthodox Churches were one.
- Even after nearly 1000 years, the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches remain more similar than they do in comparison to protestant denominations.
- This strong resemblance, and shared early history set a clear precedent for Christian Orthodoxy.
Facts and statistics
Note: These statistics come from a Protestant Scholar, not Catholics.
According
to the Dictionary of Christianity in America (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1990); a Protestant
publication:
"As of 1980 David B. Barrett identified 20,800 Christian denominations worldwide . . ."
(Source: Denominationalism, Page 351).
According
to United Nations statistics there are over 23,000 competing and often
contradictory denominations worldwide. This number is growing.
(Source: World Census of Religious Activities: U.N. Information Center, NY, 1989).
The 2001 edition of the Dictionary of Christianity in America, successor to his 1982 first edition, which took a decade to compile, identifies 10,000 distinct religions, of which 150 have 1 million or more followers. Within Christianity, he counts 33,820 denominations.
Above I shine some light on the foundation of some of the more common man made denominations. If you feel there is a
denomination I have omitted that should be listed, please leave a
comment on the bottom of this document and I will evaluate it.
Note:
Obviously I cannot include all 33,820+ denominations. Many of the
listed denominations themselves have offshoots spring from them like a
never ending mutation.
If you need a complete list I suggest purchasing The World Encyclopedia of Christianity. Other
non-denominations commonly hail under the flag of "Bible Teaching"
or "Non Denominational" yet are distinguishable from each other due to differing
theologies, doctrine, scriptural interpretations, and member bases.
|
|
