Christian Q re Denominations
Have to be in a denomination to be Christian?
*No and yes.
A Christian one who is a born again by God.
They sit under Biblical preaching, which is only found in Protestantism today. These denominations incl non denom. But many non denom have no faith statement today (after 2012) and are wishy washy or possibly progressive, so use caution.
Do denominations divide & not unity?
*Yes and no. Answered here (about denomiations) and here (about how they got formed).
Are there denoms cuz of disagreement?
Yes, and no. and answered (in links). It is because of either misunderstanding of Scripture, or lack of understanding areas of Scripture that a founder of a denomination created a new denomination. Either they are in error and create more error, or learned something biblically accurate other denoms are not teaching.
A denomination has a belief statement that says We believe Scripture says X. And if you believe that, you go there. [Samples in link]. If you mature in Scripture and realize a denomination thats further from early reformers but not progressive holds a view you grow to believe, you move there. Why? You align with a church and sit under its teaching. You dont sit under error nor heresy. Biblical churches hold to the Essentials, but secondary are areas of growth. Protestants align with the essentials, so only secondary issues are why theres denominations.
Today there is more a need of an emphasis on the "beliefs of" a church regardless of the denomination; because (since roughly 2012) many denoms previously you could "just go there", today you cant. Many are claiming to be Baptist, Methodist etc but are actually now teaching unbiblical progressive things. You might not know SBC had a conservative break away opposing progressivism and wokism called Conservative Baptist Network, or that other protestant denoms have done the same; separated from their historic denomination because its leadership embraced the progressive route. These left to form a new one that upholds the biblical protestant denom beliefs. Even under Reformed and churches, tho not progressive, you still have to search for a church to find one that upholds more accurate understandings of Scripture such as Reformed Baptists do.
I go to a baptist church becuz i believe in "believers baptism", but that’s all I know about the denom.
*Have you read their faith statement and agree with it? It should be avail on their website. It likely agrees with the essentials, listed in the link, and you likely agree with most of the secondary beliefs, which is why you stay. They teach those beliefs in total in that church. If they dont put belief statement on the website its sketchy, as they might not want to stand firm on some important areas, just to get people in the door. but again if you are under the teaching there, you know what they believe. If one day the pastor (or a new pastor comes) starts preaching something against the essentials, against very clear things in Scripture or against a secondary belief(s) you believe are very biblical, then you can look for a new church that aligns with that and all other beliefs (and ensure no progressivism is going on at the new place b4 u move there). *if in a small town in nowhere you might have limited options, but can supplement teaching of the Word thru online solid preachers.
I do go to bible study and discuss, & have a learning spirit, so I don’t lean on my own understanding.
*Thats the right thing to do. Always look into it and ensure it aligns with Scripture.
Study that essential or secondary belief deeper at home, thru reputable resources (not just some random thing you find), and come to a conclusion on it. There are good places to start, for direction and addl helps such as GotQuestions.org , StudyBible.org with resources linked to each verse, or archive of Bible teaching by book and verse at GTY.org
Make sure to read the Bible daily.
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