Are they a Denomination ?*

There is a big misconception in Christianity today about what a denomination is, why they exist and who is in a denomination.

False religions are not a denomination of Christianity. That includes works based religions like Catholicism, Orthodox, Church of England; Anglican & Episcopalian(1), and cults (like Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, 7th day adventists, Church of Christ, etc), they are not Christian because they reject the essentials God has revealed plainly to us in Scripture, and greatly distort truths taught in it. Scripture is God's Special Revelation to mankind. Christianity is a grace based faith, has the true Gospel, and holds to & teaches what the Bible actually says.

Very simply Denominations in Christianity are protestant. Only protestant. These Christian Denominations came about because the Reformation brought truth to the people. Reformers in the 16th century were restoring biblical Christianity, (that was lost in the West due to [false religion of] Roman Catholicism, which had control over "a particular region" of the world, which began long after biblical Christianity existed).

The Catholic religion has various denominations in it [23 actually], as does Islam [which is basically like a Christian cult, similar to Mormonism, but is its own religion]. Both make claims about God, Jesus and salvation, But neither are Christian. RCC split from the early Biblical Church [to] following an apostate path. They have been decieving naive people since its beginnings. [Ex. They point to Rome having a church in Scripture biblical times, and use that to decieve as if that was them, as if they can trace their roots to the Apostles. It's a demonic lie]. 

We know the truth today because of the Reformers. They found out and spoke out, and went to great lengths to open peoples eyes.

The Reformers are also the reason any of us have access to a Bible today, and can read it and find out the truth. This is very important. Demonically, Catholicism used to hide the Scriptures and truth from people so they could never know the truth. The Reformers changed that. 

The Reformers were coming out of catholicism, because Catholic rulers refused to be corrected of their false teachings in opposition to what God had said through Scripture. They refused to conform to Scripture and teach what it said. Reformers realized, left, & were trying to unravel false teachings they were taught over the years. They studied Scripture deeply to learn what it really taught; what GOD had said and revealed as HIS Word. They began telling the truth to the people that Catholicism is decieving them. Many of them didnt live long because Catholic rulers murdered them; hunted them, brought false charges against them and had them killed, to stop the people under their control from learning the truth. So, many of them didn't get very far in studying all of Scripture to see and share other teachings of the Bible, beyond savific matters, but as each one understood it more and more they shared those truths. What they learned and shared was cut short, and others picked up where they left off; when one died another took his place. And because they didnt have a full grasp on Scripture in secondary areas, there were people following different reformers teachings, thus Denominations came about.

This doesnt mean Christians were not united. We are united by core biblical truths called "Essentials" and that is what seperates us from false religions [esp the ones noted above]. These essentials unite us. They are basic foundational fundamental truths taught in Scripture; Scripture is the Word of God. God has revealed these truths to humanity. They are not up for discussion but to be believed, submitted to. One cannot say they are a Christian without holding to *these* essential doctrines of Scripture. 

KEY: ⭐️Everything follows Lordship. The important essential is 1st the salvation matter. Once that's dealt with [once you are saved] everything else is a matter of Liberty, Charity and love. Christians are in unity in the essentials, freedom in secondary matters.

Denominations are because of secondary matters; things we might feel we understand on a matter, and believe....but later can grow in study to realize it actually says something else, deeper, more accurate, so we then believe that - having matured in our understanding, thus move on to another denomination that rightly teaches. 

So, if you can grasp these things you might very well be far better off in your faith than weak pew sitters, or believers who are 40 years old who never knew any of this.  

Know the Essentials, and you can spot a false religion a mile away, and those in one. 

Secondary issues are important, but not related to the salvific matter. We need to gain a good grasp on from a biblical perspective on what God teaches in other areas, but by holding a diff view on these - it does NOT damn us. 

Tertiary issues need to be examined through a biblical lense, not modern cultural nor emotional one. Some matters here are of Christian liberty, others are not. 

Denominations primarily exist because of secondary issues and that originally was because of the reformer whose teachings people were under. They were preachers studying Scripture and taught as they grew to understand, or misunderstood. So those who gathered to hear their preaching, in their western country during that preachers lifetime, became the denomination. It isn't hard to understand that when such historical info is revealed. It is simple. 

As people study the Bible they "understand" things like End Times and Baptism better, but matters of essentials NEVER change. They're fixed basics. So, modern terciary issues today were not what created/divided those older denominations. Further it must be noted that secondary issues are due to a lack of biblical knowledge and submitting to Scripture. They shouldnt even be issues at all, and in some of those and terciary areas if it wasnt for modern false teaching creating false churches [and false preachers], they wouldnt be issues. Which also means, we can no longer trust Churches; we cannot just go to a random neighborhood church and think we are sitting under Christian preachers. That method has long gone (since around 2000). Many preachers today are either unsaved, teach falsely, teach heresy, or are not even qualified to be pastors. So, to find a church we need to examine not only the faith statement of the church, but also ask good questions of a pastor we interview in order to find the best one "within my greater local area" to become a member at. Those who have studied certian secondary teachings well, will be looking (further) for churches that teach what they came to know Scripture is clear on, besides the Essentials. So they sit under the teaching of what they believe. 

So CHRISTIAN denominations are specific to biblical Protestantism, which are the people who follow the Bible and obey the Gospel. 

So for example... this shows Catholics do not meet the basic requirements of a Christian denomination nor of a Christian. They have a different gospel, a different god a different jesus, a different Bible, and a different faith. It is a counterfiet religion run by Satan masqurading it as Christian to dupe and decieve people. However, those trapped in it who read the Bible and examine it, can find the truth and leave that false religion. God leads them to salvation.... and out of there. 
*I go to a 8,000 member church and 1/3 of those folks there came out of Catholicism. Those who genuinely look into this topic matter, and whom God opens their eyes, will see this is the truth.💡

Note on why Christians and Catholics cannot come together for any reason. @29:06+
*As he noted the principle of the verse applies because they are not rightly dividing the Word and teach falsely on essentials clearly presented in Scripture. They are a Pharasiacle and apostate religion just like Judaism. 

2 John 7-11
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. See to yourselves, that you do not lose what we accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. The one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting, for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

Matthew 23:15
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.”

Galatians 1:6-9:
"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be accursed!

As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!"

2 Corinthians 11:3-4:
"But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be seduced from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the one you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough."

1 Corinthians 5:11:
"But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother or sister if they are guilty [sinning]--do not even eat with such people."

2 Corinthians 6:14:
"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?"

The principle applies. Do not assiciate with nor join hands with those who are not in the truth, they are not in the Light not in the Lord and are of Satan. 


Catholicism, as well as the other noted false religions are leading mass numbers of people to Hell day by day, year by year, century by century (with Satan running them). If you examine them you will clearly see this. Too many in the Church [Protestant] are grossly unaware of this [esp in USA] and it causes many problems. They assume cuz someone or a group "claims" to be Christian it must mean they are, but that's false. That's why so many have been duped into Mormonism. So we cannot lie to Catholics or any cult people nor let them decieve others - God has called the Redeemed Ones to go into the world and speak truth. We do so out of love.


Also, the same is true of other religions that are world religions....just because someone or a religious group claims their god is the same God as Christians God, doesnt make it true. Upon basic examination of the religion one can clearly see they are a false religion. 


Related Resources





Footnotes and links:
(1) Many churches in the Church of England; Anglican(UK), and Episcopalian (USA) "churches" are not Christian. Some are, but it's a mixed bag. Sometimes called middle cuz they strattle Catholicism and Christianity. So many will be unbiblical works based false religions like Catholicism - all outside biblical true Christianity, and are masqurading as Christian. Other church sects among them are Christian. This Denomination is confusing, cuz its not like regular denominations we think if today in USA, but this can help clarify. Those "churches" that are not the biblical ones, are not following Scripture, not teaching the true Gospel, and are loaded with most if not all unsaved folk. Avoid them. 

Similarly with what we now have to deal with and discernment about these newer  "progressive" churches [in Christian denominations, or using those denomination names] that are likewise not the biblical ones, are not following Scripture, not teaching the true Gospel, and are loaded with all unsaved folk. 

So if you could see it that way, understanding the latter, you'll grasp the former explination too. Those outside true Christianity are cuz they dont hold to the essentials, distort the Gospel, embrace hate and sin, and are idolatrous in their beliefs. Embracing lies so they can live in sin. 
 
(2) study on church history 





If you are looking for a Christian church, this directory will help you find one that holds to the Essentials. 



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