Introduction. At least according to a 2012 survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, a majority of the U.S. population (73%) claimed to belong to the "Christian" religion. However, this factoid overlooks the great diversity of groups and religious beliefs among those who profess to follow Jesus Christ. According to the National Council of Churches in 2010, the five largest denominations in the U.S. were the Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention, the United Methodist Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Church of God in Christ. A casual examination of these groups reveals a multitude of very significant differences to include:
- The basis of religious authority (e.g., the Pope, the Bible, the Book of Mormon, modern day Apostles and Prophets)
- How to be saved initially (e.g., "accepting Jesus as your personal Savior", the Sinner's Prayer, being sprinkled with water as an infant, being immersed in water as a believing adult, being baptized with the Holy Spirit)
- Whether a person has a role in remaining saved (e.g., predestination, "once saved, always saved", repenting of sin, doing penance, attending public worship services)
- The role of scripture in one's perspective on various issues today (e.g., abortion, capital punishment, pornography, profanity, drinking and drug use, homosexuality, gay marriage)
- The role of the Old Testament (e.g., a separate priesthood, unclean foods, use of incense/candles, instrumental music)
God's Perspective. Even in the first century, those who claimed to follow Christ had their share of religious differences as a casual reading of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians clearly shows. But how did Jesus and the inspired writers of the New Testament view such differences? Consider the following quotations (taken from the New American Standard Bible):
An Invitation. In keeping with the New Testament's commands to promote unity, our website has two special sections addressing many of the issues that divide those who claim to follow Jesus Christ. On our home page at www.biblequestions.org under the "Topics" menu choice are "Steps to Salvation" and "Seeking a Church?" Each contains a robust list of issues with links to associated topics and articles for your further study. See also "A" for "Authority", "B" for "Bible Study", "D" for "Denominationalism", and "U" for "Unity".
We would encourage everyone to take advantage of these materials and emulate the worthy example of the Bereans:
(by Jeff Cox)
- "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men." (Matt. 15:8-9)
- "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. " (John 17:20-21)
- "Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them." (Rom 16:17)
- "Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ." Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" (1 Cor. 1:10-13)
- "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." (2 John 1:9-11)
An Invitation. In keeping with the New Testament's commands to promote unity, our website has two special sections addressing many of the issues that divide those who claim to follow Jesus Christ. On our home page at www.biblequestions.org under the "Topics" menu choice are "Steps to Salvation" and "Seeking a Church?" Each contains a robust list of issues with links to associated topics and articles for your further study. See also "A" for "Authority", "B" for "Bible Study", "D" for "Denominationalism", and "U" for "Unity".
We would encourage everyone to take advantage of these materials and emulate the worthy example of the Bereans:
- "The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." (Acts 17:10-11)
(by Jeff Cox)