Q: Why so many different Churches?
A: The Word of God does not contain any scriptures that instruct the Church (believers) to create or separate into various denominations. Yes, there were various locations were Jesus followers gathered, but not various denominations. In fact, the early "churches" were known by their location, not a denominational name. Like the 7 churches Jesus addressed in Revelation or the church at Antioch for example...
Revelation 1:11.."Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to
Pergamum, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
Acts 13:1 "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and
Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch,
and Saul."
All the apostolic letters that were written to the "church" were addressed to congregations known by their city names including those sent to the Galatians, the Ephesians, the Corinthians, the Phillipians, the Colossians, etc. Sometimes the believers were known as "Christians" or followers of "the Way" but they were not known by denominational names like they are now. Many groups of believers first began at house meetings just like the Romans at Cornelius house or during informal open air spontaneous event like described on the day of Pentecost. The scriptures state that the believers continued in the apostles doctrine. In fact, "Church" often took place anywhere that it was practical, convenient or destined to take place by the Spirit of God. Even today a lot of 'get togethers' to worship the Lord are impromptu and might just be a small gathering at someone's home or a rented or donated space.
Church is not a building made with human hands, rather the church is any disciples of Christ wherever they are gathered in the name of Jesus.
Clearly there were no denominational names in the beginning. But as deception and divisions entered into the body (church), and false apostles drew away disciples after themselves, denominations came into being. Are they all evil? Well, some are, in fact many are contrary to 'sound doctrine' because they teach another gospel and teachings other than what is taught in Scripture. Paul said if anyone taught any other doctrine other than what Paul and the other Apostles taught - they were to be "put out or cut off" from the church. That is yet another reason to know what apostolic doctrine is. (Simply study the new testament and you will know what apostolic doctrine is, but also there is an article link to apostolic doctrine at the end of this article and elsewhere in the website)
The Apostle Paul taught that there is one Church, the "body of Christ", with Jesus as the Head.
Colossians 1:15 -20 (Aramaic Bible in Plain English) "15He who is the image of The Unseen God and is The Firstborn of all creation. 16By Him was everything created which is in Heaven and in The Earth: everything that is seen and everything that is unseen, whether Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Rulers; everything has been created by His hand and in Him. 17And He is The One who is before all, and all things exist by Him. 18And He is The Head of the body which is the church, for He is The Head and The Firstborn from among the dead, that He would be Preeminent in everything, 19For in Him All Fullness is pleased to dwell, 20And to reconcile all things by Him to Itself, and by Him It made peace by the blood of His crucifixion, whether of things that are in Earth or that are in Heaven."
Denominations came into being when people misinterpreted the Holy Scriptures and started their own "brand of Christianity".
You can search the bible from cover to cover but you will see that none of the big name denominations that immediately come to mind are found in the Scriptures. We as believers and "disciples of Christ" need to obey and line up with the Scriptures specifically the "apostles doctrine". ( see the question/answer "What is the Apostles Doctrine".)
Because of all the warnings by Jesus and the early disciples to guard ourselves from deceptions, this makes it even more important to search the scriptures for ourselves to know, understand, and follow sound "apostolic doctrine" which is the gospel that Jesus passed directly to his disciples..."Matthew to Revelation" is the solid foundation of the gospel.
There are so many different denominations now that it is somewhat reminiscent of the Tower of Babel (which means "CONFUSION") where the Lord scattered everyone into different "languages" and they split up and went to all the corners of the earth from there. Similarly there is a lot of confusion now, especially when one looks for a local church to fellowship with. Often people go from "church to church" looking for somewhere to "belong". But we need to be mindful that first and foremost we belong to Christ.
There is a growing number of believers these days who identify as Christian but state that they do not have a regular "church". It is likely that a significant portion of these people are having a hard time to find a church group or denomination that lines up with Scripture or "apostolic doctrine". A lot of this also depends on where a person lives, the size of the community or city, geographic area, and even what principalities and powers dominate that area (that's a whole other subject).
Ephesians 4 (NKJV)
Walk in Unity
1I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Spiritual Gifts
7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says:
“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”
9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
The New Man
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Do Not Grieve the Spirit
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”:do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
We should realize that these are not instructions for some denomination out there but these are for us as believers and members individually and collectively as Christ's body - the Church. We are the Church if we are His disciples. We are also given instructions in how we should act if we are Spirit filled. (every believer is required to be Spirit filled-& sooner rather than later)
1 Corinthians 12 (KJ2)
Instructions in Spiritual Gifts
1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2You know that you were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as you were led. 3Therefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit. 4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6And there are diversities of workings, but it is the same God who works all in all.
7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man for profit. 8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another various kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11But in all these works that one and same Spirit, dividing to every man individually as he will.
Many Members Make up one Church Body
12For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13For by one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
18But now has God set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased him. 19And if they were all one member, where would be the body? 20But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of you: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our less respectable parts have greater respect. 24For our more respectable parts have no need: but God has arranged the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked: 25That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular."
As it is clearly stated in God's word, we as believers in Jesus, ARE THE CHURCH - The BODY OF CHRIST, and that JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF IS OUR HEAD AS WELL AS OUR SAVIOR!
Ephesians 5 23(KJ2) For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the savior of the body.
Colossians 2:6-19 (NKJV)
Not Philosophy but Christ
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Not Legalism but Christ
11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
So we are complete (not incomplete) in Jesus Christ. He is the head of us spiritually speaking and not some other person, although we do recognize those leaders, teachers, etc. that are also coworkers, and individual members of the body of Christ as we read above in 1 Cor 12. Christ gave us the five fold ministry and as long as they line up with apostolic doctrine we will be able to fellowship together as a 'local church group'. Beware that some church groups that use the name "apostolic" in their name doesn't buy them a free pass as an approved denomination, they must line up with scripture.
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Hopefully you will find a Church group somewhere locally that lines up with scripture, although that is hard to find in many locations in the world. There are a lot of "home groups" these days which are reminiscent of the early church as well. You can pray and ask God to bring like minded Christians/believers into your life.
The Lord declares in Amos 8:11-13 saying that "there will be a famine" of hearing for the true word of God being preached/taught in these end times and so that is just the way it is now, but as mentioned you may be fortunate enough to find a group of true believers in your area. And if not, pray for God to help you find some, and if there are none, know that God Himself is with you and will never leave you or forsake you even until the end of this world! Stay in the Word!
Link to "what is Apostolic Doctrine"




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