The teachings of French pastor and theologian John Calvin (1509-1564) have shaped the Protestant branch of Christianity for over 500 years. At the beginning of the 21st century, Calvinism shows no signs of waning. Presbyterian denominations are Calvinist, like the Presbyterian Church in America. Reformed denominations are also Calvinistic, like the United Reformed Churches of…
Many Protestant churches today are affiliated with a denomination like Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopalian, or Assemblies of God. Churches. But how important are denominations to being a Christian? A person can be a Christian without being a member of a denomination. A Christian is someone who has responded to the gospel of Jesus Christ…
Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodoxy are the three historical branches of the Christian faith. Sometimes people in one of those traditions change their allegiance to a different one. The subject of this article is when those in the Protestant tradition become — or convert to — Roman Catholicism. Converting to Roman Catholicism from Protestantism…
The Roman Catholic Church is over 2,000 years old. Non-denominational churches have been one of the fastest-growing segments of Christianity in the Western world over the last 50 years. How do these two traditions compare with one another? The key differences between Catholic and non-denominational churches include what each believes about the bread and cup…
Most people associate denominations with the Protestant branch of Christianity, but some also use the term to describe other congregations. Some of these are in the Catholic communion, and others, though they call themselves Catholic, aren’t. Debate surrounds calling congregations outside the Roman Catholic communion “denominations” because it implies a level of unity that Rome…
Baptist or Methodist? Lutheran or Presbyterian? Assemblies of God or Episcopalian? Because there are so many Christian denominations to choose from today — some studies say there are over 300 — it can be difficult for a person to know which one is right for them. The aim of this article isn’t to tell people…
Catholicism is one of the largest and oldest belief systems in the world. Over one billion people worldwide call themselves Catholics, follow the church’s teachings, participate in their practices, and adhere to their values. Many people want to know how the Catholic church is classified: is it a religion or a denomination? Most people consider…
Christians long for heaven. They look forward to being in God’s presence, reuniting with other believers, and experiencing liberation from the sin and pain of this world. An important choice that Christians make in this lifetime is what denomination they will belong to and what church they will attend. Some people wonder if heaven is…
Non-denominational churches are a growing segment of Christianity. When a church identifies as Baptist, Lutheran, or Methodist, for example, many people have a sense of who they are and what they believe. However, that isn’t always the case with non-denominational churches. A non-denominational Christian church is one that isn’t associated with a traditional denomination. Non-denominational…
Baptism has been an important practice in Christian churches for 2,000 years because of its significance in the New Testament. Baptism has also been a point of contention in Christianity because not all churches agree on what it symbolizes and how it’s to be performed. Some denominations don’t perform baptisms at all. The Religious Society…
The terms “denomination” and “sect” are commonly used in the context of belief systems comprising multiple internal groups with differing views on certain primary or secondary matters of the faith. Some people use the two terms interchangeably, yet others differentiate between them. Generally, the terms “denomination” and “sect” both refer to a group within a…
Non-denominational churches are becoming popular as many conservative Christians become disenfranchised with mainline denominations. Non-denominational churches tend to be Protestant, conservative, and evangelical. As conservative evangelicals, non-denominational churches have a high view of the Bible. Non-denominational churches use Bible translations such as the New International Version (NIV), the English Standard Version (ESV), the New American…
Christians believe that the Bible is the Word of God. The majority of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, a minority in Aramaic, and the New Testament was written in Greek. English-language renditions of the Bible are called translations, and many are available today. Do Christian denominations prefer one translation over another? Leading Protestant…
In Christianity, frequently changing denominations and churches are generally considered unwise because it’s hard on personal relationships, pastors, and congregations. Nevertheless, people occasionally change denominations and churches for various reasons, such as when they relocate for work. Many people wonder if it’s wrong to change denominations and churches. Usually, changing Protestant denominations isn’t a sin,…
The belief that God chooses some people for salvation and not others has caused vigorous debate throughout Christian history. The topic involves many theological issues, such as free will and the problem of evil. This debate also made many wonders what Christian denominations believe in predestination. All Christian denominations believe in predestination. Denominations like United…
Arminianism, which is often contrasted with Calvinism, has been an influential theological belief system in Protestant Christianity for 500 years, though some aspects of it are much older. Just like some Protestant denominations are Calvinist theology, others embrace Arminian theology. Denominations in the Methodist-Wesleyan tradition are Arminian, like the United Methodist Church. Pentecostal denominations like…
Christians throughout the world find life and renewal through the practice of communion. Although most churches offer their members communion regularly, a small minority of traditions don’t. This begs the question: what Christian denominations don’t take communion? The Religious Society of Friends, also called the Quakers, and The Salvation Army, are two Christian denominations that…
The Roman Catholic church has a clearly-defined view of baptism and its theological significance. Aspects of the Catholic view on baptism differ significantly from some Protestant denominations. Understandably, a Christian might wonder if the Catholic Church recognizes baptism from Protestant denominations. The Catholic Church considers baptism from various Protestant denominations valid, even though they disagree…
For some Christians, speaking in tongues is an important part of their spiritual life, infusing their practices of prayer and worship. Some denominations encourage the practice. Others discourage it. Still, others emphasize that everyone is free to decide whether to pursue and practice speaking in tongues. All denominations that embrace Pentecostal theology speak in tongues,…
Non-denominational Christian churches are growing in number. They are mostly Protestant and evangelical in doctrine and practice, though there are exceptions. Most Protestant and evangelical churches practice baptism, so do non-denominational churches? Non-denominational Christian churches perform baptisms. They tend to practice “believer’s baptism,” not “infant baptism,” so they require a public confession of faith in…
Christianity is an important part of the American story in its various denominational expressions. Some denominations came to America from Europe, while others started on American soil. The size of a denomination doesn’t tell its whole story, but it does tell part of it. Southern Baptist is the largest Protestant denomination in America, with 16…
Christian denominations like Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Assemblies of God have clearly defined pathways to pastoral ministry. However, when it comes to non-denominational churches, the path is less defined. So how does a person become a non-denominational pastor? There are two common ways to become the pastor of a non-denominational church: (1) be offered…