Matt asks: “Why are there so many Christian denominations? Are they all good?”
It is truly saddening how much division there is in the Christian Church. In this response I will try and give you a Biblical and reasonable answer.
Differences Among Christians
I am going to address your question in order: first why there are so many denominations and then whether they are all good. I believe there are so many denominations because of what Paul talked about when he said in 1 Corinthians 11:18 (NIV), “In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.” The major “branches” of Christianity are Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodoxy. I will focus primarily on the different divisions within Protestantism since those are the groups most commonly referred to when people say “denominations.”
Within Protestantism there are several “major” denominations. I will list them along with a short description of their main theological tenants:
1. Baptist – no governing authority over the Churches; generally literalist in the interpretation of the Bible; generally “conservative”
2. Lutheran – sola fide (faith alone), sola scriptura (Scripture alone); liturgical approach to worship; Calvinistic;
3. Presbyterian – a governing body over all the Churches; generally a “moderate” denomination; confessionalist
4. Methodist – governing body over all Churches; Arminian; generally a “moderate” denomination
5. Reformed – Any Church with Calvinistic beliefs
6. Charismatic – any Church with a notably “energetic” worship style; Glossolalia (speaking in tongues); wide variety of “conservative” and “liberal” branches; emphasis on spiritual gifts
7. Anglican – similar to Roman Catholicism; large focus on founding creeds rather than persons or a single founding document.
Why so many? That is the question I asked myself as I began to research these various denominations. From what I research, I found there to be two primary causes of a new denomination: (1) a person or group of people disagreed with something within their current Church community and thus broke off and formed a denomination that focused on the issue that the dispute was centered around (such as the division between the Protestants and the Roman Catholic Church during the Reformation) or (2) a group of people formed a denomination because they specifically liked the teachings of a certain leader/pastor (such as with the Methodists).
Now, with all these different denominations, are they all “good”? I think the obvious answer is no. Some groups labeled denominations (such as the Church of Latter Day Saints) are clearly groups that do not believe in the major tenants of Christianity and thus are not to be believed or participated in by the believer. Within Protestantism, I would say this: a denomination is “good” if it teaches that which is Biblical and true as it relates to Jesus and His death and Resurrection. Any denomination the denies the major beliefs required of Christianity (Divinity of Christ, Virgin Birth, Inspiration of Scripture, Bodily Resurrection, Sin among others) is not “good” in any sense and should be avoided.
Conclusion
Keep it Biblical! Focus on what the Church teaches (keeping in mind that no two Churches are the same) and make sure that it aligns with the Bible.
God bless,
Robert A. Rowlett