Are Protestants bothered by the gazillion denominations?

[johnnyjones]

I am a former Protestant (Catholic revert). I never really dwelled on the fact that there were so many denominations with all kinds of beliefs , sub beliefs and doctrines. I knew they were there but my adverse “feelings” toward the Catholic church caused me to bury it or justify it.

I’m curious. How do my devout Protestant friends feel about the multitude of denominations there are? Yes, your particular denomination has an authority but there is really no collective protestant authority unless you are going to just say the bible or Jesus. But the problem there is different translations so it is not unified in belief and understanding.

Do you as a Protestant think there are too many denominations and/or denominations that should not be? I’d like a Catholic perspective as well.

 

[JonNC]

I am a former Protestant (Catholic revert). I never really dwelled on the fact that there were so many denominations with all kinds of beliefs , sub beliefs and doctrines. I knew they were there but my adverse “feelings” toward the Catholic church caused me to bury it or justify it.

I’m curious. How do my devout Protestant friends feel about the multitude of denominations there are? Yes, your particular denomination has an authority but there is really no collective protestant authority unless you are going to just say the bible or Jesus. But the problem there is different translations so it is not unified in belief and understanding.

Do you as a Protestant think there are too many denominations and/or denominations that should not be? I’d like a Catholic perspective as well.

While I think the numbers are overstated, I think any more than one communion is too many. OO, EO, CC, Lutheran, etc. Too many.

Jon

 

[ltwin]

I am a former Protestant (Catholic revert). I never really dwelled on the fact that there were so many denominations with all kinds of beliefs , sub beliefs and doctrines. I knew they were there but my adverse “feelings” toward the Catholic church caused me to bury it or justify it.

I’m curious. How do my devout Protestant friends feel about the multitude of denominations there are? Yes, your particular denomination has an authority but there is really no collective protestant authority unless you are going to just say the bible or Jesus. But the problem there is different translations so it is not unified in belief and understanding.

Do you as a Protestant think there are too many denominations and/or denominations that should not be? I’d like a Catholic perspective as well.

I don’t have a problem with it. There are groups that I think are teaching false doctrines and people need to stay away from. But many have good teaching (even if I don’t agree with all their fine points in doctrine). You just have to be watchful that you stay away from the theologically faulty groups.

 

[PJM]

=ltwin;10267905]I don’t have a problem with it. There are groups that I think are teaching false doctrines and people need to stay away from. But many have good teaching (even if I don’t agree with all their fine points in doctrine). You just have to be watchful that you stay away from the theologically faulty groups.

May I MY friend offer what to ME is a duh…

If there is only One God? There is!

How can that one and the same God hold differing; even contradictory positions on the same issues:shrug:

God Bless,
pat/PJM

 

[johnnyjones]

May I MY friend offer what to ME is a duh…

If there is only One God? There is!

How can that one and the same God hold differing; even contradictory positions on the same issues:shrug:

God Bless,
pat/PJM

Thats the whole ball of wax. Worthy of being raised.

 

[AbideWithMe]

I don’t have a problem with it. There are groups that I think are teaching false doctrines and people need to stay away from. But many have good teaching (even if I don’t agree with all their fine points in doctrine). You just have to be watchful that you stay away from the theologically faulty groups.

I’d say the same thing thing. To be honest, it’s never bothered me. What does bother me is when churches can’t get along charitably. So, to me, when different churches do interact charitably in spite of differences, it’s more encouraging to me to see that than if everyone was in the same visible church, officially believing the exact same thing about every point of doctrine. That charity, respect and cooperation amidst differences speaks of God at work to me.

I realize I’m likely to get hammered around here for saying this.

 

[AbideWithMe]

May I MY friend offer what to ME is a duh…

If there is only One God? There is!

How can that one and the same God hold differing; even contradictory positions on the same issues:shrug:

God Bless,
pat/PJM

Yes, there is only one God. He knows Himself, and the entirety
if the truth of Himself, with perfect knowledge and no contradiction.

It doesn’t follow, though, that we humans, seeing “through a glass darkly” diminish His perfection if in our very limited understanding we mis-perceive Him and make mistakes in trying to understand Him.

 

[Gaelic_Bard]

I’d say the same thing thing. To be honest, it’s never bothered me. What does bother me is when churches can’t get along charitably. So, to me, when different churches do interact charitably in spite of differences, it’s more encouraging to me to see that than if everyone was in the same visible church, officially believing the exact same thing about every point of doctrine. That charity, respect and cooperation amidst differences speaks of God at work to me.

I realize I’m likely to get hammered around here for saying this.

Abide, you will only get hammered by people who seriously believe that there ever was such a thing as a church where every single person believed the exact same thing on every point of doctrine.

 

[adf417]

I’d say the same thing thing. To be honest, it’s never bothered me. What does bother me is when churches can’t get along charitably. So, to me, when different churches do interact charitably in spite of differences, it’s more encouraging to me to see that than if everyone was in the same visible church, officially believing the exact same thing about every point of doctrine. That charity, respect and cooperation amidst differences speaks of God at work to me.

I realize I’m likely to get hammered around here for saying this.

Take that -:takethat:, and :nunchuk:

 

[AbideWithMe]

Abide, you will only get hammered by people who seriously believe that there ever was such a thing as a church where every single person believed the exact same thing on every point of doctrine.

Ha…

What I had in mind was this—that I think it’s partly a matter of personality for some people such as myself. I suppose I should get more bent out of shape over doctrinal inconsistencies than I do. But in reality (just speaking descriptively of myself and not prescribing for others how they should be) I care much more about how people handle their differences than about those differences themselves. When Christ said we should be one so that the world would believe that the Father sent Him, well—again, just being descriptive of myself—it really does greatly help me to believe in Him when I see churches with differences still being charitable and cooperative despite the human tendency to distrust the “other”.

 

[cheezey]

I’d say the same thing thing. To be honest, it’s never bothered me. What does bother me is when churches can’t get along charitably. So, to me, when different churches do interact charitably in spite of differences, it’s more encouraging to me to see that than if everyone was in the same visible church, officially believing the exact same thing about every point of doctrine. That charity, respect and cooperation amidst differences speaks of God at work to me.

I realize I’m likely to get hammered around here for saying this.

We all adore Christ. This is a good thing…

 

[missionarygirl]

The fact is: we won’t all agree on every little point of doctrine until we get to heaven.

While on earth though, it does bother me - not because we disagree, but because each different denomination claims to be inspired by the Holy Spirit. (There enlies the problem…)

It is very heartening when we come together charitably as a previous poster stated. It will be very exciting to be truly One when we get to heaven.

BTW, it does bother some Protestants, because I know one who has a hard time with it.

 

[katholikos12]

As a former Protestant many Protestants view it as irrelevant. They see all Christians as part of the body of Christ and the rest is just details.

This is how I viewed Catholicism as well before I found out about Church history.

 

[teachccd]

Abide, you will only get hammered by people who seriously believe that there ever was such a thing as a church where every single person believed the exact same thing on every point of doctrine.

It’s not about individual interpretation of doctrine. It’s about the unification of authority so that doctrines are proclaimed objectively and not subject to the discernment of the individual. That is why in the Catholic Church we have a visible authority granted to us by Christ. Whether or not every single person believes in the doctrines and dogmas of the faith is not what matters. What matters is that there is a Church who is guided by the Holy Spirit to teach truth and truth can not be subjective.

 

[JRKH]

In conversation with protestants, I have found that most do not dwell on this matter for one of two reasons.

1. They take the position that “We agree on the essentials” - though when pressed no one can produce a definitive list of what is essential in all protestant communions.
2. They (like JonNC above) don’t like the many divisions but they see no way of bringing the many diverse groups together.

Most of my conversations have started out with people professing option #1 above, but after talking for some time about the obvious fallacy of that position and what the NT bible has to say about “Church” (authority and organization), they come to take position #2.

And so the protestant is stuck. They can’t agree on essentials. As Itwin pointed out in his post, there are some churches that teach dangerous things that need to be avoided…but no one among the protestants have the authority to definitively and infallibly declare these churches to be heretical - especially if said church can support their position with bible references.

If any in the Protestant community were to propose that they DO need such an authority to represent all of the communions and decide such issues…well…you can imagine the response to that…

It’s a catch-22 for them.

Peace
James

 

[creationlover]

It bothered me and haunted me for years. After reading both sides of Church history I felt as though a huge burden had been lifted. I couldn’t live with the contradictions - especially after reading the Apostle Paul say stuff like “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” and encourage the Corinthians to live in unity (not just relational unity), and not to divide and form small cliques (1Cor chap 1). I think many Protestants are somewhat content if you hold to some central truths such as the Trinity and infallibility of Scripture. Outside of those doctrines and maybe a few others, it’s a battle. But this is just my opinion.

 

[Gaelic_Bard]

And so the protestant is stuck. They can’t agree on essentials. As Itwin pointed out in his post, there are some churches that teach dangerous things that need to be avoided…but no one among the protestants have the authority to definitively and infallibly declare these churches to be heretical - especially if said church can support their position with bible references.

Blessings JR,

I have to ask upon reading this; what gives you the impression that we do not believe that our respective congregations have the authority to declare certain teachings or doctrines to be sinful and/or heretical?

 

[cheezey]

It’s not about individual interpretation of doctrine. It’s about the unification of authority so that doctrines are proclaimed objectively and not subject to the discernment of the individual. That is why in the Catholic Church we have a visible authority granted to us by Christ. Whether or not every single person believes in the doctrines and dogmas of the faith is not what matters. What matters is that there is a Church who is guided by the Holy Spirit to teach truth and truth can not be subjective.

This one helps me, as I am still understanding the visible authority. Just today, I fully realized that I would probably never recite the rosary as many do. For no other reason than it is doubtful I’d ever memorize it. So that would be the Protestant in me. Then I saw the following from Maltmom on another thread…

"As a Catholic one is required to accept the dogmas of the Church regarding her. “Praying the Rosary is a private devotion that you are not required to do. The Church advises that we ask Mary and the Saint’s for their intercession. We are not required to. Anything that is a private revelation is something that each person can decide for themselves whether the revelation can bring them closer to God or not.”

But I speak of and to Mary in my prayers. It just makes sense; For Protestants and Catholics alike, she is the Mother of God.

 

[mlz]

As a former protestant I would answer your question, probably not. I think many protestants just see this not being realistic on this side of heaven. It isn’t unusual for protestants to switch churches and denominations more than once so it’s not a “big deal”. Now I see things differently of course, but that would be my view before becoming Catholic

Blessings,
mlz

 

[JRKH]

Blessings JR,

I have to ask upon reading this; what gives you the impression that we do not believe that our respective congregations have the authority to declare certain teachings or doctrines to be sinful and/or heretical?

Before I answer I just want to say that I mean no insult by anything I am about to say. Some might sound “blunt” but I speak in all charity - and because you asked.

Certainly you believe that your respective congregations have such authority and they do…but it is only “in house” so to speak. Not even all Baptist Churches teach the same things. Do southern Baptists have any control over “freewill” baptists? What authority do you have over the Church of the Nazarene or Church of God, Church of Christ, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians - etc…
Between these groups there is no authority to determine if a given doctrine or teaching is or is not a correct understanding of Scripture.

The fact is that the authority you speak of is limited in this way due to the fundamental and sacrosanct protestant Tradition that rejects the idea of a universal, visible and authoritative Church.
This protestant Tradition came into effect at the very beginning of the protestant reformation when the early reformers - rather than coming together in council for the purpose of resolving their doctrinal differences - split apart. Each going their own way.

This is evident today in the fact that, if your community booted someone out for holding false beliefs…that person can go down the street (possibly even another baptist church) and be accepted. OR if that person could find no church home but he was convinced of his spirit guided interpretation of the bible…he could just start his own community and just be another “flavor” of protestant Christianity.
It goes on all the time - and it is simply not biblical.

Peace
James