Protestants: how do you know that your interpretation of the Bible is the right one?

[Hisalone]

You can tell who is a follower of Christ by the one who does his will - his fruits.
This doesn’t seem to encompass those who pick and choose what they want to believe because some things are just too hard for them swallow. Those in his Church - not all - but those who have chosen to accept everything he taught and left are doing his will.

So who outside the Catholic Church are followers of Christ?

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

I also wanted to add this, it’s by the Catholic Answers board, taken from statistics in the World Christian Encyclopedia:

David Barrett, et al, does indeed refer to “over 33,000 distinct denominations in 238 countries…” (Table 1-5, vol 1, page 16). This refers to his unique definition of a “Christian denomination” but does not include small ones (congregations of a couple hundred or less), which would dramatically increase this number beyond all imagination. Barrett also states there are 242 total Roman Catholic denominations (year 2000 numbers). So I looked into what he believed these denominations were.

Barrett breaks down his encyclopedic reference by country. So I looked up how many Roman Catholic denominations are within the U.S. according to Barrett. Much to my surprise, Barrett shows ONLY ONE Roman Catholic denomination for the United States.

So I wondered where the heck are these 242 denominations? I looked in Barrett’s reference for Britain, and again he listed ONLY ONE Roman Catholic denomination. I thought surely that of the 238 countries within his encyclopedic reference there must be a country that had more than ONE Roman Catholic denomination. There wasn’t. I could not find one country listed by Barrett that had more than ONE Roman Catholic denomination.

So, what does Barrett mean when he states there are 242 Roman Catholic denominations? It seems Barrett is counting each country as it’s own denomination. So, for Barrett, the Roman Catholic Church of the USA is a different denomination than the Roman Catholic Church of Canada. I don’t know how he got 242 denominations from 238 countries listed, however. Some numbers from Barrett’s…

Denominations / Paradenominations:

1970: 26,350
1995: 33,820

Under U.S. Country Table 2, of the 6,222 US denominations, there’s only ONE Roman Catholic denomination listed, and there’s 60 Orthodox denominations. Barrett labels the rest of the denominations: Protestant, Anglican, Independent, and Marginal. The more commonly accepted classification of Christianity used even by Protestant scholars, such as Leslie Dunstan in his book Protestantism, Christianity consists of: (1) Catholic, (2) Orthodox, and (3) Protestant. So, using this more commonly understood classification…

Number of U.S. Denominations

Catholic 1
Orthodox 60
Protestant 6,161

               **Your Total "Christian Denominations" Count for today is 40544 
                Please pray for Christian unity (John 17; Eph 4:5; Matt 16:18) **

Gabriel of 12:

Nice research josie:thumbsup: There was a thread dealing with the term Catholic “denomination” and this topic came up, I looked into it briefly, and found this source was inaccurate and may have confused Catholic rites with denominations? But I like what you found to be more consistant with the number of countries, but they dont add up either?

Any how; thanks for the information.

 

[Hisalone]

Has anyone posted a link to the 33,000 denominations?

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

Has anyone posted a link to the 33,000 denominations?

Gabriel of 12;

I dont know Hisalone; All I know is that Jesus built ONe Church according to the bible. If there are more than one church, then there exists one two many? never mind the 33,000.

 

[ufamtobie]

QUOTE=Non Serviam;4913676]Let the fisher cast some bait into the water.

How do you know that you have interpreted these verses correctly in asking your question?

How can you rely only on the private interpretation of your church tradition?

Can you really trust the interpretation of people who tell you that the Bible says only they can interpret the Bible?

How do we come to a correct understanding of other domains like math, science, history, language, etc? By ceding control to one dogmatic interpreter or by collaborating and comparing knowledge in order to be “led into all truth” while “studying to show ourselves approved?”

Hi there unconvinced,

Jesus Christ left us his Catholic Church to guide us all he did not abandoned us. Wether you are convinced or unconvinced, you have your free will, do as you please.

Ufamtobie

 

[ufamtobie]

Let the fisher cast some bait into the water.

Unconvinced,

The Catholic Church is the Fisher of men and you are swiming in the good pool here at CAF so that you may Learn and be convinced!

Ufamtobie

 

[Ginger2]

Wolves in sheeps clothing are also those who preach a different message than what Jesus taught and left to his Church.

That’s what I said. “… “Sheep’s clothing” indicates they are pretending to be one of you. For Catholics, this would be someone who poses as a Catholic.” Anyone who poses as believing in God but preaches a different Gospel is in “sheep’s clothing”

The Bible tells us how we can be protected from false prophets.

First, we must want to follow God and not ourselves:
2 Ti 4:3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate healthy doctrine, but with itching ears will surround themselves with teachers who cater to their people’s own desires. We have freewill and God will let us believe a lie if that is what we want.

Second, we must trust God:
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Third, we must use the tools God gave us to discern the truth:
That’s why we have the Scriptures!
1Th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Isaiah 8:20 … if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them.
Proverbs 30:5,6 Every saying of God is refined; He is a shield to those taking refuge in Him. Add nothing to His words, that He may not reprove you and that you may not have to be proved a liar.
Acts 17:10-12 ….carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.
Eph 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ

"…that ye might learn in us not to think [of men] above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. " (1Cr 4:6 )

Ginger

 

[elvisman]

No games both the gift of healing and the bible come/came through God and neither can human take credit for. It is that simple.

Oh, Hisalone - which part of the following do you not understand?

John 16:13-15
*But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. **He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. *
Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.

The fact that you find so difficult to swallow is that the Catholic Church - the only Church established by Jesus - is the custodian of his truth. This is why St. Paul refers to the Church as "*the pillar and foundation of Truth*” (I Timothy 3:15).**
This is why Jesus identifies his very self with it:

Acts 9:4-5:
**He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" **
He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting."

 

[Ginger2]

I also wanted to add this, …It seems Barrett is counting each country as it’s own denomination. So, for Barrett, the Roman Catholic Church of the USA is a different denomination than the Roman Catholic Church of Canada. I don’t know how he got 242 denominations from 238 countries listed, however. Some numbers from Barrett’s…

Thank you for proving my point.

Or are you saying even tho Barrett can’t be trusted becuase he is wrong about how many Catholic denomination exist, his numbers concerning Protestants is completely trust worthy and accurate?

That makes sense. If someone is wrong about one thing, it proves he is right about everything else!!!

Again, thank you for proving my point.

Maybe in the future we can all try to avoid fables to prove our claims

 

[elvisman]

So who outside the Catholic Church are followers of Christ?

As I already indicated, His true follwers are those in his Church who have chosen to accept everything he taught and left are doing his will.
This doesn’t mean that Protestants aren’t Christians. They are Christians in a partial sense of the word because they reject certain truths taught by Jesus - cafeteria-style, if you will.

Jesus’ Church is the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Tim. 3:15) where the fullness of His truth is found (John 16:13-15).

 

[Ginger2]

**A…Protestants …are Christians in a partial sense **

Is that like being partially pregnant, but not quite?

 

[elvisman]

Is that like being partially pregnant, but not quite?

Nope.
It’s like having ALL of your food in front of you but only choosing the dessert - the things you like - and tossing the rest in the garbage.

 

[elvisman]

Thank you for proving my point.

Or are you saying even tho Barrett can’t be trusted becuase he is wrong about how many Catholic denomination exist, his numbers concerning Protestants is completely trust worthy and accurate?

That makes sense. If someone is wrong about one thing, it proves he is right about everything else!!!

Again, thank you for proving my point.

Maybe in the future we can all try to avoid fables to prove our claims

Actually, Ginger - suppose there are only 5,000 Protestant denominations worldwide, each proclaiming to be “the Truth”. That’s 5,000 “truths”.

Which one do you choose? Which one is actually the truth. They can’t all be - unless you are a relativist . . .

 

[Ginger2]

Nope.
It’s like having ALL of your food in front of you but only choosing the dessert - the things you like - and tossing the rest in the garbage.

The person who does that with the Gospel is not a Christian at all.

If a man tells you he is a vegetarian, but eats beef steak every Friday, is he really a vegetarian? Or would you claim he is partially a vegetarian because he abstains 6 days a week?

It is the same with men who say they are Christians but don’t adhere to the Christian faith.

Either you are or you are not.

 

[Ginger2]

Actually, Ginger - suppose there are only 5,000 Protestant denominations worldwide, each proclaiming to be “the Truth”. That’s 5,000 “truths”.

Which one do you choose? Which one is actually the truth. They can’t all be - unless you are a relativist . . .

The point is, we shouldn’t be using lies to prove truth. We lose credibility when we do that, plus it is a sin, plus the truth can stand on its own!

You are beating a dead horse.

Ginger

 

[elvisman]

The person who does that with the Gospel is not a Christian at all.

If a man tells you he is a vegetarian, but eats beef steak every Friday, is he really a vegetarian? Or would you claim he is partially a vegetarian because he abstains 6 days a week?

It is the same with men who say they are Christians but don’t adhere to the Christian faith.

Either you are or you are not.

You have said it.
My question then is why don’t Protestants believe everything Jesus taught?

 

[elvisman]

The point is, we shouldn’t be using lies to prove truth. We lose credibility when we do that, plus it is a sin, plus the truth can stand on its own!

You are beating a dead horse.

Ginger

You are absolutely right - we shouldn’t be using lies to prove truth. Why, then do Protestants do this?
Truth DOES stand on it’s own, but the relativist perverts it - “twists it to his own destruction.” (2 Peter 3:16)

PS - A “dead horse”? How?

 

[Bill_Pick]

You are absolutely right - we shouldn’t be using lies to prove truth. Why, then do Protestants do this?
Truth DOES stand on it’s own, but the relativist perverts it - “twists it to his own destruction.” (2 Peter 3:16)

PS - A “dead horse”? How?

Most protestants do NOT lie they just us private interpretation for the Bible and believ all the preacher tells them. If you locked 4 of them in a room with a Bible and told them to read they will come out with 5 diff.interpretations====just my opinion,LOL

 

[josie_L]

Thank you for proving my point.

Or are you saying even tho Barrett can’t be trusted becuase he is wrong about how many Catholic denomination exist, his numbers concerning Protestants is completely trust worthy and accurate?

That makes sense. If someone is wrong about one thing, it proves he is right about everything else!!!

Again, thank you for proving my point.

Maybe in the future we can all try to avoid fables to prove our claims

**I am saying that Barrett’s mistake was in tabulating RC denominations as 242, due to his misunderstanding of how the RC Church was structured. **

That mistake in the hands of Catholic haters, like James White of Alpha and Omega ministries (and is where I think you got the information you posted) was twisted to gain maximum propagandic value.

I never meant to imply that Barrett was wrong on all accounts. You would have to analyze all of his findings in order to set an argument of that magnitude.

If you don’t believe him when he states that there are more than 33 000 christian denominations then I guess you would have to prove him wrong.

 

[Ginger2]

**You **have said it.
My question then is why don’t Protestants believe everything Jesus taught?