50,000+ Denominations and REASONS TO RETURN TO THE WORD.
- ixthye
- Sep 15
- 14 min read
Updated: Sep 26
From the beginning, the followers of Christ who through him were to become children of God, were told not to have division among them, and over and over shown that they should be One people. They were to be of One Body, One Spirit, Just as we were called in one Hope at our calling, One Lord, One faith, One baptism, One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in us all.
Instead...We have today 50,000+ to choose (or confuse) from.
We are told to be of the same mind and have no dissentions among us nor divisions of doctrine, this was stated time and time again through the whole of the Old and new testament. Obviously and unfortunately this was not followed, although as Paul stated "There must be divisions among you so that those who are approved will be known", hence before there were the Sadducees, Pharisees, Samaritans and others, they even put the name of God on molten and carved images and sacrificed their loved ones to them. When the Lord Jesus Christ came as was promised, this became an even bigger split between all who would call on the Father through the Lord Jesus, as we were told would be the case, for many eyes were blinded and ears made not to hear as Isaiah and others explained would be the case.
Which we see many times through the Gospel of peace that calls all who believe.
For example, even when The Lord Christ was teaching among them and performing many miraculous signs that testified he had been sent by God.
John 7:37-44
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
40 Therefore [i]many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people because of Him. 44 Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.
It was shown many more times throughout the whole of the Gospel, that most of mankind has ever and will ever depend on their own preconceptions and ideals rather than hear the truth if that truth goes even the slightest bit against the desires within them. Other times the Jews whom he came first to save were divided in claiming he had a Demon in him because of the words he proclaimed among them, which were always shown plainly in the Holy Scriptures which they clung to in order to try to claim against him being the Christ.
After Jesus was taken up these dissentions continued and divisions were created, Shown in Acts with those of the Pharisees who came to the Gentiles who had believed and told them that they could not be saved if they did not live by the law of Moses in becoming circumcised. At the time it caused dissention even among the Elders and those who had witnessed Christ from his baptism to his ascension, At which time it was put to rest by simply returning to the truth of what Christ taught.
Which the Holy Spirit was in agreement with within them.
Acts 15:1-21
15 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. 4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, [a]acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus [b]Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. 13 And after they had [c]become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: 14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
16 ‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the [d]Lord who does all these things.’
18 [e]“Known to God from eternity are all His works. 19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from [f]sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
This is shown repeatedly through the Gospel, and as the rest of scripture, it does not change throughout.
So how did they respond to calls for dissention among them? With those calling for divisions to be made to support their own wants and desires, it was not met with acceptance as it is today, nor continuous arguments mocking one another publicly as we have also today among the multitude of Denominations/Sects, proudly mocking one another or offering a smile with the face but mockery to their backs. Also claiming that all denominations or sects/factions are correct and that scripture means different things to different people, even though in claiming this they claim that since it means differently to different people, scripture as a result means nothing...
Instead the Apostles simply looked to the Gospel of Peace and Truth without anything being added nor removing from it but seeked its truth as the Word of God, which has not and does not change.
Today we see a great multitude of people teaching partial truths and whole flesh, smooth words and flattery pulling away those who will not believe in Christ and Love him which is to Obey him, nor the Father through him, as it was taught.
For unless it tickles their ears and encourages their own ideals and supports individual interpretation, which allows them to say:
"The Bible says whatever it needs to say for our benefit"
"It is more like a cult to follow the full truth of the Gospel rather than Doctrines of Man"
Sadly, you will be hard-pressed to find any who call themselves a 'Church' that does not add nor remove (or hide) or change the scripture in small part or large.
And you will encounter alot of difficulty and push back in trying to simply show them the truth regarding what they teach by even the same scripture including all that surrounds it, without them using single verses to fight others as well as against you, as if it negates the Word in other places instead of one explaining another. In the same way that the Pharisees did, and Sadducees, and even the Devil himself when he tempted Christ mind you.
This is not only some new occurrence to which we are left to our own devices to deal with, but was prophesied by Paul and has always been the case.
In the words of the Holy Spirit, spoken through Paul.
It must be that sects will rise among you to show who is accepted. in 1 Corinthians 11 and Acts 20
Acts 20:25-32
25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent[e] of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not [f]shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church [g]of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking [h]perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
And Also
1 corinthians 11:17-22
17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be [b]recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame [c]those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
It is in following after those who teach these divisions and seeking after the things that preach edification of fleshly desires and not the spirit, that is there is no division or Faction aside from Mans reasoning and wisdom of the World, in trying to interpret Gods Word after their own wants and desires. Twisting it however they have to in order to make it fit.
To this effect we see the evidence all around us with so called "Mega church, Pastors" or "Apostles" being arrested in massive laundering schemes and fraud of varying kinds. Proving that those who teach Gods word according to covetousness, either covetousness of worldly goods and favor, or covetousness of power, teach against God.
God is not mocked...and will ever send those which he has put in power to reveal their falsities in order to teach those who would hear the true word as was taught at the beginning. As every leader is placed there by God, whether good or bad. They are used of God to fulfill his will. And these false prophets, as it was in the times before Christ came to us, were sent by God as punishment to those who would not hear his word. Those who truly seek The Lord, know by the spirit that was given to them upon believing what is truth and what is false, and this they know by the Holy Word of God. If they search it unfeignedly.
If you are confused and asking "How do we know if we are with a congregation that teaches rightly?" By the word as it has always been, by their fruits you will know them. A Good tree will not give bad fruit, nor can a Bad Tree give good fruit. Either the tree will be Good and give Good fruit. Or it will be Bad and give Bad fruit.
As was taught by Christ.
Matthew 7:15-23
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Not everyone who says to me, "Lord Lord" shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father in heaven. Not all who claim the name of Christ in whatever holy work or deed are truly of God. And by their deeds, what they teach etc. Their fruits. you will know them.
And Also. Luke expounding it further.
Luke 6:42-49
42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. 43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. 46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
By both what they teach and how they live according to what they teach, you will know them. As was taught repeatedly by example through scripture.
One who teaches to abstain from covetousness and yet lives in luxury while those they teach suffer and struggle for the basics, cannot truly teach the word.
There are a multitude of other examples I can show you, and do so ad nauseum (a disgusting degree of being too much).
But as you have seen, the word is clear on this. Many of these scriptures have been altered in what people claim they mean, or if they could not be without too many questions, they were ignored and danced around as people walk around a fire less it burn them. Showing instead only that which they could twist to their pleasure.
It is by these and the many others that you can understand why Following of Division/Sects/Factions/Heresies/Denominations was spoken against by risk of damnation in scripture.
For One will say you must do this or that to be saved, Another will say you need do nothing but come to a church building and only when you feel like it. Another will say that if you do not come to that building at least twice a week then you will be damned to hell.
Or that if you marry, or eat this or that then you go against God. in varying degrees and heresies. Of which is spoken against clearly in scripture that they have no excuse for their heresies and can only ignore it and hope that the innocent of mind will ignore it as well.
Now....If you have walked from Denomination to Denomination and asked questions as I did in the beginning myself when I heard the call. Then you have likely heard the following lines.
"Scripture does say this, but we teach this instead so that no one feels left out or like we are judging them"
or
"We don't really teach that here but we teach the Love of God like we were told, and shame on you for making it sound like God condemns this or that sin"
I've been told this as well as other things by them, often times saying that scripture doesn't say what it says, outside of or including their single verses, but while uncovering the surrounding scripture, often only a 5 or more verses before and after in offering understanding. Which usually is rejected, or falls on deaf ears.
To which they laugh, walk away, or worse...Say "I Rebuke That In The Name Of God" which they themselves blatantly go against said word, often by their own admission.
I am not saying to follow after "Non denominationalism" For many of them have become their own denomination in that they combine individual interpretations, or doctrine of many denominations into their own, and are in-fact a denomination themselves, they just haven't named it yet...
But instead I proclaim to you that the Scripture in full should be followed, and all spirits tested, that is ALL that teach the word should be tested by the same word to see if they teach truly. No scripture contradicts another, so if their teaching points to that then know that they teach falsely.
I could easily continue for days on end, but I will not have said anything that the whole of scripture does not show...
Instead I will finish with the word, as we started.
Galatians 5:16-21
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [d]adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, Factions <-- (Sects/Factions/Division/Heresies/Denominations same word with the same meaning),
21 envy, [f]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [g]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Indeed there are 50,000+... And instead of asking yourself which one, turn to the scripture. Test all that is taught. If you are only able to find 1 or 2 others who seek as the Lord in full truth, then you together are of the Church or Congregation of Christ. The Body.
The multitude follow after the wide road where many who claim "Lord Lord" follow. But do not make the mistake as others have of thinking that God must have made the road wide for his many followers. It is the narrow road that few find, for want of covetousness they cannot see it. Not even if they were walked to its edge and had it pointed at by light of the Gospel...
May The Lord open your eyes to the truth of the scripture, Seek after him, knock and he will open, seek and you will find. All Glory to the Father, and praise be to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen
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