Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Hank Walker | Pastor at Peach City Fellowship

People often ask, “If Christianity is true, why are there SO MANY denominations?”

With 47,000 Christian denominations in the world, this seems like a reasonable question. Unfortunately, however, the question betrays a degree of confusion regarding three key concepts: “denominations,” “religions,” and “cults.”

When we speak of a DENOMINATION, we have to ask three questions: Are we talking about just any RELIGION? Are we considering PSEUDO-CHRISTIAN CULTS? Are we only speaking of CHRISTIAN groups?

According to Merriam-Webster, “religion” is “a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices.” Many religions are not Christian (e.g., Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, etc.). Thus defined, Christianity is but ONE religion—made up of MANY denominations.

Additionally, “pseudo-Christian” (false-Christian) cults ARE also religions—but are NOT denominations. They are not Christian denominations, because they do not affirm the non-negotiable tenets of Christianity. This category becomes more confusing because some Christian denominations have “apostatized,” abandoning true Christianity. Among the former are Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Oneness Pentecostals, and Universalists. Of the “apostate” churches/denominations are many congregations within the United Methodist Church (UMC), Presbyterian (PC-USA), Episcopal Church (ECUSA), Roman Catholic Church, and Orthodox Churches.

When we say “denomination,” then, we speak ONLY of true Christian churches. Despite doctrinal differences, ALL denominations believe the biblical gospel.

Finally, denominations exist for good reasons. The biggest is that God is ALWAYS reforming His church. As doctrinal differences arise, Christian people are obligated to follow their consciences and to subject themselves to the authority of Scripture—even if it brings separation. One group will be wrong—the other doctrinally right. Over time, God purifies the church this way.

Consider the recent “split” within the United Methodist Church (UMC). When the hierarchy of the denomination would not adhere to its own Book of Discipline—opting instead to affirm and ordain “LGBTQ+ members—an irreconcilable separation occurred. Born during the First Great Awakening, this once vital denomination has become a pseudo-Christian cult (even if by habit we still call it a denomination). The Christians who followed their consciences out of the UMC are now spread across many “denominations.”

Ultimately, we are left with this: God, according to His own perfect and wise counsel, has been pleased to allow Christians to believe and practice in different ways—as long as they don’t compromise the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace, y’all. Soli Deo Gloria