4,000 Faces of Christianity

(DALLAS, Tx.) - During the past nineteen hundred years over four thousand different Christian religious denominations, organizations, and movements, have evolved in the world. These four thousand we call main line groups. Go outside of these main line movements and the number of groups cannot be counted.

A great number of these main line groups have developed their own individual plans of salvation.

Between these four thousand movements we estimate somewhere between one hundred and two hundred different plans of salvation are believed to be the true salvation plan of God.

Looking at all these movements we find they generally fall into the following group categories. Apostolic - Roman Catholic - Greek Orthodox – Protestant - Church of Christ – Mormons – Modern Trinity Pentecostal – Modern Oneness Pentecostal - Full Gospel – Charismatic. Combined together these movements number in the billions of members worldwide. With every one of these movements, their leaders and followers are fully persuaded they have the true plan of salvation. Some of these groups say all plans of salvation will work and others say only their plan will save a lost soul.

Given the existence of all these movements, some serious questions should be asked and answered.

For those who believe in Christian salvation, the answers to these questions are of the greatest importance.

The Bible states that Jesus Christ taught his original Apostles the plan of salvation that he suffered and died for. We can see this fact in the following. He 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

When we study Christian history following the sack of Jerusalem by the Roman Army in 70AD, this is where a majority of the doctrines of the Apostles, were either slowly changed or done away with by the Christian religious world. In addition, this is where entirely new non-apostolic teachings sprang forth and which have never come to and end. Examples: Jim Jones and David Koresh.

As it turned out only a very small remnant of believers down through Christian history, have been shown the truth of the Apostles by the Holy Spirit. These true Apostolic believers have always been labeled as heretics, by all other non-apostolic groups, who departed or rejected early Apostolic truth.

Following the sack of Jerusalem three major practices within the emerging non-apostolic Christian world took place.

From the Roman Catholic – Greek Orthodox movements that formed between 150AD and 325AD and later all of the above Christian movements, all developed plans of salvation different from the plan Jesus Christ gave his Apostles, between 30AD and 33AD. Between 150AD and 450AD these changes came about by the development of a man made Catholic bible interpretation system known as Scholastic Theology and Selective Scripture Interpretation.

It turns out that Scholastic Theology and Selective Scripture is the source of most major Christian movements biblical interpretation of doctrine, In the end it’s Scholastic Theology and Selective Scripture, which have given us over four thousand Christian movements with hundreds of different plans of salvation.

All religious movements in history have either founding fathers or an individual who started these individual movements. Examples: The original Christian church = Jesus Christ and his Apostles. Roman Catholic-Greek Orthodox = The Church Fathers. Lutherans = Martin Luther. Presbyterians = John Calvin. The Anglicans = Henry the VIII. The Methodist = John Wesley, etc., etc., etc., etc., etc.

What most of these groups and their leaders did was take the same basic bible, then selected desired scriptures, and used Scholastic Theology to place new interpretations on these selections. These new interpretations were then called New Revelation Truth. Armed with so-called New Revelation Truth, most of these new movements became large denominations and organizations with millions of followers.

A classic example of the New Revelation Truth process and how it works came with Martin Luther. Luther was educated to be a Roman Catholic priest. As a student in seminary he was taught Scholastic Theology, the Roman Catholic version. Years later and as founder of the Protestant Reformation, he took Scholastic Theology and Selective Scripture Interpretation to develop Protestant theology, including the basic Protestant plan of salvation. Not only was his plan not Roman Catholic in substance, it was in total opposition to the teaching of Jesus Christ and his Apostles. Yet, he used the same bible interpretation system of the Roman Catholics.

These facts should give you a big clue just how off based Scholastic Theology and the Selective Scripture process is in biblical interpretation.

During the post Catholic development period many men and or women, who were not highly educated like the Catholics and Orthodox leaders, became founders of many non-apostolic movements. What these new movement founders did was select different doctrines from other established religious movements, and blend then together into a totally new movement. They are what we call the pot of stew religious followers.

Classic examples of this mix and match practice can be seen in movements like Church of Christ, all modern Pentecostal-Charismatic-Full Gospel groups, Mormons, and even in the non-Christian Muslim world.

Using Scholastic Theology and Selective Scripture we can see another example taking place with another Catholic priest, who came long before Martin Luther. His name was Arius.

Between 290AD and 325AD Arius developed the doctrine that Jesus Christ was not God, thus not deity. Between 325AD and the Protestant Reformation of the 1500’s, this doctrine was followed by hundreds of thousands of former trinity believers within the Catholic-Orthodox religious worlds.

During the 600’s AD came the Muslim religion, which taught Jesus Christ was a prophet but not God or deity. Following the Muslims came the Mormons, then the Jehovah Witness, Christian Scientist, and the World Wide Church of God. All of these movements embraced the teachings of Arius, against the deity of Jesus Christ. These groups cover a time span from around 290AD to the present day.

The illustrations shown in this news release on the evolution of Christian doctrine, barely scratches the surface of the hundreds, maybe thousands of non-apostolic doctrines, present in the so-called Christian religious world. Of course all who believe them call these doctrines- dogmas truth.

With this background understood we are then faced with the following question. Is their only one plan of salvation, or does anything work just take you pick? If the shoe fits wear it.

So far as truth and Christianity are concerned there is only one source that can give us the correct answer. The following scriptures tell it like it is.

When you read these scriptures keep in mind, the writers of these scriptures believed and obeyed the one plan of salvation Jesus Christ gave his Apostles, when he walked with them on this earth.

The Lord Jesus Christ:
13 ¶Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

15 ¶Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Apostle Paul:
Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Apostle Peter:
II Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

Jude:
Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation (one), it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith (truth) which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

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misganaw October 26, 2010 7:43 am (Pacific time)

are you born again? do you baptized in the Name of JESUS? AND Filled with His Spirit?

David October 24, 2010 7:42 pm (Pacific time)

Jehovah's Witnesses are not a cult nor have they covered up child molestation cases as incorrectly stated by one of the posters. As a group striving to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, and following the pattern of the 1st century Christians, they are the only group that disfellowships unrepentant child abusers or pedophiles. The Christian Congregation does not protect those abusers and they are reported to the police. They are the first Christian group to deny any pedophile any teaching position in congregation. On the other hand, it is well known that for years the Catholic church transferred known pedophile priests from church to church, and covered up their crimes. Similar situation is happening in Protestant churches (see, for example, www.stopbaptistpredators.org). Witnesses are mainly a Christian group that has a very high conversion rate. People from other groups, Catholics, Baptists, Mormons, Adventists, Evangelicals, Pentecostals, Muslims, Jews, etc., have all converted and accepted the Witness beliefs after a close study of the Bible. These include former clergymen. I personal know former Catholic priest, former Baptist pastors, and a former Seventh Day Adventist theology professor who became Witnesses. I also know 2 former nuns. The fact is that once they study the Bible, they become convinced that the Witnesses are teaching the truth about the "only true God, and the one he sent forth, Jesus Christ."

Daniel October 17, 2010 2:14 am (Pacific time)

Science and religion are created in the image of man . When both speak of reality beyond experience they are asking faith in their stated knowledge . Science speaks of a universe defined by mans limited perceptions , religion does the same . It is folly to believe man is the most intelligent creature of the universe . Both science and religion limit the incomprehensible , such as the definition of the universe to the human understanding and physical perception . I see the positive aspects of the moral code of most religions but I also see how it is used and abused by so many . I also see how science is used as a tool to poison and control . The reality is we all die, at that point our questions may be answered or maybe just a door to more questions or nothing . In this life I have been in the presence of truly spiritual people , they have a positive radiance . I have also been in the presence of highly intelligent agnostics , their personal aura was not so impressive to me .

Is there a higher intelligence guiding humanity , are they the godhead or demigod or just more evolved beings ? I personally find it better to follow the non violent code that is the heart of most religions . This path for me has lead to a very healthy and prosperous life . For those on a spiritual path please get beyond the dogma and open your heart.

Daniel October 17, 2010 2:03 am (Pacific time)

Natalie October 15, 2010 4:58 pm (Pacific time)

DB: " lets say god stopped the earth"-those were your words, not mine. I didn't pull them out of you by force. If you can look at it as a theory, you can look at the details of that theory as a possibility as well. Now, as for proof, why would I want to prove God's existance to anybody? That's your job. I'm not gonna do your homework for you. You seek-you find. Let's be clear on one thing though: you're as religious as I am. Religion is a set of beliefs about human purpose in life(part of religion). The only difference is: I believe in God the Almighty, and your-homo sapiens the almighty. I believe in intelligent design, you believe in Big Boom of something. So, how is your religion superior to mine? Since we kinda both religious, let's look who's more of the "religious nuts". You're calling for elimination of all Christians because they irritate you; I have atheists friends with whom I can have decent conversations about anything, including Creation without going ballistic. It's phylosophy, which is always interesting. That's my choice to find comfort in whatever I please, and their choice not to believe that it can bring comfort. So, when you do you famous "christians are religious nuts" fingerpointing, first look at your fist. 4 fingers are pointing back at you.

Douglas Benson October 15, 2010 9:52 am (Pacific time)

There we go again ,belief in magic. Religion pulls out the all powerfull nonsense when they dont have the answers . How about the fact that the Summarians were inventing glue ,oh about six thousand years ago while god was creating he earth . Or dinosaurs , fossil records,and before you say to god a thousand years could be a second let me remind you that the test for those inspired by god is 100% accuracy . The list just goes on and on .You are welcome to your beliefs but my take is it is much more rational to say I dont know .If you can prove that god exists in a real scientific way without magical thinking and that the bible is 100% accurate I might be willing to change my mind. By forming theory before collecting facts you make the facts fit the theory not make theory to fit the facts. peace

Natalie October 14, 2010 6:19 pm (Pacific time)

If God had the ability to stop the Earth, I guess He could do it in such way so it wouldn't cause earthquakes and floods. Seems logical to me. Re what's rational, well, what we consider rational today, would be branded irrational a couple centuries ago. For ex: we rationalize mother's ability to lift a car to free her child. We say that her level of adrenaline was extreme and she became superpowerful for a minute. How do you explain the fact, that people heal faster when they believe that they are getting the right medicine when in fact it's not a medicine at all? There's a scientific explanation for everything, even for "sound causing walls to fall". Believing in God as the Creator doesn't make me reject science. It's a strange atheists' fairy-tail. I guess it makes them feel more comfortable.But actually, at the end we get what we believe in. That's it.

Judith October 14, 2010 7:39 am (Pacific time)

Jehovah's Witnesses are considered a dangerous cult in many European countries and definitely under investigation because governments are concerned by the mind manipulation, child molestation cover-ups, breaking up of families due to shunning, as well as other atrocities taking place within the religion. Victims of WT's hard-line organizational policies are speaking up to government officials about their experiences and they are responding with assistance.

Douglas Benson October 14, 2010 7:07 am (Pacific time)

Ok Nat lets say god stopped the earth from turning or even slowed it down enough for a few hours of sun .That would create an extinction level event earthquakes tidal waves that would flood a great portion of the earth eruptions etc. Come down to reality and admit all powerfull space daddies require more than just a little irrational "faith" Peace

TryBlu October 14, 2010 3:57 am (Pacific time)

Scientologists declare their outcasts "suppressive persons." Another Scientology policy - called "disconnection" - forbids Scientologists from interacting with a suppressive person. No calls, no letters, no contact. An SP is a pariah. Anyone who communicates with an SP risks being branded an SP himself. Jehovah's Witnesses disfellowshiped person (DF) is exactly the same as Scientology suppressed person (SP) Jehovah's Witnesses are EXACTLY the same. Jehovah's Witnesses restrict freedom for their own dissident members.. They have won 37 of their 46 US Supreme court cases assuring us all of freedom of speech and assembly and equal protection under the law. The sad irony is that the Watchtower Society *daily* abuses the human rights of thousands of its members. It denies current members the right of free speech by forbidding them to speak to former members, even close family members. And it denies former members their right of freedom of worship by refusing to allow them to leave the religion with dignity, should they come to disagree with Watchtower's practices or doctrines.

Stella October 13, 2010 8:33 am (Pacific time)

Christianity is nothing but a cruel hoax. Turns out, nothing is supernatural.

RR October 12, 2010 5:53 pm (Pacific time)

It's not called a "leap of faith" for nothing. Why worry how one decides to worship, or not worship? If it does not cause you any harm, then don't sweat the small stuff.

Natalie October 12, 2010 2:11 pm (Pacific time)

I just checked our local weather forecast. It says sunrise at.. and sunset at... OMG! poor uneducated news people. Nobody told them yet the Sun doesn't move anywhere. They are probably christians believing in the three-whales-holding the Earth theory. lol

Tom Helmick October 12, 2010 7:53 am (Pacific time)

Interesting article, but could you more precisely spell out the gospel which Christ taught the Apostle's which Paul and Jude refer to.

Douglas Benson October 12, 2010 5:29 am (Pacific time)

The mythology of "The son of god ." is much older than the jews themselves, even older than the earth according to the biblical time frame of how old the earth is [what 6,000 years]. Give me a break . Why not ask the real hard questions ,like if the bible is the word of god why is it wrong about so many things proven by science? Im so sure that god stopped the sun from rotating around the earth so the jews could win in battle ,NOT . Oh I forgot the magical space daddy is all powerfull and they lie when they say the earth revolves around the sun . Its all a trick by those crazy evolutionists and scientists . If the bible is truth then its 100% accurate or its garbage. Dont blame me for your own test of truth for those inspired by god. Mabey if people knew this is all we get they would treat eachother and our world better .Peace

Luke Easter October 11, 2010 9:56 pm (Pacific time)

Matthew 28:19, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" tells us something. Jesus naver said make Christians. As a matter of fact the word Christian is only mentioned 3 times in the New Testament and not once by Jesus. Diciple on the other hand is used 258 times. Why? Is there a difference? Must be if Jesus never said to make Christians but Diciples. There are ten levels of involvement, 0-9 but only one level of committment, level 10. The old addage, when you have bacon and eggs for breakfast the chicken is involved while the pig is committed rings true here. Christians are chickens. They are quick with an excuse whenever things don't go right. They walk by sight. Diciples on the other hand are like the pig. They walk by faith. No matter how it looks, "it will be well" as in 2nd Kings 4:18-26. Sort of like the difference between a Chief and his Indians or leaders and followers. Don't be an excuse maker, a quitter, a Christian. Be a Diciple, standfast, immoveable, build your house on the Rock, not Christian sand. Jude 5, "God destroyed those who believed Him not." That's why, "Narrow is the gate" because there are so many Christians. Matthew 7 says it best, "I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Take the Pope for example, as a Cardinal he knew hundreds of boys were repeatedly raped and yet for the protection of the church (the guilty and not the innocent) he helped to sweep it under the filthy rug of Christianity. Get your facts straight Padre.

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