30,000 Protestant Denominations?

JustforCatholics-Evangelical and Evangelistic Ministry for Protestants ^ | Joe Mizzi, M.D. Reformed Baptist Church of Malta

[Gamecock]

Question: If one thing is clear, it's that there is one, single, visible Church that Jesus founded. This multitude of competing, conflicting denominations is no sign of God's work; therefore, it must be the work of the Evil One. Somewhere in the midst of these 30,000 denominations, there is one true church, and the rest are in sin and rebellion.

Answer: The "thousands-of-denominations" argument is very often employed to prove all sorts of things. Here are some citations from letters received from other Catholics:

How can all these denominations claim to follow the Bible yet all come to different conclusions? How can I possibly know which one of those above teach the truth when they can't even agree on what the Bible says? The Bible alone has created so much havoc in this world.

If there is only one Church, why are there so many Protestant denominations? Possibly many thousands throughout the world, as compared to only one Catholic Church? I do see it as a sign of God's judgment that there are close to 30,000 Protestant denominations.

The Bible alone can be dangerous. In fact, the Bible alone IS dangerous. Look at Protestantism: 100,000 different interpretation of the Bible, 100,000 contradictions, 100,000 different denominations claiming to have the key.

Peter said that no prophecy of the Scripture is for private interpretation. This is why you have 30,000 different Protestant denominations that all believe differently from one another. This alone should give you a clue that Protestantism is not the true Church of Jesus Christ.

So, the existence of many Protestant denominations supposedly proves that the Sola Scriptura  is dangerous, that we should not try to understand the Bible for ourselves, that the church of Rome is the one true church, and of course, all the other churches are false.

Elsewhere I have written on the significance of the heterogeneity among Christians. (See That They May Be One and Disagreement among Protestants). Here I simply want to make one important addition, namely, that the allegation so often repeated by Catholic apologists that there are 20,000 to 30,000 Protestant denominations is simply FALSE . . . not to mention the double standard employed, for the Roman Church is not exactly united. There are untold factions and divisions, and diverse understanding of doctrine within Catholic groups and by different Catholic theologians and individuals.

In an article entitled "30,000 Protestant Denominations?", Evangelical apologist Eric Svendsen exposes the falsehood of this fabrication. Briefly:

• Svendsen shows that the source of this figure is the World Christian Encyclopedia (David A. Barrett; Oxford University Press, 1982).

• Barrett cites a figure of 20,780 denominations. However not all of them are Protestants. According to Barrett, Protestants account for 8,196 (and incidentally, Roman Catholics account for 223).

• However, even this figure of eight thousand Protestant denominations is misleading, for Barrett defines "distinct denominations" as any group that might have a slightly different emphasis than another group. The distinction is made on the basis of jurisdiction, rather than differing beliefs and practices.

• Barrett breaks down the Protestant bloc into twenty-one major "traditions" which are much closer to what we usually mean by the word "denominations." It is interesting that Roman Catholics are subdivided into sixteen such "traditions."

• Svendsen concludes, "In short, Roman Catholic apologists have hurriedly, carelessly - and, as a result, irresponsibly - glanced at Barrett's work, found a large number (22,189), and arrived at all sorts of absurdities that Barrett never concluded."

[boycott]

“Somewhere in the midst of these 30,000 denominations, there is one true church, .... “

---

Yeah, it’s Christians.

[Campion]

LOL. Look at the Yellow Pages, or at any thread on any message board anywhere where the Arminian vs. Calvinist fight is being played out for the zillionth time.

Tell me, is it right to baptize infants, as the Lutherans do, or as the Presbyterians do, or is it wrong, as the Baptists say? And must baptism be by immersion (as the Baptists say), or is it okay to pour (as the Lutherans do), or is it okay to sprinkle (as the Methodists do)?

And how is it that all of those groups claim to follow the Bible *alone* to come to their conclusions?

[SoConPubbie]

“Somewhere in the midst of these 30,000 denominations, there is one true church, .... “

Yup, that would be those that are Born Again and have had their sins forgiven.

The one's who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

And those very same people can exist in every Protestant denomination and in the Catholic Church, etc.

[Spunky]

Christ’s church is within. If you live the way Christ taught then his church is within you.

[Gamecock]

Discussed here.

[Slyfox]

This alone should give you a clue that Protestantism is not the true Church of Jesus Christ.

The official opinion of the Catholic Church is that Protestants are "separated brethren."

[crusty old prospector]

Same drivel from the people who put a pagan statue (Asherah pole of the Old Testament) in their yards of a woman to “intercede” for them. And the list goes on.

[CyberAnt]

The “one true church” is not a building or a denomination.

Jesus gave us a very clear answer - the “true church” is “those who follow me”.

If you believe Jesus is the Son of GOD, that He died on the cross for your sins, YOU ARE SAVED by GRACE and that not of yourselves, lest any man should boast .. and, you are considered a CHRISTIAN, after accepting Christ as your Savior. None of those actions require a building or a denomination.

[IrishBrigade]

Same drivel from the people who put a pagan statue (Asherah pole of the Old Testament) in their yards of a woman to “intercede” for them.

...the folks that put up the Asherah poles were commenting on the number of Protestant sects...? Who knew...?

[Kenny Bunk]

Somewhere in the midst of these 30,000 denominations, there is one true church, and the rest are in sin and rebellion.

Born Again and have had their sins forgiven.
The one's who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

And those very same people exist in every Protestant denomination and in the Catholic Church, etc.

Just too darn simple, isn't it? Institutions created by us humans complicate things. E.G., by the time St. Francis of Assisi died, the Franciscans and spin-off orders were among the largest real estate holders in Italy! Luther prayed the Rosary. Calvin and Zwingli read St. Augustine.

Newsflash! When ISIS , the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Taliban crucify, or behead a Christian, whether he's a follower of the Missouri Synod, the SBC, a Copt, or a Syrian Uniate Catholic really doesn't seem to matter to these Friends of Barack. Perhaps it ought not to matter too much to us.

[Gamecock]

That is correct.
Only one bunch of self -professed Christians on FR think they have the only way.

And that is the sign of a cult.

[Lee N. Field]

The official opinion of the Catholic Church is that Protestants are "separated brethren."

Anathematized.

[Slyfox]

That is not true. They are not “cursed.” Why would the Catholic Church accept a Protestant baptism when a person converts to Catholicism if they were anathematized?

[Kartographer]

Porthos: "You know, it strikes me that we would be better employed wringing Milady's pretty neck than shooting these poor devils of Protestants. I mean, what are we killing them for? Because they sing psalms in French and we sing them in Latin?"

Aramis: "Porthos, have you no education? What do you think religious wars are all about?"

The Musketeers are right for the Gospel tells us who our true enemies are:

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12

Seems to me that there are many who choose to wrestle against flesh and blood when they should be busy putting on the whole armor of God and take up arms against the rulers of darkness.

[Lee N. Field]

The Roman Catholic Church anathematized those that hold protestant positions at Trent.

[CyberAnt]

Thanks

[Salvation]

Wrong. Take a look at true history! It is the Catholic Church founded by Jesus Christ on the Apostles, the first Bishops!

How Old is Your Church?
by Sebastian R. Fama

Name of Church	Year Founded	Name of Founder
Catholic	33	Jesus Christ
Orthodox	1054	Separated from Catholic Church
Lutheran	1517	Martin Luther
The Church of England	1534	King Henry VIII
Presbyterian	1560	John Knox
Congregationalist	1582	Robert Browne
Baptist	1605	John Smyth
Dutch Reformed	1628	Michaelis Jones
Quaker	1652	George Fox
Amish	1693	Jacob Amman
Methodist	1744	John & Charles Wesley
Unitarian	1774	Theophilus Lindley
Episcopal	1789	Samuel Seabury
Disciples of Christ	1804	A group of Presbyterian ministers
Mormon	1830	Joseph Smith Jr.
Seventh Day Adventist	1860	Ellen White
Salvation Army	1865	William Booth
Christian & Missionary  Alliance	1865	Albert Simpson
Jehovah's Witnesses	1872	Charles Taze Russell
Christian Scientist	1879	Mary Baker Eddy
Assemblies of God	1914	A group of Pentecostal preachers
Foursquare Gospel	1918	Aimee Semple McPherson
United Pentecostal	1945	A merger of Oneness churches
United Church of Christ	1957	A union of different traditions
Calvary Chapel	1965	Chuck Smith

Copyright © 2001 StayCatholic.com

[SoConPubbie]

Furthermore, God is not a respecter of Denominations, or Human Corporate Bodies such as the Baptists, Methodists or even the Catholic.

God deals with the individual.

Your faithful membership in any church, all of your Good Deeds, your faithful attendance at Sunday Service all are meaningless where Heaven is concerned.

Jesus stated very clearly that those only, who Loved God, would be joining him in Heaven, and that there were many, who did many good works even miracles, that would never see Heaven, because they did not Love God, which a man or woman can only do if they have been forgiven of their sins, been Born Again, received that gift of the Holy Spirit whereby their spirit cries “Abba Father”.

[boycott]

Jesus didn’t found the Catholic Church. He is the reason for CHRISTIANITY.