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"Now it's 25000? Earlier it was 19000. Keep making this stuff up, it really helps you."

Actually, I always siad it was 25,000, and I've never heard any other figure. You can probably count at least 2,000 Protestant denomination while driving through the "Bible Belt" of the south. I've seen dozens upon dozens of Protestant "churches" in people's rundown garages down there, lol. Church names like "Church of Blessed Bible" appear out of nowhere. I think I even saw "Unlce Hanks Big Christian Church" on one shack sign. Now, if you can show me where I wrote "19,000" protestant denominations, I'll send you $5.00 for the filing fee for "Mister Wrigley's Old Fashioned Bible Church", and I'll even give you some ideas for the new theology. :o) pax Christi, Jim

In Protestantism, no matter what the denomination's name, there are only two basic theologies, Arminian and Calvinist. And charismatic theology being a variant in the Arminian theological camp. Those influenced by Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, etc. are Calvinists and those influenced by Arminius, Wesley, etc. are Arminians.

So you can have a truckload of different church or denominational names but only two or at most three basic theologies in Protestantism. Or you can go with Catholicism, and have one name, and one heirarchical system, and a constant influx of new unbiblical doctrines being added to this "church" over the years.

The New Testament epistles were written to specific local churches at a specific location [Ephesus, Thessalonica, etc.]. About 95% of the time, New Testament references to "church" are to individual local churches. On the other occasions, "the church" is spoken of in a generic or institutional sense [such as "the automobile"]. The way the New Testament uses the word church ["ecclesia" in the Greek] makes sense, since the word translated church literally means "assembly."

The New Testament compares the church to a body, a building and a bride. I don't have a universal body, I don't live in a universal building, and I sure didn't marry a universal bride. The true "universal" or "catholic" church will not be assembled all together until Christ returns. Those who will be in this assembly are those who, like the Apostle Peter, in faith acknowledge Christ as God himself, who came in human form to die and be raised from the dead for our sins, and follow His Word.

John 10:26 But you believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.