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Posted on 11/13/2014 6:49:41 PM PST by Heart-Rest
How Many Protestant Denominations Are There?
Partial List of 5000+ Protestant Denominations by Name
How Many Protestant Denominations Are There? The 20,000 / 30,000 numbers and David Barrett's statistics
"The Facts and Stats on "33,000 Denominations" The 20,000 / 30,000 numbers and David Barrett's statistics
Part II
(Above links derived from here) ===> ("How Many Protestant Denominations Are There?")
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There are many, many more Protestant denominations out there, not just those reflected in the links above. How many? Well, nobody really knows for sure exactly how many Protestant denominations exist at any given point in time, because after you get done counting the first forty or fifty thousand, several thousand more new ones pop up here and there all over the place, like popping pop corn! :-)
We Catholics love all our Protestant brothers and sisters (no matter how many denominations or "non-denominations" they belong to), and we simply want to share the fullness of the truth with them, so that they can find the precious jewel (the "pearl of great price") that we have already found (by the Grace of God). With that in mind, the following song is dedicated to all our beloved Protestant brothers and sisters, and their ever-increasing number of distinct and ever-changing denominations with contradictory, mutually-exclusive, incompatible teachings. (And, no, that is not a bunch of cardinals singing that song!)
☺
(Song -- "Bless 'em All!")
(This song is a tribute to all our beloved Protestant brothers and sisters, no matter what denomination -- or "non-denomination" -- they are currently in.)
"I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:10)
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Well, if I had the time, I could have included many other Protestant founders on the thread, but this is just a representative sample of all the Protestant denominations that exist.
People may not study the founder's teachings of their denomination, but their denomination surely does, and that is what they teach (until they change the founder's teachings), so the members learn those teachings from their denomination's teachings in church.
I would argue that Charles Wesley preached (very eloquantly) through his hymns (some of which we sing in the Catholic Church), and Henry VIII preached through his immoral actions, and through his "founding a denomination" by severing all ties with the Catholic Church. Those deeds follow them in their denomination's adherents.
And while I understand the distinction you are making for the "cults", there are multiple valid definitions today for the term "Protestant", and the one I utilized in this thread was the one that defines the term as "non-Catholic / non-Orthodox" "Christians" or those who identify themselves in some way as being "Followers of Christ". (Do a Google search on definition of protestant, and you will find that definition as being one of the valid ones sometimes used today.)
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What living person did Jesus ask to pray for Him? If none, does that mean we should not ask a living person to pray for us either (which the Bible actually tells us to do in several places)?
By the way, using that kind of specious logic, you would not read the Gospel of Luke, because you would demand that God write the Gospel to you directly, not using the middle-man Luke to write it for Him, unless you thought God cannot write.
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"Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division." Luke 12:51
Ah, but we are not accused just of following Calvin’s, or whoever’s, interpretation, we are also accused of following our personal interpretation, whenever such accusation is convenient. It can’t be both ways, even considering your attempt to skirt the obvious conflict, since I am certain very few, if any, protestant Freepers are founders of their own protestant denomination.
In fact, there is no charter in the Bible for governing bodies over and beyond the local churches outside of the local church. The whole idea of a "denomination" ruling a band of local churches is anti-christian.
Pffffffhtt.
Does Rome consider this evangelism?
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What possesses some protestants (I never referred to Freepers) to form their own denomination, if it is not their own unique interpretations and beliefs? (The same holds true for small non-denominational churches which add their own unique wrinkles in their beliefs and practices.)
For example, what caused this brand new denomination to be created not long ago? (They make it pretty plain, if you read their web page.)
Your error is claiming that any one of the organizers of a denomination is the final authority for that organization, as is the Pope for the Romanists. That is an attack, without question, when you cannot admit that the Holy Scripture is the final and sole authority over a Chris-follower and his/her faith with unarguable inspired salvation and sanctification instruction, untainted with the traditions of fallible, uninspired humans.
“No, what the Church does today in regard to doctrines on “faith and morals” is exactly what the Apostle Paul did too, over and over again.”
There you go, changing the subject in order to make the topic more amenable to your line of argument. The question is not about Catholic teachings on faith and morals. The matter under discussion is interpretation of Scripture, which the Catholic church dictates from the magisterium, absolutely forbidding any deviance from the delivered interpretation:
“The Magisterium of the Church
85 “The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ.”47 This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.”
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s1c2a2.htm
Compare this to the stance of a cult like the Jehovah’s Witnesses on scriptural interpretation:
“Only this organization functions for Jehovah’s purpose and to his praise. To it alone God’s Sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book,” (Watchtower, July 1, 1973, p. 402).
“Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible,” (Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1967, p. 587).
Now, let us contrast with the stances of some major protestant denominations. First the Episcopalians/Anglicans:
“Although the study of scripture is often viewed as a very complicated task requiring professional skills, Episcopalians, while embracing modern insights, believe that Scripture is a gift to the Church and all its members. According to the Catechism (Book of Common Prayer, p. 854), Episcopalians “understand the meaning of the Bible by the help of the Holy Spirit, who guides the Church in the true interpretation of the Scriptures.””
http://www.episcopalfonddulac.org/appleton/worship_pages/believe_worship.html
The Methodists:
“The Bible interacts with the tradition, experience, and reason of each of us individually, and as a community of God’s faithful. All of these tools influence and help shape our personal interpretation of Scripture in a process that endures over a lifetime. Through the constantly evolving context of our lives, we read Scripture anew, discovering guidance and inspiration that give Scripture authority for us.”
The Baptists:
“All things in scripture are not equally plain in themselves, nor equally clear to everyone, yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded and revealed in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the educated but also the uneducated may attain a sufficient understanding of them by the due use of ordinary means.”
London Baptist Confession of Faith - http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/bcof.htm
I think any unbiased person can judge which group’s stance on Scriptural interpretation is closer to the cults’.
“I never referred to Freepers”
I did, and it was my post that you responded to. We (protestant FReepers) are subject to these accusations. I do not believe that Calvin, or Wesley, or Zwingli, etc have FR accounts, so your attempt to dodge the conflict is not relevant.
It’s so futile imo because in the end I don’t believe God cares so much about what religion one practiced but rather what the nature of their heart is.
You forgot the "/sarc" tag that the above response needs --
“Does Rome consider this evangelism?”
A better question, perhaps, is has the Roman church authorized this “ministry”?
“Can. 678 §1 In matters concerning the care of souls, the public exercise of divine worship and other works of the apostolate, religious are subject to the authority of the Bishops, whom they are bound to treat with sincere obedience and reverence.
§2 In the exercise of an apostolate towards persons outside the institute, religious are also subject to their own Superiors and must remain faithful to the discipline of the institute. If the need arises, Bishops themselves are not to fail to insist on this obligation.
§3 In directing the apostolic works of religious, diocesan Bishops and religious Superiors must proceed by way of mutual consultation.”
http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P28.HTM
Your views about the Catholic Church and the Scriptures are quite skewed and erroneous, so I will share with you some links I've accumulated over the years which pertain to the Bible and the Catholic Church, which may be helpful to you and to other posters and any possible lurkers on this thread. Here are those links:
“Your views about the Catholic Church and the Scriptures are quite skewed and erroneous, so I will share with you some links I’ve accumulated over the years...”
Typical. You weren’t allowed to derail the thread of the discussion away from the comparison that is uncomfortable to you, so you claim my views are skewed (although I quoted your own catechism to illustrate your church’s stance!), and then run off, posting a spam list of links that are irrelevant to the discussion. Disappointing, but not unexpected.
“What was Jesus’ example? What dead person did he ask to pray for Him?””
“What living person did Jesus ask to pray for Him?”
I think either question is moot, since Christ certainly wouldn’t require anyone’s intercession with his own Father (nor should we with our Father, being adopted into the family, after all). A better question is, did any of the Apostles, or any believer in the New Testament seek intercession from angels, or the dead?
What you just wrote is exactly the truth
Who instructs Catholics to be so adversarial here
I do note other demographic qualities at play
Never saw this behavior in Catholics I knew as a boy
Jesus Christ also said plainly man must be Born Again. Communion in the RCC can not replace or supersede that requirement. We eat His Bread, we drink His blood spiritually not physically when we called upon His name and believed in Christ for our salvation. We as ordained believers by Christ observe a remembrance of His Blood and life given for our sins so we may have eternal life. It's a time of remembrance Just as Christ said to do a time to examine our own hearts. Christ said plainly "Do This In Remembrance Of Me" at The Last Supper.
My radar of "watch out" is triggered by any churches/sects who require reading and obedience or placing of additional writings and laws penned by their earthly leaders coming after The Book of The Revelation of Jesus Christ as being authority equal to GOD's Word. Jehovah Witnesses have Watch Tower, Mormons have The Book of Mormons, and RCC Has their church traditions {Dogma} and all it seems follow those writings far more than GOD's Word The Holy Bible.
Man is not who has preserved The Word Of GOD throughout history even from the New Testament -present. Only pride would make such a silly claim that because of man GOD's Word is still existed through the age. All written words can perish right now. However The Word of GOD remains because it is taught of The Holy Spirit to man. GOD gave us The Holy Spirit to those He calls His own. Rich, poor, lame, young, old, illiterate, deaf, blind, all receive it when they accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It isn't cart wheels down the church aisles rather a presence placed by Christ in our spirit being.
The Holy Spirit preserves The Word of GOD and teaches us. Only GOD alone and not churches of man deserve all Praise and Glory for it. That is the whole thing. To Whom The Glory? The church name or Jesus Christ? To Apostles and Disciple, preacher, Popes, etc? Or Jesus Christ.
The Disciples and Apostles did not put on fancy robes nor hold repetitive services in a language most men could not understand. No they taught in their dialect and even By The Power of The Holy Spirit manifested at Pentecost preached in all prevailing languages. They taught everywhere. Sometimes in Temples, Forums, in prison, in the streets etc. They were much like the evangelist and street preachers of today and their service much the same as well. They were of one accord doing so. Why did the RCC do away with the Disciples Traditional Services? Traditions, Traditions, Traditions, yet none of them follow the ones set by the Disciples rather they follow traditions of leaders coming afterward each adding their own little quirk.
Some churches as well deny The Holy Spirit as being given to all believers but rather only reserved for the {special ones} Priest and church appointed hierarchy. That too is wrong. Stephen though not an Apostle nor of The Twelve was given The Holy Spirit and gave God's message to the Temple authorities before they stoned him to death.
Jesus Christ is alive at The right hand of The Father. He is our Priest before GOD. I say again HE IS OUR PRIEST AND OUR INTERCESSOR WHEN WE PRAY TO GOD! He can handle the task without the departed help. He and He alone is the only name in heaven or on earth by whom we can come to and pray to or ask favor from GOD. It is in His name only we are told to ask not the departed from this earthly world saints to whom we ask.
Error after error based on traditions of men have brought confusion and worse a manipulation upon many believers too try to again enslave and even cast doubts using the Temple Priest methods of old. The Temple Priest had corrupted the Temple. They placed their rules upon all and above all. Christ restored believers individually to GOD and He and He alone is our Priest and intercessor. He and He alone is worthy of our praise and adoration.
We can say Reverend So and So of any church is a man who has served GOD and blessed with a ministry. We can say Mary was blessed by giving physical birth to Christ. But neither Mary nor Rev. Whoever alive or dead have more access to GOD than me or you. That was done on purpose so men could not have the power to try and take ones relationship with GOD away by abusing their position in the church as The Temple Priest misused their authority for.
Some will never get it. They continue to brag of & worship their church traditions more than they listen to and obey The Word Of GOD and the teachings of Christ.
Praise be to GOD we are free whom The Son sets free. Mans corrupted positions of power in the churches both Protestant and Catholic can not prevail against us nor take our salvation from us with their non scriptural fallible demands they place in the writs beyond GOD's Holy Word. By The Grace of GOD Jesus Christ has overcome this for us.
If a person is called to attend a Catholic church? Fine they should do it. At the same time if The Holy Spirit puts it in Joe's heart to go to small Baptist church that should be fine as well. The Holy Spirit places us here are there for GOD's reason not the Popes or Preacher Smith's reason.
Some churches do deny Jesus Christ as Lord and savior. They are not Protestant they are either Deist or secular humanist.
Jesus had to address the jealousy of His chosen 12 when they saw another group using His name to preach and heal. What did Jesus do and say? Did he say quick grab them bring them here and I'll lecture them that Peter is Pope and they better ask him first? No he didn't. He told them those who are for me aren't against me nor able to speak evil of me. Jesus Christ knew reformation was in the future. Reformation vastly increased spreading The Gospel as churches formed missions. Perhaps The Lord gave them that very task. Watch the fruits in ALL Churches and especially keep an eye on their shepherds.
Ping!
Disparage the intelligence of someone else online and you'll invariably end up making yourself appear less than intelligent.
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