Different in Practice, United in Christ

 

On the first day, God created light. Over time, man has created different denominations, each shaped by a distinct understanding of how to worship Him. But what is a denomination? Imagine Christianity as a tree with multiple branches. Each branch is a separate denomination. They all grew from the same seed, were nourished by the same roots and were supported by the same trunk. Yet, the branches are different from one another, even though they bear the same fruit. Christianity is a global faith. With different geographies come different cultures, traditions, ideologies, and politics that shape the way we perceive religion. Several Christian denominations developed as a result of these differences.

 

Christians are those who are the followers of Christ. Regardless of denomination, most affirm the teachings of the Nicene Creed that Christ:

·       is the one true God,

·       was born of the Virgin Mary,

·       died for our sins,

·       rose from the dead,

·       ascended and will return one day.

But their way of worship differs. To understand the differentiation in practise and ideology, one must know how these sects came up. Throughout history, there have been multiple schisms that have caused splits within the Christian community. With the division of the Roman Empire into the East and the West, Christianity developed differently in the two regions. During the 5^th to 11^th centuries, the disparities between the Byzantine (Eastern) Church and the Roman (Western) Church grew. In the early Church, three bishops held power, both inside and outside the Church. They were the bishops of Rome, Alexandria and Antioch. As the capital moved from Rome to Constantinople, Alexandria and Antioch found themselves under Islamic rule. The Western Church experienced fewer theological conflicts than the Eastern Church, where disagreements were often intense. As a result, the bishop of Rome, later known as the Pope, took greater authority, which the East did not agree with. Eastern leaders also didn’t believe the Pope to be the supreme authority. There was also a difference in the clergy and how the sacraments were performed. The Great Schism of 1054 marked the break between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. By the 16^th century, Christianity had grown. It grew to be a cultural tradition as much as it was a faith tradition. As Christianity grew more complex, several reformers, such as St. Francis of Assisi, sought to bring Christians closer to the original form of Christianity but stayed loyal to the Pope. Similarly, reformers like Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Wycliffe shared St. Francis's goals, but they resorted to more radical approaches. They were considered radical as they publicly challenged the authority of religious figures and questioned long-held Church traditions. A big taboo in that day and age. The most notable act was Martin Luther nailing his Ninety-five Theses on the doors of the Castle Church at Wittenberg. By challenging long-standing Church authority and doctrine, reformers initiated the Reformation. The Reformation is also referred to as the Protestant Reformation, as it led to the emergence of Protestantism. But several other denominations, such as Lutheran, Anglican, Presbyterian, Reformed, Anabaptist, Quaker and others, developed alongside.

 

There are over 42,000 Christian denominations worldwide. Many are similar, but each has a key characteristic that sets it apart. Here is a note on the three denominations that are commonly credited as the main branches of Christianity.

• Roman Catholicism: There are more Roman Catholics than any other denomination. The head is the Pope, who serves as the Bishop of Rome. Catholicism is traced back to Jesus and his Apostles. Over time, it has developed an elaborate theology with an organised system of papacy, one of the oldest continuous institutions in the world. Many don’t see Catholicism as a denomination but view it as the original and universal Christian Church. Authority in Catholicism comes from Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, which are interpreted by the Church, known as the Magisterium. They believe in the Seven Sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony, being the outward signs of inward grace. Catholics believe in transubstantiation, the doctrine that during the Eucharist, the bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Christ.
  
  
  

• Eastern Orthodoxy: Eastern Orthodoxy is traced back to Jesus and the Apostles. It first developed in the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire, stemming from the split from the Western Church during the Schism of 1054. The Orthodox Church does not have a supreme leader. They have self-governing churches, referred to as autocephalous, that are led by bishops and patriarchs. Similar to Catholicism, authority comes from Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition; however, the difference stems from their disagreement with papal supremacy. Worship is liturgical, symbolic, and traditional. Iconography is crucial within Orthodox worship. Icons are venerated, not worshipped. They are treated as the windows to sacredness. Similar to the Seven Sacraments, they believe in the Holy Mysteries: Baptism, Eucharist, Chrismation, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. But unlike Catholic priests who are required to choose matrimony over holy orders, Orthodox priests can marry before ordination. But bishops are chosen from a celibate clergy.
  
  
  

• Protestantism: Protestantism emerged in the 16^th century during the Protestant Reformation as a result of the movement to reform the practises of the Western Church. They do not believe in papal supremacy. Church structure varies. Some churches are episcopal, meaning they’re led by bishops, others presbyterian, meaning they’re led by elders, and others congregational, meaning they’re self-governing. The key principle is sola scriptura, meaning that the Bible alone is the highest authority in matters of faith. They also believe in sola fide, meaning salvation comes from faith and not works. Most denominations only believe in two Sacraments: Baptism and Eucharist. These were acts constituted by Jesus Christ himself. Protestantism is not a single unified church but a broad movement containing thousands of denominations worldwide. Some notable ones being:

o   Lutheranism: Lutheranism originates directly from Martin Luther as a result of the Reformation. He believed that the Bible distinguishes between the Gospel and the Law. The church focuses less on policing Christians and more on preaching the Gospel. The Gospel message is understood as the purest proclamation of God through Jesus Christ. Lutheranism is deeply Christocentric, placing Christ at the centre of faith and salvation.

o   Baptists: In other denominations, Baptism is treated as the gateway to Christianity; hence, kids are baptised young. But Baptists treat it as a born-again experience. It’s not something that makes you Christian; instead, it proclaims that you’re already Christian. Baptism is a personal choice, typically performed by full immersion, and is understood as an act of obedience rather than as a sacrament conveying grace. Focuses on a personal relationship with God, making their churches ‘low Churches’ that are congregational. Traditions performed are purely symbolic.

o   Methodism: Methodists, or Wesleyans, follow the teachings of John Wesley. He believed Christianity should focus on experiences and that Christians should be spiritually active. In the Holy Trinity, Methodism highlights the Holy Spirit’s role in sanctification and empowers believers to follow the path to eternal salvation. It teaches that God’s grace is available to all and that individuals possess free will to accept or reject it.

o   Pentecostalism: Pentecostalism broke out in the early 20th century as a revival movement to focus on the active presence of the Holy Spirit. It was heavily influenced by the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles that happened in 1906. The core belief of Pentecostalism is that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a distinct experience after salvation. Glossolalia, speaking in tongues, is seen as the initial evidence of Baptism. It focuses on spiritual gifts such as healing, prophecy, miracles, and discernment.

 

Throughout the years, Christianity has evolved from differences in authority, theology, worship style, and interpretation of Scripture. Despite doctrinal differences, they all believe that Jesus is the Son of God. They share beliefs about the Holy Trinity, salvation through Jesus Christ, and that the Bible has supreme authority. As Christianity grows as a global faith, denominations will grow in every corner of the world.  And that diversity, to me, is part of the beauty of Christianity. Amen.