Do other deonoms have as many categories as Baptists?

Indeed, nearly all of Christendom has been split. Even the LDS has more than one group vieing for first place honors. The reasons for splitting are many and varied.

To maintain purity, Jesus has commanded His churches to come out and be separate, leaving the unclean alone. Some have obeyed, some not.

True Baptists have never been a part of Rome or the so-called protestant reformation of Rome. In fact True Baptists have been severely persecuted by Rome and her daughters.

There are dozens of groups called Baptist all "tooting" a different horn. True Baptists are not a denomination, regardless of how their enemies may have stereotyped them. True Baptists have never played the diocese/archdiocese/holy see game. They are fiercely sovereign, independent answering to no board, synod or archdiocese. It is a governance, polity thing.

Peace.

Bro. James

 

Can only comment on Lutherans. They have synods with different theological stances.

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Missouri Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Lutheran Brethren

I'm sure there are many more.

 

Here is a chart trying to explain all the "Reformed" schisms (60+ groups listed):

Reformed and Presbyterian Denominations: A Primer

 

Yes however with these groups they ALL believe in Gods TOTAL sovereignty & the efficacy of Christs atonement & they all preach that Jesus Christ is able to save all who come to God through Him in faith.

Their primary difference is in baptism But Ive seen Presbyterians allowing Baptists to join & Baptists allowing Presbyterians to join them.

 

I was told by one pastor that there are over 40 different kinds of Baptist churches. So what does it mean to be a Baptist?

The Catholic religion came up with "Ana-Baptists" as a derogatory term for those who refused to baptize babies. The prefix "ana" was eventually dropped, and the name Baptist was adopted. I would hazard a guess that the name "Baptist" has been around longer than any other denomination other than Catholic, and "catholic" simply means "universal".

The Christian church of born again believers is a universal church. We are brothers and sisters to anyone who is born again and washed by the blood of the Lamb--no matter what denominational name they use. However, not everyone who calls themselves a Christian is born again, and therefore are NOT our brothers or sisters in Christ. God knows those who are and are not His, and (unlike us) He cannot be fooled by false claims and people who say the "right words".

 

That is probably correct.

Not quite right Jon.

The Anabaptist include:

At the IBTS seminary in Prague one of the concentrations is Anabaptist studies. This includes the groups mentioned above and still in existence today. There are Anabaptist professors on the staff and there are Baptist professors ... not the same. Anabaptist are by and large pacifist.

 

Oh well, my knowledge of history and of the Catholic religion is rather limited since neither of them interest me, and I will undoubtedly say things without any knowledge of what I'm talking about. :BangHead:

 

You do okay, though.

 

You can call this an excuse or whatever, but let me give a little history of why I think the way I do.

I was severely abused by my dad (physically, verbally, and emotionally) until I finally graduated from high school and moved out. That abuse broke my spirit (like breaking a horse's spirit so that the horse id useless). He constantly told me I was useless and couldn't do anything right, and that I had nothing to say that was worth hearing. A person can be brainwashed in a matter of a few days, so imagine hearing those words constantly for the first 19 years of your life.

I grew up with a sever stutter that made me embarrassed to talk to anyone, and I had a speech impediment in addition to that. Because of my shyness and being unable to make friends, I was bullied by other boys and shunned by the girls. I became a loner who was only able to come partway out of my shell through being involved in a Baptist church, but I still prefer to be alone as much as possible and have very little desire to talk to anyone and rarely do so.

Yes, I have witnessed to people, but only when they approached me or said something to which I had to reply. However, I don't go around witnessing to people unless they start the conversation.

I have only personally led one person to Christ--using scriptures that I know, and I walked one person to the altar (when I was a teen) to get saved. Otherwise, I stay by myself and only enjoy my own company.

However, I have a fair knowledge of scripture and definitely know the Way of salvation, which is Christ Jesus. I am as scripture says to "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." 1 Peter 3:15

I just prefer to be by myself and do my witnessing online. Due to arthritic pain throughout my body, severe allergies, and other health problems (plus the fact that I can no longer drive due to failing eyesight), I stay at home.

There's only one Baptist church closer than 50 miles, and getting there is not always possible. Besides, the pastor who was recently ordained has no Bible college education and is very limited on his Bible knowledge--relying on other men's writings to teach him. My Bible knowledge (though limited) is enough so that he has little to teach me. His preaching is only the "milk" of the word and not the "meat" of the word.

I try to avoid arguing (usually called "debating") with anyone, but I will defend what I believe to be true. Some of those truths are that Jesus is the ONLY Mediator between man and the Father. God ALONE can forgive sins. We cannot save ourselves by our good works when we are told in Eph. 2:8,9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast."