- TFS Podcast
- Support This Site
Denominationalism vs. Biblical Christianity
Christian denominations represent what some refer to as the “visible” church which can defined by ecclesiology of liturgy, tradition, architecture, culture, sight, sound, experience etc.
This visible church of denominations (represented in the chart below) is not to be confused with the “genuine” (sometimes called “invisible”) church from a Biblical perspective. The Biblical church can be defined as all those people throughout the world who have come to saving faith in the Biblically-defined person and finished work of the Lord Jesus on the cross (John 14:6; 5:24, Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13) and His subsequent resurrection from the dead. Upon authentic conversion to Christ, these former “unbelievers” become born again as brand new believers and are baptized into Christ. Together these believers throughout the world, comprise what the Apostle Paul referred to as the “body of Christ” – one Lord, one faith, one baptism:
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
The following flow chart or “family tree” is based on historic schisms and/or splits due to theological disagreements, reformation, or geo-political relocation and nothing to do with those who are genuinely in Christ by faith.
- Visibly, there appears to be seven major families of denominations which comprise the earthly organizational Christian “church”:
- Oriental Orthodox
- Roman Catholic
- Eastern Orthodox
- Four Protestant Families.
I have represented these families in the chart below. Click each name to open a page with information about that denomination – this is a work in progress chart as not all pages have been added.
- On the chart, I have colored each family separately to differentiate the direct and indirect relationships they bear to one another. Upon closer investigation of this chart, you will discover that the greatest contributor to the list of denominations is the Anglican church, followed by the Reformed family of denominations.
- The chart is chronological from top down and works much like a family tree with the origin or “roots” of a denomination shown by a vertical line and a similarity or “sibling kinship” to another denomination drawn by a horizontal line. the top or beginning of the tree can be dated 30 A.D. and the bottom or last major denomination formed can be dated 1993 (International Church of Christ, formerly known as the Boston Church of Christ)
- For a full screen view of the denominational family tree select the full screen icon at the upper right of the chart.
Much of this research has been compiled from the books “History of the Christian Church” by Phillip Schaff, “Church History In Plain Language” by Bruce Shelley, Frank Mead’s “Handbook of Denominations”, Max Anders’ “30 Days to Understanding Church History” along with the official historical information provided by each particular denomination’s historical web page.
To explore a more in-depth description of the history, reasons for, and origins of schisms and splits of the denominations below, click each denomination name to view more information about specific denominations use the drop down chart in world religions – christianity above.
**Disciples of Christ is the result of an 1832 merger between two groups of Presbyterian(Stone) and Baptist influence(Campbellites).
***It is worth noting that missing are the groups: Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Oneness Pentecostal, Christian Science, New Apostolic Reformation or NAR – (C. Peter Wagner, Rick Joyner, Bill Johnson, etc), United Pentecostal Church, The Apostolic Church, The Unitarian Church, and a few others. These belief systems are not generally “viewed” in a general sense as part of the historical Christian Christian church as they have theological beliefs which are aberrent pertaining to the nature and person of God, the Trinity, Christological belief etc. These doctrines are what have historically differentiated a Christian denomination from a Christian cult. For more information about the differentiation between a denomination and a cult visit our page: Religious Cults page for more information.
The excluded groups named are mostly (if not entirely) based on the private interpretations of a charismatic leader or leaders, whereby the gods (and sometimes a ‘Jesus”) revealed by these “prophets” and “teachers” are wholly and completely different from the God of Christianity (despite having the same or similar names for their gods). It is for this reason that Christianity on the whole does not consider these groups e.g. LDS church, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, or Christian Science to be part of the Biblical and historic orthodoxy of the Christian church.
To explore a more in-depth historical description of the schisms, splits, and origins seen on the chart above, visit our Christian Denominations page.
No one receives eternal life and eternal presence with God by belonging to the right church or denomination. Only those who put their faith in the Lord Jesus preached by Moses, the Prophets and the Apostles. We will not think we need a Savior for sins that we don’t think we have or that we think aren’t deserving of hell. But the Bible says that ALL have sin and the wages of our sin is death (eternal separation from God). The Bible says that you can know that YOU have eternal life. Click the button below to see if you are genuinely saved from your sins according to the Bible: