Christian Denominations

Christianity is divided into different groups called denominations.  The Catholic Church was the first church established to worship Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Savior of man.  Most denominations agree in the salvation of Jesus Christ and that He was the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament, but some Biblical scholars think some denominations are cults.

The major denominations are: Anglicans, Baptists, Congregationalists, Eastern Orthodox, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Methodists, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, and Roman Catholics.  There are also a group of churches that are non-denominational because they do not belong to any organized church group.

There are two main divisions of Christianity called Eastern and Western Christianity. After that, there are six branches of Christianity:  Catholicism, Protestantism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, Oriental Orthodoxy, and Assyrians. Restorationism is another branch that is sometimes included as a seventh branch. After these branches,  there are denominational families, which include Anabaptists, Adventists, Baptists, Congregationalists, Pentecostals, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Reformed churches, and possibly others. From there come denominations, which in the West, have complete independence to establish doctrine, such as national churches in the Anglican Communion or the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Lutheranism.

A Diagram of Christian Denominations

Catholicism and Protestantism are the two major divisions of Christianity in the Western world.

One central tenet of Catholicism is its literal adherence to apostolic succession. "Apostle" means "one who is sent out." Jesus commissioned the first twelve apostles, and they, in turn laid hands on subsequent church leaders to ordain, or commission them for ministry. In this manner, Catholics trace their ordained ministers all the way back to the original Twelve. Catholics are distinct in their belief that the Pope has authority, which can be traced directly to the apostle Peter.

Since Protestantism does not represent a unified body of believers but a faith tradition which has itself split several times, it is more often understood in large denominational families. Each Protestant movement has developed freely, and many have split over theological issues. For instance, a number of movements that grew out of spiritual revivals, like Methodism and Pentecostalism. Doctrinal issues and matters of conscience have also divided Protestants. The measure of mutual acceptance between the denominations and movements varies, but is growing largely due to the ecumenical movement in the 20th century and overarching Christian bodies such as the World Council of Churches. Protestant theology for each denomination is usually guarded by local church councils.

In the Eastern world, the largest body of believers is the Eastern Orthodoxy. The Eastern Orthodox Church also believes it is the continuation of the original Christian church established by Jesus. According to the Eastern Orthodox Churches' understanding of Papal primacy, the bishop of Rome was first in honor among the bishops but possessed no direct authority over dioceses other than his own.

Christianity, even in its infancy as a Jewish sect, rejected ethnic definition. Doctrines, rather than ethnicity, define essential Christianity, even where ethnic groups have been Christian for generations.

One group which has maintained its Jewish identity alongside an acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah and the New Testament as authoritative are Messianic Jews, also called Hebrew Christians. Since the founding of the church, there have been Jewish elements retained by particular groups that wanted to retain their national heritage alongside the Gospel message.