33,000 and counting

What do you think that that number might refer to?

The number of people killed in an earthquake?

The number of days ‘till the “rapture”?

A factory worker’s annual salary?

A factory owner's annual tax bill?

That figure is actually the number of recognized church denominations that have grown out of the ONE original church started almost 2000 years in Jerusalem by the Apostles!  

33,000 denominations… many of them don’t talk to each other, know or even care that others exist; or worse still, many make the claim that they have the “exclusive truth” and or that some of, or all of, the others are in error! ** Most of these new denominations have been “birthed” within the last 200 years. At the beginning of the twenty century, there were just 1,600 recognized Christian groups. Whilst it true that within this number, there would be a great many of groups with very similar beliefs and ideas, it is impossible to know how much Christian belief varies  beyond the major officially recognized denominations. 

Can this be that “body” that would be so easily recognizable by its brotherly love…?

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35

Without doubt, the formation of a new church or denomination is, in some cases justifiable, possibly even necessary. There have been times when apostasy has all but killed the faith, and a few believers have limped away to regroup and start afresh. Such times are rare however; more often than not, that

divisive monster called “party spirit” is the force behind such splits and “denomination birth”.  

Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies). Galatians 5:19-20 Amplified Bible

Geographic difficulties may also result in the birth of a new movement… The Oneness Church of Santa Monica is unlikely to have that much in common with the Icelandic Lutheran Church, and it would be impractical for them to unite their local congregations. Beyond such considerations it would appear that the motivation behind splits and their associated grief, pain and loss are the same sinful proclivities that Paul wrote to the church at Corinth about.

But I urge and entreat you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in perfect harmony and full agreement in what you say, and that there be no dissensions or factions or divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your common understanding and in your opinions and judgments. For it has been made clear to me, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions and wrangling and factions among you. What I mean is this, that each one of you [either] says, I belong to Paul, or I belong to Apollos, or I belong to Cephas (Peter), or I belong to Christ. Is Christ (the Messiah) divided into parts? Was Paul crucified on behalf of you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?

1 Corinthians 1:10-13 Amplified Bible

Christians divide and give themselves denominational type names too easily. Jesus said his followers should be “one”, and many of these separate organizations are the result of serious divisions. It would be better if we emphasized what we have in common more, and worried less about these divisions.

Every time we divide over non-essential issues we weaken the body. Once weakened we become easy prey for the enemy; we respond to relationship conflict poorly, and fail to express the "unconditional love" and forgiveness that Jesus talked about so much, and preyed would become the "hallmark" of His Body here on earth.

According to Church Historian, the late Dr. Bruce E. Shelley, the original usage of the term "denomination" actually stood for unity, not division. It was used to describe cooperation with other churches without compromise of fundamental convictions; thankfully in eternity, there will no longer be denominational divisions, only those who have agreed upon their faith in the precious atoning blood of Jesus Christ.

**The most recent edition of the World Christian Encyclopedia claims that there are now about 3,400,000 churches worldwide which represent more than 33,000 distinct Christian denominations, and that the number of denominations doubles almost every 25 years.