Monday, March 18, 2013

A “Christian “question?...


For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions. ~2 Timothy 4:3-4 <3

I have a question to ask and it’s not a very good one. Why are there so many different dominations within Christianity? I call myself a Christian, yet I am often categorized as a Catholic or a Mormon. I am neither and I see it confuses people… it confuses me.

 I Goggled, How many Christian denominations are there? The answer floored me…

There are about 40,000 different ‘’Christian” denominations. It's not even something that can be counted and kept track of. However, they can be roughly split into five major groups:

The Catholic Church

The Eastern Churches (Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Church of the East)

"Mainline" Protestant and Anglican churches

Evangelical (non-Pentecostal)

Pentecostal churches

These later two categories include a number of "non-denominational" or independent congregations. The first wave of “non-denominational” churches is in fact the third wave of the Pentecostal movement. Other independent congregations tend to be evangelical, and while may not belong to a denomination per se, often do belong to various parachurch organizations or adhere to a common set of standards and beliefs with other similar evangelical churches. Some megachurches, by engaging in 'church planting' set themselves up as a sui iuris "of one's own right" denomination while maintaining the "non-denominational" title.

Here are some examples:

Aaronic Order

African Methodist

Amish

Ancient Apostolic

Anglican

Anglo-Israelism

Antiochian

Apostolic

Armenian

Baptist Convention

Beachy Amish

Belarusian Greek Catholic

Black Primitive Baptist

Brazilian Catholic

Brethren

British Methodist

Bulgarian Greek Catholic

Byzantine (Constantinopolitan)

Calvinist

Celtic Catholic

Chaldean

Chinese Methodist

Christian Methodist

Congregationalist

Conservative Baptist

Coptic Catholic

Croatian Greek Catholic

Dunker

Eastern Orthodox

Episcopal

Exclusive Brethren

Free Catholic

Georgian Byzantine Catholic

Greek Byzantine Catholic

Greek Orthodox

Hungarian Greek

Indian Brethren

Italo-Albanian Catholic

Kerala Brethren

Latin Catholic

Latter Day

Liberal Catholic

Lutheran

Lutheran Orthodox

Macedonian Greek Catholic

Maronite

Melkite Greek Catholic

Mennonite

Methodist

Mexican National Catholic

Moravian

National Baptist

Nebraska Amish

Nestorians

Old Order Amish

Open Brethren

Oriental Orthodox

Orthodox Catholic

Palmarian Catholic

Polish National Catholic

Presbyterian

Primitive Methodist

Quaker (Friends)

Remnant

River Brethren

Roman Catholic

Romanian

Russian Byzantine Catholic

Russian Orthodox

Ruthenian Catholic

Salvationist

Seventh-day Adventist

Slovak Greek Catholic

Social Brethren

Southern Baptist

Southern Conservative

Spiritus Christi

Swartzendruber Amish

Syriac

Syro-Malabar

Syro-Malankara

Taborites

True Catholic

Ukrainian Greek Catholic

Unitarian

Utaquists

Waldensians

Wycliffites

Many of those I have never heard of, yet there are over 40,000 different forms of ‘’Christianity”. Is that mind boggling to you too, because it sure is to me?

What have we done? We have turned aside from hearing the truth and wandered off into myths and man-made fiction. We are in a time where very few of us stand on solid ground. We have failed in so many ways. So many awful ways, yet we’re not left without hope. God doesn’t give up easily on us humans and His anger is slow coming. He is patient beyond words and loving beyond anyone else.

So who am I? Who are you? What religion do I follow and what religion do you follow? I am just a follower of Christ, a beloved child of the Creator of the Universe, and one that followers His Holy word and His Holy word alone. I surly don’t have everything figured out, but this I know to be true! I will not make my own religion, nor follow another’s. What He says is what it shall be… not what I want, and not want anyone else wants. Why would we want to step away from the very best thing we can ever be given and follow after some man’s tradition?

Be careful with what you hear and what you see. We have been bounded with false traditions and false teachings. The truth is easy to find, but hidden behind our own selfishness and laziness. Study the Holy Word yourself and do not be afraid to ask questions. Pray for guidance and wisdom and it will be given to you. Seek it, seek truth, and most importantly seek Him.
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
~Jeremiah 29:13
 

Friday, March 8, 2013

March Characters in Costume Challenge...

I joined the fun March Characters in Costume Challenge, that the talented Gillian Adams has lovingly put together.

This month we're focusing on character accessories and answering the following question:

What is one item/object/accessory that your character is likely to have on or about them at all times?

 
 
Most of you that have followed my blog know that my main book I talk about is called The Realm of Hearts, but did you know that it is part of a series called The Chronicles of the Key Holders?

Today's Character for this challenge is my main Character in TROH a young man named Leb Dawn. He holds the most important key in the series... there are a total of five keys that unlock a dangerous box. A box that holds a spellbound locket that can destroy everything good.

This key once belonged to his brother who he swore to keep safe. Leb never leaves without this key around his neck and tucked safely under his shirt. Nor has he told anyone, but his best friend that he holds it.

Leb treads on a dangerous path when someone he thought was a friend finds out his secret and seeks it for himself.

I don't want to give too much away so I'll stop there. Be sure to check out the other participants in this fun challenge. Thank you Gillian for letting me join in on the fun and for putting it together. I hope to join in on your next character challenge in April. I'll be sure to give more teasers on TROH.