The National Council of Church’s report on church membership lists the following organizations as the top ten biggest religious denominations in the U.S.A.:
- The Catholic Church: 68.5 million
- Southern Baptist Convention: 16.1 million
- The United Methodist Church: 7.8 million
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: 6 million
- The Church of God in Christ: 5.5 million
- National Baptist Convention, USA: 5 million
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: 4.5 million
- National Baptist Convention of America: 3.5 million
- Assemblies of God: 2.9 million
- Presbyterian Church (USA): 2.7 million
I was surprised by the large gap between the number one and number two slots, and I was astounded to learn that Mormonism is the 4th largest denomination in America.
HT: Theology in the News
Thinking to Believe 
February 16, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Greetings! Brother Dulle
It is written in the sacred scripture by the hand of the honourable minister Matthew
“Enter ye in at the strait gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate and narrow is the wayh which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
This poll of the many divisions within the false religion of Christianity illustrate and confirm what the Lord Jesus the Son of the living God was teaching how that there are many souls on the road to eternal damnation whom shall suffer in the lake of fire which burneth with fire and brimestone. Therefore, I urge all to strive to enter in the strait and narrow way which is the way of Holiness that they may obtain life eternal.
Peace be unto you!
Marquest Burton
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February 17, 2011 at 12:52 am
The gap can be accounted for by the fact that a lot of “Catholics” claim to be what they are not! The others tend to be a more realistic number.
Where do Oneness Pentecostals come?
You are not alone in being surprised at the 4th largest being Mormon!
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February 17, 2011 at 3:00 am
mormon’s are not as fractured like other denominations.
Adding upci and paw together its about 2.1 million in north america.
I remember seeing a 4 million number for N.A. but i cant find it now.
24 million world wide according to wikipedia.
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February 17, 2011 at 9:27 am
Mr. Burton,
Are you saying that all of these millions of people that find themselves in these denominations are all going to the lake of fire ?
Do you really believe that we can just brand people by the church denomination they attend and make a serious judgment call on their salvation so easily and hastily ?
I am not denying that there exists false teachings in all of these denominations (and others not mentioned), some more severe and harmful than others. All denominations have some measure of error in their teachings. It is presumptuous to think that all these people or even the majority are automatically going to hell because of their church affiliation. It is also presumptuous to thing that Jesus was specifically talking about church denominations in Matthew 7. What about the untold millions who deny Christ, are they not part of the “broad way” ?
Mr. Burton, does “the Way of Holiness” teach you to judge righteous judgment or does it teach you to judge by appearances and church brands ?
What bothers me the most is the tone of your response. It is so negative, pessimistic and hopeless.
Why not say, Wow !! look how many millions have an interest in Almighty God !!
I believe it is not our place to make rash judgments on such a large number of souls that belong to God. I remember a man named Adolph Hitler who did the same thing and went on to exterminate millions because they didn’t fit his ideal picture of what a human being should be.
Naz
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February 17, 2011 at 11:06 am
Greetings! Naz
If those folk whom were members of those branches of the false religion known as Christianity were interested in the one true God of all glory then they would not profess such unscriptural denominations nor profess a false religion known as Christianity. And the holy scripture is emphatic and place concerning the exclusive way to eternal life which is Holiness. If one is not embracing, walking and declaring Holiness as the one and only way to God msot High then they shall inherit everlasting damnation in the lake of fire which burneth with fire and brimestone forever and ever.
By the way righteous judgment is one evaluate things by the holy scriptures of heaven which means anything or anyone whom is not certified by the sacred scriptrues of truth shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Follow Holiness Naz and forsake your false religion called Christianity or everlasting damnation shall be thing portion in the lake of fire forever and ever.
Peace be unto you!
Marquest Burton
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February 17, 2011 at 11:12 am
Greetings! Naz
One more thing a true follower of the Lord Jesus will not endorse no label or religion that is not certified by the holy scriptures. And by the way every sect of Christianity and Christianity itself are headed to the lake of fire which burneth with fire and brimestone forever and ever if they do not repent and forsake their ungodly way.
Peace be unto you!
Marquest Burton
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February 17, 2011 at 11:17 am
Scott,
I agree that there are probably a lot of nominal Catholics in that number, but still…. I’m sure there’s a good number of nominal Christians in the other denominations too. They’re still on the membership roll, but don’t attend and their beliefs/lifestyle probably don’t reflect the denominations teachings all that well.
Jason
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February 18, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Greetings! Scott
If a person(s) believes in the one true God of all glory then their practices, teachings, and beliefs will conform to the sacred scriptures of heaven which entails professing a certified religion which is none other than the way of Holiness. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, etc can not compare nor equal an infalliable religion which was here before the creation of the worlds which is called Holiness.
Follow Holiness or be eternally damned to the lake of fire which burneth with fire and brimestone (http://www.truthofGod.com)
Peace be unto you!
Marquest Burton
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April 4, 2012 at 3:27 pm
To Mr Marquest Burton
How far are you of recognize that the holy an apostolic Catholic church and the rest of separated brothers in the faith in our loved Lord Jesus will be all together in communion with Jesus, all we are blessed by the holy blood of our Lord Jesus. Regarding the mormons , i personally dont think they are christian…but thats my opinion. God Bless you …
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April 12, 2012 at 8:36 am
I don’t know about these figures. What is your source? Also, would expect to find the Seventh Day Adventist church here.
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April 12, 2012 at 9:55 am
Jim,
The source was provided in the post.
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June 15, 2012 at 11:14 am
I only knew numbers 1 ,4 and 7. I’m not american though.
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June 19, 2012 at 7:20 pm
The only way to enter through the narrow gate is through Christ. It is good to follow Christ. No matter what, we will ALL be judged according to what we do. We will ALL bow our knee to God at judgement. If Christ’s name is written in blood on your page in the Book of Life, then God the Father will judge you according to the standard that Christ established – holiness. A Holy God cannot and will not commune with the unholy in Heaven. Unholiness does not fit within the framework of perfection and Heaven. It cannot exist there. God is the ONLY one who makes the decision regarding eternal life with Him in Eternity or without Him, eternally separated. Denominations are of no concern to God – He cares about your heart and whether he sees his Son in our lives.
These are the simple truths that God has written on our hearts.
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July 16, 2012 at 11:51 am
Dear Mr Marquest Burton,
I do not understand what you are saying about Christianity being a false religion… I am only fifteen and perhaps I may appear ignorant in the world and do not understand the way in which you enjoy teaching the scripture, but I have grown up a Christian. If you are saying we should not call ourselves Christian because we are labeling ourselves, does that mean I should not call myself a girl because I am simply a person?
Maybe I am going about the whole thing wrong, or maybe I need to keep reading what you are saying, but I just dont understand why you have to continually be so negative about everything.
I am going to leave it to God to determine if I shall go to Hell. On the mean time I will go about my own way… loving my Father and doing my very best to please him, be kind to others, and do all that he so wishes of me.
You can be Catholic, Baptist, or any kind of Christian and still embrace, and declare Holiness!
Perhaps you could start refering to other sacred scriptures too rather than Matthew 7:13-14. You could encourage others to become Christian by telling them the good news Jesus came to offer(: rather than scaring them… possibly out of the religion. But, I am not saying anyone should say Hell does not exist. Well anyways, God Bless everyone ❤ I hope I made some sense!
~ Grace Katherine C.
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September 17, 2012 at 10:14 am
The guy referring to the Holiness I think is not a Christian at all.
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September 19, 2012 at 4:15 pm
I am a mormon and we have a high increase rate and it’s said will have 30 million by the year 2050 were at we are gaining a million every 5 to 2 years now so it it likely. Then we would be second. World wide we have 14.5 million and i hope one day it does happen.
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September 19, 2012 at 4:24 pm
mormons are christians so that no one is confused. We believe in god JC and HG just like everyone else. We have the Book of mormon which is a record of god’s dealings with the anciet americas i would go and read it for your self you can buy one anywhere for like a dollar. We believe that god is three different people (God, JC, HG) with one purpose (Jesus bapitzed in the river Jordan God saying this is my beloved Son, HG desending like a dove, and JC getting baptized all three in the same place) Why would god stop visions and angels coming to earth? it makes no sense. Mormons belive they are still coming. Gerneral Conf. is coming when our church leaders talk to the whole church i would watch it at LDS.org. There is a true prophet on the earth today and he is THomas S. Mondson i testify that i might not know scripture as well as others but my faith is firm and strong in my chuch.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen
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September 19, 2012 at 4:29 pm
Mormons are polytheists, and as such, are not Christians. In Mormon theology Jesus is not God, but a creation of God. Indeed, God the Father is not the only God in existence, but one of a potentially infinite number of gods. Indeed, God the Father was once a man. None of this is consistent with either Judaism or historic Christianity. Mormonism may be the truth, and historic Christianity may be false. But one thing is for certain: Mormonism is not Christianity. Calling it such is to stretch the meaning of words beyond recognition and meaningfulness. If one can believe in the existence of many gods or only one God, and both can be called by the same label, something is wrong.
Jason
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November 13, 2012 at 8:06 pm
I’m impressed Jason,I didn’t know that about Mormons.
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December 4, 2012 at 7:40 pm
Hmm it looks such as your blog ate my initial comment (it had become extremely
long) so I imagine I’ll just sum it what I wrote and assume, I’m
fully enjoying your blog. I also am an aspiring weblog writer but
I’m still new at all to everything. Have you got any suggestions for first-time blog writers? I’d really appreciate it.
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December 11, 2012 at 4:37 pm
Sorry about that Hershel. It must have went into spam, and because that folder gets so large I sometimes delete the whole folder without looking at each comment.
My advice is blog on topics you like, blog at least twice a week, stay on top of your comments (people don’t like it when a blogger consistently ignores their comments), work with other bloggers to link to your site, use pictures as much as possible (everyone likes visuals). It’s really not too hard. 🙂
Jason
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March 3, 2013 at 6:22 am
The Christian congregation of Jehovah’s witnesses is currently at 7 million. That should be #4
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March 31, 2013 at 11:56 am
Hey! I understand this is kind of off-topic but I needed to ask.
Does building a well-established blog such as yours take a
lot of work? I’m brand new to running a blog but I do write in my diary daily. I’d
like to start a blog so I will be able to share
my personal experience and thoughts online.
Please let me know if you have any kind of ideas or tips for brand new aspiring bloggers.
Thankyou!
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April 16, 2013 at 7:21 pm
Jehovah’s witnesses don’t believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, don’t believe in the Trinity, and disown the Holy Spirit and His work. Therefore, they aren’t Christian.
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April 16, 2013 at 7:24 pm
And actually, the number went up. The largest protestant denomination is The Church of God and in third is the Assemblies of God. Mormonism is considered a cult because although thy believe in Jesus Christ, they do not believe in the Gospel. Paul describes in the Bible that we must be wary of false prophets and if there are any who go against this Gospel, even if it was an angel, not to believe because even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light and deceive people. There is a mass deception going around. Read the Scriptures.
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April 16, 2013 at 7:26 pm
*Although they claim to believe in Jesus Christ, they do not believe in the Gospel (the Cross).
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May 12, 2013 at 7:58 am
I get a hearty chuckle how several people vociferously jump out and proclaim themselves as God’s gatekeeper to heaven. Jesus Christ is the only judge who will be reviewing our lives on the hearafter. To pounds one’s chest and proclaim, my church is better than your church, is ludicrous.
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May 13, 2013 at 6:39 pm
mormons are christians and we believe in heavenly father jesus christ and the holy ghost we are the church of jesus christ of latter day saints and i know this is the true and restored gospel.
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May 14, 2013 at 10:33 am
162328sam. These are assertions, but they are not borne out by the facts. If I said I was a Buddhist, and said I believed in reincarnation but defined reincarnation to mean that after you die you will be re-embodied into a glorified body that will last forever, Buddhists would rightly point out to me that I am not a Buddhist. While I may use that label, and while I may call my views of the afterlife “reincarnation,” the concept I have described is resurrection. The ideas are not the same.
The same is true of Mormonism. We can grant for the moment that Mormonism is true, but it is definitely not “Christian” since “Christian” refers to a set of specific beliefs – beliefs that Mormons reject, even though they use the same terminology. Yes, you believe in the Father, but he is just one god among many. Mormonism is polytheistic, whereas Christianity is monotheistic. The differences in theology are numerous. Go ahead and argue for the truth of Mormonism, but do not patronize people by pretending that Mormons are Christians. You are no more “Christian” than the Gnostics in the 2nd and 3rd centuries were Christians. They, like you, borrowed the terms of Christians, but completely redefined them so that their theology was radically different than the theology of the New Testament.
Jason
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May 26, 2013 at 11:45 pm
Dear Friend In Christ,
I am Aamir Javed from Pakistan. I have studied your web site, and I found it the most wonderful site to get right to the True Word of God. My suggestion for you is to create your material in my language of Urdu and Punjabi also. It will bring lots of blessings of the Word of God for the Pakistani and Indian Urdu and Punjabi speaking people. For that purpose I as a translator will bring your material into Urdu languages and into Punjabi language as well. This will require low expenses as fund for the Word of God to reach out to the deserving people. I my self, work on a local radio station also. Many times it becomes difficult for us to keep doing this because of being minorities and because of the lack of the financial resources. I will wait for your response.
In Jesus Christ name,
Aamir Javed
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August 30, 2013 at 4:02 pm
My I ask where your definition of Christianity comes from? I thought it was more like one who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ is considered a Christian. Not defined by someone’s own bias on what they want it to mean.
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August 30, 2013 at 4:09 pm
One of the best understandings of what members of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints believe:
We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. We believe that they are One Eternal God–yet they are also three distinct Beings. The question is, how are they one? Most modern Christians accept creeds developed primarily in the fourth century that teach a Trinity of one substance and one Being, without body, parts, or passions, yet having three coequal persons. Many feel that the doctrine of the Trinity is exactly what the Bible teaches, but I see that doctrine as a departure from the teachings of the Bible due to the powerful influence of Greek philosophy, where God was taught to be immaterial and of one “substance.” So what do the scriptures mean when they speak of Christ and the Father being one? Recall the great prayer of Christ in John 17. There, in verse 21, Christ prayed that His followers “all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me; that they also may be one in us.” In verse 22, He again prayed “that they may be one, even as we are one.” A related concept of oneness is also expressed by Paul in 1 Cor. 3: 6-8: “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase…. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.” In my view, this kind of oneness is a unity of purpose, intent, and heart, not a blending of substance into one being. When Christ prayed (many times) to His Father in Heaven, we believe that He was doing exactly that – communicating with His Father, another Being, of whom Christ said, “My Father is greater than I” (John 14:28), contradicting, for example, the Athanasian Creed. Likewise, In Acts 7:55,56, before being killed by hateful critics, Stephen looked up towards heaven “and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.” He saw two Beings. Further, in the creation story in Genesis 1, God (Elohim, a plural noun) says in verse 26: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” We feel inclined to take that literally. (Note that the same wording is used to describe the physical similarity between Adam and one of his sons in Genesis 5:1-3; see also Heb. 1:3 and James 3:9.) I know that goes against what most churches teach and is certainly open to debate, but taking the Bible too literally should not be sufficient cause to say we are not Christians.
In contrast to the abstract and metaphysical formulations of human philosophy seeking to deal with God, look at the witness offered in such passages of the Bible as Luke chapter 24. In this chapter (verses 36-43), the resurrected Christ shows His body to His surprised disciples. They first think it is a spirit, but Christ asks them to feel His tangible body: “handle me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” To drive the point home, He then asks for some food, and eats it in front of them. We actually believe that this happened and was a real event, not a dream or a metaphor. In contrast to my understanding of the standard Trinity doctrine (God “without body, parts, and passions”), we believe in a literal resurrection and believe that Christ is a resurrected Being with a tangible body, exactly as He showed us in Luke 24. We believe that Christ was “in the form of God” as Paul said in Philippians 2:6 and that we also are created in God’s image and likeness, and that through the Atonement and Resurrection of Christ, we also may receive a glorious body like His, as Paul says in Philippians 3:21.
Of course, you don’t have to agree with us! Feel free to charge us with being overly literal. But please don’t say that we aren’t Christians if we don’t interpret the Bible the way you do.
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October 6, 2013 at 8:04 pm
Jason, I’m afraid your definition of Christian is totally of your own making. Christianity is the belief in and desire to follow Christ. You may disagree about the most correct way to follow him, but you don’t get to be the gatekeeper of what it means to be one.
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November 13, 2013 at 6:26 am
1st of all, Mormons are Christian. I have went to a Mormon church in South Carolina off and on for 5 years, and though I am not baptized, know for a FACT that they are Christian. Jehovah’s Witnesses are also Christian. They are (pardon the pun) religiously devoted to the Bible and follow it very strictly. Jason, I am sorry to say that it is ignorance like yours that makes it so hard for different religious factions to get along. I agree with Jordan. Your definition of Christianity IS totally of your own making.
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November 13, 2013 at 10:02 am
Logan,
Are many Mormons good people? Yes, but being good does not a Christian make. When we are talking about whether a religion is “Christian,” we are talking about their doctrine. You are either ignorant of classical Christianity, Mormonism, or both. Mormonism was born out a rejection of classical Christian doctrines. Mormomonism denies monotheism, which is the heart of the Judeo-Christian faith. They teach that God is not eternal, but was a man prior to becoming God, and that we too can become gods and have spirit children. The only similarity between Mormonism and Christianity is the terminology, but we both use those terms in very different ways.
Jason
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December 16, 2013 at 3:45 pm
Just to clear things up from some previous comments, Mormons are Christians. I am a Mormon and I believe that Christ, is the son of God, came to earth, suffered for my sins, and died on the cross. His grace is the only way we can return to His kingdom and I think many people don’t understand that. Mormons believe that heaven is divided into 3 degrees of glory or kingdoms. In order to achieve the highest degree of glory, you need to partake in ordinances (baptism, marriage, etc). That does not mean, however, that people who do not do those things or live our standards won’t go to heaven. We do not save our selves by any means, it is all through Christ. How are we then not Christian? I love my savior and there is not a day that goes by that I do not think of everything He did for me, and everyone who has ever lived, and will yet live upon the earth. Only a god could have endured suffering for all of our sins. I encourage you all to try every day to reflect your grateful ness to Him for allowing us to progress by being kind to others and keeping the commandments He gave us to make us happy.
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December 16, 2013 at 3:58 pm
Bethany,
See my comment #35. If Mormons are Christian, then what are Christians? While we may use some of the terminology, we mean different things by them.
How can you try to equate classical Christians and Mormons when your own founder founded Mormonism because he was told by revelation that Christian teaching had been corrupted? Mormonism was not in-line with traditional Christianity, but a repudiation of it. Now, it could be that Joseph Smith is right and classical Christianity has it wrong, but by no means can the two be identified as the same.
Just take one doctrine: God. Who is God? According to Christianity, there is only one God, and He is without beginning or ending, being an eternal Spirit. But not according to Mormonism. On Mormonism, God the Father had a beginning. And he didn’t even start off as God. He began as a man and later became a God. And he’s not the only God. There are many Gods. Indeed, even we have the potential to become Gods.
We’re not debating the character of Mormons, but their doctrine. And when it comes to doctrine, its very different than the doctrines of classical Christianity. “Christian” refers to a set of beliefs. Since the beliefs of Christians and Mormons are different, if “Christian” is to have any meaning, either it must be applied to classical Christians OR Mormons, but it cannot be applied to both, anymore than “cat” can be used to refer to both felines and canines.
Jason
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December 16, 2013 at 8:34 pm
I do not understand how I am not a Christian. Do you believe, like every Christian I’ve talked to, that the only thing you have to do to be saved is confess that Christ is your Savior and Redeemer and the Son of God? Do you believe that only Christians are going to be saved? If so, then I am a Christian.
After Christ died, His apostles tried to hold the church together as best as they could, but after they died or were killed, the authority which came directly from God to exercise his power and perform miracles and do baptisms was taken from the earth. Good people who were followers of Christ tried to preserve the gospel as best as they could remember and that’s where all these different denominations come from. In 1830, a 14 boy (Joseph Smith) was confused by all of the churches in his home in NY. He prayed one day and asked God to know which church was true and when he was done, he looked up and saw God, the father and Jesus Christ standing next to each other and Christ told Joseph that none of the churches were fully correct and that now was the time, in a country of religious freedom, to bring His complete church back to the earth. Joseph Smith is not the founder of our church, he established it through Christ.
I completely agree that our doctrine is different from mot Christian beliefs, but according to traditional christian beliefs, I will be saved because of the basic things I believe. How can I be saved if I am not a Christian?
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December 18, 2013 at 4:29 pm
Bethany, that’s great if you eschew the salvation-by-works teaching of Mormonism, and think salvation comes via faith alone rooted in God’s grace because of Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice on our behalf. But I would still have to ask who you think Jesus is. If you do not think he is the eternal God incarnate, then we are talking about two different Jesus’.
As for your story, what’s your basis? The Gospel was recorded by the apostles and eyewitnesses.in what we now call the NT. People weren’t trying the best they could to preserve the Gospel and remember what Jesus taught. It was recorded in writing.
If you agree that the doctrines of Mormonism are not the same as the doctrines of traditional Christianity, then why do you try to say you are a Christian? Unless, in doing so, you are saying that I, and those in traditional Christianity, are not Christians. But if names mean anything at all, we can’t both be labeled “Christian” since that word connotes a specific worldview, and Mormonism and traditional Christianity are two different worldviews. If both Mormons and Christians can both be called Christians, then Muslims can be called Christians too. Words lose all meaning.
Jason
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March 2, 2014 at 11:50 pm
On the one hand we have a person (Jason) who has defined the word Christianity to the nth degree, and if you do not accept his definition of Christianity then you are not Christian. Then there is the rest of the world who thinks differently, so why argue with him. There is a story somewhere about a man going to Jericho who was set upon by thieves… according to the story who then was a ‘Christian’.
In the land in which I live we have ‘so called’ large cities which attract the people from the countryside, each one who is attracted comes to the city by their own path, each bringing with them the things that they are endeared to, they all arrive at the city and now start to live next to each other, each one swopping that for this, or this for that, or even giving up the things that they found so useful in their former home, but which is of no use in the big city.
When they arrive in the big city, they are called city dwellers. Some of them wont accept this term and chose to define themselves as one thing or another creating cliques and causing contention as they demand or insist on their former status. The city does not care, the city fathers call them city dwellers, the people of the place from where they came, call them city dwellers, everyone can see they are city dwellers, except for the few who refuse to accept the ‘label’.
On a different tack, I note the change in the use of the word ‘marriage’ in the world, it has changed and continues to change. Society today defines marriage as being something different to what society defined marriage to be centuries ago. Today if one looks at the definition of marriage in the laws of different countries one arrives at a different conclusion as to what marriage means in each country. So who has the right to define the meaning of the word marriage, is there one person in the world who can say that marriage means this, and anyone who does not accept that definition is not married. Go to a country where marriage is defined in terms other than what you have decided as the meaning of marriage and try to enforce your meaning on the country, you would be stupid to do so and also be described as a bigot.
Lets for a moment assume that marriage is between man and women, if that is true then there will flow from that many blessings or advantages that will not flow from any other definition of marriage. I guess each one of us has the right to live according to our own beliefs, I also believe that each one of us is permitted to set out the terms of our beliefs and to also set out the blessings or advantages there are in living these beliefs, but importantly no one has the right to deny anyone the blessings and advantages of living they way they wish to live, to say someone will ‘rot in hell’ if they dont accept what you say to be true is inconsistent with Christian philosophy, to encourage one to believe in Christ and to act in accordance with his teachings is consistent with Christian philosophy. Are those who say they are Christians but who do not act as a Christian, really Christians?, and are those who act as a Christian would, anything less than a Christian?
Jamaliel of the new testament, has something to say on these matters as he, in my opinion correctly and severely chastised the pharisee’s and sadducee, for their attitude and from the other point of view Christ had much to say about whited sepulchers. None free from these accusations.
Christ in the New Testament had much to say about those who changed the law, speaking of the union of man and women and how ‘man’ had changed the conditions of ‘divorce’, saying that it was because of the hardness of their hearts.. If I have any understanding of this, it has the meaning that Christ is prepared to work with the view of the people while he waits on them to correct their ways, sending prophets and apostles to teach, guide and help them get back to him. (in my fathers house there are many mansions), allowing them to ‘re-define’ the word divorce until they humbled themselves sufficiently before him to accept the true terms and conditions of marriage. There are some very interesting conclusions that can be drawn out of this paragraph, but the conversation would need to be allowed to develop a lot more before these conclusions could be aired.
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March 12, 2014 at 9:21 pm
These statistics are dated.
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April 11, 2014 at 12:22 pm
So, I guess in your eyes and explanation, any religion that believes in God that does not also believe in the Trinity is not “Christian”. Then when Jesus was suffering in the garden of Gethsemane and God turned his head to look away because he could not stand to see his own son’s suffering; then in your view he was turning his head away from himself?
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May 10, 2014 at 3:20 pm
I have a few comments to make. First of all, thank you for the post. It has been very instructional and there have been some great comments posted because of it. Second, I noticed that 3 out of the 10 entries on the list are various Baptist Conventions. What does that mean, exactly? Wouldn’t there be able to be more denominations on the list if you just combined the conventions into one entry? Plus, it would make the Baptists look much better. Thirdly, if I understand what you have said correctly, you are saying that “Mormons” are not “Christians” simply by definition. You are saying that because “Christians” trademarked the name first, even though the various Christian denominations’ teachings are vastly different from each other and have been for 2000 years, they are “Christians”, but anyone that does not fit into that category and label is not a “Christian”. You are saying that because “Mormons” have different teachings from you, they are not “Christian”; not because they don’t believe in Jesus Christ, or worship Him, or follow His teachings, but because they have different teachings than what your definition says a “Christian” believes. I may be wrong, and I am sorry if I am, but it sounds to me that you are taking an exclusive definition of “Christianity” and excluding anyone different from you. Is that what you are saying? Well, I have to say that is the kind of attitude that has caused wars, dissentions, and bigotry for 2000 years. It is that kind of attitude that caused the Spanish Inquisition and forced the Pilgrims to leave their homeland and travel to America. It is just that kind of attitude that Jesus Himself condemned in Mark 9:40 when He said, “For he that is not against us is on our part.” Can’t we all just get along? Isn’t that what Christ would want? Isn’t that love for our neighbor what is supposed to be at the heart of Christianity? If members of the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints practice that Christ-like love for their neighbors and other traditional “Christians” do not, maybe the “Mormons” should not try so hard to be labeled as “Christians” since the so-called traditional “Christians” do not appear to me to be all that “Christian” after all. Maybe the “Mormons” should instead tell their Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, or Episcopal neighbor that they are the ones that are not “Christian”. But do they? No! They instead try to include everyone and share the goodness in their life with everyone. Sometimes they try to share so hard, that it gets annoying, but they keep trying to share. Why can’t “Christians” be more like that?
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June 15, 2014 at 6:41 am
Jason doesn’t get to define who is or is not Christian. Sorry Jason. But you seem to think that you are the gatekeeper. All of the ‘christian’ denominations have differences in doctrine so you need to get over your very narrow minded view of things. I would think you would want to embrace anyone who wants to follow Jesus, rather than castigate them because they don’t believe exactly the way you do. People who believe in Jesus Christ are your friend and ally in this crazy world.
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June 16, 2014 at 10:08 am
Of course I don’t get to define it. And I’m not trying to. It’s already been defined by Jesus and the apostles. It’s true that Christian churches differ on certain doctrines, but they differ on details around a foundational core. Mormons have a different core. They don’t differ on the details, but on the majors. The differences in Christian denominations is like watching the different versions of Romeo and Juliet that Hollywood has produced over the years. They are all different to one degree or another, but it’s the same basic story. Mormonism, however, is like watching Hamlet. Very different.
And I find it interesting how Mormons today want to be identified with other Christians, when in the past, they wanted to stand apart from other Christians. In the past, it was your religion that emphasized the differences and identified other Christian denominations as apostate churches who had almost completely forsaken the truth of Jesus.
Jason
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September 15, 2014 at 8:23 am
I find it very numerous how divided Christa are. The least difference in beliefs and you start the name calling and further divide. I am an Atheist and at least eight times in my life had Christian try to beat the Love of Jesus into me with a belt or razor strop. three times stuck to my bed sheets the next morning. Of all the religions in the world Christianity is the most savage. And unique in that it is all about belief rather that practice that sets an example. Any god requiring belief is a weak narcissistic god. Any god sending those who do good but don’t believe is an unjust and false god. Oh and I have Bachelor Degrees in both History of Christianity and Islam. A master’s Degree in History of the Levant and the religions from which Christianity evolved. The definition of Christian is in the Code of Nice a written in 325 CE. Like it or not if your beliefs are different you are not a Christian. A follower of The Christ perhaps but not Christian. Here I am an Atheist and find I know more about the Bible than Christian clergy. One of my beatings was for questioning Billy Graham about his sermon saying Nigeroes (he word, not mine) bore the mark of Caine. I had asked him if Noah and Seven of his family, all descendants of Shem, survived the Flood. How could anyone be alive now who descended from Caine. His reply to my grandfather was I had the devil in me and he should beat it out. Yeah, great religion Christianity. Only ones I really respect are Amish and Mennonites who actually live I it. I will add I have a PhD in Applied Nuclear Physics and emperical facts of science have no room for mythical deities.
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March 1, 2015 at 9:11 pm
If anyone is truly questioning if Mormons are Christian than either read the Book of Mormon, talk to a Mormon or Mormon missionaries or go to Mormon.org. Better yet explore all of the above and find out what Mormons biggest problem is, which is training new leaders fast enough to keep up with the convert growth.
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May 13, 2015 at 4:00 pm
Jason,
Mormons did not repudiate Christianity, but instead repudiated the various Creeds, which were man-made corruptions of the truth. When Christ was on earth, He taught His gospel, which is Christianity. Fast-forward about 1800 years later, and Joseph Smith prayed to know which of the various Christian sects was correct. Jesus, in person, appeared with His and our Father in Heaven, also in person, and told Joseph that the Creeds were incorrect, and that Joseph should join none of the sects. Joseph Smith was a Christian before his vision, for he worshiped Christ as the Savior and Redeemer. After Joseph’s vision, he still worshiped and believed in Jesus Christ. Jesus continued to reveal pure truths to Joseph, and eventually all of the pure, original truths were “restored” to the earth. The restored truths directly revealed by Jesus Christ, to Joseph Smith and the modern-day prophets that succeeded him, repudiate all of the ancient and modern so-called Christian creeds that man has invented and taught for hundreds of years.
So, you are Christian because you worship Christ as your Redeemer, and Mormons are also Christian, for they worship Christ as their Redeemer. However, your beliefs (creed) about the nature of God and Jesus is not the same as our beliefs (creed) about the nature of God and Jesus. You follow an ancient creed, and we follow a latter-day restored-truths creed. Both of us remain Christians.
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May 13, 2015 at 7:03 pm
Wade:
Jesus taught many things but Christianity was not one of them. Jesus was anti religious, condemning both religion and the religious authorities. Jesus did not start any religion. The word gospel /euaggelion/ does literally mean “good news”. Greek euangélion / evangelion.
Early Christianity is the period of Christianity preceding the First Council of Nicaea in 325CE. It is typically divided into the Apostolic Age and the Ante-Nicene Period (from the Apostolic Age until Nicea).
The first Christians, as described in the first chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, were all Jewish, either by birth, or conversion for which the biblical term proselyte is used, and referred to by historians as the Jewish Christians.
Other scholars, drawing upon distinctions between Jewish Christians, Pauline Christianity, and other groups such as Marcionites, argue that early Christianity was always fragmented, with contemporaneous competing beliefs.
The New Testament’s Book of Acts and Epistle to the Galatians record that the first Christian community was centered in Jerusalem and its leaders included Peter, James, and John. Paul of Tarsus, after his conversion to Christianity, claimed the title of “Apostle to the Gentiles”.
The only bible Jesus ever had in his hand was the Old Testament; Jesus did not read the New Testament not because he didn’t like it; he just never had it.
Here is a list of the Gospel (Good News) proclaimed by Jesus that began his campaign:
Luke 17
“18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel (Good News) to the poor; he hath sent me to heal (Good News) the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance (Good News) to the captives of the tyranny of religion) and recovering of sight (Good News) to the blind, to set at liberty (Good News) to them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year (Good News) of the Lord.(Father within you).
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October 6, 2015 at 9:11 am
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka Mormons) are in fact Christian.
We just believe that we are a prophetic restoration of Christ’s original church during his mortal ministry. You don’t have to agree with is about our belief in the restoration but to say we are but Christian is silly. Likewise you don’t have to believe the doctrines of the Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox, the Lutherans, etc to recognize them as believers in Christ.
The Mormons are the 4th largest Christian denomination in the United States.
https://www.mormon.org/beliefs/jesus-christ
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October 6, 2015 at 10:17 pm
If you are a Christian means nothing. If you follow Jesus teachings mean everything, Jesus was not a Christian so professing you are a Christian means nothing whatsoever as far as Jesus is concerned.
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October 7, 2015 at 11:39 am
Andy:
It seems to me that the Messenger you follow is Joseph Smith so you might be called Smithonian and the original Christians were Catholic. Jesus was not Christian or Catholic, he was set apart, sanctified himself as the Messiah so he may be called a Messianist or the Founder of Messianism following the Father that lives within you.
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August 19, 2016 at 1:29 am
Dear Catholics please attend Mass in church every day and see the wonderful things that starts to happen In your life. A holy mass is a celebration of Christ birth death and resurrection. Please attend Mass at least on Sunday you will see wonders
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August 22, 2016 at 5:33 pm
I agree with few of you. But then again, my opinion (to many of you) will be regarded as just that, and that’s okay. I would like to share my testimony to those who will read it. I am a follower of Yeshua. Because of this, I cannot call myself any denomination. Every denomination is false, and started at the wrong time. Satan has infiltrated all of them. Christs church (not the church of Christ) is spread out over the four corners of the earth. I began my journey October 4th being born again in my living room. I attended a baptist church for a while and became stale in my growth. One day I talked to someone who did not attend our church and he showed me things in scripture that weren’t being taught. I prayed with tears and needed YHWH to steer me. It wasn’t until I asked of Him to steer me that He did. I was at a critical point to believe the doctrine of men, vs the doctrine of the living word of God. He dropped a bombshell on me and showed me the truth about salvation and much more. Im currently coming out of Babylon, the false religion system that has entangled the whole world. God is raising up a group of His own to stand the trouble that is coming. If you are in a denomination and you are finding contradictions in scripture, please stop and pray earnestly. He will free you. Denominations preset your mind to force what you are reading to fit what men have told you. Please brothers and sisters, be sober, let no man decieve you. This is the first thing Christ said when they asked Him “when shall these things take place?” “Take heed that you be not decieved” you think He’s trying to tell us something?
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August 22, 2016 at 7:45 pm
Dude:
“I prayed with tears and needed YHWH to steer me. It wasn’t until I asked of Him to steer me that He did. I was at a critical point to believe the doctrine of men, vs the doctrine of the living word of God. He dropped a bombshell on me and showed me the truth about salvation and much more. Im currently coming out of Babylon, the false religion system that has entangled the whole world. God is raising up a group of His own to stand the trouble that is coming. If you are in a denomination and you are finding contradictions in scripture, please stop and pray earnestly. He will free you. Denominations preset your mind to force what you are reading to fit what men have told you. Please brothers and sisters, be sober, let no man decieve you. This is the first thing Christ said when they asked Him “when shall these things take place?” “Take heed that you be not decieved” you think He’s trying to tell us something?”
“I am a follower of Yeshua. Because of this, I cannot call myself any denomination. Every denomination is false, and started at the wrong time. Satan has infiltrated all of them.”
WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?
THIS MEANS NOTHING AT ALL.
Everyone can say the same old, same old and it is nothing but empty words.
You are not saying anything that thousands and thousands have not said before you.
SO WHAT’S THE POINT?
Forget the prayers and tears……..until you know who the real Jesu is you’ll remain where you are. Nowhere that anybody can understand because you are regurgitating words that we have heard for the last two thousand centuries.
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October 1, 2016 at 1:48 am
Jason,
Do you believe that CS Lewis was a Christian? This is what he wrote in his book “Mere Christianity”:
“The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command. He said (in the Bible) that we were “gods” and He is going to make good His words. If we let Him—for we can prevent Him, if we choose—He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said.”
It seems to me that you are trying to make your own definition of who is “Christian” solely to make yourself feel better somehow. Nobody who knows anything about the Mormon Faith would say that they are not Christian.
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December 4, 2022 at 8:44 pm
The bible only speaks of one church. God’s one is not many or any.
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April 18, 2023 at 9:41 am
I am nobody, but most of these posts are an extreme disappointment because they seem to be extremely prideful and arrogant. SATAN wants the servants of Christ to be divided, and most of you seem to be servants of that strategy.
In all of your “individual” theolgies, what is truly critical in a person’s salvation. Most of you actually disgust me, because you have severely overcomplicated what is required to be saved.
It is Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that actually saves any of us, period:
* Being sincerely repentant when we accept Christ as our Saviour, or when we sin in the future is critical for God to forgive and forget our sins.
* When we sincerely accept Christ as our Savior, we will want to follow all that is taught in the Bible . . . but when we want to make exceptions, it is an indication that there is something wrong with our relationship with God.
* We can fool ourselves about our sincerity, and fool others, but we cannot fool God.
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