Many different churches call themselves Protestant Christians. These divisions within Protestant Christianity are known as “denominations,” and you may have heard of some, such as “Pentecostal,” “Evangelical,” “Baptist,” “Adventist,” etc.
But where do the Protestant denominations come from? Why are there so many? Is there anyone wrong?
Three Types of Doctrine
The first thing that is important to understand is the three spheres of doctrine that exist in Christianity. In order of importance, they are:
Essential Doctrine
The Essential Doctrine is the most important. The Essential Doctrine contains the basic, essential, and necessary beliefs to be able to be a Christian. A religion is NOT Christian if it lacks or distorts some aspect of this Essential Doctrine.
What does the Essential Doctrine include?
- Trinity (God is Triune or Tri-One)
- Deity of Christ
- His incarnation
- Vicarious atonement (forgiveness of sins through the death of Jesus Christ)
- Salvation by grace, through faith
- Corporal Resurrection of Christ
- Authority of Scripture
If a religion has some elements of this Essential Doctrine and not others, it is known as a sect of Christianity. Jehovah’s Witnesses, for example, reject certain aspects of Jesus’ divinity. This makes them a sect of Christianity and not a Christian church itself.
It is necessary to emphasize that believing in the Essential Doctrine is what makes us brothers in Christ. This is why we can be one and have unity, despite the differences that may exist between denominations. It is here that we have to look to find what unites us and makes us equal in the eyes of God. This is where we need to put emphasis.
Secondary Doctrine
Secondary Doctrine are those beliefs and dogmas that are practiced in churches that cannot coexist under the same roof. It is here that the church “divides” into denominations, such as Evangelicals, Baptists, Pentecostals, etc.
What do we mean by beliefs that cannot “live under a roof”?
Some churches think that women should not be pastors and others do. In this doctrinal sphere, there is also the famous debate of “predestination vs. free will.” Some churches understand that the Sabbath must be kept and others do not. So on. There cannot be opposing mentalities on issues like these within the same church, which is why they are subdivided into denominations. It is for this reason that they arise, due to discrepancies about the expression of the Biblical text.
It is worth highlighting that, although these differences are important for those who practice this or that, they are not dividers of the faith we have in Jesus Christ. At least, they shouldn’t be. Our salvation is what unites us and it depends on confessing with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believing in our hearts that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9-10). This is an Essential Doctrine, not secondary.
We are brothers in Christ, not because we are – literally – under the same roof, but because we believe in the same things about the same God (Essential Doctrine), regardless of how we believe or express them (Secondary Doctrine).
Tertiary Doctrine
The Tertiary Doctrine is those beliefs and dogmas that are practiced in the churches that can coexist under the same roof.
For example, things about what clothing is appropriate; whether the Rapture is “before, during or after” the Great Tribulation (or that there will only be a “second coming” and not “rapture”); whether speaking in tongues is confirmation of the reception of the Holy Spirit or not; whether the Creation was in 6 days of 24 hours or not, different ideas about spiritual warfare and many other similar things. Note that these are ideologies that were made not because God said, but by cultural/social conventions of each church or personal deductions from what the Bible says.
What goes against the Unit
It is worth highlighting the fact that many errors are made by confusing Secondary and Tertiary doctrines with the Essential Doctrine. These errors usually end in people rejecting the church (or organized religion as a whole) and going against the unity that Jesus required of us Christians (that is, those who believe in the Essential Doctrine) in John chapter 17.
It is important to understand that unity does not mean being equal or agreeing on everything. Unity is being able to work together towards the same goal, despite our differences. What is our goal? Know God and make him known – together, united. If not, the world will not believe that Jesus is the Son of God (John 17:21). Christianity is not for lone rangers, it is to be lived in community.