Background: During the first few centuries after Jesus the Christian faith spread throughout the Roman Empire and beyond. The faith of these earliest believers is expressed in the collected writings of the New Testament, and the “Apostles Creed” as a formal statement of Christian beliefs. Meanwhile, the Roman Empire is crumbling; 4 major cities become the leading churches (Antioch of Syria, Alexandria of Egypt, Rome, and Jerusalem). In 330 AD, Emperor Constantine moves the capital of the empire to Byzantium/Constantinople, enhancing regional, social, linguistic, political, and philosophical tensions.

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c.500 AD  Split #1 – The ancient Eastern Churches (Syrian, Armenian, Egyptian Copts, and Ethiopians) separated from the others after the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD), due primarily to: (1) the prominence of Constantinople as a new center of the Empire, (2) the priority of  the Greek/Latin language and culture in the Church (rather than Semitic), (3) a re‑assertion of national identities, and (4) the dispute over how to express the relationship of the divine and human natures of Christ.

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c.1000 AD Split #2 – Roman Catholic (West)/Eastern Orthodox (Greek, Russian, etc.) – In 1054 a split in the Church became official, reflecting the long‑standing split in the old Roman Empire. Economic, political, and cultural differences between the Latin West and the Greek East were enhanced by: (1) varying practices which had developed in the two parts of the Church, (2) the addition of “filioque” to the Nicene Creed, (3) the question of ultimate authority (papal or church council?), and (4) doctrinal differences on points beyond the clear teaching of Scripture.

 

c.1500 AD Split #3 – Protestant Reformation/Roman Catholic Church – In 1517 Martin Luther leads the protesting (Protestant) movement in questioning (1) the role of Church tradition as having equal authority with the teachings of the Bible, and (2) the idea of “indulgences,” while asserting the principles of (A) justification by God through faith alone, (B) the final authority of Scripture alone, and (C) the priesthood of all believers.

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Six Major Phases of the Protestant Reformation:

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1. “Lutherans”– Followers of Luther, primarily in Germany and Scandinavia, willing to accept most traditions of the Roman church and only desiring change on major doctrinal matters.

    

2. “Reformed”or “Presbyterian”– Led by John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Knox, they were willing to more systematically study the Bible and totally change present practices. They emphasized God’s sovereignty and the reforming of all of life and society in accordance with God’s will, and they believed in a church government with elders, but not bishops or Pope. They were called “Presbyterians” (including Puritans) in England and Scotland, “Reformed” in Switzerland, Holland, and Germany. Their doctrine was systematized by the “Westminster Confession” of 1640.

 

3. “Anglican”/”Episcopal”– A history of religious independence from Rome, combined with King Henry VIII’s desire for a divorce, led the Church of England to follow the Reformation, though it continues to have “High Church” and “Low Church” groups.

    

4. Radical Reformation, “Anabaptists,” “Baptists,”and “Pietists” – These were more radical reformers who believed in (1) the separation of the church from civil controls, (2) a democratic church government, with local autonomy, and (3) believer’s baptism, with the church being understood to include believers only. Seeking a more intense community, on a simpler, New Testament model, they included Moravians, Brethren, Baptists (of England and Holland), “Mennonites” (founded by Menno Simmons), the Amish (a radically‑traditional off‑shoot from the Mennonites led by Jacob Ammon), and the Society of Friends, or “Quakers,” following George Fox.

    

5. “Wesleyan”/”Methodists”– This renewal movement was begun in the 1730’s in the Church of England by John and Charles Wesley, emphasizing methods for developing and maintaining spiritual life.

    

6. “Pentecostals”– Since 1900, and building on the “Holiness” movement of the late 1800’s, Pentecostals emphasize a second experience of the Holy Spirit called the “baptism of the Holy Spirit,” freer expression in worship, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including speaking in unknown languages (“tongues”), dramatic healings, and prophecies. Initially forced to leave other denominations, they established their own denominations, the largest of which is the Assemblies of God. Since the 1950’s, the “Charismatic Movement,” or “Neo‑Pentecostalism,” has brought these Pentecostal experiences into many other denominations.

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Further splintering of the Christian church, into even more denominations, has occurred in the USA, for a number of reasons. Contributing to this trend have been such influences as:

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• links to churches and traditions in Europe,

• languages and national backgrounds of immigrants,

• the spirit of independence and individual freedom prevailing in the USA, and in much of Protestantism,

• the vast geography of this new land,

• politics, and the Civil War,

• race,

• the rise and impact of “modern” secular thinking, “liberal theology,” and scientism,

• desires for purity and renewal vs. desires for unity, and

• lack of a clear knowledge of the Bible.

 

Another development in the USA has been the further establishment of special “para‑church” organizations, often inter‑denominational, with a more limited focus, such as world hunger, college students, medical aid, literacy and establishing Christian schools, and Bible translation.

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In addition, “cults” such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons), Christian Science, The Unification Church (Moonies), Unitarian/Universalists, and others, have arisen, claiming a “New Revelation” and authoritative teachers, though based on ignorance and a twisting or ignoring of Bible contents. At fundamental points, the teachings of these groups disagree with the major doctrines of the Christian faith agreed to by all of the denominations previously listed (all of which are based upon the clear, unbiased reading of the Bible, and which they all agree as the basis of true faith).

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Some common Churches in the United States today include:

Roman Catholic

Episcopal

Anglican

Orthodox

Church of the Nazarene

Church of the Brethren

United Methodist

Free Methodist

Wesleyan

Mennonite

Amish

Friends Meeting/Quakers

Christian & Missionary Alliance

Assembly of God

Evangelical Free Church

Presbyterian (PCUSA)

Reformed Presbyterian

Evangelical Presbyterian (EPC)

Presbyterian Church of America (PCA)

Christian Reformed

American Baptist

Independent Baptists

Southern Baptist

General Association of Regular Baptists

North American Baptist

Baptist General Conference

Conservative Baptist

Lutheran Church in America

Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod)

United Church of Christ

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Bible Churches            

Non-denominational groups

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