Some critics of Christianity are keen to point out that, according to best estimates, there are roughly 40,000 Christian denominations worldwide. This is an astoundingly large figure, and some see it as evidence that Christianity is divided. If Christians can’t even agree among themselves, how can they make exclusive claims about absolute truth?
After a quick search online, it’s not hard to find a plethora of blog posts commenting on the large number of Christian denominations and concluding all sorts of things: “Christianity has splintered into pieces”, or that there are “40,000 groups contradicting each other” and “40,000 different interpretations of the Bible.”
If this is true, what does this say about Christian unity? Doesn’t it demonstrate that Christians are hopelessly divided?
Well, there are a few important things to say here.
What does the 40,000 figure really mean?
First of all, it’s always important to do a fact check. The World Christian Encyclopedia, one of the two sources from which the 40,000 number is taken, has a very specific definition of ‘denomination’ for the purposes of its study. As you can see here, they define a denomination as an organized Christian group within a specific country. So, for example, although there is only one Roman Catholic Church, over 200 Roman Catholic ‘denominations’ are listed – one ‘denomination’ for each national body of Roman Catholics.
So it is quite misleading to say that there are 40,000 denominations worldwide, if by that we mean that there are 40,000 organised bodies of Christians who are divided against each other.
The actual number of denominations is a far smaller number (they count 300 major ecclesiastical traditions worldwide, grouped into 6 ecclesiastico-cultural mega-blocs), and even across denominations there is significant partnership and unity.
I’d probably call myself a Reformed Baptist, but I’ve spent a number of years being a part of Presbyterian, non-Reformed Baptist, and independent churches, not to mention the fact that I served as a pastor in an Anglican church for over 5 years. I’ve spent significant time in my life in 7 different denominations, and although there are different views on secondary issues, every one of them agreed on the substantial issues of the Christian faith.
Despite institutional and traditional differences, there is a very real unity that exists between all the churches that I’ve attended.
How is that possible?
Real Christian Unity
It’s possible because Christian unity is not the same as institutional unity. Denominations are human institutions, and while different denominations do often represent differences in certain doctrines or beliefs, the vast majority of Christian denominations are united in a common faith in Christ. Christian unity does not require that we be a part of the same institution.
Nor does Christian unity require that we agree on everything. I mean, I could guarantee you that you can’t find a single church in the world where everyone believes exactly the same thing on every point. And that’s okay! While beliefs are absolutely important, what binds Christians together is our faith in Christ and our submission to Him. Christian unity doesn’t mean agreeing on absolutely everything.
So then, if Christian unity is not any of those things, what is Christian unity?
Real Christian unity is a common faith in Christ, and it is not man-made, but God-made and God-given.
In 1 Corinthians 1:2-3, the Apostle Paul defines the church as “those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy.” So Christians are those who are sanctified in Christ and called to holiness. And who is it that sanctifies us and calls us? God.
God is the One who both sanctifies us in Christ, and the One who calls us to Himself. He unites us with Christ – “it is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:30). And since it is our common unity with Christ that unites believes to each other (1 Corinthians 10:17, 12:12-13), it can only be God who makes and gives Christian unity. Regardless of denomination, Christians are united to all others who have genuine faith in Christ. That is real Christian unity.
So we need not be concerned by the many denominations around the world. Creating some mega-denomination that encompasses all Christians will do absolutely nothing to create unity among Christians! It never could, because Christian unity does not depend on institutional unity.
Two Big Implications For Us
Once we come to grips with what Christian unity is and is not, it will help us in the way we think about the state of global Christianity today.
Firstly, we have no reason to worry about the many ‘denominations’ that exist in the world today. They don’t indicate that Christianity is broken or divided at all – in fact, it is more a testimony to the truth of the Gospel and the great power of God, to think that even though there are thousands of distinct Christian bodies in the world, such a strong unity can still exist across all among them who call on the name of Jesus.
Secondly, we need to remember the strength of the unity that binds us to Christians of other denominations and traditions. It’s easy to demonise Christians who believe different things than we do, but at root, there is still a strong unity between us and them. I don’t agree with a lot of what Roman Catholics and Pentecostals teach, but I know many people from both traditions who have a true and vibrant faith in Christ. They are my brothers and sisters in Christ, despite the points on which we disagree (of which there may be many).
It should make us rejoice that God has called us together and made us His people despite our differences. Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesians is a fitting one for us to keep in mind as we interact with our brothers and sisters in other denominations:
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all in all” (Eph 4:2-6).
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Image by Horia Varlan
40,000 or 300, Satan has deceived the whole world, the message presented is about Jesus, not the message he brought about the Coming Kingdom of God, most of christianity practices a mixture of Paganism /good works and a little scripture .
. . . . there are 200 million GODS on earth and they are HOUSED in CHRISTIAN CHURCHES [Rev_9:16 ] because the ALMIGHTY is not inside CHURCH because . . . . “But Solomon built him a house. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?
(Acts 7:47-50)
. . . . it is logic and obvious that each and every GOD of each and every CHURCH will have it’s own DOGMA, albeit they all agree on TRINITY and the GREEK NAME XRISTOS = ENGLISH KJV JESUS since 1769, and they all agree on the HOLY GHOST and they mostly are unaware that HOLY in HEBREW is HYLL and it means LUCIFER. . . . a_14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!. . . . Lucifer,H1966 = הֵילֵל = HYLL = hêylêl =(in the sense of brightness); the morning star: – lucifer. = From H1984 = H1984 = הָלַל = hâlal = to shine = Halal is an Arabic word that translates to “permissible or lawful” into English. In the Quran, the word halal is contrasted with haram
Seems to me that w/o our present laws, it wouldn’t be long before you guys would brand each other as “heretics”, and consequently burn each other alive at the stake. The fact that you still believe in the garbage penned by malnourished Neolithic cave dwellers is proof that w/o these laws, your actions would align with your beliefs, and history would repeat itself yet again
You don’t seem to have a very good grasp of history if that’s what you really believe. The laws we have in Western countries around religious tolerance, separation of church and state, and indeed even universal human rights, have been championed primarily by Christians themselves.
That’s true. Christian dogma and law is a part of Western culture. However, you seem to have missed the point that is in the scriptures about “one body”. Ephesians 4:4-6 says : “one body there is, and one spirit…one hope.. one Lord, one faith, one baptism; One God.”
Or is Christ divided? Even the letter to the Corinthians says that;
“For by one spirit we were ALL baptised into ONE body.” I guess you missed the point about true unity being United in one Body or congregation. Is this unity you speak of that has seen people of the same of different denomination of so called Christians killing each other with their religious leaders by their sides in recent wars, i.e. Rwanda, Iraq, Libya and even the first and send world wars. Was Christ divided in those wars and on both sides?
Look for the Christians that practice primitive Christianity. Where they divided to the point of killing one another or even other faiths?
In my heart I see the division of Christendom and so does the world. Just watch an episode of so called “prosperity preachers .” Are they preaching Christianity or greed?
There is only one true Church, the one that practices Christianity United. The one that preaches the gospel in one United message. The one that refuses to learn war, even at the threat of death or imprisonment. The one that is meeting together, even virtually during COVID. Do you know any such people. It’s the that is mentioned at Daniel 12:4. It says in part “Seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rove about, and the true knowledge will become abundant.” True knowledge is being spread in over 1,000 languages and is abundant. All you have to do is mention the true God’s name and you know who are associated with it, Jehovah.
Greetings from the USA: Based on reading 3 or 4 of your blog posts, I love your teaching, your determination to get at the fact of the matter, the way you speak to a contemporary audience, and ground it all solidly in Scripture. Well done brother!
You say that it is impossible to find a Christian religion where everyone believes the same. Practicers of Jehovah’s Witnesses all actually do believe the same thing. They are in unity in thought and purpose.
Hi Mitch, thanks for your comment. First of all, no, not all JWs believe all the exact same things. There is a difference between ‘the official teachings of one’s religion’ and what individual practitioners on the ground functionally believe. Yes, there is a significant degree of overlap, but I guarantee that as you talk to different JWs (as with any other group), you will find that they have disagreements over secondary issues (and that’s okay!).
Second, JW’s are not really a ‘Christian religion’, since they fall well outside orthodox Christian teaching – not just on secondary issues, but on fundamental primary ones as well. They are quite distinct from Christianity.