Why so many denominations?

Sarah, they DO! We were discussing some beliefs one day and someone mentioned Church of Christ. Well I quickly jumped in and went on and on about my friend from middle school to find out later that there are many branches of C of C just as there are of Methodist! One Methodist church in our town is a dresses only, very fundamental type church and they are very quick to tell you who they are NOT affiliated with.

Diane

 

Because some people through tradition or whatever else like the label "Baptist" while at the same time deviating from historic Baptist beliefs. They argue that they are entitled to call themselves Baptist without being baptistic in doctrine.

OTOH, there is a great deal of Christian liberty found under the name "Baptist"... and there pretty much always has been.

From time to time I tell people that "Baptist" describes my beliefs, not who I am. I am a Christian with historic fundamental, baptistic beliefs.

 

There are so many Baptist groups because there are too many individual personalities. Most splits are over personalities rather than doctrine. The personalities refuse to die with the original owners.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Baptists are notoriously independent. The importance of the local church has been high on the lists of Baptist distinctives over the years. Hence the non-demoninational "Independent Baptists" in addition to all of the Baptist denominations.