Why Are There Different Types of Christians?

One of the most frequent questions I am asked by people is why there are so many different types of Christians. What is a Protestant, a Baptist, a Catholic, or Charismatic? What do those labels mean, and how can I know if a belief is truly Christian? What are the essential elements that comprise Christian belief? Let’s tackle those questions briefly.

When Jesus ascended to heaven, He left behind one church. But soon there were disagreements about things like circumcision or what food Christians could eat. In some cases, Christians could agree to disagree, but other times it was clear that certain beliefs were no longer Christian. It is the same today. On many issues, such as worship, spiritual gifts, and church government, Christians disagree but still call each other Christian brothers and sisters. But some issues are so central to Christian belief that they cannot be compromised.

Mostly, what defines Christian belief is about Jesus. Christians disagree about many things, but they all agree about who Jesus is, what He did, and what His death and resurrection means for us. Two-thousand years ago, some people denied Jesus had a physical body or said His death did not pay for all our sins. Peter, John, and Paul rejected these so-called Christians. Today, some of the same issues are around. That is why Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses are not Christian, even though they also read the Bible. These religions do not believe Jesus is the One True God.

A good rule to use to determine Christian belief was created very early in Christian history, as early as the middle of the second century. This confession is called the Apostle’s Creed, and it is the basis for many denominational statements of beliefs, including that of our own church:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

Finally, it’s important to note that what a person believes doesn’t make them a Christian. It’s who you believe in. To be a Christian, a correct knowledge about Jesus is not enough—we must have a correct relationship with Jesus!