ep 11 - How to Choose a Church | Is Having So Many Denominations Harmful or Helpful? cover art

ep 11 - How to Choose a Church | Is Having So Many Denominations Harmful or Helpful?

ep 11 - How to Choose a Church | Is Having So Many Denominations Harmful or Helpful?

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Summary

 Okay, real talk . . . have you ever driven through your city and noticed just how many different churches there are? In my city alone, there are over 400 churches for a population of 80–90,000 people. Wild, right? So today we're diving into Christian denominations, what they are, why they exist, and whether having so many of them is actually a problem or a gift. And by the end, you get to decide for yourself. This is theology that shows up in your home, your marriage, and your everyday life - not just theory for the sake of theory. What Is a Denomination, Anyway? According to GotQuestions.org, a denomination is a recognized autonomous branch of the Christian church. The three main branches of Christianity are Protestantism, Catholicism, and Orthodoxy, and today we're focusing on the Protestant church specifically. Fun (and maybe surprising) fact: according to Essence of the Church by Craig Van Gelder, denominations are really only about 200 years old. They flourished during the colonization of the United States, largely fueled by the Reformation - which encouraged believers to read Scripture for themselves and separate from churches that strayed from the gospel. John Calvin himself encouraged followers of Jesus to leave a church if it moved away from biblical truth. And according to the Center for Study of Global Christianity, there are now over 47,000 denominations worldwide. Yeah. That's a lot. So How Do You Choose the Right One for Your Family? Here are three practical steps to help you and your spouse navigate this: 1. Research Most churches today should have a statement of belief, a creed, or a confessional statement. These tell you what the church believes, how they interpret Scripture, and how they apply it. Don't skip this step - especially if you're sensing something might be off at a church you're currently attending. 2. Run It Through the Theological Triage (Go back to Episode 10 for a full breakdown of what this means!) Think of it like the gospel ER. You're triaging a church's doctrine to make sure it lines up with Scripture, starting with the essentials: Primary doctrine (the non-negotiables): Jesus is the Son of God. He lived a sinless life, died to satisfy the wrath of God, and rose again. Salvation is through faith in Him alone. If a church doesn't hold to these essentials, that's a much bigger conversation.Secondary doctrine: Things like worship style, baptism beliefs, spiritual gifts, predestination vs. free will, the role of women in ministry. These don't save us, but they will often determine which denomination or church you land in.Tertiary doctrine: Honestly, these are the things we shouldn't be making a big deal of. Some churches unfortunately conflate these with primary or secondary issues - and that's where things can get messy. 3. Pray and Ask God for Wisdom James 1:5 says if you ask God for wisdom, He'll give it. So bring this to God. Bring it to your spouse. And trust that He will lead you. The Passage That Changed Everything 1 Corinthians 12:12–26 - this is the one. Read the whole thing, but here's the heart of it: the body of Christ is one body with many members. The eye can't say to the hand, "I don't need you." Every part matters. Every part is different on purpose. And here's what hit me: denominations can represent that same beauty. Different styles of worship. Different structures. Different expressions of faith - all submitted to the same Jesus. That's not division. That's design. The Bottom Line Denominations are not perfect. Some have twisted the gospel to make sin more comfortable. Some have created a Jesus in their own image. We know that. But when denominations are rooted in the essential truths of the gospel and submitted to Jesus Christ, they can actually be a healthy, beautiful thing . . . meeting people where they are, in the culture and expression God created them with. And here's the one thing I want you to walk away with: It's not doctrine over love. It's not love over doctrine. It's both. (1 Corinthians 13 - Paul's clear: without love, you're just a clanging gong.) Scripture References 1 Corinthians 12:12–261 Corinthians 13James 1:5 Resources Mentioned GotQuestions.org - definition of a denominationEssence of the Church by Craig Van GelderCenter for Study of Global ChristianityEpisode 8 - Who Wrote the Bible? (Scripture's authority, inspiration & infallibility)Episode 10 - What Do Christians Believe? (Part 1) — theological triage explained Let's Keep the Conversation Going! Did this episode shift how you see denominations? Drop a comment - I would love to hear what resonated with you, or even what you push back on. And if you know a friend who's been wrestling with this, send it their way. A review goes a long way in helping this show reach more busy mamas who need it. 🤍
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