What type of Christian are you?

Question:

Hi!

I’m also Christian (Pentecostal). I’m just wondering what type of Christian are you? If you don’t mind me asking, because I’m aware of all of the different Christianity out there, like Methodist, Liberal, Baptist, etc.

By the way, I like your website.

Answer:

The Bible only speaks of one church, the one founded by Christ (Matthews 16:18) and it speaks of only one faith. "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:4-6). In order for there to be a "type" of Christian, something beyond the Bible must define the "type." If everyone stayed solely with the Bible, there would only be Christians. This is why you find various denominations issuing "statements of faith" and "creeds." These documents define what that particular denomination believes and attempts to distinguish it from other denominations.

But no matter how you look at it, a statement of faith is always going to hold, at best, a short summary of what the Bible teaches. In other words, every statement of faith and every creed contains less than what the Bible contains. Yet God warned Israel, "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it" (Deuteronomy 12:32). And John warned Christians, "For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (Revelation 22:18-19).

God knew exactly what He was doing when He had the Bible written. It contains exactly what He wanted His people to know. That is why there are harsh words regarding any modification to it. "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ" (Galatians 1:6-10).

You don't find early Christians calling themselves Pentecostals, Methodists, Lutherans, Catholics, Baptist, Anglican, or any of the thousands of other descriptors people have attached to the name Christian. In fact, it was specifically condemned. "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" (I Corinthians 1:10-13).

Since it is wrong to divide Christ and His church, we refuse to do so ourselves. We only refer to ourselves as Christians. Our only statement of faith is the Bible.

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