Christianity is considered one of the many sects of Judaism (e.g. Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots). In fact, Christianity has several different sects within its own name. A sect is a group of people who have somewhat of a different belief than the larger group they branched off from. These sects claim to hold to the same truths about God and the Bible, but many of their teachings go against the message of the Scriptures.
This article will briefly discuss three main sects within the Christian faith:
- Jehovah’s Witnesses
- Catholicism
- Mormonism
and three major discrepancies within historical Christianity: The Godhead, Salvation, and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Christianity
The Bible is the Christian’s ultimate source of authority. According to it, Christianity originated in the first century after Christ returned to heaven (Acts 2). First century Christians believed that God is one in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 20:28; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Peter 1:2).
Christianity believes that salvation is by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus is the unique son of God (John 3:16); God in the flesh who was born of a virgin. He lived a sinless life, paid the penalty for our sins on the cross, and rose from the dead after three days. He did this so we can have eternal life with God when he returns (Philippians 2:6-10; Colossians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 15). To deny these truths is denying the Christian belief. The Gospel message relies on Christ being God, being sinless, paying for sins, and rising from the dead.
Jehovah’s Witnesses
The Jehovah’s Witnesses originated in the late 1800’s with Charles Russell. Russell began publishing a magazine called Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence in 1879, which led to the formation of the Zion Watch Tower Tract Society a few years later. The name, Jehovah’s Witnesses, was adopted in 1931 by the society.
The Godhead
Jehovah’s Witnesses think differently about the trinity of God then what the Bible teaches. They affirm that God is one but deny the trinity. They believe in the deity of God the Father, deny the deity of Jesus Christ, and see the Holy Spirit as an “it” which is does the will of the Father.
Jesus can be called a god in the same sense as an angel can be called a god. In fact, they teach that Jesus Christ is the incarnate archangel, Michael. Michael was the first created angel and second in command in God the Father’s organization. When Jesus was born on earth, he was simply a mere man and was never God in human flesh.
Salvation
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that salvation is found through faith in Jesus Christ, being associated with God’s organization, and by obeying its rules.
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
According to The Watch Tower, they believe that “God disposed of Jesus’ body. He did it to not allow it to see corruption; therefore, preventing it from becoming a stumbling block to faith.” (The Watchtower, November 15, 1991, page 31). This is contrary to Christ rising from the dead with a new spiritual body. The same kind which the believer in Christ will receive upon their resurrection.
Catholicism
Catholicism believes that Jesus Christ founded the Church in the 1st century (Acts 2) along with the first pope, the apostle Peter (Matthew 16:18). It is the continuation of the church and has a succession of popes.
The Catholic faith holds to many of the same beliefs that the 1st century church did, but they have added sacraments and other rituals as part of the Christian faith. The word of God is their authority, as well as whatever the pope says, and what the Apocrypha books teach.
The Godhead
Catholics believe in the triune God same as historical Christians; but they hold Jesus’ mother, the virgin Mary, on a high pedestal in idol-like fashion. Mary was indeed blessed by God to birth the Savior. However, the Bible does not tell us to look upon her as a figure to be revered or worshiped. In fact, Jesus said that it is more blessed to hear the word of God and observe it, than to have been blessed as the one who bore the Messiah (Luke 11:27-28).
Salvation
Catholics believe that one receives salvation upon baptism, after one has faith in Christ and asked for forgiveness of their sins. They believe that you must have good works and follow the Seven Sacraments for salvation, also. You can lose your salvation by committing a mortal sin but can receive forgiveness by confessing it to a priest.
On the contrary, the 1st century Christians taught that you could confess your sins directly to God who will never cast you out of his family (Ephesians 1:13-14; John 10:27-30). Christ paid the penalty for sins, once for all. Asking for forgiveness renews your fellowship with God, not reinstates your salvation from God again (1 John 1:6-10).
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Catholics believe that Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and raised back to life on the third day.
Mormonism
Mormonism, or the LDS church (Latter-Day Saints), has its origins with Joseph Smith in the 1820s. They say they are the restoration of Christianity back to its original state, restoring and perfecting it; but its beliefs and history have conflicted with many of the doctrines taught in the Bible.
Mormons not only use the Bible as their source of authority, but also have their own holy books such as the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Many hold to the Book of Mormon as being the higher authority over the Bible.
The Godhead
Mormonism believes in the Godhead or trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but they believe that God is three separate beings who unite themselves in one purpose. They also believe that God the Father has a perfected body of flesh and bone because he was once a man like us (Doctrines & Covenants 130:22). This contrasts what the Bible teaches that God is Spirit (John 4:24) and no one has seen the Father at any time except for Jesus (John 1:18; 6:46).
It is also taught that, just as God the Father received a perfected body, humans have the potential to achieve godhood if they obey Mormon teachings. In his King Follett speech, Joseph Smith Jr. said, “Here then is eternal life — to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God the same as all gods have done before you.”
Salvation
Mormonism believes there is no original sin from Adam (the Articles of Faith 2). Each person will receive punishment for his or her own sin and not Adam’s transgression. This contrasts Romans chapter 5 which says that death came to all through one man’s sin. Christ came to die on the cross because of original sin and for the sins of all people.
In order to receive salvation, or at least to reach the highest level of their three heavens, Mormonism places a significant amount of emphasis on earning it through obedience to commandments and refraining from sin. Moroni 10:32, from the Book of Mormon, says that grace is sufficient for you if you “deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind, and strength.” The Bible, however, states that works and abstaining from sin is a natural result of being saved because of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5).
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Mormonism believes in the literal, historical resurrection of Jesus Christ. They believe that all people will be resurrected from the dead to escape physical death and almost all people will enter into heaven. Only a few will receive a place in outer darkness.
In order to be exalted to the celestial kingdom where the Father and Jesus dwell, a man must receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, and all Church members must make and keep sacred covenants in the temple, including a covenant of eternal marriage.
Concluding Thoughts
Even though many of these sects use the same words and scriptures as the 1st century Christians such as grace, faith, sin, and God, they can have different meanings and interpretations of the scriptures. These sects emphasize obedience to the Law and their own ordinances for salvation and maintaining salvation. This minimizes the simplicity of Christ’s free gift for salvation by just believing and maximizes man’s efforts and worry on earning and keeping it.
Christianity is unique among any other sects or religions in the world such as Buddhism, Islam, or Zoroastrianism. What religion has a God who personally comes to earth in order to make a way to himself that is free for all without discrimination?
If you want to know more about following Christ and his free gift, check out The Ultimate Guide to Salvation in Jesus Christ.
For Further Research
Catholicism vs. Christianity — https://www.diffen.com/difference/Catholicism_vs_Christianity
Catechism of the Catholic Church — https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM
Christianity vs. Jehovah’s Witnesses — https://biblereasons.com/christianity-vs-jehovah-witness/
Jehovah’s Witnesses official website — https://www.jw.org/en/
Mormon Beliefs — https://mormonbeliefs.org
The Church of Latter Day Saints official website — https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/