<> Ask the Pastor The Rev. Walter P. Snyder Q: What are the differences among the church bodies? While your question is too broad to answer in any detail, I'll try helping you look at differences among different denominations, sects, cults, creeds, or confessions (just to use a few of the terms that religious "bodies" use for themselves and others). First of all, are we talking about all church bodies, or only those that claim to be Christian? If we are only dealing with those who make the claim, then we must first see what they say they believe about Jesus. Anyone who denies that Jesus Christ existed is not a part of orthodox Christianity. Some who claim to be Christian deny that Jesus is truly God. Or they say that Jesus is God, but make him a different God (usually a lesser god) than the Heavenly Father. Any body that denies that Jesus Christ is true God, of one substance (essence or being) with his Father and the Holy Spirit is outside orthodox Christianity. This includes "adoptionist" heretics; that is, those who say that Jesus was a person "overpowered" by the Spirit of God and exalted to near-divine status. Also wrong are those who claim that God is so totally One that the persons of the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are not truly three distinct persons, but are either different "masks" that God wears or that Father, Son, and Spirit, are steps or phases in either divine revelation or divine evolution. On the other hand, some deny that Jesus was truly and fully man. They claim that he is fully divine and merely took human form, or that his humanity was less than total, rather that it was a flesh-and-blood shell in which God walked around for a time on earth, or some similar error counter to Scripture. If whoever you're examining still fits the "Christian" label, at least in part, it's time to start examining the work of Jesus and the reason for it, as well as humanity's response. Now, even though this is "Ask the Pastor," I'll ask a series of questions that can help you sort through the various bodies. Are we born sinful and outside any relationship with God save one of wrath or is there some true, divine good in everyone? Why did Jesus come to earth and how did he accomplish his task? Do good works contribute in any way to salvation either before or after one becomes a believer? Do people who do not believe in God and forgiveness in Christ in any way "seek" God, "find" him, or "make a decision for him" or is seeking, finding, converting, and bringing to faith solely the work of the Holy Spirit through God's Word? Is the Bible truly and completely the Word of God or is it a "container" for God's Word which also contains various human opinions, philosophies, and errors? How do we interpret the Bible? Whom do we trust to help our interpretations and who has the final word as to the correct understanding? If the Bible is literally true, then what is the literal sense of portions of Scripture such as Daniel and Revelation? Are the visions and numbers taken at face value, or does the style and intent of the text determine that we accept these sections as symbolic and figurative? In the life of the church body, what are its holy acts? How are these defined and explained? Is there baptismal regeneration and forgiveness of sins? If so, does this mean that infants should be baptized? (The answer to this will depend both upon the belief in baptismal regeneration and in original, birth sin.) If not, then when should a person be baptized? Is there an age of accountability? If so, what is it and how is it determined? Is the pastor (priest, minister, etc.) God's mouthpiece in forgiving sins and thus when he forgives, is this the same as hearing the words from Christ himself? And speaking of "he," should the clergy be male-only? heterosexual only? only what? What special training does or should a pastor have? How is the pastor assigned or how does he choose his place of ministry? To whom is he accountable? For what reason(s) can he be removed? What is the relationship among clergy, congregations, and regional, national, or international bodies? Is the body congregation-dominated, governed by a hierarchy of bishops or one supreme leader, totally open to individual interpretation, or humbly led by pastors working together to serve their flocks? In the Lord's Supper (Communion, the Mass, Eucharist, etc.), what is eaten and drunk? Is it bread and wine, bread and grape juice, any sort of starchy food and juice, or is it the body and blood of Christ? Or is it both bread and wine and body and blood? How often is Communion celebrated? Who is allowed to eat and drink at the Mass? Who is not allowed? Who makes the decision? What are the criteria for deciding; is it full agreement on doctrine, agreement on certain "essential" doctrines, that all who eat and drink have been baptized, or what? If self-examination and preparation are part of the body's practice, how are people prepared? At what age does this take place? If there is an arbitrary age, why is this so? If you take just these questions, you'll be able to find differences among almost every religious body calling itself Christian. So as you read the questions, look in Scripture to see how it supports or argues against the various positions and look to see which bodies seem to have more or less of their answers in line with the answers given by the Bible. That is, of course, if you believe that the Bible truly is the inspired Word of God and the source and norm of all Christian doctrine. If not, there are plenty of people calling themselves Christian who'd still welcome you to join their group. That's it for now. You can submit questions by mail to "Ask the Pastor," PO Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951; E-mail xrysostom@aol.com; or just stop me on the street. Walter Snyder is the pastor of St. Paul and Faith Lutheran Churches in Jasper and Woodville, Texas and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults." Copyright (c) 1999 by Walter P. Snyder Permission is granted by author to reproduce or retransmit this by any means, provided that its content is not altered, that this notice of copyright and permission is included, and that no financial gain is realized.