One Faith : Part 1

By Clifton Angel
    Paul instructed the church at Ephesus that there is "one faith" (Ephesians 4:5). Jude wrote to Christians with the purpose of exhorting them: "ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). Humbly, sincerely, and lovingly, I plead with you: Why are there so many different faiths today? Consider some research:    "The Roman Catholic Church’s faith and doctrine is founded upon 'that deposit of faith given to it by Christ and through his apostles, sustained by the Bible and by tradition.' (A Catechism of Christian Doctrine, p. 44)".*** Further reading in the reference quoted yields the fact that the Catholic Church often places more emphasis on tradition than the Bible's teachings, and the "Bishop of Rome," also known as the Pope, can override any principle of faith or teaching of the Bible by his own authority.    "'If someone asks a Lutheran: "What does the Lutheran Church teach?" or: "What do you as a Lutheran believe?" he can direct the inquirer to the Lutheran confessions.' (Our Church and Others, p. 25).”    "Although the Westminster Confession of Faith is still nominally the creed of Presbyterianism, the truth is that the Presbyterian Church left it long ago....The heart and soul of Presbyterianism today is modernism...Modernists look upon the Bible as the product of man, not God.”    "In spite of breaking away from Roman Catholicism, much of the organization and many of the teachings of the Anglican Church, and in turn the Episcopal Church, are very similar, if not identical, to the Roman Catholic Church." "The Episcopal Church teaches... '...that we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort.' (Book of Common Prayer, p. 605)."    "The Methodist Discipline gives rules, doctrines, and regulations governing all procedures and affairs of the church, and all ministers are obligated to observe 'every part' of it in their districts. (Doctrines and Discipline of the Methodist Church, Art. 362, p. 108)."    These five will make up our first edition of this article because of space limitations. However, I will be providing more, the Lord providing the time. Please know, friends, it is not my purpose to bash anyone or any entity. It is my purpose to speak "the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). Humbly, sincerely, and lovingly, I plead with you: Why are there so many different faiths today?***Unless noted, all extra-Biblical citations are from:http://www.padfield.com/acrobat/taylor/denominations.pdf.

 Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/