Oddbean new post about login | logout Christianity is not like Bitcoin, though. It does not need to maintain a single, uninterrupted chain (denomination) that everyone agrees with and is a member of. It only needs to maintain consensus around one fundamental truth that all Christian denominations agree with and can therefore continue to call each other "brother" despite other differences of lesser importance that prevent them from maintaining organizational unity. Namely the gospel of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord to all those who have faith in him as the Son of God and in his atoning work on the cross for forgiveness of sin. That's the only consensus I need to consider someone my brother in the faith, even if our other theological differences would prevent us from realistically worshipping together until Christ's return, when he will correct all of our errors and misinterpretations of his Word.
All good points, but I stand by my opinion. There is strength in uniformity. We can all have different hobbies when we go home after church, but I think Christianity would be more successful if there was more uniformity in the message and in the way we worship God
Resolve the differences about whether we should ask Mary or various saints to pray for us, about which both sides have adamant convictions. Resolve the differences about whether only professing believers should be baptized or also their children. Resolve the differences about whether Scripture alone is the standard of truth, or also tradition. Add to that the vast number of other theological convictions that prevent organizational unity. And make sure your resolution is not coming from a centralized human authority structure. Would you take away the right of these Christians to hold a wide variety of convictions, all based on their belief that their view is what God commands of them? Only Christ has that right to set things straight when he returns, not any organizational structure made by man, which can and has often been corrupted. Until then, freedom of conscience and denominationalism is the way forward.