Protestant and Nondenominational Belief

It is nearly impossible to cover all the main teachings of every non-Catholic Christian sect. The vast number of Protestant and nondenominational churches, each having its own teachings and beliefs, makes such an effort challenging. So, let’s examine some highlights.

Sacred Scripture

Like all of Christianity, the beliefs and teachings of each of the 20,000+ sects are rooted in the Holy Bible. Each sect, though, has its own interpretation of scriptural teachings. For example. the Methodist Church teaches that all people are free to either accept or reject the salvation of Christ and that all who obey the Holy Gospel will be saved (Editorial Staff). Many Protestant denominations belief in eternal security, once one accepts salvation from Christ, that salvation is guaranteed regardless of that person’s post-acceptance acts. Conversely, others believe that salvation can be lost if one turns away from God.

Even the Ten Commandments are followed differently depending upon which church is doing the teaching. While the interpretations differ, the rules found in the Old Testament are consistent:

You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall not make idols.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not kill/murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet.

Sola Fide

Beginning with the Lutheran Church, this belief is common among many Protestant sects. In English, this Latin phrase means “faith alone.” It implies that believers need only faith, not reason, to belief in God and scriptural teachings.

Sola Scriptura

Also a major tenet of Lutheranism, “scripture alone” is a position that holds only scripture as foundational to Christianity. It dismisses tradition and the teachings of early Church fathers as examined in the previous model.

Fundamentalism

One of the challenges that arises from abandoning reason is a fundamental, literal belief in everything in the bible. It is important to understand that the bible is neither a history textbook nor one cohesive narrative. The best modern-day comparison would be to that of an anthology. The bible was written by numerous authors over thousands of years and edited and assembled and translated by others. The fundamentalist view sees the entire bible as a literal account of history.

Works Cited

Boyett, Jason. 12 Major World Religions.

Carter, Joe. “9 Things You Should Know About Lutheranism.” The Gospel Coalition, 2017.

Corby, Anna. “How Did Nondenominational Churches Start?” Community of the Crucified One VT, 15 October 2017.

Editorial Staff. “The Methodist Church and Beliefs: 10 Things Everyone Should Know.” Christianity.com, 31 July 2023.

“Non-Denominational Churches Explained.” Grace Church, n.d.