Protestant/Lutheran
The Protestant Reformation was a religious reform movement that swept over Europe during the 1500s. It resulted in the formation of Protestantism, a denomination that broke away from the Catholic Church. Martin Luther, a German monk, created the Protestant Church. In 1517, he started the Protestant Reformation with the publication of his Ninety-five Theses, a compilation of ideas that questioned Catholic Church teachings. Luther’s ideas were controversial because they challenged Catholic Church doctrine. He believed that the faithful could only be saved by personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He believed that Catholic Church practices, such as the selling of indulgences and pilgrimages, were unacceptable. He also wanted the Bible to be printed in the reader’s local language, rather than Latin. Because of his heresies, Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic Church in 1521.
Anglican and Episcopal
The Church of England also broke away from the Catholic Church during the chaos caused by the Protestant Reformation in 1521 under King Henry VIII, whose request to divorce his wife Catherine of Aragon was denied by the pope. The parliament subsequently passed a legislation removing papal authority and establishing King Henry as the head of the Church of England. A period of violent persecution against Catholics known as the English Reformation followed. The Episcopal Church can be traced from the Church of England and the Episcopal Church in the United States of America separated from the Church of England during the American Revolution.
Baptist
Both John Clarke and Roger Williams are known for starting the first Baptist churches in North America. In 1638, Roger Williams founded the nation’s first Baptist church in Providence, Rhode Island. A former member of the Church of England, he advocated for the separation of church and state. In 1644, John Clarke established the nation’s second Baptist church in Newport, Rhode Island. He fought for religious freedom and assisted Rhode Island in obtaining its English charter. He was also a former member of the Church of England. Baptists adhere to the doctrines of sola fide, sola scriptura, immersion baptism, the divinity of Jesus Christ, and the separation of church and state.
Methodist
John Wesley is an English theologian, and evangelist who founded the Methodist Church in 1738. Methodism started as a revival movement within the Church of England in the 18th century when Wesley and his group attempted to reform the Church of England from within. As a result, their movement broke away from the Church of England and developed into an autonomous church. This movement was named “Methodist” , a term to describe the rules and methods they used to handle religious activities.
Mormons
Joseph Smith founded Mormonism in the 1820s in Palmira, New York. During his time of confusion and uncertainty of which Christian denomination to follow, he claimed to receive a vision from an angel named Moroni. This angel led him to gold plates inscribed by ancient prophets and instructed Smith to translate the text. According to him, this is the origin of the Book of Mormon which was published in 1830. Smith described the book as the “keystone” of their faith, claiming it brought their members closer to God. Smith and his followers also reported visitations from biblical figures like John the Baptist and apostles which led to the establishment of the first Mormon church.
Seventh Day Adventist
William Miller, a skeptic-turned-Baptist, predicted Christ’s return in 1843 by self-interpretation of biblical prophecies, especially Daniel 8:14. His prediction ignited a popular movement, but supporters were left disappointed when Christ did not return. However, upon admitting he made a mistake, he proposed a new date,which was October 22, 1844. But believers were let down again since Christ did not show up for the second time. Nevertheless, some followers, such as Joseph Bates and Ellen White, reinterpreted Miller’s prophecy and still believed in it by arguing that those dates were the start of the Second Coming. The emphasis on Saturday worship and beliefs in Ellen White’s so-called prophecies, served as the cornerstone of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Jehovah’s Witness
Charles Taze Russell, a former Adventist member, founded the Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1872, although it did not become known officially as such until 1931. Jehovah’s Witnesses view Jesus Christ as the Son of God, but not in the sense of being equal with God or one with God. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that their church is the reemergence of the original first-century Christianity. They believe that God inspired both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. However, they do not use the symbol of the cross because they believe it to be of paganism background. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe it is important to spread their views with others and are well known for visiting people at their homes and for sharing their magazine — The Watchtower.
Pentecostal Movement
Charles Fox Parham is considered the founder of the Pentecostal movement. A native of Muscatine, Iowa, he was a self-proclaimed preacher who professed that speaking in tongues and receiving healing from God were indications of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In 1900, Parham founded Bethel Bible School in Topeka, Kansas, where he taught students to pray, fast, and study the Bible. In 1901, one of his students, Agnes Ozman, spoke in tongues after a service, reinforcing his belief that speaking in tongues was the sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The movement gained more popularity within the African-Americans, especially among the poor communities.
Aglipay
The Aglipayan Church, also called the “Iglesia Filipina Independiente,” was established on August 3, 1902, by Isabelo de los Reyes as a separate Christian Protestant denomination with a Catholic tradition. Its name was coined from its first Supreme Bishop, Father Gregorio Aglipay, a former Roman Catholic priest who had been excommunicated by the Vatican for inciting rebellion. Aglipay promoted religious freedom during Spanish rule in the Philippines and was instrumental in the “Filipinization” of the church. The Aglipayan Church allowed priests, primarily former Catholic clergy, to marry, eliminated celibacy for clerics, and rejected papal authority. Aglipay also joined Filipino rebel forces in Ilocos Norte, fighting against the Americans, until he quit armed resistance in April 1901. Throughout his life, Aglipay remained committed to the Filipino struggle for independence. He passed away on September 1, 1940.
Iglesia ni Cristo
Felix Manalo created the INC on July 27, 1914. Having grown up in the Roman Catholic Church, he joined several Protestant churches as a youth and studied local religions. Manalo was a charismatic leader who is believed by followers to be God’s angel, the last prophet on earth, and referred to him as the ‘Ibong Mandaragit’ of the bible. It appealed to the Filipinos who were frustrated with the Catholic Church during the late Spanish and early American periods. The INC challenges fundamental Catholic teaching, such as the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, infant baptism, and the papacy. The INC professed that it is the only “true” Christian church through which salvation is guaranteed.
Dating Daan
Eliseo “Eli” Soriano was a Filipino televangelist and the founder of Ang Dating Daan (ADD). He started preaching in Pampanga in the 1970s after being baptized at the age of 17. Soriano took charge of the breakaway group from Iglesia ng Dios kay Cristo Jesús, Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan, which was originally led by Nicolas Antiporda Perez. He launched Ang Dating Daan in 1980 and led its members until his death on February 10, 2021, at the age of 73. He spread his teachings through this program via radio, television, and the internet, where he engaged in debates with leaders of different religions. He usually yelled and insulted his opponents to distract them from the topic or make them leave, then claimed victory at the end. His church grew because of this as he presented edited video clips to viewers that purportedly showed opponents contradicting themselves.
The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name,
Apollo Quiboloy founded the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in 1985, claiming to be the “Appointed Son of God.” This controversial group, often labeled as a non-Christian cult, rejects the traditional Christian doctrine of the Trinity, teaching that Quiboloy is equal to Jesus Christ. It also claims that while Jesus was the Savior of the Jews, Quiboloy is the Savior of the Gentiles. The group advocates that salvation can only be achieved by acknowledging Quiboloy as the son of God. Despite gaining millions of followers, Quiboloy’s influence has raised controversy over his cult-like practices and his lavish lifestyle, with debates about his political influence and multiple allegations of human smuggling, child abuse and rape.
Now that we know who really founded their church, let us not be blinded by their teachings.
Does this mean that when you are a Catholic you are saved already? Does this also mean that if you are not a Catholic you will not be saved? How about the people who lived before the Church was established? Read this article to know the Truth.
