Sect not Denomination
My brothers and sisters in Christ,
For a long time, I used the word, "sect" when referring to
Protestant religious groups, not the more common, "denomination."
Why? Because to my way of thinking, the term, 'denomination' in this context implies equality.
For example, consider the different 'denominations' of currency...
We will often say something like, "....Two $5 bills are equal to, or, as good as, a $10 bill," right?
But non-Catholic denominations - or sects - are not equal to The Church, and they are not even the equal when compared to each other. To complicate matters, they often have the belief that one Christian religion is as good as another....as long as you're not Catholic.
But if they believed that, would there be hundreds of different groups? It turns out that people like the flavors they prefer, so they don't seem to practice that belief. Well, except where Catholics are concerned.
But Christ, Himself, literally set into motion what would become His only Church - and that traces back through 2,000 years to what is STILL the Catholic Church. It's often a twisted, even torturous path, but it still leads back to the same starting point.
Meanwhile, any church that came later (much later) is a concoction of men, and has divorced itself from some, or all, of Christs own commissions for both worship and salvation.
Some are still fairly close, but its safe to say that is the case with all Christian churches outside the Catholic Church. See the lead foto for just one example of this.
Regardless of what they say, thet're often violent opinions about this, or whatever they may call themselves, they are not within the Church that Christ, himself, set into motion. They cannot trace their own origins further back than the early 1500's - and many came much later than that.
They try to make this look like that is when Christianity REALLY began, but each is following their own version of what they think God designed. This makes them many things, not the least of which is willfully separated.... but not equal.
Now, don't take my bluntness as antagonism - I don't doubt the sincerity of these, my fellow Christians, or their overall good intentions. I regret that they HAVE separated themselves and wish to keep it that way. And I'm not the one to judge them in the end. Rather, I respect them as fellow Christians.
So with all said, I've been reflecting on this, and have changed to say that 'sect' has always seemed appropriate in this light. In fact, if we dig in to define the term, we get this:
A sect is a group that breaks away from a larger religious, philosophical, or ideological body and follows its own distinctive beliefs or practices. It often claims to preserve the “true” form of religion or worship, seeing itself as more faithful or pure than whatever group it came from.
Sect vs. denomination
Sect: a breakaway or splinter group with distinct beliefs.
Denomination: a recognized branch within a broader religion (e.g., Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist within Christianity).
In short, referring to the many non-Catholic denoiminations as, "sects," seems about right. The word “sect” itself is actually neutral, if viewed academically as I have. But few see it that way.
In everyday language, however, the word, "sect" carries a negative implication of somone who is narrow, rigid, violent, separated... even though that may be the case! If Think Liberals vs. Conservatives and the first thing we think of is riots, shootings - violent encounters between political sects.
Yeah, it has a negative tone.
What concerns me now, and which I pray daily for, is the fact that they have taken to picking and choosing which of Christs expectations they intend to meet.... because, if they were to meet them all,...they'd be Catholic.
My friends, love as Christ loves, embrace, and pray for our separated brothers and sisters.
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