Fundamentalist / Conservative / Evangelical Christian groups can generally be characterized as believing that salvation is a free gift of God. It is received by repenting and asking for forgiveness of sin, and trusting Jesus as Lord and Savior. They define Christianity as a personal and living relationship with Jesus Christ. They believe the Bible is God's inspired Word and is the basis of all truth. Most conservative Christians believe that hell is a real place that awaits anyone who does not repented of their sins and trust Jesus as Lord.
Mainline Christian groups are more accepting of other beliefs and faiths. They usually define a Christian as anyone who follows the teachings of and about Jesus Christ. Most mainline Christians will consider the contributions of non-Christian religions and give value or merit to their teaching. For the most part, mainline Christians believe that salvation comes through faith in Jesus, however, they vary widely in their emphasis on good works and the affect of these good works on determining their eternal destination.
Liberal Christian groups agree with most mainline Christians, and are even more accepting of other beliefs and faiths. Religious liberals generally interpret hell symbolically, not as an actual place. They reject the concept of a loving God who would create a place of eternal torment for unredeemed humans. Some liberal theologians have abandoned or completely reinterpreted most of the traditional Christian beliefs.
For a general definition, and to establish common ground, we will maintain that most members of Christian groups will agree on the following things:
- Christians follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah, who was born in Bethlehem and executed by Roman crucifixion (death on a cross).
- Most Christians regard Jesus as the Son of God, and that He is God, the second person of the Trinity.
- Most Christians believe the Trinity consists of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit - three separate persons, all eternal, all present, all powerful, all knowing. They form a single, unified deity.
- Most Christians believe that Jesus co-existed with God before the foundation of the world, that He was born to a virgin named Mary, that he was resurrected in bodily form three days after his death, and that he later ascended into heaven.
Continue to page 3 of Christian Denominations.
