DENOMINATIONS: FROM GOD OR MAN?

About the Book

This book continues the series with a focus on the Eastern Orthodox Churches, following their split in A.D.1054 from Roman Catholicism, which set a floor for ongoing heresies, man-made doctrines, and pronouncements, with influential church leaders pioneering these atrocities as equal bearers of authority in the same manner as the Holy Scriptures. Exploring the early councils, attended by numerous Catholic/Orthodox bishops, which convened between A.D. 325 and 787, the author seeks to explain not only the reason for the split but what set the tone or ‘floor’ leading to this rebellion against God’s Divine Authority. The decisions/proclamations of the first seven councils hailed and elevated by these bishops as “Holy”, “Divine”, and “Authoritative”, were uncovered instead to be nothing more than man-made, hypocritical, and on occasion, even deceitful - plagiarizing God’s Word as if It were their own words of wisdom! (Exp. First Council, Canon 2 / 1 Timothy 3:6). This rebellion played out into a ‘Reformation,’ with Martin Luther pulling away, resulting in the first ‘protesting’ or protestant denomination, the Lutheran Church. Unfortunately, the Lutherans only modified the beliefs of their mother church – trading a pope for Synods, a restrictive liturgy for ‘faith only salvation’, and Holy Tradition for Confessions and Creeds. These modifications, a mixture of truth with non-truth, to this day make discernment of God’s desired work and worship more difficult to discern, and ‘worshipping in vain’ the more likely result. (Matthew 15:9). Paul told the Colossians, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all (not some) in the name (authority) of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:17). Mixing truth with non-truth is like being ‘lukewarm’ – neither cold nor hot, neither all in, nor all out – our Lord had something to say regarding this did He not? (Revelation 3:15-16).

About the Author

Having earned his B.S. degree from Ohio State University in Business Administration, John had just begun a career in that vocation when he met Charlene, whom he soon married in the Spring of ‘74. John, a lifelong Lutheran, and Charlene, a member of the church of Christ had some decisions to make concerning church affiliation. After attending both congregations and studying the Scriptures for a good two years, John realized he needed to make a change. For one thing, he realized he was not saved by being baptized as an infant in his denomination. Instead, the Scriptures spoke of a different plan, where he had to be old enough to understand what he was doing – to believe, repent, confess, and then to be immersed/baptized, to be forgiven of sin. It made so much more sense. Again, led more by his dear wife, who, looking back was just following Peter’s words, reaching him with an “incorruptible beauty of a gentile and quiet spirit” (1 Peter 3:1-4) as she encouraged him to seek God’s truth through His Word. Following his obedience to the Gospel, John developed a passion for writing, and not surprisingly, his extensive studies and denominational background have given him a unique perspective to author this second of five volumes on “Denominations: From God Or Man?”