Denominations: From God or Man? Volume II (New and Revised Version)

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 also what set the tone or Foundation 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, 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 truths with non-truths, to this day make discernment of God's desired work and worship more challenging 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). This second volume examines the Orthodox, Anglican, or Episcopal, and Lutheran churches in an effort to compare each with the Scriptures and to Christ's church as He established it in the first century.