Beyond Today Daily
41,000 Churches: Who's Right?
Over 41,000 Christian denominations claim to follow Jesus - but are they all teaching what He taught? Discover the vital difference between simply practicing Christianity and truly following Christ, and why it matters for your eternal future.
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Transcript
[Steve Myers] Ever noticed how many different Christian churches there are? Over 41,000 denominations worldwide! That’s a lot of groups, all calling themselves Christian. So why is that? Jesus promised He would build one Church—so what’s going on?
The truth is, many who call themselves Christians aren’t really following what Jesus taught. They often follow traditions and ideas of people instead of God’s Word. The Bible says all Scripture is inspired by God and meant to teach us how to live right (2 Timothy 3:16). But it’s easy to pick and choose what we want to believe—like a cafeteria line. That’s how confusion and mixed messages happen.
So, what difference does it really make whether you follow Christ or just Christianity?
It makes all the difference. Following Christ means living by His teachings, obeying God’s commandments, and letting Him transform your life. It’s about a real relationship with Jesus—not just going through religious motions or traditions. When you truly follow Christ, you’re on the narrow path that leads to eternal life.
But if you just follow the religion of Christianity—picking what you like and ignoring what’s hard—then you’re missing the point. Jesus warned that many would call Him “Lord” but be rejected because they didn’t live by His ways.
This affects everything—how you treat others, your views on marriage and family, what you believe about right and wrong, and your hope for the future. Following Christ means your life is shaped by God’s truth, not by popular ideas or human traditions.
So how can you be sure you’re really following Christ and not just Christianity? It’s simple—compare what you believe with the Bible, God’s inspired Word. Acts 5:29 says, “We must obey God rather than men.”
If you want to learn more, our Bible study aid The Church Jesus Built at ucg.org can help you understand what the Bible really teaches about following Christ.
Does it matter? Absolutely! It’s not a minor difference—it can mean the difference between spiritual life and rejection.
That’s why it’s so important to study the Bible, examine what you believe, and make sure you’re really following Jesus—not just “Christianity.”
The Church Jesus Built
In these pages we examine the fruits Jesus and His apostles said would identify His Church. We look at the contrasting fruits that identify those who are influenced by a different spirit and preach a different gospel. We will learn, not from human tradition or opinion but directly from God's Word, how we can distinguish "the church of the living God" (1 Timothy 3:15) from those who follow "false prophets" in sheep's clothing.
Steve Myers
Steve is the Operation Manager for Ministerial and Member Services of the United Church of God. He is also an instructor at Ambassador Bible College and served as a host on the Beyond Today television program. Together, he and his wife, Kathe, have served God and His people for over 30 years.
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