Mariners Church Weekend Message Podcast

Episode: February 1 – If Christians are to be one, why are there so many denominations?
Speaker: Ed Stetzer
Date: February 2, 2026

Episode Overview

In this message, guest speaker Ed Stetzer tackles a foundational question: If Christians are supposed to be one, why are there so many denominations? As part of the “On the Table” teaching series, Stetzer unpacks the historical, theological, and practical realities that have led to the existence of numerous Christian denominations. He also investigates how unity is practiced among believers, regardless of visible church divisions, anchoring the teaching in Jesus’ prayer in John 17 and Paul’s words in Ephesians 4.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Historical Roots of Denominations

(00:27 – 13:41)

• Early Church Divisions:

  • Right from the beginning, differences and factions existed among Christians. Referencing 1 Corinthians 1:12, Stetzer quotes:
    • “One of you says, ‘I belong to Paul,’ ‘I belong to Apollos,’ or ‘I belong to Cephas,’ or ‘I belong to Christ.’ So very early on, there were ... factions, certainly some divisions.” (01:49)
  • The reality: “There have always been differences.” (02:35)

• Early and Medieval Church Developments:

  • Even within the first 300 years, different church expressions arose.
  • The Great Schism of 1054 split the church into Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism:
    • “1054… the Orthodox Church split off from the Catholic Church. The Orthodox Church would say the Catholic Church split off from them.” (06:40)
  • Stetzer’s personal anecdote: “My stepfather was an Eastern Orthodox priest… I grew up nominally Catholic, came to Christ in the charismatic movement of the Anglican Church, and I planted Baptist churches. So I don’t even know what I am in this mess.” (08:01)

• The Rise of Protestantism:

  • Martin Luther and the Reformation initiated further divisions:
    • “500 years ago … Martin Luther nails 95 theses to the door in Wittenberg, Germany. That’s the spiritual beginning of the Protestant Reformation.” (10:13)
    • Factoid: “That is the best selling Playmobil in the history of the world … a Martin Luther sold a million copies… at the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.” (11:00)
  • Lutherans, Presbyterians, Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals, and the rise of evangelicalism.

• Mariners Church Origins:

  • Emerging from a multi-denominational prayer breakfast in 1963, Mariners was intentionally founded as a “non-denominational” evangelical church.
    • “A non-denominational church. That would actually be what we call Mariners Church today, which is the one true church. Right? We did it. We’re the one true church. We’re God’s favorite. … I’m joking about that.” (13:10)

2. Causes of Denominational Differences

(15:38 – 21:33)

Four Buckets of Difference:

• Theological
  • Core doctrines: salvation, authority of scripture, sacraments (e.g., baptism)
  • Differences within Protestantism: meaning and mode of baptism, views on grace, etc.
• Structural (Polity)
  • Leadership and governance structures: bishops vs. elders, etc.
  • Example: “We don’t have bishops at Mariners Church. … But I teach at an Anglican school … and they have bishops.” (18:29)
• Cultural & Regional
  • Influences based on geography, ethnicity, or historical context
  • Notably, some splits, such as Assemblies of God (white pastors separating during Jim Crow era) have roots in sin and racism, yet reconciliation has occurred in many cases.
• Practice & Tradition
  • Styles of worship, rituals, and church customs
  • These differences are generally less weighty but can still create separation.

“It’s important that you notice … these are sort of weighted differently. There are levels of weighting, how much they weigh. … It depends on the denomination which of these buckets is most full.” (21:15)

3. Biblical Foundations for Unity

(22:01 – 25:14)

Jesus’ Prayer for Oneness – John 17

• Jesus prays for unity among all believers:
  • “May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so the world may believe you sent me.” (John 17:21, quoted at 22:54)
• Honest acknowledgment: “We’re not as united as we should be, right? That’s just being honest. … But unity doesn’t mean we have to all be the same way or worship the same way.” (23:27)

Paul’s Call for Unity – Ephesians 4

• Paul instructs the church to:

  • “Make every effort to keep or maintain the unity.” (25:05)

• Spiritual/Familial versus Organizational Unity:

  • “There’s never really been a golden era when everybody was united visibly and organizationally… But we’re still in the same family, and we’re still united in the same spiritual body as Christians and other churches and denominations.” (14:42, 24:30)

4. Theological Tiers and How to Relate Across Divides

(26:01 – 32:34)

• Three Theological Categories:

  1. Essential Beliefs: Non-negotiables—Trinity, authority of Scripture, salvation by grace, etc.
  2. Convictional Beliefs: Important, but not essentials—baptism mode, charismatic gifts, church polity.
  3. Preferential Beliefs: Worship style, church size, music, etc.

• Church selection:

  • “A lot of people choose their church based on preferential beliefs. They like the music… but you need to base and choose churches based on essential beliefs.” (30:13)

• Relating as Christians:

  • “Thank God for what he’s doing in Anglican churches. … We differ on some convictions. But what about a denomination that does not agree on the essentials? … If they deny the essentials, … they’re not Gospel partners.” (31:30)

5. Visible and Invisible Unity—Living Out Family Ties in Christ

(33:00 – 35:55)

• Family as an Illustration:

  • Ed’s story of his three daughters, their shared “herd of turtles” tattoo, and the ups and downs of sibling relationships.
    • “At no time were they not sisters. … Likewise, believers remain brothers and sisters even when our closeness varies to other denominations and churches, because denominations are less important than the most important thing, which is the body of Christ.” (33:45)

• The Posture of Unity:

  • “The posture here of unity is humility, gentleness, and patience. … Unity requires these virtues.” (35:08)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Myth of Visible Unity:
  “There’s never really been a golden era when everybody was united visibly and organizationally in the history of the church.” (14:42)

• On Mariners Church as Non-Denominational:
  “A non-denominational church. That would actually be what we call Mariners Church today, which is the one true church. Right? We did it. We’re the one true church. We’re God’s favorite. … I’m joking about that.” (13:10)

• On Theological Tiers:
  “Essentials are top category. The second category is convictional beliefs. … Preferential beliefs … the problem is a lot of people choose their church based on those.” (28:57)

• On Family Illustration:
  “At no time were they not sisters. … Likewise, believers remain brothers and sisters even when our closeness varies.” (33:45)

• On Unity’s True Foundation:
  “Unity is built on a shared identity, who we are in Christ, and a shared confession—what we believe.” (35:46)

Key Timestamps

• [00:27] – Introduction to denominations & history begins
• [06:40] – The Great Schism (Catholic vs. Orthodox)
• [10:13] – Luther and the Protestant Reformation
• [13:10] – Mariners Church’s non-denominational origins (joking about being the “one true church”)
• [15:38] – Four buckets of denominational difference explained
• [22:01] – John 17 and Jesus’ prayer for unity
• [25:05] – Ephesians 4 and the call for unity
• [28:57] – Three levels of theological beliefs
• [33:45] – Family illustration on unity and diversity
• [35:08] – Humility, gentleness, and patience as postures for unity

Living Out Unity: Practical Applications

• Spiritual & Familial Unity: Recognize that differences in denomination do not lessen the shared identity in Christ.
• Posture Toward Others: Approach theological and practical disagreements with humility, gentleness, and patience—“bearing with one another in love” (Eph. 4:2).
• Choosing a Church: Prioritize essential beliefs over style or preference; convictional differences may inform, but shouldn’t rupture familial ties.
• Communion as a Symbol: The Lord’s Supper is a visible act that reminds believers of their unity in Christ across time and communities.

Conclusion – Unity Proclaimed and Celebrated

• The service concluded with the congregation preparing for and partaking in the Lord’s Supper, reflecting on unity with all Christians:
  • “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:26; 36:15)
• Final Blessing:
  • “Jesus, I pray you'd bless your sons and daughters this week, that you would remind them that you are gentle and approachable and that you love them, cause your face to shine on them. … In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.” (36:33)

Summary:
Despite the multitude of Christian denominations, Stetzer stresses that true spiritual unity is anchored in a shared identity and foundational beliefs in Christ—not in organizational uniformity. The church is called to a visible humility, ongoing relational restoration, and a unity that the world can see, even amidst diversity. The episode invites listeners to celebrate both history and hope, choosing unity, patience, and love as marks of following Jesus.