| a.k.a. | | Friend |
|---|
| Number of Members | 77,000,000[1] | 400,000 |
|---|
| How does one get saved? | Repent of your sins, believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, and be baptized. | Varies widely |
|---|
| Who gets saved? | Those who God chooses to call and who don't resist Him will be saved and no one else. | No established doctrine |
|---|
| Can one lose his salvation? | Yes, a Christian can lose his salvation by apostasy. | Yes, a Christian can lose his salvation by apostasy. |
|---|
| Who gets baptized and why? | The unsaved, typically as infants, get baptized as the first sacrament of Christian initiation, cleansing them of all sins. | Baptism not practiced. |
|---|
| How should baptism be done? | Baptism should be by pouring water on the head. | Baptism not practiced. |
|---|
| When does one receive the Holy Spirit? | The Holy Spirit is received at the moment of salvation. | There is "that of God in everyone". |
|---|
| What is the trinity? | The Trinity is God existing as one god in three equal, eternal, cosubstantial persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. | The Trinity is God existing as one god in three equal, eternal, cosubstantial persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. |
|---|
| What is the human nature? | Bondage of the will: Human nature is corrupt, naturally inclined to evil, and incapable of choosing God on his own. | There is "that of God in everyone", making humans inherently good. |
|---|
| Are we guilty of Adam's original sin? | Federalism: Yes, Adam represented all of the human race, and all are guilty of his sin. | No established doctrine |
|---|
| Are Christians required to keep the Old Testament ceremonial laws? | No, the ceremonial laws of Judaism were fulfilled and done away with by Jesus. | No, the ceremonial laws of Judaism were fulfilled and done away with by Jesus. |
|---|
| Can Christians become sinless in this earthly life? | No, although Christians can and should sin less, they can never become sinless in this life. | Christian perfection is possible and a major goal of Quakers. |
|---|
| Do the elements of communion become the body and blood of Christ? | Sacramental union: No, the elements do not become the body and blood of Christ, but Christ's body and blood are non-physically joined to the elements. | Communion not practiced. |
|---|
| Can one be baptized of behalf of someone who has died? | No, the dead cannot be baptized. | No, the dead cannot be baptized. |
|---|
| What happens if a saved person dies without being perfect? | Once Christians leave their sinful bodies, nothing else is needed to receive glorified, sinless bodies.[2][3][4] | Perfection must take place during life, not after death.[5] |
|---|
| Did Mary ever sin? | Most believe that, yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. | Yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. |
|---|
| What spiritual gifts are available today? | Most believe cessationism: Spiritual gifts used for serving are available today, while gifts used as signs have ceased.[6] | Continuationism: All spiritual gifts are still available to believers. |
|---|
| What is the gift of tongues? | The gift of tongues is the ability to speak foreign human languages without knowing how.[7][8] | |
|---|
| What are the requirements for clergy? | Varies widely | |
|---|
| How many church ordinances/sacraments are there? | The church has two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion. | The church does not have any ordinances more sacred than any other practice.[9] |
|---|
| To whom do Christians need to confess their sins? | General sinfulness should be confessed to a priest. This is usually done as a group during a service. | Confession should be made directly to God, but confession to another believer is beneficial for some sins. |
|---|
| How should a church be structured? | Varies widely | Congregationalist: Every church congregation should be independent and governed by its members. |
|---|
| What day of the week should Christians worship? | Christians worship on Sunday. | Christians worship on Sunday. |
|---|
| How does God's revelation come to us today? | Sola scriptura: The Bible is the only infallible source of God's revelation, sufficient for all faith and practice. | Varies widely[10] |
|---|
| How was the Bible written? | Varies widely[11][12] | |
|---|
| How many books are in the Bible? | There are 66 canonical books of the Bible: 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books. | There are 66 canonical books of the Bible: 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books. |
|---|
| Was the Bible written inerrantly? | Varies widely[13][14] | Varies widely[15] |
|---|
| Who can speak with God's authority today? | The church as a whole speaks with God's authority at ecumenical councils.[16] | |
|---|
| How was the earth created? | Varies widely | The earth was formed by gravity pulling dust together, which ultimately came from the Big Bang. |
|---|
| What is marriage? | Varies widely[17][18][19] | Varies widely |
|---|
| Is sex permissible outside marriage? | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.[20][21] | Varies widely |
|---|
| When is divorce permissible? | Divorce is permissible for adultery or desertion.[22][23] | |
|---|
| May a Christian remarry while his former spouse is still alive? | The innocent party to the adultery may remarry. | |
|---|
| When does a fetus become human? | Most have no established doctrine. The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod believes life begins at conception.[24][25][26] | Most believe humanity begins sometime between conception and birth.[27] |
|---|
| Is contraception permissible? | Yes, contraceptives are permissible.[20][28] | Yes, contraceptives are permissible. |
|---|
| Are blood transfusions permissible? | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible. | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible. |
|---|
| Should women cover their heads? | No, head coverings are no longer required due to cultural changes.[29][30][31] | |
|---|
| Should Christians drink alcohol? | Yes, drinking alcohol is fine as long as one does not get drunk. | No, alcohol should be totally avoided.[32][33] |
|---|
| Should Christians fight in wars? | Yes, Christians should fight in just wars.[34][35] | No, Christians should never fight.[36][37] |
|---|
| Whom does the Holy Spirit come from? | The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.[38][39] | |
|---|
| Where does a Christian's soul go after death? | Christians immediately go to heaven when they die.[2] | No established doctrine |
|---|