Seventh-day Adventist denomination - said to be 5th largest Christian denomination world-wide

[tall73]

The fact is that there are far more Reformed Christians than Adventists, and more Lutherans than either group.

Yes, whether you measure by theological category, or specific churches, the article in Christianity Today was just wrong.

@The Liturgist already presented a list of specific churches that are larger, and number more than Adventists as well.

Bob's argument seems to be that Christianity Today said something, and that is all that matters, even if what they said is demonstrably false.

The Liturgist's list:

Contested by Bob:

the Calvary Chapel

Not so far contested by Bob:

the Roman Rite of the Roman Catholic Church
the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate),
the Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church,
the Church of Christ in Congo,
the Church of England,
Assemblies of God in Brazil

Even counting only the non-contested, that puts them 7th, not 5th among specific churches.

 

[FireDragon76]

Yes, whether you measure by theological category, or specific churches, the article in Christianity Today was just wrong.

I mean churches sharing a common theological tradition and that are in full communion with one another (table and pulpit fellowship). The Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Lutheran World Federation are two examples- both are far larger than Adventists in terms of represented Christians. However, conservative American Evangelicals probably don't even have those groups on their radar, and are more familiar with Adventists.

 

[BobRyan]

Bob's argument seems to be that Christianity Today said something, and that is all that matters,

hmm basic reading tells us that the claim in the title is "Adventist church said to be the 5th largest denomination in the world"
Not "Christianity Today said something"

So your post asks the reader not to pay attention to the details right out of the gate when looking at what you are removing.

Then you follow it with "Christianity Today got it wrong" when they "said something" -- as you put it.

In any case the thread is correct even by your bait-and-switch in that it claims that ChristianityToday made a very specific statement about the Adventist Church (now over 22 million) being the 5th largest Christian denomination in the world.

 

[BobRyan]

I mean churches sharing a common theological tradition and that are in full communion with one another

1. The Adventist church practices open communion with all Christian groups - but that does not make it the largest Christian denomination in the world - as we all know.

Changing the meaning of terms - is not a good way to compare ideas on conclusions reached. We can't constantly to go the apples-vs-oranges non-comparison argument when a comparison is what one wants to present. So giving ChristianityToday credit where credit is due.

 

[bbbbbbb]

1. The Adventist church practices open communion with all Christian groups - but that does not make it the largest Christian denomination in the world - as we all know.

Changing the meaning of terms - is not a good way to compare ideas on conclusions reached. We can't constantly to go the apples-vs-oranges non-comparison argument when a comparison is what one wants to present. So giving ChristianityToday credit where credit is due.

Does that also include foot-washing?

 

[FireDragon76]

1. The Adventist church practices open communion with all Christian groups - but that does not make it the largest Christian denomination in the world - as we all know.

Changing the meaning of terms - is not a good way to compare ideas on conclusions reached. We can't constantly to go the apples-vs-oranges non-comparison argument when a comparison is what one wants to present. So giving ChristianityToday credit where credit is due.

Open communion is not the same as table and pulpit fellowship. Churches in the Alliance of the Reformed Churches have made an agreement based on shared theological heritage and recognition of each others ordinations to validly preach and administer the sacraments.

 

[BobRyan]

Open communion is not the same as table and pulpit fellowship. Churches in the Alliance of the Reformed Churches have made an agreement based on shared theological heritage and recognition of each others ordinations to validly preach and administer the sacraments.

Which does not mean they have exactly the same set of doctrines or that one adminstrative group oversees all doctrine in all the members.

That sort of thing is seen in the various Methodist groups, in the Catholic Church etc -- but not necessarily in the "alliances"

So then ChristianityToday had a reasonable form of determining what is or is not a single entity to compare against.

 

[FireDragon76]

Which does not mean they have exactly the same set of doctrines or that one adminstrative group oversees all doctrine in all the members.

A great many denominations lack that feature, particularly those that use congregational polity.

 

[tall73]

So then ChristianityToday had a reasonable form of determining what is or is not a single entity to compare against.

Yet Christianity Today was still wrong:

the Roman Rite of the Roman Catholic Church
the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate),
the Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church,
the Church of Christ in Congo,
the Church of England,
Assemblies of God in Brazil

At least 7th, not 5th among specific churches.