Protestantism, Catholicism, and Orthodoxy Advice

Question: what is the difference between the Jesus Christ of Protestant, Catholic or Orthodox Churches.

Answer: You have asked a very good question. Let me help you understand this. The Orthodox and the Catholic believe that they have a head of the church who is able to direct what you must believe, and how you may worship. Pope Shenoudah III was the 117th Pope and Patriarch of the Church of Alexandria. His long episcopate lasted 40 years, 4 months and 4 days (14 November 1971 - 17 March 2012).

Protestants believe that Jesus is the head of the Church, and that the Bible is the infallible rule of faith and conduct. The reason they are called Protestants, is that when Martin Luther saw malpractice in the Catholic Church he 'protested' by nailing a protest to the door of the Cathedral in Wittenberg, Germany. He protested that we are not saved by ceremony of a church, or by good works we do, but by the voluntary death of Jesus Christ on the Cross, to pay for the sins of all of us. Jesus did this for all who would believe on Him, regardless of nationality or background.

For Jesus to be able to take all the sins of the world upon Himself, He had to be sinless and therefore the Son of God. Having said all that, Catholics and Orthodox believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but generally there is little experience of really believing that Jesus is living in their hearts and directing their lives from day to day. Sadly there are many Protestants who are living the same way.

Many believe 'about' Jesus, but do not experience daily living relationship with Him. I have met wonderful 'real' Christians in Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant fellowships. I have also met people in all the above who really do not have personal living relationship with Jesus. Whatever a person's Church connection may be, unless they are really personally following Jesus, they are not really a Christian.

In the Gospel of John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me".

Finally, I share with you this last thought. Becoming a real Christian only occurs when a person of their own will and decision turns their heart and life over to Jesus. The Bible says in John 3:16-17 that if you believe on Jesus you will not perish, but have everlasting life. God sent not His Son into the world to condemn but to save those who believe.

I hope this will help you understand that it is not any Church that gives Salvation, but God alone through Jesus, His Son.