EFFECTS OF DENOMINATIONAL DIFFERENCES AMONG CHRISTIANS IN BALANGA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT The work tried to examine the effects of Denominational Differences among Christians in Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe Sate, Nigeria. A religious denomination is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name, tradition, and identity. The term describes various Christian denominations, for example, Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and the many varieties of Protestantism. The objective of this study are to examine the concept of denomination, brings out major Christian Religious groups in Nigeria, know whether denominational differences have significant effect on church growth. Identify the different denominations in Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State and their impact on churches. The work used historical and observation approaches in getting the needed information for the study. The research found out that, the havoc that denominational doctrines have caused to the church of Christ is much, each denomination claims to have been doing the right thing using the Bible to prove what they stand for. Each sect must publish its own literature, conduct its own missions, provide its members with no other information relative to the Christian work at home and abroad than is related to that denomination, educate and ordain their own clergies and call to their pulpits only men trained in the peculiar doctrines which give the group it distinctive character. Considering the finding of the research, the work recommends that, members of the said denominations should not struggle to assume leadership positions in the church, but they should try and follow the pattern of the early church. Churches should avoid discussing negatively other people’s denominations for such breeds hatred and aid ill-feelings. All denominations should embrace the major values of tolerance.