“Similar, But Different”

Sunday, June 23, 2013

What's the difference between Christianity and Christendom?  I thought they were synonyms.

Sincerely,
Wordsmith

Dear Wordsmith,

They can be used as synonyms, but in certain contexts, those two words can also have different meanings.  We will try and clarify the differences.  ‘Christendom’ is often used to refer to all religious groups and individuals that pledge some sort of allegiance to Jesus.  This would include everything from Catholicism to snake-handling Bible cults.  When the word ‘Christendom’ is used this way, it is an umbrella term that encompasses all groups that (even slightly) refer to themselves as ‘christian’.

However, it is fair to say that not all religious groups in Christendom agree with one another… or the Bible for that matter.  This is where the word ‘Christianity’ comes into play.  ‘Christianity’ is the true religion that Christ came and taught.  Jesus made it clear that not everyone who professed allegiance to Him would be saved (Matt 7:21-23).  There is only one true form of Christianity (Eph 4:4-6).  True Christianity is built upon the words of the Bible (Rom 10:17).  Many in ‘Christendom’ are not part of ‘Christianity’.

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