I recently received a copy of "Reporting on Religion 2: A Stylebook on Journalism's Best Beat," in the office mail.

A resource guide from Religion/Newswriters, it is a fascinating read.

Alphabetically arranged, it explains many terms unique to specific religions, brief synopses of various religions along with the myriad sub-groups within the broader definitions of a particular religion, and provides a standardized method of presenting these various terms in publications.

For instance, did you know that "amrit" is the proper term for a Sikh baptism or that "om" in Hinduism, is the mantra of the divine? As our world grows ever smaller, I'll undoubtedly have ample opportunity to refer to this publication even here in the hinterlands of Nebraska.

What I found most striking in my preliminary perusal of this 130+ page publication was the proliferation of Christian churches. Admittedly, I've always been intrigued by the number of churches in McCook proper. There are 24 churches listed on the church page each Friday, all for a community of less than 7,542 souls, according to recent data. If we apply the national average of people who attend church weekly (47 percent of adults according to the Barna Group) to McCook's population, that would mean an average attendance of 113 adults at each house of worship each week. Given that some memberships welcome 30-70 worshippers each week and others 300 or more, we probably meet the national average pretty closely.

I'd have to see attendance rosters for each church to know for certain, but I have been in the sanctuaries of more than a dozen McCook churches at one time or another, and the majority of those I've seen could easily accommodate 200 or more people comfortably. A few have seating for 400 or more. I've only seen those sanctuaries full for weddings or funerals, however, rarely for Sunday morning services.

In the stylebook, there are 43 distinct Christian denominations listed with a notation under Baptist indicating that within that named group of Christians, there are 70 distinct Baptist denominations. By my calculations that would bring the available choices of differing, albeit Christian, opportunities of fellowship and corporate worship to more than 200. That seems excessive, especially given the One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism creed that defines Christianity.

Many of the "newer" denominations -- those in existence for less than 200 years -- have their origins in the United States. I call it democratic faith. Christians in the United States are at a unique disadvantage compared to those in nations under monarch rule in that we do not have a clear concept of what it means to have a king. Our system of representative government after all, is the antithesis of a monarchy, just as the Founding Fathers intended. An unforeseen outcome, I think, has been the application of the precepts of representative government to the Kingdom of God, the citizenship all believers attain in Christ.

There is a danger here, a danger that is becoming more and more apparent every day. Too many of these democratic Christians have abandoned the truth of Scripture in an effort to be all-inclusive, to be tolerant, to be progressive.

And so, we have 200 variations of Christianity, with some wandering so far afield they bear little resemblance to those original small enclaves of believers who met to encourage and provide for one another in the first century, being obedient to the selfless teachings of Christ, bringing themselves under his authority, naming him both King and Savior.

The cry has gone out before and needs to go forth once more. Return to Scripture and Scripture alone. Trust it. God has given it to us to instruct us in all righteousness and in it we will find the truth that truly sets us free.

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)

Things you won't see in heaven: Missing homework excuses