Which Church is THE Church?

[Gregory Thompson]

Demonstrating how humans are made in the likeness of God in the sense of the trinity ... is a bit too intimate for most. (I in thou and thou in me) However, if people let their guard down when worshiping with other christians, they might experience a sense of unity with the body of believers and get a sense. The vulnerability involved makes it difficult to understand for people with trust issues. Jesus chose Thomas, and he had trust issues. Therefore, God also accepts people even if they cannot trust him totally. (even though faith is kind of key to the whole deal, only a little bit is required)

 

[Albion]

Incidentally, I don't think that one of these, on it's own, is enough to believe that someone is in a cult.
Someone could be a Christian and yet genuinely struggle with the idea of the Trinity; that doesn't make them a cult member.

I like your point, but it's usually the case that the word is applied to the church/religion itself and only secondarily to anyone who accepts its unorthodox teachings as correct.

Likewise, the OP seems genuinely convinced that the catholic church is the only true one - but Catholicism is a Christian denomination.

 

[amadeois]

@jeager016

Yes, I ask myself the same question?

Why so many people labeled differently if we have only one book?

The problem is INTERPRETATION. Everybody is interpreting the word THEIR WAY.

We have to interpret it the way of the person who wrote, the person that inspired it: none other than our Creator = GOD.

THE ENTIRE MESSAGE.

We need to accept that there is an enemy of God trying to derail what God has done.

I don't see many people mentioning him, but he was out there from the beginning causing chaos and now that we are getting closer, he is trying to get as many people to his team. And he does it the best way he knows:

DECEPTION

Do we know how to now what is true and what is false?

 

[Alithis]

Q. Did Jesus found a church?
A. Yes. (Matthew 16:18)

Q. How many churches did Jesus found?
A. One; the Church is the Body of Christ and there is only one body of Christ. (Romans 12:5, Ephesians 4:4, Colossians 1:18)

Q. So, if Jesus founded a Church, then when was it founded?
A. 2000 years ago.

Q. Was that Church guided by the Holy Spirit?
A. Yes. (John 14:26, John 16:13; Acts 2:3-4)

Q. If the Church was founded by Jesus Christ and was guided by the Holy Spirit, could it teach doctrinal error?
A. No. (1 Timothy 3:15)

Q. So, could we say that the Church founded by Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit, taught doctrinal truth infallibly — without error — to the first-century Christians?
A. Yes. (Luke 10:16, John 14:16-17, 1 Peter 1:12)

Q. Did the Church of the New Testament teach different doctrinal truths to different people in different areas?
A. No. (2 Timothy 1:12-14, Ephesians 4:14, Titus 1:9)

Q. Are there any denominations in the Church of the New Testament?
A. No. The Church in the New Testament is one, just as the Body of Christ is one (1 Corinthians 1:10, 1 Corinthians 11:18-19, Jude 19)

Q. Would a Church founded by Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit still be in existence today?
A. Yes. (Matthew 16:18, Matthew 28:20, Ephesians 3:21)

Q. How old would that Church be?
A. 2000 years old.

Q. Would that Church still be guided by the Holy Spirit?
A. Yes. (Matthew 28:20, John 14:16)

Q. Could that Church founded by Jesus and still guided by the Holy Spirit teach doctrinal error?
A. No. (1 Timothy 3:15, 1 Corinthians 12:28)

Q. So we could say that the Church founded by Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit would still teach doctrinal truth infallibly?
A. Yes. (Luke 10:16, John 14:16-17, 1 Peter 1:12)

Q. Would that Church founded by Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit teach different doctrinal truths to different people in different areas?
A. No. (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, 1 Timothy 4:6)

Q. Would there be any denominations in that Church?
A. No. (1 Corinthians 1:13)

Q. Can the Lutheran denomination be the Church founded by Jesus in the Holy Land 2000 years ago?
A. No. It was founded by Martin Luther in Germany in the 1500s.

Q. Can the Anglican/Episcopalian denomination, or any of its offshoots, be the Church founded by Jesus in the Holy Land 2000 years ago?
A. No. It was founded by King Henry VIII in the 1500s because he wanted to divorce his wife.

Q. Are there any Baptist, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Fundamentalist, non-denominational or other Protestant groups that were founded by Jesus in the Holy Land 2000 years ago?
A. No.

Q. So is there any Baptist, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Fundamentalist, non-denominational or other Protestant group that could be the Church founded by Jesus Christ in the Holy Land 2000 years ago?
A. No.

Q. So if Jesus founded a Church — one Church — in the Holy Land 2000 years ago that was guided by the Holy Spirit, and that Church is still in existence today and is still guided by the Holy Spirit (which means it teaches doctrinal truth infallibly), and there are no denominations of that Church now, just as there were no denominations of that Church 2000 years ago, then shouldn’t all Christians be in that one Church founded by Jesus?
A. Yes.

Q. Does it make sense to be in a church that was not founded by Jesus Christ in the Holy Land 2000 years ago?
A. No.

Q. How can we identify which Church — of the thousands upon thousands — is THE Church founded by Jesus?
A. The Church founded by Jesus should at least claim to be THE Church founded by Jesus; it should be able to trace its leadership back 2000 years to the Apostles; and it should claim to be guided by the Holy Spirit and to thus teach doctrinal truth infallibly with the authority of Jesus Christ, its Founder.

Q. How many churches fit that description?
A. One.

Q. Which Church is that?
A. The Catholic Church.
http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jmartignoni/which-church-is-the-church.

hahahahahaha hahahahah thats so funny / NO the roman catholic church came about 400 years after so by every reason above CANNOT be his church . .. lol that is such common knowledge this is a great JOKE.

. i get it .. your very very funny -you made a very funny joke .

 

[jeager016]

http://www.christian-history.org/roman-catholic-one-true-church.html

Is the Roman Catholic Church the one and only true Church?
No.
Put tradition and dogma aside and investigate with an open mind.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I like that^^.
About judging. I quit that long ago except in some extreme
examples of humans acting as animals.
Like committing mass murder in the name of some "god".
People that harm little children.
And a few other animals.

Indeed, some do however have a gift of discernment. Solomon prayed for and received the wisdom to do so.

 

[amadeois]

@jeager016

Brother, I believe we are in the right track.

GLORY BE TO GOD AND HIS WORD.

ALWAYS.

Somebody said that we should pay attention to traditions.

Did he/her read what Jesus said about traditions?

Do these brothers read the word or another book, or things written by men and NOT GOD?

YOU WILL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS.

What we write here is part of our fruits.

Garden of Eden fruits???

I WONDER.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I like that^^.
About judging. I quit that long ago except in some extreme
examples of humans acting as animals.
Like committing mass murder in the name of some "god".
People that harm little children.
And a few other animals.

Indeed, some do however had a gift of discernment. Solomon prayed for and received the wisdom to do so.

 

[jeager016]

Just for "because" here is a definition of a "cult':
\ˈkəlt\
Popularity: Top 10% of words
Simple Definition of cult

• : a small religious group that is not part of a larger and more accepted religion and that has beliefs regarded by many people as extreme or dangerous
  
  
• : a situation in which people admire and care about something or someone very much or too much
  
  
• : a small group of very devoted supporters or fans
  

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Should add that you and Mark have been writing about I believe church confessions. These confessions as quoted speak of the worthiness of the recipient as does Paul in I Corinthians 11...do you see this worthiness as a potential then of being deemed receptionism?
The way I see it one must have the proper belief or faith to truly receive Christ's body and blood...Paul himself eludes to this in ICorinthians 11.

Indeed we are.

Scripture does speak of sinning against the body and blood of Christ; how can one be guilty if one does not receive His very body and blood?:

1 Corinthians 11:27English Standard Version (ESV)
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.

 

[Light of the East]

Me reading bad stuff, no way my friend.

I have been reading the word of God.

I wonder what have you been reading, very far from the truth.

It's called "The Holy Bible." It is quite filled with amazing stuff, once you manage to take off your blinders and learn to interpret it properly. There are thousands of interpretations out there. Literally thousands. Dozens of different beliefs on baptism. Many beliefs on Christ and on God. Not everyone can be right.

Prove to me that your interpretation is the correct one over the thousands of other non-Catholic interpretations out there.

I'll wait.....

 

[jeager016]

Does anyone here recall the J.W. publication entitled "1975"

It's odd that copies are near impossible to find now.
I had one but it disappeared & lost long ago.
I wish I still had it.
I recall a service at the Kingdom Hall of J.W.'s during which an
"Overseer" an "anointed one" gave a sermon ending with
" I'll see you again on the other side. "
Meaning with Jehovah destroyed "Babylon the Great" and left
only the "faithful remnant" behind.
Hummm???????????????
I'm still patiently waiting and hoping.
Please. I'm NOT J.W. bashing but extraordinary claims demand
extraordinary evidence.
Note few if ANY J.W.'s are on any internet religious form unless
it's the "approved" J.W. site.
Being part of the internet & reading/discussing religion or politics is
"discouraged".
So is attending college! Really? Yup, sure is. "God" only knows
how corrupted a person can become in college.
I got a royal preaching at for becoming a police officer.
the Watchtower thought Jehovah would likely execute His “vengeance upon the wicked” (i.e., the Battle of Armageddon) no later than the fall of 1975.

^^ From Watchtower publications.
Google if ya likes.
Again not J.W. bashing at all but the "Governing Body" is just a
group of men that can and are allowed to err.
(Though they don't think so.)
So I remain undecided and confused as to which of the thousands
of Christian denominations is the "one and true" Church of God.


I really DO wish Jesus would come back and reclaim the earth for
the righteous. Wonder? Who is righteous?

 

[Light of the East]

If you are looking for sound theology, you won't find it in the RCC for sure.

Well, you surely will not find it in Protestantism. All you can find there is a great gathering of man-made religions, doctrines, practices, and ideas which didn't exist in the first century.

Prove to me that your chosen denomination and its beliefs are the Church.

Go ahead.....I'll wait.

 

[Job8]

Prove to me that your chosen denomination and its beliefs are the Church.

Why don't I prove to you that the doctrines and practices of the RCC are in total conflict with the Gospel and Bible Truth?

 

[Light of the East]

Why don't I prove to you that the doctrines and practices of the RCC are in total conflict with the Gospel and Bible Truth?

Go for it!!!

Oh -- BTW -- don't "flood" or "shotgun" me either! Pick a subject -- one subject -- and post your objections. Don't expect me to respond to a mile long post of 20 different objections.

One at a time

 

[Gregory Thompson]

the JWs were originally baptists, but went in a direction of their own after some "great disappointments," it would not be uncharacteristic of them to set dates for the "advent" again.

I find my definition of a cult is characteristic of what the JWs do:

1) They are welcoming when inviting you.
2) If your family are JWs and you leave, they are not allowed to talk to you anymore, and must dispose of any letters without reading them.
3) They believe Jesus is really Michael the Archangel, not the son of God.
4) Salvation based on obedience to the church.

I don't usually say anything about other groups but I have some JW halls around me, and their presence is harmful.

 

[jeager016]

Why don't I prove to you that the doctrines and practices of the RCC are in total conflict with the Gospel and Bible Truth?

Hummmmmm???
That ^^ may not be hard to do!
Just sayin'........................

 

[rturner76]

The apostle Paul wrote in Rm.8:14, that the children of God are led by the Spirit of God. No mention there of exclusivity to anyone according to doctrine or theology in being led by "knowledge of the (catholic designated) Apostles".
All knowledge to be had by those who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior is within the old testament and the new testament, of which the Spirit of Truth honors.

Anything other than that is the uninspired wisdom and practices of men that are emphasized as if they had importance, but they don't. No such importance within the Jewish circles did Saul of Tarsus any good. He shed himself of all of those religious traditions to consider only Christ.

The Holy Spirit does not speak of Himself (Jn.16:13), therefore, neither would anyone who is inspired of the Holy Spirit speak on their own initiative to say, 'all knowledge belongs to the Apostles and the Catholic Church'.

But again the apostle Paul wrote in Col.2:3, "…that they (all believers - again, no denomination mentioned) may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this so that no one will deceive you by smooth rhetoric."

I didn't mean to imply that denominations aren't Christians. I just meant they don't have the complete fullness of Scripture and Tradition as taught by the Apostles through Apostolic Succession.

The Bible is truth but you also need discernment and tradition. The books of the New Testament were approved by the early church fathers who were in Rome

 

[W2L]

I didn't mean to imply that denominations aren't Christians. I just meant they don't have the complete fullness of Scripture and Tradition as taught by the Apostles through Apostolic Succession.

The Bible is truth but you also need discernment and tradition. The books of the New Testament were approved by the early church fathers who were in Rome

Yet out of all the writings the apostles must have made, we have only a few. No offense but I'm not impressed with the cannon. I'm more impressed by the simple doctrine of Christ. Its not so hard to understand, and the spirit helps us learn. That spirit can be found in any group of believers. I also think RC doesn't understand things as well as they think they do.

 

[Strong in Him]

I didn't mean to imply that denominations aren't Christians. I just meant they don't have the complete fullness of Scripture and Tradition as taught by the Apostles through Apostolic Succession.

The Bible is truth but you also need discernment and tradition. The books of the New Testament were approved by the early church fathers who were in Rome

I'm pretty sure that Anglicans believe in the apostolic succession.
They also have Scripture and tradition.