Not debatable at all. Christ instituted one Church, by definition, that's universal, or Catholic.
The Greek word for "catholic" is "katholkos" meaning "general, universal".
The New Analytical Greek Lexicon, Wesley J. Perschbacher, Hendrickson Publishing Company, Peabody, Mass, 01962, Copyright 1990, "katholikos", p. 215
There are
no scripture references to this word at all in the New Testament. It does however, appear in the titles for certain books of the bible. However, book titles like "The General Epistle to Titus" is a man-made title and do not appear in any Greek manuscript.
And to the best of my knowledge, the only reference to that word is found in only two writings around the first century:
Flavius Josephus, The Wars of the Jews:
"
book 1, section 651: ... to the other places in Josephus, before he became a catholic Christian, which concern the same matters. Of the War,"
Flavius Josephus, Against Apion:
"
book 2, section 157: ... ; nor even all of them among the laws of catholic Christianity themselves. I desire, therefore, the learned reader to"
And:
Pliny the Elder,
The Natural History:
"book 3, chapter 9: ... streets, which are still to be seen in many Roman Catholic countries at the present day. under the guardianship"
Link
Not at all. Jesus only taught one body of teaching, the One Bread, One Body references that. We all practice our faith, employ our Catholicism, differently. But the teaching of Christ is One. As is His Church.
Then the Apostles strayed from His teaching or instructions.
And it is verified in Acts 15. Not less than 7 years perhaps, when the First Apostolic Council met, we see two different "denominations" (if you will) coming out of that meeting.
But when you call 'fundamentalism' to a fundamentalist, like EmmaCat, and are describing Jim Jones, et al, you do just that, whether you mean it or not.
Never once did I say Jim Jones was a "Fundamentalist"!
I issue the same challenge to you. Produce for me that post where I did.
The Jim Jones matter came up when I mentioned the sign that hung over his chair.
I quoted from it, and she took me to task saying it was Winston Churchill that said it.
So I say please get your facts straight.
God Bless
Till all are one.
