You may click on the underlined for further comments, otherwise it would be too long of a study:
The task of selecting the true church:
The Encyclopedia of American Religions1 lists 1,588 religious denominations, sects, faith groups, organizations, etc. Some are currently operating in North America; others are defunct but have been recently active. The vast majority of them consider themselves to be Christian. Some of these groups believe that they are the only true Christian church. But how does one find out which denomination really is? Some possibilities:
Perhaps one of them is the true church.
Perhaps none of them are. All of the Christian denominations may have strayed so far from Jesus' original intent, that all may be deeply flawed.
Perhaps many faith groups are different manifestations of the true church - even though their rituals and practices differ.
Perhaps a historical faith group, now defunct, was the rightful owner of that title. There have been a lot of religious genocides down through the ages, perpetrated by which ever religious group was in power.
Perhaps Jesus did not intend to found a church at all; in that case, there has never been a true church.
This essay explores these possibilities.
HowChristianity fragmented:
Christendom has not been a unified movement throughout most of its history. With the possible exception of a few years circa 31 CE, from the execution of Jesus to the conversion of Paul, there have always been at least two competing faith groups which seriously, devoutly, thoughtfully and prayerfully believed themselves to be true Christianity. A broad overview of Christian history follows:
1st century CE: There were at least three distinct divisions within the Christian movement: the Jewish Christians (led by Jesus' brother James, with Jesus' disciples, and their followers), Pauline Christians (followers of St. Paul) and Gnostic Christians (people who believed that salvation came through secret knowledge). Each believed themselves to be the true church, and were highly critical of the other two.
4th century CE: The Roman Emperor Theodosian issued a series of decrees to "suppress all rival religions, order the closing of the temples, and impose fines, confiscation, imprisonment or death upon any who cling to the older [Pagan] religions." 2 The church used the power of the state to begin programs to oppress, exile or exterminate both Pagans and Gnostic Christians. Church authority had became concentrated in the five bishops or patriarchs located in Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, Jerusalem and Rome. Although they were officially given equal status, the Bishop of Rome was considered the first among the equals. 3
6th century CE: Only Pauline Christianity had survived in the Mediterranean area, in the form of a deeply divided Catholic church. Gnostic Christianity had been suppressed; Jewish Christianity had died out. There were independent Christian groups in Egypt, India and elsewhere which were not part of Catholicism.
1054 CE: The great schism formally divided Christendom into two main groups: Roman Catholicism in western Europe, and the Eastern Orthodox churches in the east.
1517 CE: Martin Luther triggered the Protestant Reformation.
On what basis can we identify the "true" church?
We can approach this question in many ways. There are many criteria that can be used. Unfortunately, they lead in many different directions. For example, we can examine:
What other groups say: Some conservative, mainline and liberal denominations believe that the true church is composed of many individual faith groups, each representing a different version of the true church. There might not be a single "true" church; there may be many.
What Jesus said: Perhaps Jesus' words in the Gospels can be used to identifythe true church.
Jesus' behavior towards social outcasts: Perhaps the "true" church deals with people in the same way that Jesus did. By studying how Jesus treated others, we might identify a church that interacts with people in the same way.
What Jesus asked of his disciples: Perhaps Jesus' expectations of modern-day Christians are similar to what he expected of his disciples.
The example of Jesus' disciples: At Jesus' execution, his disciples knew more about his thoughts, goals and intentions than anyone else. Perhaps today's true church is the one that is closest to the religious organization that they formed.
Which the most successful Christian faith group is. God might wish to make certain that the true church would have the greatest number of members.
In a separate essay, we describe what a group of Mormons suggest are indicators of the "true church." Not surprisingly, they conclude that the LDS Church is that church.
What some very conservative Christian denominations say:
Many regard their own faith group to be the only true church. Three examples are:
Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons), was troubled by the multiplicity of Christian sects. He received a vision at the age of 14. God and Jesus Christ appeared separately before Joseph and told him that all of the Christian sects and denominations were in error and that he should not join any of them. He later founded the Mormon church. It teaches that its beliefs and practices are a restoration of the very early Christian church.
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that theirs is the only true religion. They believe that in the near future, at the Battle of Armageddon, many people (particularly those who are not Jehovah's Witnesses) will be destroyed for all eternity in a terrible slaughter.
The Roman Catholic church teaches that it is the only completely valid church. Its pope is believed to be infallible in certain pronouncements on faith and morals. God prevents him from committing error. But, after Vatican II, the church has recognized that the beliefs of other faith groups and religions contain some validity, at least in those cases where they agree with the Roman Catholic church.
Unfortunately, such exclusive statements - that their denomination is the only valid one - are not particularly useful. Only one faith group, at most, is correct. The others must be wrong. In fact, all may be wrong.
What other Christian denominations say:
Many other faith groups, representing the full range of conservative to liberal Christianity, have more inclusive beliefs regarding the validity of other denominations:
Many Fundamentalist and other Evangelical denominations from the conservative wing of Christianity recognize the validity of each other's teachings. Their clergy often cooperate in local Evangelical ministerial associations, which generally exclude representatives of more liberal denominations. They agree on fundamental beliefs and only differ in minor ways relating to practice and organization.
More liberal Christian denominations tend to recognize the validity of all Christian faith groups: conservative, mainline and liberal. Their clergy often cooperate in local ecumenical Ministerial associations which are open to all Christian clergy.
Some conservative faith groups do not view any single denomination as the true church. Rather, the "church" is made up of all of those individuals who have been saved: i.e. individuals who have repented of their sins and trusted Jesus as Lord and Savior - whether they be Pentecostals, Seventh Day Adventists, or Southern Baptists.
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"Blessed is He who Comes in The Name of The Lord"
to what you have said here i have to agree on for the most part.
logic would indicate that there would have to be only one true Faith.
as to whether if you have yet found it is what i question. and i hold it to you to ask your self some serious questions as to whether you have got it right.
can you tell me please why it is you dislike the jw so much ?we are more alike than you may know.
Isn't the reason we are all coming to this site to discuss and debate the issues, centered around the fact that The Lord Started only one church in the scripture? Are we contending for anything other than the correct teachings of that one true church of which we all are striving to be a part of? Does any believe that he is part of anything that not that true church of God? Let us earnestly contend for "the faith" which was once delievered to the saints.
Taz, thankfully we can ALL be of the lineage of Abraham, through Christ--and no distinction is made between the direct line and those that are "grafted in". Besides that, we all have a common ancestor in Adam, and in Noah.
Anyone can "boldly proclaim" that their way is THE right way.......but anyone can boldly proclaim the sky is green and grass is purple too. We have the perfect instructions, we just have to do the best we can to follow them.
Chad
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"We can have no '50-50' allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all."-- Theodore Roosevelt
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. Ecclesiasties 10:2
The last four letters in American..........I Can
The last four letters in Republican........I Can
The last four letters in Democrats.........Rats
The True Church is those ofus who have the Faith Of Abraham.
But without faith it is impossible to please God.
Abraham faith was such that his soul did not perish in gehenna but was preserved and made into the Father of faith, until His redemption came in the form of Yeshua (Jesus) and so did all those patriarchs who had faith.
If you have faith on your pastor you will perish, if you have faith in your congregation you will perish, if you have faith in your works alone you will perish.
But if You have faith in the Messiah Jesus and his works, you will be saved.
Bottom line the church or the building where you congregate is not important it is what you belief in, which should be Christ.
Shalom
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"Blessed is He who Comes in The Name of The Lord"
Church is not a service.
Church is not clergy.
Church is not a particular denonination.
Church is not a building.
The church is made up of the people belonging to God, who are bound together in love as a family, representing Christ to the world.
This is a quote from "The Alpha Course Manual" (based on "QUESTIONS OF LIFE" by Nicky Gumbel)
Seems to make sence to me.
When I am standing singing prase to the Lord on a sunday morning with the GROUP I have chosen to worship with, I am aware that down the street there is another group singing praise to the same Lord at the same time. Accross town there is another gathering and more singing. And all over the world there are "people of God" lifting their voices to worship in little buildings and great cathederals. Can you imagine the sound of all that wonderful singing reaching the ear of God. AndHe hears each voice andHe loves each one. His church is singing praise to Him.
Can you imagine the sound of all that wonderful singing reaching the ear of God. AndHe hears each voice andHe loves each one. His church is singing praise to Him.
Robin
Amen brother!
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
Which Is The True Church ?
