I deleted some of this because I did not agree with it all. He seemed to not believe in the Trinity, or didn't explain it in a way that made sense. Something about God being a person, Jesus being a person, and the Holy Spirit not being a person somehow? I dunno, it was confusing so I didn't include it. I see the Trinity as mind (God), Body (Jesus), and Spirit (Holy Spirit). Together, They make One. Just like we also consist of mind, body, and spirit. Without this setup, we wouldn't really exist would we? This is just my opinion, one I hope isn't dangerous.
If anyone would like to give me a biblical explanation, I would appreciate it.
My own view is that the church are individuals who make up the true spiritual body of Christ. Not an establishment or building or group of people who hold to, or emphasize one doctrine, which is really what this article looks at. I don't think it matters what church you go to. Well to an extent. Some churches have dangerous teachings, that should be avoided. But the point is, that the church of Christ has members that attend physical churches of most every denomination.
He also mentioned holidays and the seventh day sabbath, which, once again I hope isn't a dangerous stance, but I think are very trivial concerns. The rest of what he said, I think is pretty good, although I don't necessarily agree with it all. I haven't read back through what I pasted, but he did mention as well that the Gospel being spread is not about Jesus. But he explains that Jesus was also spreading the gospel (the news of the kingdom of heaven?) but also that Jesus is the only way to reach it. I dunno. Once again it was confusing.
I think what he meant was the gospel is about the Kingdom of Heaven being near (whether physically/spiritually near, or close to coming in the future, or both), but that through Jesus we are able to be a part of this Kingdom. ? Anyway, here is the article.
What Did the New Testament Church Look Like?
BY KEVIN D. DENEE
Professing Christianity is comprised of many groups and endless schools of thought. But does the picture today reflect the New Testament Church of 2,000 years ago? The comparisons will surprise you!
Two billion people on earth profess to be Christian. In other words, nearly every third person believes he is following Jesus Christ and the Bible.
Dominant in Western nations, Christianity is the world’s most popular religion, appearing in all sorts of shapes, sizes, varieties and flavors.
Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions, described the world of Christianity this way: “From the majestic pontifical High Mass in St. Peter’s to the quiet simplicity of a Quaker meeting; from the intellectual sophistication of Saint Thomas Aquinas to the moving simplicity of spirituals such as ‘Lord, I want to be a Christian,’ from St. Paul’s in London, the parish Church of Great Britain, to Mother Teresa in the slums of Calcutta—all this is Christianity.”
Was he correct? Is this the picture of true Christianity?
The Traditional Churches
Have you ever wondered why there are so many different groups? Have you ever thought to yourself: “Is this what Christ meant when He said, ‘I will build my Church’?” Additionally, have you asked, “What is the difference between these groups?”—“Which one is the exact continuation of the first-century Church?”
If you are religious, then your beliefs are important to you—religion is a central part of your life.
However, have you ever examined the traditional view of Christianity? Have you compared it with your Bible? Or do you simply assume that the church you attend is correct?
If religion is an important part of your life, then you should not take the answers to these questions lightly. On the other hand, if you do not consider yourself religious, this article will change your perspective of those who call themselves Christian.
What Did the Church Look Like?
Suppose you are living during the first century, and you are asked what you think Christianity will look like in 2,000 years. The only item you have to determine your answer is the Bible. What picture would you paint? Would it look similar to what exists today? Since the Holy Bible is Christianity’s foundation, it must hold the answers to the religion that comes from it.
Why, therefore, are there so many groups today claiming to be Christian? The simplest answer is that they all teach different things. If they taught the same doctrines, they would be united under one Church government—in one group.
The book of Acts begins with the birth of the New Testament Church. Therefore, this would be the place to begin. Notice how the Church was described after 3,000 people were baptized in one day: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship” (Acts 2:42).
Why is this significant? The two most defining features of God’s Church are evident: steadfast continuation in (1) the apostles’ doctrine (teachings), and (2) fellowship. Then, after verse 43 explains that the fear of God was apparent in “every soul,” verse 44 adds, “…all that believed were together.” Verse 46 also states that they continued to be of “one accord [agreement],” meeting together “daily” in various houses in “singleness of heart.”
The Church of God was unified!—not divided in varying and disagreeing groups all calling themselves Christian.
One Church or Many?
Professing Christianity believes that God’s Church is split into different branches. Perhaps the Methodists best explain the common position of Christianity: “Nourished by common roots of this shared Christian heritage, the branches of Christ’s church have developed diverse traditions that enlarge our store of shared understandings. Our avowed ecumenical commitment as United Methodists is to gather our own doctrinal emphases into the larger Christian unity, there to be made more meaningful in a richer whole” (emphasis ours).
While this sounds honorable, is it what Christ intended? Were there to be many groups of “diverse traditions” all with their own “doctrinal emphasis”?
Even the Roman Catholics, who, for the most part, believe that God’s Church cannot be divided, say this: “Those [outside the Roman Catholic Church] who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church” (Catech 838).
Again, are all these differing groups what Jesus Christ intended?
The Bible is clear that the Church—Christ’s Body (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18)—is unified. Notice:
• I Corinthians 1:10: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
• I Corinthians 12:25: “…there should be no schism in the body.”
• Ephesians 4:16: “From whom the whole body fitly joined together [Moffat translation: “welded together”] and compacted by that which every joint supplies.”
Do these scriptures describe modern Christianity? The answer is clear!
The world is filled with all sorts of different groups professing to be Christian, and most profess that the other competing groups are also Christian. Yet, notice Christ’s words: “And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand” (Mark 3:25). The Greek word for “stand” can also mean “abide, continue, be established, hold up.” A house or any organization cannot stand—abide, continue, hold up—if divided. Yet, the world of Christianity is divided!
Would Christ have built His Church to contradict His statement in Mark 3:25? Of course not.
Simply put, Christ said, “I will build My Church” (Matt. 16:18)—not churches! This is the first of many differences that you will discover as this article continues. (Please read the article “The Ecumenical Movement – A Family Reunion?”, in this issue.)
A Little Flock
Could so many of these large, well-established churches—with hundreds of millions of people—be wrong?
Society, especially in Western cultures, stresses, “Bigger is better.” More money, more friends, larger cars, bigger houses and so on are all seen as a better way of life. The more people one can find to support this or that group, idea, or cause, the better. This way of thinking is prevalent in professing Christianity. People feel safe in numbers; therefore, large congregations are more popular, and thus grow faster than small ones.
But just because the majority follows a certain way, does that make it right?
Christ calls His Church a little flock (Luke 12:32). Only when Christ returns will God’s way of life prevail throughout the world. Until that point, Christ is only working with a few—called “firstfruits”—to rule with Him after His Second Coming.
“The god of this world”
Although we have looked at a few of the major differences between today’s Christianity and the Church that Christ established, let’s also look at how Jesus described counterfeit Christianity: “Howbeit in vain do [they] worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, [they] hold the tradition of men. Full well [they] reject the commandment of God, that [they] may keep [their] own tradition” (Mark 7:7-9).
This article has briefly touched upon several common beliefs to which the majority of so-called Christians adhere.
So what happened within the last 2,000 years? How could so many today be so deceived?—and so wrong?
The Bible reveals that the whole world is deceived (Rev. 12:9) by the “god of this world” (II Cor. 4:4)—Satan the devil. The world is cut off from God, and Satan has deceived a large part of it into thinking they are following Christ. But, they are following “another Jesus” (11:4)—and, in fact, are not part of true Christianity.
Will you put forth the effort to find the true Church?
If anyone would like to give me a biblical explanation, I would appreciate it.
My own view is that the church are individuals who make up the true spiritual body of Christ. Not an establishment or building or group of people who hold to, or emphasize one doctrine, which is really what this article looks at. I don't think it matters what church you go to. Well to an extent. Some churches have dangerous teachings, that should be avoided. But the point is, that the church of Christ has members that attend physical churches of most every denomination.
He also mentioned holidays and the seventh day sabbath, which, once again I hope isn't a dangerous stance, but I think are very trivial concerns. The rest of what he said, I think is pretty good, although I don't necessarily agree with it all. I haven't read back through what I pasted, but he did mention as well that the Gospel being spread is not about Jesus. But he explains that Jesus was also spreading the gospel (the news of the kingdom of heaven?) but also that Jesus is the only way to reach it. I dunno. Once again it was confusing.
I think what he meant was the gospel is about the Kingdom of Heaven being near (whether physically/spiritually near, or close to coming in the future, or both), but that through Jesus we are able to be a part of this Kingdom. ? Anyway, here is the article.
What Did the New Testament Church Look Like?
BY KEVIN D. DENEE
Professing Christianity is comprised of many groups and endless schools of thought. But does the picture today reflect the New Testament Church of 2,000 years ago? The comparisons will surprise you!
Two billion people on earth profess to be Christian. In other words, nearly every third person believes he is following Jesus Christ and the Bible.
Dominant in Western nations, Christianity is the world’s most popular religion, appearing in all sorts of shapes, sizes, varieties and flavors.
Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions, described the world of Christianity this way: “From the majestic pontifical High Mass in St. Peter’s to the quiet simplicity of a Quaker meeting; from the intellectual sophistication of Saint Thomas Aquinas to the moving simplicity of spirituals such as ‘Lord, I want to be a Christian,’ from St. Paul’s in London, the parish Church of Great Britain, to Mother Teresa in the slums of Calcutta—all this is Christianity.”
Was he correct? Is this the picture of true Christianity?
The Traditional Churches
Have you ever wondered why there are so many different groups? Have you ever thought to yourself: “Is this what Christ meant when He said, ‘I will build my Church’?” Additionally, have you asked, “What is the difference between these groups?”—“Which one is the exact continuation of the first-century Church?”
If you are religious, then your beliefs are important to you—religion is a central part of your life.
However, have you ever examined the traditional view of Christianity? Have you compared it with your Bible? Or do you simply assume that the church you attend is correct?
If religion is an important part of your life, then you should not take the answers to these questions lightly. On the other hand, if you do not consider yourself religious, this article will change your perspective of those who call themselves Christian.
What Did the Church Look Like?
Suppose you are living during the first century, and you are asked what you think Christianity will look like in 2,000 years. The only item you have to determine your answer is the Bible. What picture would you paint? Would it look similar to what exists today? Since the Holy Bible is Christianity’s foundation, it must hold the answers to the religion that comes from it.
Why, therefore, are there so many groups today claiming to be Christian? The simplest answer is that they all teach different things. If they taught the same doctrines, they would be united under one Church government—in one group.
The book of Acts begins with the birth of the New Testament Church. Therefore, this would be the place to begin. Notice how the Church was described after 3,000 people were baptized in one day: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship” (Acts 2:42).
Why is this significant? The two most defining features of God’s Church are evident: steadfast continuation in (1) the apostles’ doctrine (teachings), and (2) fellowship. Then, after verse 43 explains that the fear of God was apparent in “every soul,” verse 44 adds, “…all that believed were together.” Verse 46 also states that they continued to be of “one accord [agreement],” meeting together “daily” in various houses in “singleness of heart.”
The Church of God was unified!—not divided in varying and disagreeing groups all calling themselves Christian.
One Church or Many?
Professing Christianity believes that God’s Church is split into different branches. Perhaps the Methodists best explain the common position of Christianity: “Nourished by common roots of this shared Christian heritage, the branches of Christ’s church have developed diverse traditions that enlarge our store of shared understandings. Our avowed ecumenical commitment as United Methodists is to gather our own doctrinal emphases into the larger Christian unity, there to be made more meaningful in a richer whole” (emphasis ours).
While this sounds honorable, is it what Christ intended? Were there to be many groups of “diverse traditions” all with their own “doctrinal emphasis”?
Even the Roman Catholics, who, for the most part, believe that God’s Church cannot be divided, say this: “Those [outside the Roman Catholic Church] who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church” (Catech 838).
Again, are all these differing groups what Jesus Christ intended?
The Bible is clear that the Church—Christ’s Body (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18)—is unified. Notice:
• I Corinthians 1:10: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
• I Corinthians 12:25: “…there should be no schism in the body.”
• Ephesians 4:16: “From whom the whole body fitly joined together [Moffat translation: “welded together”] and compacted by that which every joint supplies.”
Do these scriptures describe modern Christianity? The answer is clear!
The world is filled with all sorts of different groups professing to be Christian, and most profess that the other competing groups are also Christian. Yet, notice Christ’s words: “And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand” (Mark 3:25). The Greek word for “stand” can also mean “abide, continue, be established, hold up.” A house or any organization cannot stand—abide, continue, hold up—if divided. Yet, the world of Christianity is divided!
Would Christ have built His Church to contradict His statement in Mark 3:25? Of course not.
Simply put, Christ said, “I will build My Church” (Matt. 16:18)—not churches! This is the first of many differences that you will discover as this article continues. (Please read the article “The Ecumenical Movement – A Family Reunion?”, in this issue.)
A Little Flock
Could so many of these large, well-established churches—with hundreds of millions of people—be wrong?
Society, especially in Western cultures, stresses, “Bigger is better.” More money, more friends, larger cars, bigger houses and so on are all seen as a better way of life. The more people one can find to support this or that group, idea, or cause, the better. This way of thinking is prevalent in professing Christianity. People feel safe in numbers; therefore, large congregations are more popular, and thus grow faster than small ones.
But just because the majority follows a certain way, does that make it right?
Christ calls His Church a little flock (Luke 12:32). Only when Christ returns will God’s way of life prevail throughout the world. Until that point, Christ is only working with a few—called “firstfruits”—to rule with Him after His Second Coming.
“The god of this world”
Although we have looked at a few of the major differences between today’s Christianity and the Church that Christ established, let’s also look at how Jesus described counterfeit Christianity: “Howbeit in vain do [they] worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, [they] hold the tradition of men. Full well [they] reject the commandment of God, that [they] may keep [their] own tradition” (Mark 7:7-9).
This article has briefly touched upon several common beliefs to which the majority of so-called Christians adhere.
So what happened within the last 2,000 years? How could so many today be so deceived?—and so wrong?
The Bible reveals that the whole world is deceived (Rev. 12:9) by the “god of this world” (II Cor. 4:4)—Satan the devil. The world is cut off from God, and Satan has deceived a large part of it into thinking they are following Christ. But, they are following “another Jesus” (11:4)—and, in fact, are not part of true Christianity.
Will you put forth the effort to find the true Church?
