Choosing a Church
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Acts 8:14-17
14 Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit: 16 for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Laying of hands is essential to change the physical man into the spiritual man -- a change that is proven but not obvious to a common bystander
If God can change Man using a man. He can change bread and wine using a man. The Priest uses laying of hands to change the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ - a change that is proven* but not obvious to the common bystander
* Miracle of Lanciano -- Wikipedia Miracle of Lanciano - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
14 Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit: 16 for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Laying of hands is essential to change the physical man into the spiritual man -- a change that is proven but not obvious to a common bystander
If God can change Man using a man. He can change bread and wine using a man. The Priest uses laying of hands to change the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ - a change that is proven* but not obvious to the common bystander
* Miracle of Lanciano -- Wikipedia Miracle of Lanciano - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
F
If you want to choose the right church, use the Bible yourself.
Jesus only built one church - Matt 16:18.
That church has not faded away as Christ said it would not - Matt 16:18.
How do we know what we should and should not be doing?
Use the examples of the church Christ built, found in the pages of the New Testament.
Some choose to take up offerings on days other than the first, again no example of the church every doing so, therefore, no authority.
Some use mechanical instruments of music while singing, again not found in the New Testament of which we are under.
When things are being done that is not authorized by the Bible, it should raise a red flag to you.
The congregations of the New Testament, Corinthians, Ephesians, Romans, etc, were not different churches with different teachings and practices, they were all part of the one church that Christ built and practiced the same thing, they were only different congregations of the one church - Eph 1:22-23, 4:4.
They did not uphold any of the Old Testament, seeing the Law of Moses was ALL nailed to the cross at Christ's death, and taken away - Col 2:14.
It is forbidden in the Bible for Christians to hold to any part of the Law.
So everyone does claim to be the right church and "Strictly Bible".
Thanks be to God that you can have your own Bible, and you can see what the Lords church is and compare the teaching to the practices of whatever church your looking into.
When people do not practice what the 1st century church did, then they are not using the Bible as there only authority, if they practice something that we cannot find in the Bible, then they are adding to the Bible with man made doctrines and practices - Matt 15:9.
The Bible must be the only authority in the church (or religion for that matter) - Lk 16:15; Gal 1:8-10; II Tim 3:16.
The work of the church is to glorify God and save souls, not glorify and please ourselves with man-made additions.
Jesus only built one church - Matt 16:18.
That church has not faded away as Christ said it would not - Matt 16:18.
How do we know what we should and should not be doing?
Use the examples of the church Christ built, found in the pages of the New Testament.
- They met together on the first day of the week - Acts 20:7
- They prayed, sang, and taught - Acts 2:42, ,Col 3:16, Eph 5:19.
- They partook of the Lord's supper EVERY first day of the week - Acts 20:7; I Cor 11:23-29.
- They gave as they prospered Every first day - I Cor 16:1-2.
- They were told they must have unity in what they taught and practiced- I Cor 1:10, Gal 1:8,9.
Some choose to take up offerings on days other than the first, again no example of the church every doing so, therefore, no authority.
Some use mechanical instruments of music while singing, again not found in the New Testament of which we are under.
When things are being done that is not authorized by the Bible, it should raise a red flag to you.
The congregations of the New Testament, Corinthians, Ephesians, Romans, etc, were not different churches with different teachings and practices, they were all part of the one church that Christ built and practiced the same thing, they were only different congregations of the one church - Eph 1:22-23, 4:4.
They did not uphold any of the Old Testament, seeing the Law of Moses was ALL nailed to the cross at Christ's death, and taken away - Col 2:14.
It is forbidden in the Bible for Christians to hold to any part of the Law.
So everyone does claim to be the right church and "Strictly Bible".
Thanks be to God that you can have your own Bible, and you can see what the Lords church is and compare the teaching to the practices of whatever church your looking into.
When people do not practice what the 1st century church did, then they are not using the Bible as there only authority, if they practice something that we cannot find in the Bible, then they are adding to the Bible with man made doctrines and practices - Matt 15:9.
The Bible must be the only authority in the church (or religion for that matter) - Lk 16:15; Gal 1:8-10; II Tim 3:16.
The work of the church is to glorify God and save souls, not glorify and please ourselves with man-made additions.
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Most of us probably have a number of churches to choose from.
I’ve learned that my church is very valuable. My closest family is 450 miles away. To a certain extent, the church IS my family. It is good that the church I attend is supportive, therefore.
Some people act like they won’t attend a church that doesn’t believe exactly as they do. In fact, it is hard to find people that believe exactly as we do, when you consider how many issues there are that need to be agreed upon. What is more important, I think, is that the churches we attend are supportive.
I’ve learned that my church is very valuable. My closest family is 450 miles away. To a certain extent, the church IS my family. It is good that the church I attend is supportive, therefore.
Some people act like they won’t attend a church that doesn’t believe exactly as they do. In fact, it is hard to find people that believe exactly as we do, when you consider how many issues there are that need to be agreed upon. What is more important, I think, is that the churches we attend are supportive.
F
ok, but I am just reading the Bible tells us, and that is that the church is the body, and there is only one body Eph 4:4.
Thats good if you can find support, but the Bible is not as hard to harmonize if we throw out all the preconceived ideas from man, and just read it and see what the early church practiced. If we only choose to do what is found in scripture, then we can have a good conscience knowing what we do and practice can be backed up with the Bible, not some "pastor" telling me what is right and wrong.
Thats good if you can find support, but the Bible is not as hard to harmonize if we throw out all the preconceived ideas from man, and just read it and see what the early church practiced. If we only choose to do what is found in scripture, then we can have a good conscience knowing what we do and practice can be backed up with the Bible, not some "pastor" telling me what is right and wrong.
S
Same difference. In proper English since it's a name all the non-article words should be capitalized. But I can't say I didn't expect it based on your first post in this thread.
But based on your statement "The congregations of the New Testament, Corinthians, Ephesians, Romans, etc, were not different churches with different teachings and practices, they were all part of the one church that Christ built and practiced the same thing, they were only different congregations of the one church".
How do you explain the variance in belief among the "churches of Christ"?
But based on your statement "The congregations of the New Testament, Corinthians, Ephesians, Romans, etc, were not different churches with different teachings and practices, they were all part of the one church that Christ built and practiced the same thing, they were only different congregations of the one church".
How do you explain the variance in belief among the "churches of Christ"?
B
It's not a joke. Jesus said:
Matthew 16:18
"... upon this rock I will build my church..."
Jesus is coming back for A (singular) Church. Not two or more churches. One Church. His Church. His Bride. Jesus is not a polygamist and have many brides | churches. He has One Church. One single Bride.
Find that one. If you go to a church and you don't believe your church is THE church, why are you there? Get out and find the Church that's built on Christ.
F
Well I am glad you know your proper English, but how about the Bible. And it's not the "same difference"(should not use an oxymoron in proper English writing..lol) because you specifically asked is that was the spelling of our name, in which it is not, so don't ask if you already know the answer, but cant say I didn't expect it based on the assumptions of your first post.
First of all, like what? Do you expect me to know all the variances of everyone that has the chuch of Christ name? or are you talking about examples found in the New Testament? Clarify, give me some examples or something.
First of all, like what? Do you expect me to know all the variances of everyone that has the chuch of Christ name? or are you talking about examples found in the New Testament? Clarify, give me some examples or something.
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S
I can use the two churches of Christ in my town as an example here. The first one (which I call the Protestant church of Christ) is basically your standard church of Christ with your typical church of Christ distinctives (Baptism for the remission of sins, communion every Sunday etc.). The second one (which I call the Almost Catholic church of Christ), uses instruments in worship, has an extremely high and Catholic view of the Eucharist, and in recent years has been pushing the age for baptism lower and lower (honestly it won't be long before they're having infant baptisms).
Both are churches of Christ and both associate with other churches of Christ in the area without issue, but they have conflicting practices and in some instances theological views.
Both are churches of Christ and both associate with other churches of Christ in the area without issue, but they have conflicting practices and in some instances theological views.