Is the idea of "One True Church" Biblical? (Jesus, gospel)

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by 9-10ths_Penguin

Do you think this passage speaks against the authority of God being vested in the "One True Church"?

No, I don't. Ephesians 4:4-5 states: "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism..." And Ephesians 4:11-14 describes the organization of the Church Jesus Christ told the Apostle Peter He was going to establish. Paul says that this organization is to exist "till we all come in the unity of the faith."

I believe the idea of "one true Church" is definitely Biblical. There would be no need for us to all come into "the unity of the faith" if all 30,000 or so Christian denominations today all held equal authority while teaching contradicting doctriness. On the other hand, in addition to believing in the institutional Church, within which the concept of God's authority lies, I also believe in the invisible Church, or body of Christ, to which all Christians belong. I think the verses you quoted are clearly evidence that anyone who sincerely considers himself to be a Christian has the right to do so and should not be excluded from the Christian family.

[Ratiocinative]

Originally Posted by rheff78

I think this goes back to the old saying "The enemy of my enemy is my friend". You don't necessarily see them as being on your side, but they certainly aren't hurting you, and could possibly help you.

There is a parallel passage of this event in Mark 9:38–41, in which the fact that the man casting out demons was doing it in Jesus' name was added. So the saying "enemy of my enemy is my friend" just doesn't apply here. It is clear that this man is a believer in Jesus, other wise he would be unable to cast out demons in Jesus' name, he just wasn't one who traveled with Jesus. Since one who is not against them is one who is also a believer in him, he was telling the disciples not to stop him.

Originally Posted by 9-10ths_Penguin

I came across this passage in the Bible (Luke 9:46-50) when looking up something else:



Do you think this passage speaks against the authority of God being vested in the "One True Church"?

If some man who the Apostles don't know has the power to drive out demons in the name of Jesus, what does this say about the "keys to the kingdom"?

It depends on what kind of church you mean. If you mean a physical church, such as a denomination or authority , then no, there are lots of churches. If by church you mean spiritual community, then yes, there is only one true church, those who believe in Christ Jesus as savior.

[bookworm27]

Originally Posted by jtartar

Penguin,
The Bible is actually very clear about there being only one true church, Notice Eph 4:3-6.
We have Paul telling us that there should be no divisions among Christians, but that we should all speak in agreement and even have the same line of thought, 1Cor 1:10. If all spoke in agreement, that would invariably lead to one belief.
In the first century, epichristian times, Christianity was called THE WAY, because there was only one way to act that pleased the Holy God, Acts 9:2, 19:9,23, 22:4, 24:22.
Another point to remember; Jesus said that true Christians must worship God with spirit and truth, John 4:23,24. We know there is only one truth, while there is innumerable false beliefs.

But the question is what is the true church???

[Jeremy Mason]

In my view, there are only two kinds of Christians:
1. Obedient
2. Disobedient

The Sheep and the Goats 31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

[sojourner]

If the Church is the Body of Christ, which is a Biblical concept, how can there be more than one Body?

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Originally Posted by sojourner

If the Church is the Body of Christ, which is a Biblical concept, how can there be more than one Body?

Would different communities, believing and worshipping in different ways but with a common thread of Christ, really be more than one Body?

I've seen some Christian denominations claim to be the "One True Church", and use that as support that their doctrines alone are correct, and other denominations that call themselves Christian are flawed or have gone astray.

To look at it from another way, is "the man driving out demons in [Jesus'] name who is not one of us" from Luke 9:49 part of the Body of Christ?

[Popeyesays]

Originally Posted by 9-10ths_Penguin

Would different communities, believing and worshipping in different ways but with a common thread of Christ, really be more than one Body?

I've seen some Christian denominations claim to be the "One True Church", and use that as support that their doctrines alone are correct, and other denominations that call themselves Christian are flawed or have gone astray.

To look at it from another way, is "the man driving out demons in [Jesus'] name who is not one of us" from Luke 9:49 part of the Body of Christ?

In general Christianity has reached the plausible limits of exclusivism, shattering into so many facets that deny the existence of one another that all rationality has been lost.

Regards,
Scott

[Muffled]

A person does not need to be in the church to cast out demons in the name of Jesus but he must believe that Jesus will do that. Some Jewish brothers tried it thinking the name could be used as a magic incantation and found out to their sorrow that it wasn't.

I once encountered a prisoner who wanted the church to do something for him. I asked Jesus about it and He said to tell the man, no, because you are not connected to the church. It isn't that God won't help the unconnected but that he doesn't have to do them any favors.

The keys to the kingdom will make available the kingdom whether a person is in a church or not. However how can a person outside the church find the keys? You could say in the Bible but in a sense the Bible is an extension of the church. Of course God can just start talking to someone about it but then He is the head of the church so it is still within the confines of the church.

[logician]

Originally Posted by Muffled

A person does not need to be in the church to cast out demons in the name of Jesus but he must believe that Jesus will do that. Some Jewish brothers tried it thinking the name could be used as a magic incantation and found out to their sorrow that it wasn't.

I once encountered a prisoner who wanted the church to do something for him. I asked Jesus about it and He said to tell the man, no, because you are not connected to the church. It isn't that God won't help the unconnected but that he doesn't have to do them any favors.

The keys to the kingdom will make available the kingdom whether a person is in a church or not. However how can a person outside the church find the keys? You could say in the Bible but in a sense the Bible is an extension of the church. Of course God can just start talking to someone about it but then He is the head of the church so it is still within the confines of the church.

Any religion that thinks it is the one true way, isn't.