How many Christian Churches are there?

[jubilee131]

I propose that there is only one true Christian Church and many conterfit christian churches. Jesus started one church.


John 17:11
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

Jesus started one church and wanted them to be one. But it didn't take long before people started changing it.

Galatians 1:6-8:
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Anyone who changes the Gospel in the slightest degree is accursed, so there is nothing insignificant in the Gospel. Yet many treat the Gospel like a passing grade. If you get 75% correct you pass. It is obvious that God doesn’t think that way. God is a perfect being. God is never wrong and He never makes a mistake. His Gospel is 100% correct and any gospel that isn’t 100% correct is “another gospel”. Jesus only started and claims one church. So if one church belongs to Jesus who owns or claims all of the other churches? That would be Satan, that puts a whole new meaning on Satan worship, doesn’t it.

Luke 11:23
23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

There is one Church Universal.

However, it is expressed through countless branches of the faith, much like the branches of a tree. Jesus planted the seed and it flourished.

This is neither good nor bad. But a Trunk would not grow without branches.

By quoting John, Galations and luke, you demonstrate that the Authors each had different priorities. You could Quote Paul and James and find that in some things they had quite different views.

Bible study is useful but is not the be all and end all, of Christianity.

Jesus teaching is a living message that can take different forms in different situations.

The Bible must be interpreted not only in faith but with help from the Holy Spirit. There is never just a single interpretation, it changes with the situation and the need.

Jesus teaching is a framework that teaches us how to approach finding new answers to new questions. it is not a manual.

 

[not nom]

I think more than people.

 

[ChristineES]

Reading the Bible as a whole rather than memorizing selected quotes is a much better. Quotes taken out of context can have a whole different meaning than if they in context.
That is always something to think about.

 

[K.Venugopal]

There is a little irony in that Christianity propounds it is the only true religion and the various Churches in turn propound that it is the only true Church.

 

[javajo]

I believe anyone who has placed their trust alone in Christ alone by faith alone is the church.

 

[Gaura Priya]

I loved this comic!

And also:

 

[Quiddity]

I do believe there is only one that has it completely right. But I don't propose that makes all the others irrelevant and they have nothing to offer. They are Christians and I'm fairly certain God wouldn't want us to go around telling them "you are going to hell" (not something most catholics do anyways). Some Christian denominations are certainly "closer" to the deposit of faith handed down.

 

[jubilee131]

There is one Church Universal.

However, it is expressed through countless branches of the faith, much like the branches of a tree. Jesus planted the seed and it flourished.

This is neither good nor bad. But a Trunk would not grow without branches.

By quoting John, Galations and luke, you demonstrate that the Authors each had different priorities. You could Quote Paul and James and find that in some things they had quite different views.

Bible study is useful but is not the be all and end all, of Christianity.

Jeasus teaching is a living message that can take different forms in different situations.

The Bible must be interpreted not only in faith but with help from the Holy Spirit. There is never just a single interpretation, it changes with the situation and the need.

Jesus teaching is a framework that teaches us how to approach finding new answers to new questions. it is not a manual.

I don't buy your trunk and branches story. I could if they each believed the same things. One says baptism is required another says it isn't. Both can't be correct. One is right and one is wrong. God is never wrong and His Gospel is never in error. Some say works are meaningless another says they are required. Jesus prayed for them to be one (unified). They are not. One is correct the others are somewhat less correct. I don't know about you but I don't want to be 75% correct. I want the real Gospel not a close copy.

Matthew 7:22-23
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

An example of those who thought they were doing the Lords work and He "never knew" them. So Jesus didn't claim those people. Who did claim them? The only one left is Satan.

Scriptures are a record of teachings and history. Nothing living about them. They are there so we can compare to the original and determine "another gospel"

Heb 13:8
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

The same goes for His Gospel.

 

[jubilee131]

I do believe there is only one that has it completely right. But I don't propose that makes all the others irrelevant and they have nothing to offer. They are Christians and I'm fairly certain God wouldn't want us to go around telling them "you are going to hell" (not something most catholics do anyways). Some Christian denominations are certainly "closer" to the deposit of faith handed down.

If one is correct and the others are a varying degree of correctness, how does one obey God's commandments if there is disagreement over what they are? How can God condone errors. Galatians 1:6-8: clearly states anyone who changes the gospel is accursed. I don't think an accursed person will be living with God. Those who change the Gospel are leading people astray.
Luke 11:23
23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

 

[jubilee131]

I do believe there is only one that has it completely right. But I don't propose that makes all the others irrelevant and they have nothing to offer. They are Christians and I'm fairly certain God wouldn't want us to go around telling them "you are going to hell" (not something most catholics do anyways). Some Christian denominations are certainly "closer" to the deposit of faith handed down.

I think your argument shows that we are more afraid to offend people than offend God.

 

[ChristineES]

I get a little leery of people who say "there is only one true denomination of Christians and it just happens to be the one that I belong to".

 

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[Quiddity]

If one is correct and the others are a varying degree of correctness, how does one obey God's commandments if there is disagreement over what they are? How can God condone errors. Galatians 1:6-8: clearly states anyone who changes the gospel is accursed. I don't think an accursed person will be living with God. Those who change the Gospel are leading people astray.
Luke 11:23
23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

Well, it's a non-issue for me personally as I know where to go if I happen to disagree with a fellow catholic on a verse.

 

[JacobEzra.]

Well, it's a non-issue for me personally as I know where to go if I happen to disagree with a fellow catholic on a verse.

I think we Catholics are the only ones who are like that. MAybe ORthodox? Not sure.

But unlike the rest who rely on personal interpretation, we have a unified teaching and are one.

That is why one can never really debate a fellow Catholic lol

 

[JacobEzra.]

There is one Church Universal.

However, it is expressed through countless branches of the faith, much like the branches of a tree. Jesus planted the seed and it flourished.

This is neither good nor bad. But a Trunk would not grow without branches.

By quoting John, Galations and luke, you demonstrate that the Authors each had different priorities. You could Quote Paul and James and find that in some things they had quite different views.

Bible study is useful but is not the be all and end all, of Christianity.

Jeasus teaching is a living message that can take different forms in different situations.

The Bible must be interpreted not only in faith but with help from the Holy Spirit. There is never just a single interpretation, it changes with the situation and the need.

Jesus teaching is a framework that teaches us how to approach finding new answers to new questions. it is not a manual.

I think I agree with you mostly.

 

[jubilee131]

Well, it's a non-issue for me personally as I know where to go if I happen to disagree with a fellow catholic on a verse.

I was speaking of different denominations. Let me make it more personal for you. Some say the method of baptism is by immersion. Catholics say sprinkling. Who is correct? (rhetorical question) Catholics say baptize infants others say don't baptize infants. Who is correct and how do you know? (rhetorical question) If one church is incorrect is it not teaching false doctrine and leading people astray? (not rhetorical question).

 

[JacobEzra.]

I was speaking of different denominations. Let me make it more personal for you. Some say the method of baptism is by immersion. Catholics say sprinkling. Who is correct? (rhetorical question) Catholics say baptize infants others say don't baptize infants. Who is correct and how do you know? (rhetorical question) If one church is incorrect is it not teaching false doctrine and leading people astray? (not rhetorical question).

Why should it matter so much what other denominations say? We know what is the historical belief and we hold onto it.

But as another poster pointed out. There is a Universal Church which many are part of, despite heretical views

838 "The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter."322 Those "who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church."323 With the Orthodox Churches, this communion is so profound "that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord's Eucharist."324

 

[JacobEzra.]

817 In fact, "in this one and only Church of God from its very beginnings there arose certain rifts, which the Apostle strongly censures as damnable. But in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions appeared and large communities became separated from full communion with the Catholic Church - for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame."269 The ruptures that wound the unity of Christ's Body - here we must distinguish heresy, apostasy, and schism270 - do not occur without human sin:

Where there are sins, there are also divisions, schisms, heresies, and disputes. Where there is virtue, however, there also are harmony and unity, from which arise the one heart and one soul of all believers.271
818 "However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers . . . . All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church."272
819 "Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth"273 are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: "the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements."274 Christ's Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him,275 and are in themselves calls to "Catholic unity."276

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

I don't buy your trunk and branches story. I could if they each believed the same things. One says baptism is required another says it isn't. Both can't be correct. One is right and one is wrong. God is never wrong and His Gospel is never in error. Some say works are meaningless another says they are required. Jesus prayed for them to be one (unified). They are not. One is correct the others are somewhat less correct. I don't know about you but I don't want to be 75% correct. I want the real Gospel not a close copy.

Matthew 7:22-23
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

An example of those who thought they were doing the Lords work and He "never knew" them. So Jesus didn't claim those people. Who did claim them? The only one left is Satan.

Scriptures are a record of teachings and history. Nothing living about them. They are there so we can compare to the original and determine "another gospel"

Heb 13:8
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

The same goes for His Gospel.

I don't expect you to buy my tree example... like all metaphors it is imperfect.
However the various subsets of Christianity have all been based on Jesus teachings, and they have been coloured by other writers, from the old and new testaments.

Every one who reads the Bible interprets and filters it with their own Personality, understanding and prior education. This is unavoidable.

What little of Jesus message that has come down to us is certainly not unchanged. Each writer in the Bible has recorded different parts of the stories and messages and put their own slant on it. Even today the Bible is being rewritten in the light of new discovery and new scholarship pertaining to the lives and times of the Authors.

Jesus never wrote a Gospel, as far as is known, he never wrote anything.

His church is based on the memories of those who knew him and those that came after. His disciples seem to have left us very little indeed to work with. Those who were the closest to him, Like Mary Magdalene, who was also the first he showed himself to, risen from the grave, Have had her Gospel destroyed (with only fragments remaining) because the Church did not like what she was saying.

The Branch of the Church you follow is no more "true" than any other. It is based on the same limited material as all other branches. And is no more favoured by God than any other.


There is every reason to believe that God loves all mankind equally.