Do you ever wonder how "the church" came to be recognized by its buildings rather that the spiritual caliber of its leaders and congregations? And what about the attire of those who purport to be teachers and leaders of the various denominations in Christendom?
Did Jesus or his apostles ever dress like this? What happened to the Christian modesty that Christ embodied? He shunned this kind of display in the Pharisees.
On the night of his arrest, Judas had to identify Jesus with a kiss...why? Because he was dressed like every other Jew. No fancy garb, nothing to identify him as the Son of God except his teachings, his manner, and his ability to perform miracles.
Did you know, that in the Catacombs, where the early Christians went underground to avoid persecution, there were no images found at all until around the 4th century? Both Jews and the first Christians avoided the use of images because of what was written in the Bible. In the 10 Commandments there was a specific law that stated NOT to MAKE images of anything that would be used in worship. So I believe the first image to appear there was a fish.
There are various stories about the origin of the fish but you will see the Pope and other religious leaders wearing a miter.
Which is strangely reminiscent of the one worn to symbolize the fish god Dagon...
Jesus warned that Christianity would be corrupted by men, introducing traditions adopted from pagan sources and making Christianity into something other than what Christ began. This is the only Christianity that people know. I believe that we need to do our homework and delve into the origins of many things that are taught in today's 'Christian' churches.
I'm afraid that God will NOT bless every church everywhere because "many" are going to actually be rejected by Christ at the judgment.
He said of that time....in Matthew 7:21-23...
"Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. 22 Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’"
These ones appear to be shocked at his words, enumerating all the things they did "in his name"....and yet what does he say to them? "
I never knew you! Get away from me, you
workers of lawlessness!"
"Never" means "not ever" so those self-proclaimed "Christians" are not Christians at all from Jesus' perspective....they are "Christians" only in their own estimations, but "workers of lawlessness" in his eyes.
So don't run away with the idea that all "Christianity" is acceptable to Christ.....clearly there is a criteria....they have to be "doing the will of the Father". Do you know what that entails, and what it does not? We all should because our lives depend on it according to the Bible.