Explaining The Truth In Simple Words
Designed and Managed by HoustonWSites
Introduction
The Christian Church belongs to Jesus Christ. This statement is confirmed by Jesus Himself through the writings in the gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 16:18 So I will call you Peter, which means "a rock." On this rock, I will build my church,
and death itself will not have any power over it.
What was the purpose of the church built by Jesus on Peter the Rock? The answer to this
question is given through scripture. If there was a statement telling precisely what the purpose
of the church is, the book of Acts gives an ample answer to the question.
Act 2:42 They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each
other. They also broke bread and prayed together.
According to this verse, the purposes/activities of the church should be:
1. teaching biblical doctrine,
2. providing a place of fellowship for believers,
3. observing the Lord’s supper, and
4. praying.
The church was given to Jesus’ followers as a place of fellowship, communion, education and praying.
Paul gave an excellent illustration to the believers in Corinth. The church is God’s hands, mouth, and feet in this world—the body of Christ
(1 Corinthians 12:12-27). We are to be doing the things that Jesus Christ would do if He were here physically on the earth. The church is to
be “Christian,” “Christ-like,” and Christ-following.
What happened after the apostles founding fathers of the Church died, is part of the human history. The Enemy corrupted the hearts of
men for the benefit of his own purpose. The very same
purpose the Enemy had since the beginning of humanity
way back in the garden of Eden: Power, richness, carnality,
political intrigue, envy, evil seeking and pride.
With these characteristics at hand, the original church of
Jesus was soon ‘Humanized’ and in the name of God, men
began to seek their own path to satisfy his human needs.
Today after the relative short space of time since the
ascension of Jesus Christ, what we have is a very sad
situation to say the least. Looking at the landscape of the
Christian church initially across the United States and truly
across the globe, the number of Christian denominations is
in the thousands. It is difficult to truly count the number of
Christian denominations as this number would vary
depending upon the definition of what a ‘Denomination’ is.
However, the following is an upper level view of this issue
mainly for Unites States and Canada:
Wikipedia (quoting Christianity Today) says there are “approximately 38,000” Christian denominations.
The World Christian Encyclopedia of 2001 counted 33,830
The World Christian Database carries “extensive data” on 9,000 Christian denominations.
The Hartford Institute for Religion Research says that the 2006 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches lists 217 denominations.
If we take one of these lines, we see the enormous division of the Church of Jesus Christ! Although it is not our church but His church, men
has done again what man is great at doing, this is, destroying that which God has given to men.
One might ponder the question asking what are the reason for the Christian church to have experienced the level of fragmentation
making the organization one of the most fragmented organizations of any kind of the world.
At the end of all explanations and argumentations, the several thousand divisions of the Christian church are found in pride, arrogance,
intolerance, political and economic power, thirst of personal power, pride and a corrupted heart.
At the very root of the matter, after theological battles, argumentations about language and views, there are simple statements uttered
by each denomination:
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I understand better, you do not understand.
•
I know the truth better than you.
•
You are wrong and I am right.
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My interpretation is better yours are wrong.
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You are twisting Scripture I am not.
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And many more of this nature.
And in some cases, like the position taken by the Vatican in recent years towards all protestant denominations:
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You are not even Christians!
In some cases, the Truth of the Word of God
produces discomfort and displeasure in those
embracing worldly behavior inside the church
and simply said, they follow the path that makes
them feel better than accepting the truth of the
matter surrendering to the Enemy. We sadly see
denominations with homosexual leaders
embracing and twisting Scripture to
accommodate their twisted nature. Again, the
hearts of men are deceitful and seek only evil.
Christianity around the world is expecting the
second coming of Jesus Christ as He promised to
His disciples (Matthew 24 29-31). Several
scholars believe the second coming of Jesus is
coming in a near future as they see several
global events as the conditions described in the
prophetic writings in the books of Daniel,
Matthew and Revelation.
The Question
Now, let us suppose for the sake of this article that the scholars pondering that the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is happening in
our present time are correct and that next week the glorious event takes place. As we all can imagine, this is a global event never seen
before by humanity. Please recognize that His coming is preceded by a great many cosmic and un-natural events as He described to His
apostles. See Matthew 24: 4-51. Naturally the event would be immersed in a gigantic effervescence of reactions from the many nations of
the world and for the many different conglomerate of groups defending anti-god philosophies and perhaps other more cosmic thinking.
There are many questions one can ask about an event most of humanity has waited to see for the last two millennia, however, in the case
of this article we will center in one question only.
The main question we want to address is this: Would Jesus have a preference or an inclination towards any of the thousand denominations
of His church? In other words, would Jesus accept any of the denominations as His Church?
Could it be that Jesus will find the divisions of His church as a wonderful path taken by His children?
Whatever is the denomination or the position on this matter that you subscribe to, would Jesus visit with your pastor, priest, minister or
spiritual guide to congratulate him/her for the wonderful job well done preserving and promoting His now divided church? What about you
and me? Would Jesus eventually get back with us to congratulate us and praise us for the wonderful effort and for a well fought battle
against the Enemy defending the purity of his church? Really?
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Will Jesus call us ‘good and faithful servants’?
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Will Jesus Accept any of the several thousand denominations men has created?
•
Would Jesus attend Mass on Sunday, or a Baptist Service on Sunday or perhaps Mass at any of the several Orthodox organizations?
Allow me a much more mundane view, not really that far from reality though. If we were seeing the actual church as a product to sell, this
is, if we were talking about a product from the point of view of a group of experts in marketing, they would sale the present church as a
place where anyone is welcome, it does not matter what really one believes or what parts of scripture one may want to remove to
accommodate one’s behavior or preferences. Everyone is welcome, in most cases not to change, not to find a new way and a new life but
as a symbol of tolerance, of understanding. The message is: “God is love and He loves you just the way you are”.
Are you looking for Salvation? That is easy, just repeat the following praying after me…
In all this situation, where are we, this is, you and me and millions of other Christians? Are we truly followers of Jesus? Truly followers? Are
we 100% doing what the church ought to do? Do we recognize more authority in tradition that in Scripture?
Again, would Jesus go with you to your church?
Perhaps what is more important is this: Is there anything to be done? Is there anything you and I can do to be truly recognized by Jesus as
his followers? Are we seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness? I am a good tree? Remember the following statement by Jesus
Himself:
What Denomination Would Jesus Embrace?
