Why do people not see that there has been a great apostasy of the church that Christ formed?

Question

The church Christ formed has since dwindled in unbelief, in fact shortly after the apostles die. What makes me say that? The authority of an apostle is different from that of a bishop. Apostles had the 'keys' of leadership over the church as a whole and that authority as far as I understand it was never passed to anyone else before all the disciples (apostles) of christ died. So why do people insist on believing that Christ's church is found in catholicism?

Well the only logical explanations I have seen so far are those offered by the mormons. As far as Christ being the only eternal thing, I can't believe that it just sounds wierd. True I do believe in Christ as a resurrected person but to say that he built His church upon himself is hitting the point but I think you missed the mark a little bit. I think that he referred to his previous statement, "flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto you but my father which is in Heaven." That sounds to me that Christ was saying "and upon this rock" (foundation) - of revelation - "I will build my church."

Answer 1

You are right - there was an apostasy - a falling away as was prophesised by Paul. The original apostles died before they were able to pass on their keys to the kingdom. And so things were changed as the people tried to go on what they were taught but without the authority and keys of leadership that died with the apostles.

The good news is that the keys are back on the earth today - also prophesised by Paul and also by John. They were restored when Peter, James, and John appeared to Joseph Smith and gave him the keys of leadership and authority of the high priesthood of the order of Melchezidek (which priesthood was held by prophets from Abraham to the apostles and also by Christ).

The church of Christ was reorganized in this dispensation by Joseph Smith and the keys of the priesthood were restored and the suthority of God was again on the earth. It has since never left and will never leave again. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teaches the exact same things that Christ and His apostles taught while on the earth.

Answer 2

Because "they" don't want to believe that their part of the problem! After all, then they would be "living a lie, and that's unacceptable!" Better to go through life with 'blinder's on' than believe that they are a part of something bad.

Also, it is FALSE that Christ built his Church (his Bride) on the Apostle, he built it upon the Rock (which is eternal) and HE HIMSELF was the only eternal thing. So, this was taken out of context and Christ is the Rock upon which the Church was built, not someone else. Bad translation, bad translation, and out of context. Just another "doctrine of man" that will one day be done away with when Christ's Kingdom returns and Babylon the Great Falls.

Answer 3

The leadership of the fledgling Christian church was passed on from the apostles to their pupils, the church fathers, who then passed it on to their pupils. Many do not believe that the Church was founded in Catholicism, which came along several hundred years after the resurrection.

Answer 4

Christ's true church is not found in Catholicism. There was an apostasy. The Church has been restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Latter-days. Jesus Christ himself, and Heavenly Father, appeared to Joseph and told him, that the churches were corrupt, to join none of them.

Joseph Smith was then given authority by Jesus Christ to baptize and hold the Priesthood of God. All the keys and ordinances necessary for the salvation of man were restored to the earth.

Answer 5

One verse is really all that backs up that claim... and alot of writings from the Church Fathers. Which is odd, more people are actually following what those Church Fathers said ABOUT the faith, than there are people who are following the person they claim they worship.

Answer 6

Christians are NOT non-thinkers. I question my faith and its teachings quite frequently!

From my limited understanding, the belief that Catholicism is Christ's church stems from the belief that Peter was the first Pope, and that the papacy was handed down from him in an unbroken chain. (I don't think that this is entirely true, but I think that that is where the belief stems from.)

I don't think that Christ's church's beliefs have been entirely abandoned- the root beliefs are still there.

Answer 7

Apostasy?

Jews for Jesus = Vegetarians for Hamburgers

God? He or She?

Church? Christianity? Jesus? Dying?

What is the Imacculate Conception supposed to mean?

Does Imacculate Conception = "VIRGIN BIRTH"?

Google Imacculate Conception and learn something.

What else do you falsely believe, Immaculate Deception?

Jesus, the basis of Christianity? .

If Jesus died, he could NOT have been God.

Can Gods die?

If Jesus 'died' on Friday and 'undied' on Sunday, what else besides Saturday was sacrificed?

Did Jesus give up Saturday for us?

No Eternal sacrifice, big deal for a day!

If Jesus died for our sins, there should not be any more sins, else why go through with it?.

If Jesus really DIED, he should be dead, dead, dead!

Life after death is like virginity after childbirth.

If the flesh of Jesus died, what was seen walking and talking on Sunday?

If you believe this stuff, you are not going to like the folks who don't. You want them to believe it too to validate you.

Christians want everyone to convert to their non-thinking in order to be 'saved'.

Believing and not thinking is like choosing a mental illness and becoming truly lost.

Answer 8

Good question! The sad part is that Catholicism has been tarnished because of bad leadership.

Shalom
dbd