If you say you follow Jesus shouldn't you also belong to the Church He instituted?

Question

Matthew 16:18
Jesus founded His Church on Peter.

Peter was the first bishop of Rome, the pope.

Jay Z ccording to what Jesus says it referrs to the person of Peter not his confession of faith even if that would be a possible interpretation too so I say both.

Yes Peter even denies Jesus later, so much for his profession of faith but after the ressurection Peter is also vindicated by Jesus. Do you love me?

Taranto is it why women cannot be priestesses.
But men cannot become pregnant either isn't that sexist?

Answer 1

There isnt a sentence in the bible which mentions that Jesus founded a particular church or a particular physical place of worship.

Answer 2

If Christ didn't institute a Church, I wonder what He meant when He said "upon this Rock I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH" (Matt 16:18)

If that Church didn't have administrative authority, what did Matthew mean when he wrote ""If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector." (Matt 18:17)

If the Church was not an opganized body, how was it possible that "for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers" (Acts 11:26)

If the Church didn't have authority to evangelize, how is it that "being sent forth by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren. (Acts 15:3)

If no-one held authority over the Church, why did Paul write "the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28)

Answer 3

Good question. If Peter was not the Rock on which Christ intended to build his Church, why did he give to Peter (and not all of the Apostles) the keys to the Kingdom. Why did he tell the Apostles that Satan had asked for them, but he tells Peter that he has prayed for him (not "them"). If the other Apostles did not see Peter as Christ's successor and having his authority, why was he never challenged on any of his decisions he made on behalf of the Church; especially when all of them had seen Christ rebuke him?

Christ did tell the apostles that he would send the Paraclete, the spirit of Truth so that they would remember all things and that the gates of hades would not prevail against his Church. It sounds like Christ intended to have only one Church, one with Apostolic authority, so that the Church would not be broken and would be in full communion with him. Now, if different churches rise up because they disagree on matters of faith and morals, then they have done no less than to have broken themselves off from the body of Christ! Also, in doing so, they have only the authority of man ... because they have also cut themselves from the authority of the apostolic line.

And to any that would say that the Catholic Church does not treat its members equally, I urge them to dive deeper into the richness of this faith. We are treated EQUALLY, just not the SAME. Why would this be? Could it be because that in fact we are different and God intended us to be that way? It does seem obvious that that is the case, but instead of being oppressed by our differences, within the Church, we are exulted! Just as we treat all of our body equally as our own, but the parts of it differently because the part are in fact different (the knee does not make a good rib cage and vice versa).

If you are Christian and want to know more about the one true, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church, please do not let pride or ignorance stand in the way. There are answers to every question you have, and they are answers that your mind and heart will love.

Visit sites like getfed.com or saintjoe.com ... you won't be disappointed!

God Bless!

Answer 4

I like to tell people that I could never be part of an Orthodox religion (like Catholic, Orthodox Jewish, Muslim Fundamentalist) because they don't treat women as equals. But I could never be part of a religion that is not Orthodox because they are all heretics.

I have to admit that I don't understand how anyone could be Protestant. Isn't that just admitting that Jesus made a mistake when he created the Catholic Church? Do they not realize that all Protestant religions were created by men who rejectd the Church created by Jesus?

Don't get me wrong -- I rejected the Catholic Church myself. But I didn't have the hypocracy of thinking that some other spin-off was correct.

Answer 5

Yes. That church is spiritual in nature. The Head of the church is Jesus himself.

He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God's word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. Ephesians 5:25-27

Just read your comment. The church was founded on the CONFESSION of Peter. The confession that 'Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.'

Not Peter, the next sentence Jesus rebukes Peter by saying, Get thee behind me, satan! (In response to 'God forbid that you should die!')

Answer 6

This text is generally misinterpreted by those who have a hidden agenda or those who have not taken the time to do the related research.

The following is the commentary of Adam Clarke on this passage.

"Mat 16:18 - Thou art Peter - This was the same as if he had said, I acknowledge thee for one of my disciples - for this name was given him by our Lord when he first called him to the apostleship. See Joh_1:42.
Peter, πετρος, signifies a stone, or fragment of a rock; and our Lord, whose constant custom it was to rise to heavenly things through the medium of earthly, takes occasion from the name, the metaphorical meaning of which was strength and stability, to point out the solidity of the confession, and the stability of that cause which should be founded on The Christ, the Son of the Living God. See the notes at Luk_9:62.
Upon this very rock, επι ταυτη τη πετρα - this true confession of thine - that I am The Messiah, that am come to reveal and communicate The Living God, that the dead, lost world may be saved - upon this very rock, myself, thus confessed (alluding probably to Psa_118:22, The Stone which the builders rejected is become the Head-Stone of the Corner: and to Isa_28:16, Behold I lay a Stone in Zion for a Foundation) - will I build my Church, μου την εκκλησιαν, my assembly, or congregation, i.e. of persons who are made partakers of this precious faith. That Peter is not designed in our Lord’s words must be evident to all who are not blinded by prejudice. Peter was only one of the builders in this sacred edifice, Eph_2:20 who himself tells us, (with the rest of the believers), was built on this living foundation stone: 1Pe_2:4, 1Pe_2:5, therefore Jesus Christ did not say, on thee, Peter, will I build my Church, but changes immediately the expression, and says, upon that very rock, επι ταυτη τη πετρα, to show that he neither addressed Peter, nor any other of the apostles. So, the supremacy of Peter, and the infallibility of the Church of Rome, must be sought in some other scripture, for they certainly are not to be found in this. On the meaning of the word Church, see at the conclusion of this chapter".

Jesus didn't institute any church on Peter: The church was founded on Christ Himself. And yes, Christians need to belong to the church that follows Christ's instructions.

Answer 7

Good point, and since he didn't institute a church, perhaps no one should belong to a church. Jesus is the one who clearly said to pray in the closet. I often wonder why so few people do so. It baffles me that so many people spend their money to support a system that has no basis in their beliefs.

Answer 8

LOL
Jesus is the head of the church. Im following Jesus. The believers are his church he lives in us. I also fellowship with other believers at a church. Its a really cool deal.


GOD bless ya.

Answer 9

Jesus never instituted a church. He was a Rabbi-a teacher- who promoted Jewish living. This church idea came years later-much later.

Answer 10

Jesus haven't founded any church. Jesus wanted all people to love each other and churches just bring division.