Why do you have a church?

Question

Specifically, Jesus said, my father's church is within you. He said he would never build a church.It was not until some of Jesus's disciples got bored or broke that they went to his brother James, who by the way evidence supports, never believed his brother was the son of God, and convinced him to be the leader of the first church, that a church was formed. And then after the Romans could not defeat the Christian movement, they joined in to make rules and a heirarchy that they could profit from, thus eventually the cardinals and the pope who controlled even the kings of Europe. Now please, all of you believers without historical support, please don't bog down this with rhetoric without value.If you believe, that's your right, but I am posing a truthful question supported by both the Bible and other historical journals. The religious base of the world, including other faiths is a multi-trillion dollar enterprise, yet they support death and destruction.

Answer 1

My church is in my own home where I can pray whenever I want to and worship the way I want to and I can read the scripture as I want to and not be spoonfed information by some man who may or may not be of God.

Answer 2

BOLOGNA!

Misquotes and lies.

Matt 16:18 Here is what I tell you. You are Peter. On this rock I will build my church. The gates of hell will not be strong enough to destroy it.

Matt 18:17 But what if he also refuses to listen to the witnesses? Then tell it to the church. And what if he refuses to listen even to the church? Then don’t treat him as your brother. Treat him as you would treat an ungodly person or a tax collector.

Ekklesia, the Greek word for 'church' is found only twice in the gospels. Both verses are posted here.

The passage you misquote is Luke 17:21 "You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is among you.”"

By what evidence do you claim Jakob (James) was not a believer? The book which he authored was likely the first book in the New Testament to be written and Paul, writing in the same general era clearly considered him a leader among the early church. Gal 1:19 "I didn’t see any of the other apostles. I only saw James, the Lord’s brother."

Why do you pose so many false statements without support from scripture or history to support your claims?

Answer 3

Jesus used the word church 2 times.

1. Once to tell Peter that he would be involved with the building of the church (Matthw 16:18)

2. To instruct people how to deal with a believer that wont confess his sin. (Matthew 18:17)

Jesus never said our church is within us. That is more a gnostic belief and for people that want to try to get out of going to church and giving back to God. That simply isnt Biblical

On the other hand, the church is very Biblical.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." -Matthew 28:19-20

Do other organizations out there make disciples of Jesus other than churches? baptize new believers? Bible teaching?

Gods will is done through todays church. Some of them may be corrupt, but that is our challenge is to make church a great place where Gods will is done, we fellowship with one another, we worship together, give back to God, take communion, make new believers, and take care of peoples needs. How does all that stuff get done "within you?"

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. -Hebrews 10:25

Answer 4

Jesus passed the keys and authority to peter who passed it down and continues in an unbreakable chain. he built his church upon the rock kepha(peter) all this is Scripture my friend that is why i have a church.some may be corrupt within but that doesn't diminish the importance of the church. to say that is to negate what Jesus came to do and what the apostles and disciples accomplished and even died for, after the gospels the new testament shows the disciples preaching,teaching and keeping all the churches in unison and catholic(universal), to keep the one truth and the one true church. the church has made its mistakes granted but so do the others of today. however we can see from time the formation of the papacy traced back to peter,we also see the establishment of a church.

Answer 5

the purpose of the church is to edify the body, remember corinthians the gifts of the spirit are for the edification of the body of christ, therefore the church is to challenge beliefs, like your doing now! That's why a preacher also sits under another preacher. No one person can carry all that information easily, so we break it down it gifts from god so that each person can interpret the bible into their lifes and then be able to modify the church closer to the truth with their questions

Answer 6

While the kingdom of heaven lies within each of us, there is an important concept that we dare not overlook: fellowship with other believers.

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Answer 7

Churches were invented to steal you money...
Just kidding.
Actually I know the answer.
Churchs sprang up as a way protecting the outlawed Christian services in anceint Rome. If mass were to take place in pulic Christians would be arrested and killed.