What sect or denomination of Christianity is closest to the orgininal teaching of Christ?

Question

I'm not looking for a controversy, I just want to know where the closest message to Jesus' orginial intentions is to be found. It's clearly not in Catholicism. I mean the original ideals. In my understanding, Christ did not beleive in giant cathedrals and ecclesiastical nonsense and complex corrupt church "government". It seems like most of "Christianity" has gotten away from his original ideals. So where is the simplest, purest message to be found? The unfiltered Jesus with the love and tolerance, minus all the doctrine and dogma and intolerance. Gnostics? Greek Orthodox? Tell me where to look.

Answer 1

Tough question. If it was easy to know the mind of god and his intentions there wouldn't be so many denominations.
It prett clear that in his time he was probably a gnostic. But once he passed his mystically gained knowledge on we no longer have to be gnostics to get it, we can look at what was said and how it was practiced.
I would like to think the early church was like the quakers in simply the faithful comeing together and shareing their faith even if they had nothing to say until the spirit moved them.
However, since religion does become tradition bound, probably the coptics who have it handed down directly.
It is much easier to say who isn't close, as you have pointed out. The catholics have buried the message in the medium, the baptists go for a small section of the law but hate everyone who isn't a member of their own congregation ( other baptists most of all), some of the newer groups like mormons and Jehova's witnesses seem to have no connection at all ( even if the non-polyagmist mormons lead exemplery lives.)
Thus the early church.
I see, however, that your question was about Jesus' original teaching. In that case, you proably would do best to look to the jews. Jesus and crew probably followed the law as leviticus laid down but tempered it with jesus' words on reaching out to the gentile, loving ones fellow man, etc.
Once Paul came along the origanal teachings of Christ were out the window.

Answer 2

When you look carefully you will see that the Catholic Church from apostolic times has zealously guarded all the truths of Christianity.She is the original mother Church of Christianity and the only one that can trace its roots to the Apostles and Jesus Himself.Cardinal Newman said,"To be deep in history is to cease being Protestant.Read Allen Schreck's 'Catholic and Christian' and Karl Keating's "Catholicism and Fundamentalism'.You can't run a group of 1.1 billion believers in the same way that the early Apostles did.However,only the Catholic Church possesses the four marks of Christ's Church throughout the centuries being one,holy,catholic and apostolic. Under the Vicar of Christ,from Simon Kepha till today she proclaims the true sacraments,all the teachings of the Apostles and has preached the Gospel through the ages.Check the site out below and see how deeply scripturally rooted the Catholic Church is.

Answer 3

I am afraid that "simple and purest" is anywhere to be found.
The closest texts are those of the "Gnostic's". The problem with those sects, is the lack of information on them, the texts are incomplete, and scholar cannot reconstruct and "message" clear enough. (cf the work of Bentley Layton)
The other source would be Judaism, as Jesus was a Jew. Some people postulated in favor of Jesus as an essenian. Again, this is impossible to prove.

If we take thew Symbol of Christ, how far can we dig to find a pure articulation of the same "meaning behing the symbol" Egypt with Isis and Osiris? the Antique world and Mithras or Zoroastre? the eastern views and their incarnate-gods?

I notice in your desire of an "unfiltred message" you own "filter", your own expectations of love and tolerance.

Maybe you want to start looking inward as the knowledge that comes from outside will never be pure. Have you thought of using myth as maps of your own psyche?

Answer 4

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. How many churches do you know that believe Jesus is the same as in the days of the Apostles. How many churches believe in signs, miracles, and healings; Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
How many churches believe these things are true above. The churches today would say you are crazy to believe these things and yet them same churches read how Eve disbelieved God's word and got us to this point.
Believe the Bible and see where God sends you. If you are a child of God you cannot be fooled even though the lies are so so close to the truth; Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
But if you believe the Bible and follow the Bible way God will lead you to the truth and it really doesn't matter which church you go to.

Answer 5

>>>It's clearly not in Catholicism>>>

I beg to differ. Catholicism is full-blown Christianity, and I think you'll find that if you study Catholic doctrinal and moral beliefs, they are unchanged from the message of Christ in the Gospels.

"Giant cathedrals" make up a very, very small percentage of Catholic churches throughout the world -- and besides, although "giant cathedrals" are not specifically permitted by Christ, they're not specifically prohibited either.

"Ecclesiastical nonsense" happens, true, but Christ promised that not even the powers of hell would prevail against His Church.

"Ecclesiastical nonsense" is, in a way, part of those "powers of hell" -- as are schisms, wars, persecutions, corruption, priests who molest, and a whole host of other problems.

But despite all that, the Catholic Church still stands tall -- with more members now than it's ever had, with more priests and religious than it's ever had.

And it remains the largest non-governmental provider of charity and humanitarianism in the world. It has been for centuries.

Regarding "love and tolerance" -- please don't confuse "love and tolerance" with "accepting every form of behavior out there, no matter how deviant and disordered and immoral."

Confusing the former with the latter is NOT part of the "unfiltered message of Jesus" and never has been.

In the Gospels, Jesus clearly tells us that He did NOT come to do away with the Old Covenant, but to fulfill it -- so anything that the OC has to say about any moral issue, such as homosexuality or abortion or whatever else, still goes.

.

Answer 6

No "denomination" may be closest to the church Christ geared up, by using fact the be conscious itself skill a seperation. to discover the church Jesus geared up, look for one: a million. With Christ by using fact the top/chief, and not a guy (Ephesians a million:22-23), and the jobs of adult adult males constrained to those listed in scripture (Ephesians 4:11, I Timothy 3:a million-14) 2. With the only doctrine being the be attentive to God (II JOhn 9, II Timothy 3:sixteen-17) 3. that's made up in basic terms of stored believers (Acts 2:40 seven, Romans 12:5, I Corinthians 12:27)

Answer 7

Wow! I wish to share this with you and i pray you investigate you have never read all the books in the bible you must read the books not allow in the bible and you shall see the christian religion much more clearly and then you shall read how the ones whom wrote the books contradicted themselves thought out the New testament and the story on Mary's mother is amazing read the lost books and then asked this question!

you must know that not one of the books in the new Testament was written by the original authors but very few you would be surprise and hay check out the other Revalation the one they would not allow to be included hay guess what it makes a lot more sense. Truely amazing how the layman has choses which can be added and what must never show up for the public to read nor to know about!
I pray this works

Answer 8

Jehovah's Witnesses.

They believe that Christ will be King and Ruler over a Perfect, Paradise Earth.

They believe he was the Son of God, not part of a Trinity. They do not believe he was God's equal, but made by God, and he then made everything else, this is why he was called "God's Master Architect," and where the "and We made man in our image," comes from.

They believe that they will live forever on a Paradise Earth with Christ and 144,000 of his followers as fellow rulers. Much like he told the man on the cross, "Today, I tell you, you will be with me in Paradise." Notice, not Heaven, Paradise. Big difference in the Aramaic language. They do not celebrate any holiday except the Lord's Supper (previously Passover) where the Lamb of God was sacrificed and its blood spread over the door. Then Christ came, "the lamb of God" and his blood was spilled for all mankind. So the NEW holiday of the Lord's Supper, to be held, "as often as this" as Christ said, which he was speaking of Passover which was annually. And it was ALWAYS on the same day of the year, every year. There's much, much more. But it goes back to the original church. Most of the other churches contain Pagan input, such as Christmas, Easter (named after the Goddess Aestarte) I mean, really what do eggs and bunnies have to do with Jesus, they are both fertility symbols. The list goes on and on, but I'll stop there.

And NO, I am NOT a Jehovah's Witness. However, I do not appreciate Pagandom mixed with Christianity and then for Christians to turn around and hate on Pagans. After all, they have much more in comman than NOT! At least they (JW's) have it right.

Answer 9

The Messianic sect. No Christmas, no Easter. Just plain old Jesus and His teachings of the Mosaic Law. From what I've seen, they leave the house on Sabbath (Saturday) to go to service, which is why I've never attended their church meetings, but they're the closest you'll get to the actual Bible.

Answer 10

Protestantism is the closest,especially the ones that came out of the Jesus movement of the 60s such as Calvary Chapel.Like the Bereans they compare what a man says to see if it matches up to scripture or if it is just man made traditions.