Where did all of these other churches come from?

Question

Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, Lutherans, Scientology, Mormons, and anyone else I've forgotten. People say we're all accepted by the same God, we're all following the same Bible, yet I've only seen one church mentioned in the Bible, (Romans 16:16) and it's none of the ones mentioned above, or anything else that calls itself a church.

If you intend to answer this question, can you find any Biblical scripture for its authorization by Jesus, in the New Testament?

To catholicst: If you look in the New Testament, you will not find the word Catholic, nor will you find that Christ declared St. Peter to be the head of any church. The church Christ died for was built on His Word, the doctrine of Christ, not a person. You will find in Acts 11:26 that followers were called Christians first in Antioch. You will find in Acts 26:28 that King Agrippa, after being taught by Paul, said to him that he ALMOST persuaded him to be a Christian. You will find in 1 Peter 4:16: Yet, if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed. You said that the Catholic church started in 33 A.D.; that is not true. Catholicism started way after Christ died on the cross, about 600+ years after that.

Answer 1

Kelleygirl,
You are absolutely brilliant young lady! Thank you for this opportunity to speak. The following are names for HIS CHURCH on earth:

It is called the Churches of CHRIST in Matthew 16:16 "Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you."

It is called the Church of GOD in 1 Cor 1:2 "Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:"

It is also called the Church of GOD in Acts 20:28 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."

Referred to as the BODY in Col 1: 18 "And He (Christ) is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."

It is called the Kingdom in Heb 12: 28 "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:"

It is called GOD's Building in 1 Cor 3: 9 "For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building."

It is called the Flock in 1 pet 5:3 "Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock."

I can not see any of those other names in this writing, can you?? By the way, the Church of Christ, or Church of GOD are named in these writings. Jesus prayed for UNITY in the CHURCH in John 17. Division among the churches was condemned in Ephesians 4:14 "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive". It was also condemned in 1 Cor 3:3-9 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

It was never HIS Intent that man should follow satan and rename HIS CHURCH or change it's original Biblical Ideas. Those were done by MaN! Have a great week.
Eds

Edit: Sun,
This common belief should come from the BIBLE not from man. GOD's SON died so that this CHURCH would be born of HIS TRUTH, not man's. We follow the examples that are written and the commands that are given directly from the scriptures. (I would have emailed you but there was no address to mail, sorry!)

Answer 2

The Church mentioned in the Bible is the 'invisible church'; which is comprised of all believers in Jesus Christ and God (the Heavenly Father).

The physical church, is made up of all the buildings that house the different congregations. The only authorization needed is that all who believe in Jesus Christ, also believe that God is the Heavenly Father, Almighty and Powerful creator.

We are saved by faith, it is by grace from God, and only comes through us believing that Jesus Christ shed His blood, died on the cross, and rose again for the forgivness of our sins.

I am not going to get into a realm we do not belong in, where WE are judging whether someone who attends a particular congregation is either granted salvation or not given salvation --- THAT IS GOD'S WORK ALONE. God will grant salvation to whom ever He pleases and it is not our right to say anything about people who believe in the things as taught by the Bible or the Torah.

Our focus should be on those, who are totally unchurched. Not on putting down people, who attend a different denominational building than we do or have different ideas of how to worship God than we do.

Jesus Christ and all the disciples were Jews - they got the title 'Christian' in Antioch: "He then went off to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year the two of them llived in fellowship with The Church there, and gave instructions to large numbers. It was in Antioch tht hte disciples got the name Christians." (Acts 11:25-26) This took place around 40-55 A.D.

Answer 3

From the tone of your question I assume that you believe there should be one church, so if members come to belief that the current church is not right (as Martin Luther did) then he would have no recourse to form his own (which he did along with others in the reformation).

You really need to study the history of churches to understand all of the issues and reasons why. But the long and short of it is that ever so often a group of believers will look at their traditional church and say "This is stale, they don't really belief" or "Their beliefs are not right or are based on the wrong things" and will form a new denomination or church.

In the context of the Bible, I'd say that all believers in Christ belong to his "church" but attend different ones here.

Answer 4

The denominations are not different churches, per se, though some claim to be. One of the previous answers is right...there is only ONE church, though it is not the Catholic denomination. There is one international, unified Body of Christ that is the true church and it is not defined by nitty-gritty dogma, but by Jesus Christ. Anyone who affirms all that Christ affirms is a part of this church.

It's not easy to say "who's in and who's out." There's no specific rite of passage in Scripture to declare a person really a part of Christ's body, the Church...except faith. Jesus gathered around him a small group of friends for the purpose of being with Him, preaching the gospel, and driving out evil in the world (the first church). Paul said that we're children of God through faith. Peter said that we are a priesthood and the people of God simply because we have received His mercy.

Here's the ethos I adopt when it comes to other traditions, quoted from St. Augustine: "In essentials, unity; in peripherals, freedom; in all things, love." If we have differences, let's bring them openly and honestly to the table...but in all things, let's love God and love people. That's the heart of the Church Universal, God's people on earth.

Answer 5

There isn't supposed to be all these different churches! All these different denominations were made up by men, because they either didn't believe a part of the Bible, or they thought something had a different meaning, or they just didn't get a revelation from God about a question they had... You're right the Bible only talks about one church, and there only is one true body of believers. But they are a handful scattered across the face of the planet, and only they know who they are. They are God's Bride. the ones that He has chosen because they have'nt wandered off on the wrong road, they've stayed true to His Word!

Answer 6

John 14:6 Jesus answered, I am the way, the truth and the light. No one comes to the father except through me.

There are a couple of churches you named up there that do not follow the Holy Bible.

The only way to the living God is through Jesus Christ (see the above scripture.) We are given salvation as a gift. It can no be earned. We are not good enough to get there without Jesus Christ.

It doesn't matter what your denomination is or isn't, the only folks getting into heaven are those that have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ...anything less gets you a trip to hell-o, the Lake of Fire.

Answer 7

Scripture gives no answers, historians do. The bible is inaccurate regarding what actually happened.

They exist because certain groups of people don't like or agree with the original.

So, they break off and do things their own way.

Early Christianity went two ways - Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic. From Roman Catholic you get Protestantism, and all that comes with it.

Edit: The 7 "churches" in Revelation are not actually churches. They represent something else entirely.

Answer 8

There are actually 7 churches mentioned in the Bible in Revelation, and 2 are acceptable by God.

Religions all come from man, we all have one book but someone doesnt understand a teaching and rejects it, and starts a new religion. Christians are not in favor of the sepperations of religions, but at the same time, we also dont want to have to believe what man says God means.

Answer 9

Ultimately it is the work of Satan for he wants division among the children of God. God wills one shepperd, one flock, one church
What Church? Scripture reveals this Church to be the one Jesus Christ built upon the rock of Saint Peter (Matt. 16:18). By giving Peter the keys of authority (Matt. 16:19), Jesus appointed Peter as the chief steward over His earthly kingdom (cf. Isaiah. 22:19-22). Jesus also charged Peter to be the source of strength for the rest of the apostles (Luke 22:32) and the earthly shepherd of Jesus' flock (John 21:15-17). Jesus further gave Peter, and the apostles and elders in union with him, the power to bind and loose in heaven what they bound and loosed on earth. (Matt. 16:19; 18:18). This teaching authority did not die with Peter and the apostles, but was transferred to future bishops through the laying on of hands (e.g., Acts 1:20; 6:6; 13:3; 8:18; 9:17; 1 Tim. 4:14; 5:22; 2 Tim. 1:6).

By virtue of this divinely-appointed authority, the Catholic Church determined the canon of Scripture (what books belong in the Bible) at the end of the fourth century. We therefore believe in the Scriptures on the authority of the Catholic Church. After all, nothing in Scripture tells us what Scriptures are inspired, what books belong in the Bible, or that Scripture is the final authority on questions concerning the Christian faith. Instead, the Bible says that the Church, not the Scriptures, is the pinnacle and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15) and the final arbiter on questions of the Christian faith (Matt. 18:17). It is through the teaching authority and Apostolic Tradition (2 Thess. 2:15; 3:6; 1 Cor. 11:2) of this Church, who is guided by the Holy Spirit (John 14:16,26; 16:13), that we know of the divine inspiration of the Scriptures, and the manifold wisdom of God. (cf. Ephesians 3:10).

Answer 10

All of the "other" churches came from the same place that yours did. People who share a common belief joined together.

The bible is not the only place that a person can get a belief from, nor is the bible exactly clear on a lot of things so it is open to interpretation.

Answer 11

first understanding that religions are man-made are essential to knowing about the church/people and isolated groups designed religion each to their own set of beliefs when understanding that a church is just a building and not something to be put on a pedesatol then will a person begin to realize the true religion/God is my religion and nowhere in the bible(His blueprint to life)have i seen Jesus with a preferance God is love