Of the Christian sects existing today, which is closest to the original?

Question

In the apostolic era, there were the Greek-speakers and the Latin-speakers. Today the Eastern church, the Orthodox, inherits the Greek-speaking Christianity which was earlier than the Latin form. St. Peter established the church at Antioch before he ever went to Rome if indeed he went to Rome at all which is questionable. All the various Orthodox churches descend from the original church in the East, and the claim of some Roman Catholics to be the original of all Christianity is clearly bogus; they are the original only of the Western or Latin branch which came later than the Orthodox.

Roman, Anglican and Protestant churches are the Latin branch. The Lutheran Reformation was based on the absurd notion of giving primacy to scripture, ignoring the reality that the church, not a book, is the custodian of Christian doctrine, and that the Bible's canonicity and its alleged authority was granted to it by the church, not granted to the church by the Bible.

The idea of just that "personal relationship with Christ alone" is called the "me-and-Jesus syndrome". The fact is that he set up his church on Earth, the body of all baptized believers, the ecclesia. The Protestants, especially the fundie fringe, are all too often lacking in that sense of community, not just buddy-buddy companionship with their own friends in a congregation that meets once a week, but the real sense of being part of the communion of the saints, past and present, in heaven and on Earth. Protestants don't know what they are missing, and it's not surprising that so few members become Protestants after they have exerienced the richer life of the three great Catholic faiths, Orthodox, Roman and Anglican.

Answer 1

All the posters appear to forget that the Christian church was insituted on Pentecost, 50 Days after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. On that day, tongues of flame descended on the Apostles and they went out to the masses speaking in the common languages of that time. Some passersby commented that these men were drunk on new wine. Pentecost is described in the first 2 chapters of Acts, written by the evangelist St. Luke.

Now, in 33 AD, the church was nondenominational - the poster who said this is absolutely correct but she uses a modern term almost as an anachronism. The church established on Pentecost was the "One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church" as defined in the Nicene Creed approved at the 1st Ecumenical Council in 325 AD.

In 1054 AD, The Great Schism occurred between the Pope and the Patriarch where both sides mutually excommunicated each other. Christianity split into Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox denominations. At that point, one can make the distinction between Catholicism and Orthodoxy and the Roman Catholic church also calls itself the "One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church" without error.

In 1515, when Martin Luther ignited the Protestant Reformation, Catholicism began to splinter into factions where each chuch considered itself to be "the pope." The other 42,000 denominations of Christianity come from Protestantism. Some of these denominations have spawned the Jim Jones', Ted Haggard's, Pat Robertson's, of the world.

So, the Orthodox Christian faith remains the original Christian faith established at Pentecost on 33 AD. You can argue that all 42,000 denominations go back to Pentecost but only the Orthodox faith adheres exactly to what was defined in Pentecost.

Answer 2

Well i'm not positive on this one being the only one, but there is a sect called "APOSTOLES Y PROFETAS" which was established many years ago in El Salvador in Central America.

This is the sect that I belong to, we only practice what is in the bible, we do not celebrate many things that other Christian sects celebrate, like birthdays and Christmans, simply because it is not in the bible.

To solve any problems, we turn to the many letters that were written to the Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians etc.

We practice head covering, but it is not a salvation based issue.
We strive for not mixing with "worldly things" as the bible states.

We belive that the Bible is the spoken word of God, there for is not only a regular book.

Answer 3

Hummm... The closest to the original? True Christianity, which is the individuals personal spiritual relationship with the living God. In God we trust, all else is man made....religions, the sects, the different translations of the Bible, church authority, canons and affirmation by councils.. the list goes on. Know the truth, and the truth will set you free! It is why Christ died for us. Boldly go to the throne as His child... ask, seek, and knock. He gave His Spirit so that no man would have to teach another, because we have the truth written on our hearts and mind. We are to be one, with God and our fellow man. Religion may leads us there, but God keeps us there. Religion is like science... man will analyze, interpret, reason, attempt to explain and understand... to the point of many conclusions and confusions. Lets lift up and give the glory to God. Thank the Lord for His new covenant with man through Jesus Christ, so that we may enter into His rest, and not try to enter in by works. It is a gift of God... let's not tear it up by fighting over it!

Answer 4

The would be Orthodox its almost true form of christianity, from Armenia to Greece to Russia.

New Testimate was said written in Greece in Greek, Mount Athos was visited by the virgin Mary and Apostle Paul widely spready christianity in Greece wwhich he called the holy land, catholics the latin form of the religion took christianity and used it for power and control , manipulated society and did everything the bible said not to do. killed , pilaged, raped, tortured others who did not follow even the orthodox christians were slained for not following the pope.

Answer 5

Probably the closest would be the ones in China or similar countries where you can be killed for professing the Christian viewpoint. Those people have to be dedicated.

Answer 6

Maybe Gnosticism is the truest branch of them all. But Catholicism came before Protestantism.

Answer 7

Catholicism.

Answer 8

One human following God from the heart

Answer 9

nondenominational... because they base their doctrine, government and services upon the first church/churches established by Paul as we see in the book of Acts
Catholicism was established soon after the churches that Paul established, but were in fact not the first christian churches
The first churches had no denomination-- catholic or protestant

Answer 10

Are you talking about in practice or in doctrine?

Roman and eastern are oldest in doctrine.

Eastern is oldest in practice.