Scientifically and historically... Which (Christian)church can even claim to be the one true church?

Question

Please back up your answer with evidence and reason?
Thanks.

I understand that some Christians don't think there is any one true church...Please don't answer if you're going to answer this way... Eph 4:5 One Faith, one Lord, One baptism.

Also please don't answer "None" or like "all Christians are dumb" etc. thanks!

Augestine: Can you back that up?

thanks.

the_guy_with_the...

I'm trying to find proof or evidence I asked for people to not answer in this manner.

Mark G:

I asked people not to answer in this manner.

Augestine: I'n not trying to be mean, but you still haven't backed it up.

Safety dan..:so far you're the one with the most credible answer. Thanks.

Lone Ranger: I agree with every thing you said, up until you talked about Mormonism. Your statements against the Catholic church were very believable, your proof agianst the Mormons was almost laughable.

Their doubly cursed? Man I wish I were cursed like that... They're the most wealthy and I've always heard that Mormon were the best people you'll ever meet (on the Whole). By their fruits shall ye know them. A bad tree cannot produce good fruit etc. I can see the curse working on many others; churches...Baptist, Catholics, protestants, but no the Mormons.

They preach of another testament not another gospel. I don't see how this goes against the bible. 2 Tim 3:16-17 all scripture inspired and profitable.

other than those things your answer was impressive.

See part 2 of this question!!!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070428073949AAcOUz5&r=w
.

kait: You did a very good job of disproving the Catholic church...
What about the mormon church?

Answer 1

The Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches used to be the same organization. But, Byzantium rose as Rome declined, and the "great schism" between the western and eastern churches occurred.

Historically, those would be the two Christian churches to have a claim on authority.

However, doctrinally, both of these churches had problems with lining up scripturally. There was also a lot of abuse of priestly authority. And, that resulted in the "reformation" and protestantism. (Note: the word protestant comes from the word protest, which originally meant standing for something in a positive way. Early protestants were "protesting" in favor of scriptural doctrine, not the traditions of the historical churches.) Protestants, however, claim authority from scripture and don't believe in an historical priesthood. So, that still leaves the Catholic and Orthodox churches with the stronger claim to authority - at least from an historical perspective.

But, then you have the "Mormons". Their church's claim is that the "good news" (gospel) had been corrupted over the ages and that a restoration took place, re-establishing the priesthood and authority that Christ gave to the Apostles. In fact, the Mormons claim that all things were restored, including the Abrahamic covenant.

So, I'd have to side with "free2be...".

Answer 2

I would hope you mean Biblically and historically. Science, as yet, cannot prove which chruch is true or false. The Bible and history can.

So far I see answers about Catholicism and Mormonism. Most of those posts are just dead wrong from both a historical and Biblical point of view.

Everything I am going to say next is easily verified by either a google or yahoo search of the terms or names involved.

The post I see so far that is closest to being correct shows catholicism not coming into existence until about 400 years after Christ. The actual year is probably closer to 324 or 325 AD, at the Council of Nicea. At this council, convened by the Roman Emporer Constantine, the Emporer decreed that the brand of "christianity" practiced in Rome would set the standard for the whole Empire. In order to validate their claim of apostolic succession, they made the unsubstantiated claim that Peter was martyred in Rome. There is no historical or Biblical proof of this. Paul yes, Peter, no. Peter's letters actually seem to be written from the area that is present day Iraq.

Constantine also changed the day of worship from Sabbath to Sunday, a day that for his entire life he had celebrated as the day of his sun god Mithra. It was also decreed that christians should no longer observe the Passover, as was the custom of the early Jerusalem Church (The True Original Chruch of God), but should observe the pagan Easter (Ishtar or Astarte) instead.

Constantine also was insturmental in the foundation of December 25,(Saturnalia) a day that he had celebrated all his life as the birth day of Mithra the sun god, as the day our Savior was born. This has marked the Catholic church as THE false chruch. ....which in turn marks the protestant chruches as false also, since they basically still practice what the catholic church established.
Please see Daniel 7:25, Revelations 17:1-9...note particularly that the great whore sits on seven mountains or hills...Rome is built on seven mountains or hills......note verse 5, this is the mother of harlots, the harlots are the protestant churches which originated from the catholic church during the reformation.

Now, Mormonism. For years the Mormon advertising on TV said that they had another gospel of Jesus Christ. They were sure telling the truth then. They have since modified their message. Paul warns his readers to stay away from such people. There is a double curse on the Mormon Church, Galatians 1:6-9, and any one else that tries to bring a different gospel that the one that is in the Bible.

What characteristic does the Bible say the members of the One True Chruch in the end time will share? Reveations 12:17, 14:12.

At the present time, I do not belive that any organized corporate church is the "One True Chruch" , although I am aware of several who claim that title. The True Church is not a buiilding or a corproation or any organized religious group. The True Church today is scatterd all over the earth and is part of many different organizations or not part of any organization at all. But the basic identiy of those people is the same: They belive in Yahusa as their Savior and do their best to live by the Law of God.

Answer 3

Scripture never mentions using "which church came first" as the basis for determining which is the "true" church. What it does teach is that one is to use Scripture as the determining factor as to which church is preaching the truth and thus is true to the first church. It is especially important to compare Scripture with a church's teaching on such core issues as the full deity and humanity of Christ, the atonement for sin through His blood on Calvary, salvation from sin by grace through faith, and the infallibility of the Scriptures. The “first church” and “one true church” is recorded in the New Testament. That is the church that all churches are to follow, emulate, and model themselves after.

The “first church” is the church that is recorded in the New Testament, especially in the Book of Acts and the Epistles of Paul. The New Testament church is the “original church” and the “one true church.” We can know this because it is described, in great detail, in Scripture. The church, as recorded in the New Testament, is God’s pattern and foundation for His church. On this basis, let’s examine the Roman Catholic claim that it is the “first church.” Nowhere in the New Testament will you find the “one true church” doing any of the following: praying to Mary, praying to the saints, venerating Mary, submitting to a pope, having a select priesthood, baptizing an infant, observing the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper as sacraments, or passing on apostolic authority to successors of the apostles. All of these are core elements of the Roman Catholic faith. If most of the core elements of the Roman Catholic Church were not practiced by the New Testament Church (the first church and one true church), how then can the Roman Catholic Church be the first church? A study of the New Testament will clearly reveal that the Roman Catholic Church is not the same church as the church that is described in the New Testament.

Answer 4

The Roman Catholic church teaches that it is the one true church and that if you know that to be true and do not join it you are committing a mortal sin. I learned that in Adult catechism class... just before I became an Atheist. Later when I came back to God I decided that the one true church has fallen into error and it was OK to become an Anglican instead. Now I know the truth... The Orthodox church is the one branch of the Church that has been truest to the faith since the beginning.

There was only one Church until 1054 when the church at Rome broke away from the rest. The Roman church started calling itself 'Catholic', leaving the rest of the church to call itself "Orthodox". Orthodox means right believe, right practice. As an Anglican I can believe what I find to be right. So my theology is that of the Orthodox, my practices are very High Church and I embrace the open mindedness of the Episcopal church. IMO, only God knows the 'true' church, and I don't think He really cares. When we meet Him he will look for only one thing.. how much do we look like His son.

Answer 5

I don't see how any one can make that claim. There were churches started all over by Paul and each one branched out. First churches were in-home churches held in Israel by the apostles. But the church is not a building, place, or denomination. The church is comprised of the followers of Jesus. Another thought, When you read Paul's letters to the churches, you can put a denomination to each description. When you read Acts, you can see error creeping in all ready. For those who don't know, Acts is just that, the acts of the apostles and not a book of doctrine

Answer 6

Only a few try to claim that they are the one true church. But most all of them try to claim that they are descended from the historical church found in the Bible (see Acts).

The Catholic and the Orthodox church make a really big deal about their historicity.

Protestantism isn't embarassed to say that it broke off from Catholicism. But they (and I) believe that they were bringing sound doctrine back into the Church.

Ultimately, you are right to quote Eph. 4 - there is one Church.

Answer 7

Catholicism traces its Apostolic succession directly back to Peter.

Then October 31st , 1517 Martin Luther changed everything. Halloween is also known as "Reformation Day".

P.S. Of course I can. Its common history that can easily be checked at the library or internet search engines. Type in keywords at ask.com or google. October 31, 1517 is the day that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Thesis to the church door at Wittenberg. This day has been honored by Protestants (primarily in Europe) since then as "Reformation Day". See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation_Day

Apostolic Succession is charted much like a family tree or pedigree. Very simple to check that. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolic_Succession

Many will disagree, some vehemently, but your question said "Scientifically and Historically". This can only be the Catholic Church.

PPS... I beg to disagree...it seems you simply require more study on the matter. Supporting source material goes way beyond what I've cited here. These are only for illustration.

Answer 8

Well, the Roman Catholic Church is the ONLY Christian denomination that dates itself back to Jesus Christ. Then some 1500 years later, Protestants popped out.

Answer 9

The "one true church" is not a building or a religious organization... it is the body of Christ. The church Jesus refers to time and time again throughout the New Testament are all those people who have placed their faith in Him and have trusted Him for salvation. For example, the first three chapters of the book of Revelation talk about seven churches in seven different cities. In each case, Jesus is speaking to those who are His followers not to a particular denomination.

Answer 10

They all claim to be the one true faith, and will have arguments to favor their positions. It is my opinion that many faiths (within Christianity) are all part of the 'true' Church. Religion does not save people, only Christ saves people, by having a personal faith in Him. The many flavors of Christianity (I believe) are God's way of appealing to the variety of people He created.


Biblical Support:
Revelation chapters 2-3 are the letters from Christ to the 7 churches. These churches can represent 3(or more) different recipients.
1. Those actual churches in the time of John.
2. Representing church types from that time through the ages up to present time.
3. A prophetic chronology of the universal church from that time until the return of Christ.

Considering how many scriptures have many different applications, they must all be consistent with the rest of scripture; these interpretations are consistent.

In these letters Christ describes many attributes of these churches, some good and some bad. However, He accepts each one as part of His church. Today, each church can be classified into one of these categories(7 church types in Rev), none are perfect, but all can overcome.