2007-07-16 15:40:55 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
the church is every one that believes and has the Holy Spirit .. not a religion or a building or a sect ..
2007-07-16 15:44:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
It's referring to the body of believers, not the First Church of Christ located at Bethlehem Ave and Jerusalem Blvd.
2007-07-16 22:49:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
In Matt. 16:18 Jesus said I will build my church. He did not say churches! His church is one & it consists of those who are called out by God the Father. Read John 6:44.
Also the church is called by the Fathers Name. Therefore it is called the Church of God. 11 times is the New Testament it is called the Church of God collectively or Churches of God. Meaning the Church of God at Corinth or Ephesus & so on. But together they are called the Church of God.
They are not called Catholic (Universal) or Baptist, or Mediodists or any other Proestest Name. These are all false churches.
2007-07-16 23:28:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The "church" is a body of believers, not a physical building.
As for the supposed Catholicism as the church:
"Matthew 16:18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Scripture tells us over and over again that the Lord God is the Rock. It is regretable that many Catholics and Eastern Orthodox have been told that the Christian Church started with the Roman Catholic Church. The fact is that the Roman Catholic Church was not founded until AFTER the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.
Constantine followed the advice of Eusebius. For all of his life, Constantine was a worshipper of the Sun god Sol Invictus (better known as Mithras/Mitra). Catholics are often told that Constantine was converted by his vision of a cross. But a vision does not save anyone. Charles Manson had visions, did that save him ? The records in the Greek text of Eusebius make it very very clear just what kind of a cross that Constantine saw. And it was not Christian, but rather the Egyptian Ankh.
This "one true church" doctrine can be traced to one verse of Scripture, which, when compared with other Scriptures, is found not to teach this doctrine at all. When Jesus asked his disciples who He was, Peter responded:
"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Matthew 16:16"
Then Jesus answered Peter:
"... thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18
Catholicism contends that the Lord was referring to Peter as the rock, and has since built the entire Catholic religion upon that premise. But all other pertinent Scriptures declare that Jesus was referring to Himself as the rock, not Peter:
"... for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." 1 Corinthians 10:4
Jesus is not only the rock, He is the chief cornerstone of the church:
"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;" Ephesians 2:20
Even Peter, allegedly the first pope, confesses that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the church:
"...by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth... This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner." Acts 4:10-11
"... the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner," 1 Peter 2:7
According to Scriptures, Peter is NOT the rock:
"For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?" Psalm 18:31
"... I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock..." Deuteronomy 32:3-4
"Truly my soul waiteth upon God... He only is my rock..." Psalm 62:1-2
"But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge." Psalm 94:22
2007-07-16 23:03:33 · answer #4 · answered by Yahoo is Stupid 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because the church mentioned in the bible is referring to the body of believers not a building or a church the way we often think of it today
2007-07-16 22:45:04 · answer #5 · answered by Andre 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Think about this, Jesus roamed the countryside with 12 followers, where was his church? Jesus was a Jew that regularly went to the Temple. There were no church buildings. Use your head, man.
2007-07-16 22:48:11 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Matthew 16:18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:17-19 (in Context) Matthew 16 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 18:17
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Matthew 18:16-18 (in Context) Matthew 18 (Whole Chapter)
2007-07-16 22:46:47 · answer #7 · answered by deacon 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because the bible is not a factual text(actually if you really read it, it's down right looney). It's based on previous religions and steals much of it's directives from hammurabi's code. Do your theology studies.
2007-07-16 23:58:06 · answer #8 · answered by ktracy_2k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Come off it guys. Christianity should be God driven, not organization driven. Limbo today, purgatory tomorrow? Whatever the Pope says - whatever? $660 million dollars in settlements - what about the jail time? Excuses, excuses - whatever.
2007-07-16 22:48:29 · answer #9 · answered by ignoramus_the_great 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
They don't believe in the Bible!
2007-07-16 22:45:43 · answer #10 · answered by la buena bruja 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋