Does your "church" have historical records dating back to 33 AD?

Question

Jesus established a single organization he called the Church, promising that the gates of hell would not prevail against it (Matt 16:18). However, the number of "churches" today is estimated to be about 34,000.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/worldrel.htm

A basic test for whether a religious organization was founded by Jesus is to trace the actual historical organization back to 33 AD. Does your Christian organization have leaders and historical records indicating their continuous existence as a functioning community since the time of Jesus?

So far, no one has answered my question. If your "church" goes back to John the Baptist or Abel, can you direct me to the leader who replaced him, and to the next leader, and so on, and to the ancient documents that mark ideas and events in your "church" throughout history?

If you date your church from the Bible, you still haven't made it back to 33 AD, since the Bible wasn't finished until nearly 100, and the books were selected until the 4th century. In any case, I'm looking for the succession of leaders and historical documents from ancient until modern times.

Note that the historical records of a religious organization do not constitute a "pedigree," but rather evidence of actual existence across a span of time. If we claim to belong to the Church, but we have no membership in or good standing with the organization Jesus actually founded, then we deceive ourselves.

Answer 1

Every Christian church is an offshoot of the Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox churches broke away from unity with the pope in 1054. The Protestant churches broke away and were established during the protestant revolt, which began in 1517. (Hence the name "protestant", from "protest". Most of today’s Protestant churches are actually offshoots of the original Protestant offshoots.) Hence the 34,000.
"churches"............

Answer 2

The Catholic church has an unbroken succession of 266 Popes from Peter to Benedict XVI.

History is not just scripture -- something protestants forget.

Answer 3

Jesus said "Peter on this rock I will build my church." What church is this?

For me, it is Christ love to people. If I remember when Christ asked Peter three times by the Lord: "Peter do you love me, then feed my sheep?" I beg to God that I am this sheep for I love him to be my Good Shepperd. Worthiness.

Where is this now Christ Church?

Answer 4

Bruce and Scruffy, As much as I care for the Roman Catholic Church I must point out that there are several breaks in the line of Popes from Peter to Benedict XVI.

304-308 between Popes Marcellinus and Marcellus,
1241-1243 between Popes Celestine IV and Innocent IV,
1415-1417 between Popes Gregory XII and Martin V.

It isn't the line of Popes it's the unbroken line of bishops who, according to the church's teaching, were chosen to fill the shoes of the Apostles and the faithful who share in the priesthood of believers.

It seems to me that every denomination carries seeds of truth. Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against it. I don't believe he was speaking just of what became the Roman Catholic Church but rather those faithful in all generations and all 34,000 denominations. Those who live by faith and not in judgment and condemnation. Jesus' great commission was to go and teach all nations the gospel,,,NOT go and argue about which church is right. Think of all the great things people could do if they weren't wasting their time with legalistic arguments.

Answer 5

Yes - we have the Bible. The apostles and prophets who wrote it (Ephesians 2:20) did so that we who want to be of God would "be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" II Timothy 3:16-17.

Your basic test sounds like a loaded question; other than the Bible, there are no "historical church records" before around 110AD.....

>>>>>>>>

The head of the Church that Jesus built is Christ.

Ephesians 1:22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

Who is the head of your church, that keeps getting replaced?

Answer 6

His 'Church' is a spiritual congregation of those with faith in Him and built upon Him as the Chief Cornerstone (foundation). It's all who belong to the 'body' of Christ. It is a 'family' of followers from all over the world comprised of many different races, nationalities, and locales. It isn't simply a physical four-walled structure (as none of these have withstood the test of time) in a given location.

Many worldly institutions call themselves one thing or another. But, the best way to trace the roots of this fellowship is to use the Bible as its frame of reference. It is founded on only one spiritual leader - Jesus. And, Faith is its only requisite.

Answer 7

I think if a church follows God's word in the bible, that is more important that trying to point to some certificate on a wall boasting of its "pedigree". That smacks of pride to me.

Jesus, in the book of Revelation, commends the church of Philadelphia as the true church who "keeps His word". If you are referring to the Catholic church, claiming they are the only true church, I would say, well, I'm not so sure. There are many traditions of men in that church that conflict with the bible.

So, let's not get on our high horse about who constitues the true church and who does not.

Answer 8

Mine is a really cool rabbit hair covered book, called the Bible

Answer 9

my church has records dating back 6 thousand years

so howzat?

Answer 10

Jehovah made clear to Israel their responsibility in settling the question, Who is the true God? He said: “You are my witnesses, . . . even my servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and have faith in me, and that you may understand that I am the same One. Before me there was no God formed, and after me there continued to be none. I—I am Jehovah, and besides me there is no savior. I myself have told forth and have saved and have caused it to be heard, when there was among you no strange god. So you are my witnesses, . . . and I am God.”—Isa. 43:10-12.
So Jehovah’s people Israel constituted a nation of witnesses. They could emphatically affirm Jehovah’s rightful, worthy sovereignty. On the basis of their past experiences, they could proclaim with conviction that Jehovah is the Great Deliverer of his people and the God of true prophecy.