The Church
The Church
THE CHURCH
I believe there is only one Church where every person who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and live their lives in accord with his teachings is a bona fide member. While there are denominations of Churches who identify themselves with different groupings, there is only one God whom they worship.
The doctrines of the various Protestant denominations vary, but nearly unanimous doctrines include justification by grace through faith, the priesthood of all believers, and the Bible as the ultimate authority in matters of faith and order. These three doctrines are the foundation of the organized Church. The differences are found in the subtle details.
It is quite likely that after the Crucifixion of Jesus and his ascension into Heaven, the Apostles probably had mixed feelings and beliefs as to how to build the Church of God on Earth. Their confusion that existed among them was dispelled by the appearance of Jesus who told them; Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit filled the Apostles and endowed them with the ability to speak in different languages of surrounding Countries thus preparing them for the spreading of the Word throughout the land. Peter preached to the crowd and over 3000 Souls were converted that day. The spreading of the gospel and building of God’s Church was begun.
There was disagreement as to whether or not the Gentile should hear the Word of God or only the Hebrew. Peter was a Jew and preached to the Hebrew Nation. In fact, Peter was chastised because he would not eat with the Gentiles. Paul would be converted on the road to Damascus and became the messenger to the Gentiles.
I can imagine that some began to discuss (and even argue) the doctrine they would believe. It is human nature to believe in one’s own experiences. For example, when it came to deciding how to heal the blind, there would probably be some strong feelings expressed.
There was the man who was healed when Jesus put mud in his eyes and told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam (John 9:7). Then there was the man who Jesus touched his eyes and said according to his faith he would be healed (Matt 9:28-29) and again two men were healed by touching the eyes (Matt 20:34). 21:14 Some were told to go to the Temple and Jesus would heal them (Matt 21:14).
Then when the discussion came as to how to heal the blind, those that had been healed would speak up. Having different experiences, they could easily have formed different denominations, one called the “mud in the eye” Church another called the “touch the eyes” Church and another “Temple healing” Church. While this is complete supposition, it is not too far-fetched from how some Church Denominations have started.
The Orthodox Church began about 33 AD and existed on a continual basis with major groups diverging from the central body. The Apostles of Jesus Christ travelled throughout the Mediterranean area founding Churches loosely associated to each other. Rome became an important link in this early Christian movement.
The Roman Empire tried to destroy the movement with terrible persecutions, especially under Emperor Nero in the first century and continued under the reign of Emperors to follow until 311. Many of the Churches founded by the Apostles were forced underground. The eventual spread of the Churches was in large part due to the persecutions. It was similar to the effect of kicking the live coals from a camp fire causing many other fires to start in dry grass. The early Church had very little official Doctrine until well into the 2nd Century. Christianity was outlawed with many persecutions until 311- 313 AD when Constantine declared it a legally sanctioned Religion and it remained free of persecutions until 380 when it was declared the State Religion of Rome..
The early Christian Orthodox Churches were mainly constituted by an Eastern and Western Catholic Church. This rocky relationship continued until 1054 when the East-West Schism occurred. The Eastern Churches became the Eastern Orthodox (Greek) Churches and the Western Churches became the Roman Catholic Church.
The Reformation movement from the Roman Catholic Church began around 1520 – 1530. Martin Luther was certainly a catalyst in this movement in 1517 when he posted a letter of opposition to certain practices of the Roman Catholic Church including selling of indulgences and similar questionable practices.
Over the years many charismatic People have created followings. John Calvin (1509 – 1564) was one of the founders of the Presbyterian Church. Martin Luther (1483 – 1546) was the most influential founder of the Lutheran Church. John Wesley (1703 – 1791) was an Anglican Priest and along with his brother Charles Wesley began what is known today as the Methodist Church. There are almost too many of them to count and certainly too many to try to define here. Worldwide there are an estimated 2600 different Christian denominations existing today.
Islam is founded in 622 AD upon a single Prophet (Mohammed) and his writings which are considered by his followers to be directly from God. This is one of many religions that are founded upon a single person and each claims a special relationship with God.
The concept of a Church built upon a person as opposed to a truth is profound regardless of the influence and importance of the person. Consider the following verses from the KJV.
Matthew 16: 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art] John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in Heaven. 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.
There has been much discussion and intense disagreement of the meaning of these verses especially the power seemingly to be given to the man Peter. The term “thou are Peter and upon this rock, I will build my Church” has been interpreted by many over the millennia as meaning the Church would be built on the man, Peter.
Many more believe however that the meaning is that Jesus would build his Church upon the truth that Peter spoke that he (Jesus) is the Son of God and that this truth would stand as a solid rock and even the gates of Hell would not prevail against it.
The name Peter in Greek is Petros or Petra meaning rock. He was undoubtedly the original leader of the Apostles and may have been the author of the Book Of Hebrews. Mark was a scribe that traveled with Peter and his book was probably greatly influenced by Peter. Peter is the author of 1 Peter and 2 Peter.
Jesus would only build the Holy Church of God upon the undeniable truth that he was the Son of God and Messiah sent to establish his Church on Earth. Peter was subject to the limitations of man but the Church of God has no limitations. The establishment of His Church began with His death on the Cross and resurrection from the dead which allowed the Holy Spirit to come as an ever present comforter, guide and intercessor.
He told us that Matthew 18: 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. This is the Church. When two or more are gathered together in his name, they are the Church.
There is the story of the woman who was asked if she was going to Church. She replied, I am the Church, I'm just going to a meeting.