Post by ResLight on May 22, 2015 13:03:44 GMT -5
Who Started Your Church?
Also posted at:
rl-bibleinfo.com/?p=1246
One has asked me, "who started your church?". An uncited reference is given to a Wikipedia article that is supposed to show that the church Jesus founded is the Catholic Church.
My response:
Jesus' church is not defined by the limitations that man's definitions may give. No link is given to the article referenced, so I am not sure exactly what was stated and in what context. I do know that much of what is written in Wikipedia is written by men who have written what is stated in such a way as promote the writers' own opinions. I have found it near impossible to correct what is presented in Wikipedia, even if I have documentation, as any corrections I make are usually immediately erased.
The church I belong to is that which has the names of its members enrolled, not in some denominational roll on earth, but in heaven. -- Hebrews 12:23.
That which is often called "the Catholic Church" (with its head in Rome) is defined by man, not by God, nor by God's son. Nevertheless, Jesus' church itself is truly catholic, and is not bound by man's denominational claims.
Of course, there are several denominational sects that claim to be "catholic". These often have a historical record of referring to others not of their own respective "catholic" church as being heretical, and in varying degrees have often been disobedient to Jesus' command to love one another, especially in the sense of persecution of each other.
I believe that the one true "catholic" church is not to be found as represented in any one denomination on earth, but is that church mentioned in the Bible, the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. The only "head" of this church records as members those who are truly saintly, consecrated to God through Jesus, whether they be enrolled on earth as Roman Catholics, Anglican Catholics, Greek Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, or what ever other denominational or sectarian ties they may be associated with, or whether they be outside of any denominational system.
There has always been a problem with sectarianism ever since the first century, as Paul noted. (1 Corinthians 1:10-13) These forms of sectarianism would, whether outwardly or effectually, promote someone on earth beyond Jesus as being head of the church. After the death of the apostles, many sectarian claims began to arise, and often bloody persecutions of Christians against Christians resulted. Jesus was not the founder of any of these outward sectarian denominations. Jesus foretold of at least four general kinds of servants that would exist amongst his servants, the worst being those who set themselves up as ruler over others. -- Luke 12:42-48; 1 Corinthians 4:8.
See my study on the four servants:
prophecy-rlbible.blogspot.com/2016/12/4servants.html
See also Brother Russell's sermon on St. Peter's Keys:
(I do not necessarily agree with all details that Brother Russell presents)
rlctr.blogspot.com/2017/11/keys.html
Also posted at:
rl-bibleinfo.com/?p=1246
One has asked me, "who started your church?". An uncited reference is given to a Wikipedia article that is supposed to show that the church Jesus founded is the Catholic Church.
My response:
Jesus' church is not defined by the limitations that man's definitions may give. No link is given to the article referenced, so I am not sure exactly what was stated and in what context. I do know that much of what is written in Wikipedia is written by men who have written what is stated in such a way as promote the writers' own opinions. I have found it near impossible to correct what is presented in Wikipedia, even if I have documentation, as any corrections I make are usually immediately erased.
The church I belong to is that which has the names of its members enrolled, not in some denominational roll on earth, but in heaven. -- Hebrews 12:23.
That which is often called "the Catholic Church" (with its head in Rome) is defined by man, not by God, nor by God's son. Nevertheless, Jesus' church itself is truly catholic, and is not bound by man's denominational claims.
Of course, there are several denominational sects that claim to be "catholic". These often have a historical record of referring to others not of their own respective "catholic" church as being heretical, and in varying degrees have often been disobedient to Jesus' command to love one another, especially in the sense of persecution of each other.
I believe that the one true "catholic" church is not to be found as represented in any one denomination on earth, but is that church mentioned in the Bible, the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. The only "head" of this church records as members those who are truly saintly, consecrated to God through Jesus, whether they be enrolled on earth as Roman Catholics, Anglican Catholics, Greek Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, or what ever other denominational or sectarian ties they may be associated with, or whether they be outside of any denominational system.
There has always been a problem with sectarianism ever since the first century, as Paul noted. (1 Corinthians 1:10-13) These forms of sectarianism would, whether outwardly or effectually, promote someone on earth beyond Jesus as being head of the church. After the death of the apostles, many sectarian claims began to arise, and often bloody persecutions of Christians against Christians resulted. Jesus was not the founder of any of these outward sectarian denominations. Jesus foretold of at least four general kinds of servants that would exist amongst his servants, the worst being those who set themselves up as ruler over others. -- Luke 12:42-48; 1 Corinthians 4:8.
See my study on the four servants:
prophecy-rlbible.blogspot.com/2016/12/4servants.html
See also Brother Russell's sermon on St. Peter's Keys:
(I do not necessarily agree with all details that Brother Russell presents)
rlctr.blogspot.com/2017/11/keys.html
