The Church

First and foremost: what is ‘The Church’? meaning what is it ‘factually’?  It is simply The Church Jesus Christ refers to when he quotes: ‘My Church’ and when the Apostles quote: ‘The Church’.   It is the Assembly of the Repented and Baptised, thus having acquired holiness, through rebirth of incorruptible seed, anywhere, at any place, at any time, by people of any ‘age of understanding’, sex, race or colour, in groups or singular, but all ONE in spirit, meaning: believing that Jesus Christ is the son of God and so believing all that he thought us to be the truth and so sincerely FOLLOWING his ‘Constitution’ – ‘The Gospel’: the oneness defining this Spiritual Assembly, this Assembly being ‘The Church of Christ’.  Read ACTS 228 to 247.  Believers were only added to The Church through baptism: know ye, therefore, that there is no salvation outside ‘The Church’.

The Church: the constitution of Christ/The Gospel, better known as ‘The Church’.   Note: his reference like the term ‘Catholic’ is being abused by the Roman Catholic Church and those in communion with her, to refer to themselves as The Church and ‘Catholic’. They are actually ‘Pseudo Catholic.

Explanation: you best perceive the Gospel as a constitution, and the churches on the earth like states: the states may introduce their own laws, but not as if these were the constitution: for they simply cannot take from or add to the constitution.

The Churches: the assembly of organisations, largely contorting and corrupting the Gospel for personal gain. As soon as I had read the Gospel (The New Testament) I discovered that there was a wide distinction between The Gospel and the Churches.

So the substance of ‘The Church’ is the Doctrine/The Gospel of Christ.

This Gospel has been written very simply and is very easy to read and understand from the age of twelve.  All mankind is asked to do by Christ is believe this and follow it; as ‘believing in him is following him’  baptising into ‘The Church’ i.e. ( The Church of Christ as defined above ) not into a church organisation.

First and foremost: what is ‘The Church’?  meaning what is it ‘factually’?  It is simply The Church Jesus Christ refers to when he quotes: ‘My Church’ and when the Apostles quote: ‘The Church’.   It is the assembly of the followers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, anywhere, at any place, at any time, composed of any kind of people, of any age, sex, race or colour, in groups or singular, but all ONE in spirit, meaning: believing that Jesus Christ is the son of God and so believing all that he thought us to be the truth and so sincerely FOLLOWING his ‘Constitution’ – ‘The Gospel’: the oneness defining this assembly, the assembly being one with the constitution of Christ

This Gospel has been written very simply and is very easy to read and understand from the age of twelve. 

All mankind is asked to do by Christ is believe this and follow it; as ‘believing in him is following him’  baptizing into ‘The Church’ i.e. ( The Church of Christ as defined above ) not into a church organisation/church of men.

At no time has God commanded men to join any church organisation as a member or to attend any church on Sunday, for he calls them to accept the constitution of Christ.  Matter of fact, Jesus Christ did respond to the following question, confirming this truth:

John 4:
19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. (note: the word ‘prophet’ is here used by her as she did not yet know that he was the son of the living God  –  The Christ)
20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

So, if this then, as defined above,  is ‘The Church of Christ’  how then do we have all those different churches?

Some even combating each other for members etc., this is obviously not at all from ‘The Church of Christ’ but from men and their churches of men, whilst this in fact should be one church?  And we even have a church claiming to be the only original church.   Well, this is due to human nature, and here both its positives and the negatives are manifest.   Let us start with none less than the Apostles. Jesus answers to the following incident during the last supper:

Luk 22:

24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

The Apostles here demonstrated that even at the last supper they were not fully learned in The Doctrine of Christ, and still had negative worldly ambitions   – on this note, to be greater than the other.   Well, so it also was with corrupted man among the people who very soon realized the power and potential of a high position in a church ( and I say ‘a church’ ) as in ‘The Church’, their position would bring forth nothing but servitude, they would be servants such as Christ defined to the Apostles.  And, did you notice: Christ did not mention Peter (little stone) as the greatest: how then could his church be built on him?

The positive side of this human nature in the Churches

As lecturers understand that different students learn differently, therefore employing a range of teaching methods during a training course, so that all may be accommodated and learn, so too, the God who created those teachers also understands that different people learn differently and must, therefore, be accommodated, so that they may learn.

Therefore God never intended  ‘His Church’ to be one kind of church for, first, this is not natural, neither logic:  and if he did intend that then he would not send 12 Apostles to preach throughout the earth.  Because, this alone, as even a simple man can understand, would bring forth different kinds of churches, as the world contains a wide range of people and cultures.   But God actually knew the churches would be different, with varied governments, management systems, rules of the house, etc. so that his people may be accommodated where they feel comfortable, and so learn together.  But all he is asking is this:
‘To Baptism The Gospel and Teach It, Make Disciples of Christ of All Nations’  i.e. remain ‘The Church of Christ’.  But the churches, as we know them, did not do so.

So in various places, people and organisations referring to themselves and their members as ‘Ministers and Members’ started churches, with various names and of various management systems  – and many with ‘added’ doctrine, i.e. doctrine not taught by Jesus Christ as his Gospel, some doctrines clearly crafted to ‘Conquer the People’ and exercise power over them for personal and financial gain, which brings us to the negatives in human nature.

The negative side of this human nature in the Churches                    

The urge for power, control, greatness, greed, etc. as you have read above, from Christ’s answer, is not from the doctrine of Christ, but from this world.  From the early days, crooked people saw the potential of the church and how fraudulent persons could profit if they managed to join a church and gain a high seat.  So those early days, after the death of Christ, many appeared and declared that they were Apostles, though they were con-man:  and read how God praises ‘One of The Church’  for examining those who came and stated that they were Apostles, yet were common crooks, seeking after money and power.  Read also how just one of the seven churches Christ reviewed pleased him.

The below text is from the Revelations. The revelations are predictions made by Christ of events yet to unfold.

To the church in Ephesus
To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.  You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.  Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.  Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.  But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

This church was a true church ( I can now use the word ‘True Church’ as you can understand it ) which erred; and, as God is merciful unto his people, he warns them and does not destroy them instantly.  No need to say that the errors God warns about were not as bold as the ministers being false ones, pocket fillers or fornicators, as those are practices from the churches of Satan; but clearly, this was a ‘Church of Christ’ in err.

As the first con-man, attempting to fool the early churches that they were Apostles,         

so we also have far more advanced con-man today, starting congregations, small and large, all for the gain of power, lust of the flesh and money.  Those only manage to fool the BLIND ( those who have not read the New Testament, the Gospel of Christ)  for anyone who has can quickly recognize if a person or a church walks in the Gospel of Christ, as all the things they do, must be from the doctrine of Christ: else they preach their own Gospel. Yet many manage to fool scores of people today, even leading them to mass murder and personal destruction.

In the Gospel Jesus warns us numerous times for false men; and once you have read the Gospel, you must keep those lines in mind.

So all those different churches are a mixture of ‘God Intended’ variation of sound Christianity, but some are infected with the sour and foul doctrine from the false churches which are not at all from Christ; and some are lukewarm churches failing to reach the truth, for they are half-filled glasses: would a fool know with which of these he is involved?

Joining a Church                         

If you are a social person you’ll probably join a Church, but first, you must read the Gospel, so you can recognize the Church of Christ.  If a church is not ‘The Church of Christ’ you must avoid it, or depart from it.   Today we no longer need a church to read for us and tell us, for we can read our selves what is taught by Christ.

As long as you remember that nobody needs a church: for it is you and the Gospel of Jesus Christ (The Church/Constitution) that will lead to your salvation.

At no time has God commanded men to join any church organisation as a member or to attend any church on Sunday, for he calls them to accept the constitution of Christ.  Matter of fact, Jesus Christ did respond to the following question, confirming this truth:

The Book of John

JOH 19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. (note: the word ‘prophet’ is here used by her as she did not yet know that he was the son of the living God  –  The Christ)
20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

The Book of Luke

LUK: 24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

The Apostles here demonstrated that even at the last supper they were not fully learned in The Doctrine of Christ, and still had negative worldly ambitions 

On this note, to be greater than the other.   Well, so it also was with corrupted persons amongst the people who very soon saw the power and the potential of a high position in a church (and I say ‘a church’) as in ‘The Church’, their position would bring forth nothing but servitude.  They would be servants such as Christ defined to the Apostles.  And, did you notice: Christ did not mention Peter (little stone) as the greatest: how then could his church be built on him?

What unaffiliated Believers and Christians must try to do is to assemble when and where possible, so that you may experience the presence of Christ: and remember, like with our courts of law, wherever true Christians assemble in the name of Christ’s name, ‘IS’ The Church  – namely, a piece of it.

MAT  18: 20  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.