What Is The True Christian Church?

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Steve Simms

Many people ask the question:  What is the one true church?  And numerous organizations claim to be the one true Christian church.  For example, these groups make that claim:

* The ancient churches that can trace their history to the first century (the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches);

* The churches (sometimes called cults) that have drastically changed the definition of “God” and “Jesus” and claim to be a restoration of the true faith (the Mormons, also called Latter Day Saints or LDS; the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the Christian Scientists);

* Some Protestant denominations such as the Church of Christ.  Most Protestant churches, however, don’t claim to be the one true church but, rather to be just one part (or branch) of the true church.

However, is the church a formal organization or institution made up of human beings?  Or is it a group of people who have been transformed by the Creator and who gather to spend time with the living, resurrected Jesus Christ?

The true Christian church is all the people, worldwide, who have been transformed by the biblical Jesus Christ, have a personal and ongoing relationship with Him, and will forever be with Him in Heaven (regardless of what religious institution or organization they belong to –or even if they don’t belong to one).  Are you a part of the true church?

Here’s a quotation from Irenaeus, one of the early church fathers:  “Where the Spirit of God is, there is the church.”

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About Steve Simms

I like to look and think outside the box. In college I encountered Jesus Christ and I have been passionate about trying to get to know Him better ever since. My wife and I long to see the power and passion of the first Christ-followers come to life in our time. I have written a book about our experiences in non-traditional church, called, "Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible--Ekklesia." If you need encouragement, search for: Elephants Encouraging The Room and/or check out my Amazon author page. Thank you!
This entry was posted in ancient history, belief system, Biblical concept, branch, Catholic, Catholic mystics, Christ, Christ followers, Christian community, Christian history, Christian organizations, Christian Scientists, Christian values, church fathers, church history, church meetings, Church of Christ, church programs, church roles, church structure, community, controversy, Creator, creeds, cults, denominations, early church, Eastern Orthodox churches, faith-based, followers of Christ, God, Heaven, institution, interdenominational, Irenaeus, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jjehovah's Witnesses, kingdom of God, Latter Day Saints, LDS, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, Mormon faith, Mormonism, Mormons, movement, organic church, organization, Orthodox, Protestant, Protestant Reformation, questions, Quotations, quote, Quotes, Roman Catholic, Spirit-led, spiritual, testimony, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, thoughts, values, What is the true church?, words and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

4 Responses to What Is The True Christian Church?

  1. Pingback: Do Americans Only Have Two Choices (Romney Or Obama) For A Better Future? | Free Gas For Your Think Tank (Steve Simms Blogs From Nashville)

  2. Pingback: 2 Ways Of Having Church (One Widespread & The Other Very Rare) | Free Gas For Your Think Tank (Steve Simms Blogs From Nashville)

  3. Bruce Dickey's avatar Bruce Dickey says:
    September 4, 2012 at 9:20 am

    Steve, I belong to a facebook that was invaded recently by Roman Catholics preaching, you guessed it, not Jesus, but Catholicism. I too was baptized into the Church of Christ because that is the church I grew up in. (You mention them above). Cool thing is, two weekends ago, a Church of Christ here in Arkansas hosted a church planting and discipleship training led by two Grace Brethren preachers. It was fabulous, and like old Irenaeus, the Spirit of the Lord was there. It was church. The former preacher of this congregation still lives on site in the parsonage and put up me, my wife and my eldest son. His wife fed us like family and they just plain Loved our Socks Off.

    It is clear in my mind that God intended no one or no denomination would have sole right to claim to be the one true church. Jesus said it straight up: I will build my church. The greatest commandments and the great commission are hallmarks of the faith Jesus founded. We should be about the Father’s business. I think that would definitely include loving God and loving people, as well as doing what he said: Go and make disciples of ever tribe, tongue, language and people as it says in Revelation 5.

    What a great day to be alive and indwelled by the Spirit of God who leads us, guides us and lifts up Jesus in us and through us. After all, we are his purchased possession, and in him we live and move and have our being.

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