Re: RCC -- that particular group -- huge as it is -- has added the teachings of their church fathers To God's Word. There are the Apocraphal books between the Old and New Testaments that were found to mix 'stories' with Truth. They were taken out of the recognized Canon of Scripture. A Lot of false teaching has been integrated into the RCC church which is why the Protestant Reformation came to be. The Protestant churches emerged // Methodist, Lutherans', Presbyterians and the Baptist church came to be a lot later.
We know this Sue, there would not have been a reformation had the RCC got things right. They have fed in errors for the last 1700 years.
The 'church' we know Today Is different than the early church. It's bound to be -- and yes, in Revelation the book -- there is the example of the 7 churches in Asia -- their positives and negatives. God's reactions to each.
The cultures are different today. The languages are obviously different. We dress differently . But is 'different' Wrong or simply 'different'.
You are looking at worldly differences Sue, yes there are many, I am not talking about cultures, dress, etc.
1 - Take the church, people call the church building the church, it is not the church, it is misleading. As stated previously this was introduced by, yes you got it, the RCC. The called the church, the
kuriakon, a word we will NOT find in scripture. The true Church as we know is the
ekklesia, these are the saved souls, the Bride of Christ, the Body of Christ.
2 - Take the church, the true church. It is saved souls, not saved and lost souls, yet ministers do not make this clear to the flock.
3 - Take the church, it is when two or three, or more, come together in Jesus Name, anywhere, it doesn't have to be a building. The church is meeting here right now.
4 - Take the church, people talk of my church, they do not have one, many would cry their eyes out, if the building called a church, was burned down, they would be crying for the wrong reasons, the church, is the
ekklesia, the saved souls, we are all spiritual stones in the Lord's Church He calls His bride.
5 - Take the church, so many do not accept the True Church, in which Jesus Christ is Head of, is actually, saved souls across the world, regardless of age, sex, ability, disability, language, colour, etc. Together saved souls worldwide are the
ekklesia. We are the ones our Lord will Return in Glory for. O Come Lord Jesus.
6 - Take the church, every denominational church (building with a group of saved and not saved souls), consider themselves to be 'The Church', every denomination considers what they do is right with God. Really, I am always considering what I am doing wrong and repenting and I am just one spiritual stone.
7- Take the Church, the early Christians met in houses, they didn't have buildings to come together to worship in. The RCC created the buildings as places of worship, nothing wrong in that at all, it makes sense to have a place to come together to have prayer, fellowship and worship God giving thanks to Jesus. But these tiny stone built structures got bigger and cathedrals came to be, each having more towers or larger towers, man trying to reach God.
But there is another element here, let me just take the Church of England, but what I am adding here is common of all denominations...
How much money does the Church of England have and where did all the money come from?
The Church’s property portfolio and investments are immense. It is sitting on a combination of ancient endowments and investments worth £8.3bn, which 'last year alone' increase by £400m.
The Church of England has hit the headlines after it offered to buy off the £400m loan book of collapsing pay-day loan firm Wonga. However, just the week before, it announced it would not be severing ties with Amazon and has been found to offer zero-hours contracts in some of its establishments, leading people to question the church's choices as an investor and employer.
As
i has previously reported, these earnings are enough to make the CofE by far the UK’s biggest charity, with an income more than three times that of Oxfam.
There is a lot more, the above are the tip of the iceberg, but I emphasise they are not alone, all denominations have massive assets and investment. The RCC was reported that it was investing in porn in South America because the returns were massive.
8 - Take the so called church denomination, what ever happened to selling everything and giving to the poor, what ever happened to providing for the needy?
9 - Take the church, Clergy that are not born-again, RCC clergy called father, where did vicar come from (vicar meaning temporary) it was created by the Anglican Church, it is not scriptural. Scripture clearly quotes these positions as deacons, pastors, teachers, bishops. Not Arch Bishops or any other name. Now we may say these are small items, depending where we come from etc, the main consideration is, they are not scriptural.
10 - Take the church,
Note here 'All who believed, all who were saved (the
ekklesia)
Note the difference between the early church and now
Then take note as we compare these differences, how blessed they were, great power, great grace, none lacked anything.
Acts 2:44-45 (NKJV)
44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
Acts 4:32-37 (NKJV)
32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35 and laid
them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,
37 having land, sold
it, and brought the money and laid
it at the apostles' feet.
These are some of the differences between the early church and todays church.
Are we right with God?
Are we right with God's Word?
Can we see any differences?
We cannot change the world or the church as it is today, first we make sure we are right with God, we can let church ministers of the errors, it is doubtful they will listen, they are employees. The situation is much higher up, in the denomination running of what has become a business. But we can, taking to heart our situation, as a spiritual stone, in the One True Church, we can pray about this as the spirit guides us.
I am not talking about cultures, dress, etc. I am talking about differences between the early church and now.
As stated yesterday, the message to the seven churches showed many errors, yet none of them thought they were in error, is that not a clear message for today, starting with each one of us. I think so.
What good is all that wealth, if Christ Returns tonight, how much is being missed for helping the poor and the homeless, etc.
That said those who are left behind will no doubt need some of it.
Is there a difference between the early church and the church today? Let all readers decide.