The Universal ONE Church

By c.pio

The Church despite organizational division (ex. Baptists, Presbyterians, Evangelicals) are still spiritually universal.  The Evangelical Christian embraces the Baptist Christian as part of God's family because they believe in basically Bible doctrine NO MORE NO LESS. (Misapplying Acts 9:31’s Greek to Prove Roman Catholicism’s “Legitimacy”: Fundamental Baptist Christians Apologetics Blog Ministry)

                                            

A question rather than an answer. Most Protestant churches use the term ekklesiakath holes (The Church throughout the whole) to refer to the belief that all Christians are part of Universal Church as mention in Acts 9:31 regardless of denominational divisions.

This unorthodoxy movement was rooted to one person whose name was Nicholas Ludwig Graf von Zinzendorf (1700-1760) founder of "Church of God in the Spirit", this group emphasized Religion of the Heart base on personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Zinzendorf's theology is very relational and profoundly Christ-centered. Rather than focusing on doctrine or belief, it emphasizes the growth of the spiritual relationship between the believer and the Savior. (Freeman, Arthur J. (1998). An Ecumenical Theology of the Heart. Bethlehem, PA: Moravian Church in America. pp. 234–235.) It was a radically ecumenical approach. He believed that each denomination had a unique perception of Christ, and a unique gift to offer the world.

Liberal Movement

Going back to posted quote (Fundamental Baptist Christians Apologetics Blog Ministry) It suggests that whether be a Baptist, Presbyterians, Evangelical or other Christian denominations (of course except Catholic because they considered us not Christian), all these are the composite member of the Universal Church of Christ. I beg to disagree, this Church (Acts 9:31) is not only universal they are ONE [John 10:16, Romans 12:5, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:4-6], they have same mind, thinking ONE thing and No division – a complete Union 

                

Philippians 2:2 - be of same mind, united in heart, thinking one thing
1 Corinthians 1:10 - I urge you that there be no divisions among you

Romans 16:17 - avoid those who create dissensions
Romans 15:5 - God grant you to think in harmony with one another
Colossians 3:15 - the peace into which you were called in one body

If the Presbyterian for example are truly in communion with Universal Church of Christ together with the Baptist, how could it be that they have different interpretation on Christ’s word ‘This is my body, this is my blood’?

For example Presbyterian conception of the Eucharist is that it provides spiritual
nourishment and growth in grace. Christ is not present literally in the elements, but he is spiritually present then compare it to the Baptist church that the Eucharist is a ‘Death Cookie’ while other Baptist denomination sees Eucharist as a mere symbol, bread is bread and wine is wine nothing more nothing less. Are they having the same mind? Thinking one thing? No division?

Some would say that’s a minor thing; the most important is your relationship to Christ. This only makes them more unbiblical, why do Apostles and Early Christians bothered to convey a Council to address the issue on circumcision? Why don’t they simply say, oh regardless whether you are circumcised or not as long as you have a relationship and believe in Christ, you are still a Christians. Why do they have to raise the issue to the Apostles and to the elders and wait the official promulgation?  The answer is so simple; He (Christ) founded ONE Church with ONE mind, United in heart and thinking ONE thing. THEY ARE NOT ONLY UNIVERSAL BUT THEY ARE ALL ONE.

  

Ultra-Liberal Movement

Christianity is not an impersonal religion but a personal relationship…

… that this precious and essential personal relationship with Christ was denied to those who needed it by those who claimed to represent Him! (The Berean call, Christ or Church? By Dave Hunt)

The Non-denomination Christians. no priest, no minister, no group, no denomination to join with but only you and Christ thru Bible. This is the most radical movement so far in a Zinzendorf's theology.

But contrary to what they believe, Christ said:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

It is clear and specific; Christ came NOT to abolish the LAW or the PROPHETS. I do not want to belabor much on what does Christ mean on LAW or the PROPHETS, just simply open the book of Old testament and you will see the WAY how the Family of God worship him in the Temple (eg. incense, burning of offerings etc.): LAW is a DOCTRINE! PROPHETS is an individual with AUTHORITY! Bible is a product of DOCTRINE AND AUTHORITY.

Christ’s Church is ONE living UNIVERSAL Community [1 Corinthians 12:12-27] ONE LAW and led by his REPRESENTATIVE: a Family of God and not a lonely individual.

  

The True ONE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

The Church founded by Christ is the Pillar and Bulwark of Truth. This Church is ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, APOSTOLIC CHURCH.

                                                                      

Hierarchical

Matthew 16:13-20 - Jesus built his Church on Peter, the rock (foretold in the OT: Isaiah 22:15-25)
Luke 22:29-30 - I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father conferred one on me: you will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
Luke 22:32 - Peter appointed to be the chief shepherd (that Peter's faith may not fail)
John 10:16 - One shepherd to shepherd Christ's sheep
John 15:16 - Jesus chose special men to be his Apostles
John 21:17-19 - Peter appointed to be the chief shepherd
John 20:21 - Jesus gave the Apostles his own mission
Ephesians 4:11 - Church leaders are hierarchical
1 Timothy 3:1,8; 1 Timothy 5:17 - identifies roles of bishops, priests and deacons
Titus 1:5 - Commission for bishops to ordain priests

… Authoritative

Matthew 18:18 - Jesus gives to the Apostles the power to legislate
Matthew 18:17 - Jesus gives to the Apostles the power to discipline
Matthew 28:18-20 - Jesus delegates all power to Apostles
Luke 10:16 - Jesus gives to the Apostles the power to speak with Christ's voice
John 20:23 - Jesus gives to the Apostles the power to forgive sins
1 Corinthians 11:24 - Jesus gives to the Apostles the power to offer sacrifice (the Eucharist)

… and Infallible

Matthew 28:20 - Jesus tells them: I am with you always
Luke 10:16 - speaks with Christ's own voice
John 14:26 - Holy Spirit is to teach and remind them of everything
John 16:13 - guided by the Holy Spirit into all Truth
Acts 15:28 - Apostles speak with the voice of the Holy Spirit
1 Timothy 3:15 - Church is called the "pillar and foundation of truth"
1 John 2:27 - anointing of the Holy Spirit remains in you

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the

gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

Pope Paul VI in his encyclical, Evangelii Nuntiandi, states:

"Let us be very careful not to conceive of the universal Church as the simple sum, or ... the more or less anomolous federation of essentially different particular churches. In the mind of the Lord the Church is universal by vocation and mission, but when she puts down her roots in a variety of cultural, social, and human terrains, she takes on different external expressions and appearances in each part of the world."

We Catholics has an intimate personal relationship to our Lord, we eat his flesh and drink his blood as he instructed us to do, and we share a meal together at the one banquet table in the presence of Our Lord. But this personal relationship does not give us an excuse to reject what he established; you cannot love the King and reject his Kingdom nor call a doctor and smash all his instruments.