Christians in the denominations

[McCulloch]

I don't see God trying to heal the Catholic Church He isn't Catholic, or the Lutheran Church He isn't Lutheran, or the Pentecostal Church He isn't Pentecostal either.
There is a way Jesus Christ the Head operates, and it isn't according to mans rules or idea's and it is his Church I don't think He is much interested in healing mans hierarchical institutional structures, it isn't going to happen, so don't look for it.

And we could add Episcopal, Anglican, Coptic, Baptist, Presbyterian, Adventist, Mennonite, Mormon and Reformed.

What is meant by the body of Christ, the church, in the modern context? In the New Testament the term ecclesia or �κκλησία (church or assembly) is used for local communities and in a universal sense to mean all believers. For this debate, let's focus on the universal sense. What is the church? Are there Christians within the numerous denominations claiming to be Christian? Can you be, for example, Lutheran and Christian? Is denominational affiliation a bad thing? Are there Christians outside of the numerous denominations claiming to be Christian? Must you belong to a local church? Should a Christian belong to a local church?

Is one particular denomination, or group of denominations the church universal? Why does the Christian movement appear to be so divided and splintered?

Is ecumenicism the answer? This refers to initiatives aimed at greater religious unity or cooperation among Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice. It is the idea of a Christian unity in that there should be a single Christian Church.

Is restorationism a viable option? Restorationism is the belief that a purer form of Christianity should be restored using the early church as a model. It is a response to denominationalism. The motive behind all restoration movements is to tear down the walls of separation by a return to the practice of the original, essential and universal features of the Christian religion.

Congregationalism? Congregationalism is the viewpoint that every local church is a full realization in miniature of the entire Church of Jesus Christ; and the Church, while on earth, besides the local church, can only be invisible and ideal.

[Jonah]

A place to start:

None of the denominations today actually, in real time, adhere to their constitutional documents and definitions.

Each dominations is thoroughly infiltrated by other isms. And while this is thoroughly so today, it has been largely so for a long time.

Americans often take name brands way too seriously.

If we survey the denominational publishing house business, what do we find? What we find is that congregational resources are published and marketed cross-denominationally. This is especially true of educational materials from adult ed programs...to youth ministry/Sunday school materials....to vacation bible school. Why is this done? Simple. Money. The publishing houses can sell more gear if they have a bigger market. The same holds true with evangelism. Joel Olsteen loves everyone. lol. Okay. A fundamentalist church cuts the pie in half, but it's still a big pie. All fundys of whatever stripe are welcome in fundyland anywhere. Love that Sarah Palin? Come right in.

Even in the Catholic Church, you've got a freakin circus. The Orthodox churches in America have been in bed with Evangelicals for 40 years.

Wherever a reasonable accurate definition of the universal church today is...is somewhere out in the ether.

Personally, I think we are speaking of something here that has yet to exist in the concrete. The New Testament conjures up a pluralistic set of options of what the Church might be, but as of yet, no rubber has hit the road. It's still all theoretical.

Or can you point to an exemplar of "The Church" today that you are really happy with? lol

[Catharsis]

Yes, there are thousands of religions and denominations today - but there is only One Church.

According to the Lord Jesus Christ the Church cannot apostatize: "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." (Matthew, 16:18). The Holy Bible also clearly states that the truth shall remain in the Church forever, 2 John 1:2; just as Jesus Christ Himself likewise promises that He shall continuously be with the Church, from the 1st century to the end of time, unfailingly: "I am with you, for all days, until the end of time".

Therefore, there are not many Churches or communities, and there is no need for Ecumenism - as there is only One Church, because Christ, the head of the Church, remains forever joined to His Body, just as the Holy Spirit remains continuously within it, to guide it throughout the truth (John 14:26).

If there is no Church in existence today, as various teachers of deception claim, it would mean that Christ had given false promises, which He didn't keep. But, isn't that a blasphemous conjecture?

[Jonah]

I wouldn't give a rip about what you find blasphemous about ecclesiology. I'm a Jew. I deal with the combo-Christians if they want to play nice, no matter what you call them. Somebody has to stock the food pantries.