[xzins]

I think the Church is that body that is descended from the body that Jesus started:

They went from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria, to the uttermost parts of the earth.

But they WERE NOT just anyone who decided to hang out a shingle with the words "First Church of the Stuff We Think Is Right."

A real church is both the spiritual descendants of the Early Christians and they are descended through the lineage of ordination.

If they can't demonstrate their connection to the early Church, then where is their authority? After all Jesus said that the Church would be unconquerable and that "the gates of hell would not prevail" against it.

Jesus also said to His Apostles: "those who are not against us are for us." when they complained once about "unauthorized" folks who were preaching about Him.

Therefore, any group of "spiritual descendents" will not reject those with an already established, traceable connection who have not apostacized and had their candlestick removed.

They will demonstrate unity.

Just my humble 2c worth.

[wmfights]

"I think the Church is that body that is descended from the body that Jesus started:"
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As I am sure you are aware, one of the never ending discussions here is about the primacy, or lack thereof, of the Roman Catholic Church. Are you ascribing to the view that because they claim succession through Peter that they are "The CHURCH"?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so very much for your insightful post, dear xzins!

I think the Church is that body that is descended from the body that Jesus started:

They went from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria, to the uttermost parts of the earth.

But they WERE NOT just anyone who decided to hang out a shingle with the words "First Church of the Stuff We Think Is Right."

Indeed. TXnMA used a metaphor on on another thread which I find particularly helpful:

I was amused at how much true Christians are like multicolored wires in a complex cable. When one strips away the externals that appear to differentiate us -- like the colored insulation distinguishes and isolates one wire from another -- what is left is the solid metal core where the Power flows. And those cores are very much alike -- just as true believers are all alike when standing at the foot of the Cross.

[wmfights]

"If they can't demonstrate their connection to the early Church, then where is their authority? After all Jesus said that the Church would be unconquerable and that "the gates of hell would not prevail" against it."
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The source of all authority on earth today rests in SCRIPTURE. It is the only source we have that is the inerrant WORD of GOD. All other sources, no matter how long or fine their history, come from man's opinion and has to be viewed with caution. If you fall into the trap of placing your FAITH in anything other than JESUS, such as a long established church, you are setting yourself up to be misguided.

[where HE leads me]

The church that I used to attend (the one I spent the vast majority of my life in) was one that claimed "authority". How did they use (I should say, abuse) that authority? They used it to move the church into liberal Protestantism and to disfellowship those who didn't agree with their direction. Those who wanted to remain true to the word were told we were no longer considered brothers and sisters in the faith.

The only thing "authority" is good for is for keeping people squashed under your thumb and calling someone else a heretic, even if the person doing the name-calling is the one who is heretical.