Expert: Dean Gade - 7/5/2009

Question
QUESTION: Now before we get started im not going to get into some mud slinging about what Church is false what is right, i believe that every Church that believes in Jesus Christ or at least God may still be heard by Him if not then why do they cast out demons in the name of God?

But in your opinion and studies what Church is the true Church? Agelicans? do you believe the Orthodox Churches are true when they say they are the first Church they say that they have doctuments of baptism leading all the way back to the tax collector Jesus ate with and he said ill give back four times what ive taken. Do you believe protestantism is correct? Or what i mean is Churches that follow only the Bible? What about catholicism?

ANSWER: Even thought there is only ONE CHURCH, there is no denomination which can claim to be that one church.  The Christian church is made up of all those persons and only those persons who have allowed Jesus the Christ to be the lord of their lives and their savior from the result of their sins.

None but God can know who the people are whose names are written in the book of life.  

Many who call themselves "the church" have only followed the way of the world, accepting "members" to mean those who have signed up to an organization.  They make membership an outward work on our part rather than faith in God's love, grace and lordship of their lives.

Mt 7:21-23

21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord ,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord , did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
NIV


Our obedience to God is based on our (we Christian's) trust in God's word, the Bible.  BECAUSE He has loved us and still loves us each day, showing us that His written promises are true, we are willing  and desirous to obey Him.

Thus, there are most likely members of the ONE CHURCH in each denomination  that claims to be followers of God in Jesus Christ.... (including the Roman Catholic, Anglican, etc).

The Bible is altogether necessary for faith.  How else can we know who God is and what our relationship is with Him?

Ro 10:14-17

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"  

16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?"   17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
NIV


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I like your answer. I find it rather sad that the orthodox say im a heretic and all this stuff even though they dont even have a church in every city, the bible says go and preach through out all the world, Thus if they were the right Church or the TRUE ONE AND ONLY Church they would be in every city not just a few.

I personally am a protestant and try to believe only in the bible but i have absolutly no problems with using things such as holy water because if i ask God to bless it then why wouldnt He? Did He not bless peters shadow to heal people and do the same with piece of cloth from saint paul? If one wants to use incense as a FREE offering and not an obligation then is that not ok? Most Christian Churches today or those who claim to be are always having fighting inside there Church and with other Churches its rather sad thanks for your insight

God bless you in all you do for Him

Answer
God does not have any problems with us using "things" to bring people to Him that they may know Him and His love as well as His right to be the Lord of all creation.

1 Ti 2:3-7
3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men — the testimony given in its proper time.
NIV

1 Ti 4:4-5
4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
NIV

God only requires that the glory belongs to Him when we use "things" to show His immeasurable power in helping others.  As you wrote, He did give power through many things to reveal Himself...as also  Moses' rod, the tree at the waters of Mirabah, a donkey to warn Baalam, a raven to feed Elijah, etc.  He gave us what we call Sacraments: baptism, absolution, the Lord's Supper....all dedicated by the word of promise for the forgiveness of sins and entry or strengthening in His kingdom.

Fighting even in His church has always been so mainly because of the flesh/pride of people who would serve themselves rather than God. And the persecution by those who are not mature in God's word will be with us till God sends His angels to gather the good produce of His church.

2 Co 4:1-12
4:1 Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
NIV