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The Church Christ Established and the division of man

Saturday, September 13, 2008
The church Christ Established and the division of man
Historical Timeline of the origins of the Church, you decide based on the evidence presented



NOTE TO THE READER: I have a beautiful diagram drawn up, but for some reason it will not publish correctly, so I apologize, but I decided to have some fun with my readers. I would ask you to get a few sheets of paper, and a Pencil. As you read, draw a hierarchy chart as you would for a family tree. Good Luck, if you want a copy of the chart please E-mail me, and I will forward a copy to you.


A. In the beginning, God created all things. It does not matter whether you want to believe in the Theory of Evolution, the Theory of Creationism or if you want to believe that it was just a cosmic accident. The fact remains that God made it happen regardless of how it happened. The proof is the fact that we are here, and no one can deny that simple fact.


B. Then around the year c.2000 B.C., God calls Abram out of the land of Ur. God changes his name to Abraham and establishes the third covenant with humanity through Abraham. God promises Abraham that his seed will number the stars in the heavens, "One Holy Tribe" covenant. The religion of the Hebrews was born.


C. Moving forward in history as time progressed three groups emerged from the Hebrew Religion; The Orthodox Jews, the Conservative Jews, and the Reformed Jews. Mainstream Pagan religions such as those practiced by the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans overshadowed the Jewish religion.


Before moving on please Read Genesis Chapter 1, verses 1-50


D. Moving forward in history to a period just before the first century, we come to the sixth covenant God makes with humanity, the "One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church" covenant. Over two thousand years ago a man by the name of Jeshua bar Joseph walked this earth. The word "bar" means "the son of," so Jeshua bar Joshua means Jesus son of Joseph. We know Jeshua bar Joseph as Jesus Christ, no other individual has had a greater impact on humanity than Jesus. The birth of Jesus Christ was the Messianic fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesies. In the year c. 01 B.C., a young female by the name of Mary becomes the servant of the Lord as announced by the Archangel Gabriel. Mary gives birth to Jeshua (Jesus). Jeshua bar Joseph lived according the Jewish traditions of the time. Jesus would have been required to attend classes to learn the Torah in the morning and in the afternoon; he would have been required to learn his father trade. Jesus would have learned the carpenter's trade as Joseph his stepfather was a carpenter. By the age of 30 Jesus and his disciples were roaming the countryside preaching the good news to the people they came across. Jesus preformed many miracles, and taught many lessons on his journey through the land. The mainstream religion of the time was Judaism. Jesus and his followers seen as heretics, and considered a sect or cult. The Romans looked upon Jesus and his followers a harmless crazy, uneducated Jews.



E. Read the Book of Luke, followed by the books of Matthew, Mark, and then John to discover the life story of Jesus. Jesus and his followers were known as "followers of the way" not Christians. In the year 30 A.D., Jesus begins his ministry. Three years later, he is crucified and buried. However, the story does not end there; it was the beginning of a new covenant between God and humanity. The "One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church" is the new and final covenant between God and humanity. To clear up a misconception Jesus and his disciples did not just get up one morning, stretched, yawn, and declare they would start the Universal Church. Jesus and his disciples were JEWS, they attended temple services as any devout Hebrew of the time would have. The followers of the way only wanted changes in the way people lived, believed, and treated each other. After Jesus' death by crucifixion, his disciples spread throughout the known world.


F. Paul traveled to Rome to spread the gospel of Christ, and Peter traveled to Rome. Both men were martyred, and Christianity was born. Early Christian suffered greatly in the early church, many died in the arena, some were stoned to death, and others burned at the stake. On various occasions Christians were tied or impaled on a stake, covered in pitch and set ablaze to light a roadway outside of the city, or to light a hill side for a party of some high level official. At the time they were set ablaze the Christians were alive.


G. The Universal Church was established. The word "Catholic" means "Universal." The Emperor Constantine helped promote the new religion in his attempt to control the empire; he saw just how fast Christianity was spreading. In order to control the general population Constantine made Christianity the state religion. Constantine was a pagan worshiper he was not a Christian.


H. Five churches emerged in the 4th Century; Rome, Antioch, Constantinople, Armenia and Alexandria. In the year c.1054 AD, the Greek Orthodox also known as the Eastern Orthodox Church separated from the Catholic Church. This is the Great Schism of 1054 and it occurred over issues of; Dogma- Church teachings, Traditions-of the church as established by Christ and the Apostles, Authority of the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, Icons- paintings and carvings, This church is not in communion with the Roman Catholic Pontiff, thus they are not a part of the Catholic Church. The Greek Orthodox Church as its own Pope, when the church split both popes excommunicated each other and their followers. The excommunication continues to this day.


I. The Roman Catholic Church split into two different groups after the Great Schism of 1054. (The Western Rite Catholic Church and the Eastern Rite Catholic Church) The Roman Catholic Church, with the Pope as the head of the church known as the Western Rite Catholic Church. The Eastern Rite Catholic Church is in full communion with the Pope, the bishop of Rome, the head of the Western Rite Catholic Church. The Catholic Church, which includes the Western Rite and Eastern Rite Catholic Churches, continues to this day with little to no changes in Church doctrine, beliefs, or traditions.


J. In the year 1517 A.D. a Catholic Priest named Martin Luther, a theologian teaching in a German University published a Thesis that complained about various issues that were occurring in the Catholic Church. He complained about the selling of indulgences. Indulgences were sold for the forgiveness of sin or shorten the individual's time in purgatory, the proceeds from the sale of indulgences helped build churches and other projects throughout the land. Luther complained about nepotism, the practice of appointing a relative to a position of authority. There were bishops appointed at the age of 12 years old. He argued the authority of the Pope, and his position as the Vicar of Christ. He even labeled the pope as the anti Christ. Remember no phones, telegraphs, e-mails, or Instant Messages- so communication was slow. All messages including Luther's thesis went by way of the sandal mobile. The distance between Germany and Rome would have taken months in each direction. By the time, the reply from Rome the Protestant reformation was in full swing. In the year 1521, The Pope labeled Martin Luther a heretic and excommunicated him.


K. The Lutheran Church established in 1521 by Martin Luther did not fare so well within a period of 15 years it split three different times. (The Calvin Church, the English Protestant, and the European Independent Church) The Calvinistic church (Calvinism) was established by John Calvin in 1536 A.D. John Calvin was not a theologian, he was a law student studying in Paris France. Because France was a Catholic country at the time, Calvin moved his new church to Switzerland, where he ruled with an iron grip. Because of Calvin's dogma and iron grip, the Calvin Church split into three groups.

(The Reformed Church, established in 1628, the Presbyterian Church established in 1560, and the Cumberland church established in 1810)


The Presbyterian Church split five different times; (The Southern Presbyterian Church, the Northern Presbyterian Church, the Cumberlands, the Disciples, and the Mormons)


The Cumberlands established in 1810 split twice (The Cumberlands established in 1906 and the Northern Presbyterian Church)

The Disciples established in 1815 by Campbell Stone

The Mormons established in 1820 by Joseph Smith, (The Mormons are considered a cult) split twice; (the Latter Day Saints Church of Christ and the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints Church of Christ).


L. English Protestantism Church established in 1535 split from the Lutheran Church. This church split three times. (Puritanism, Separatism, and Anglicanism) The Puritan church split twice (Presbyterian Church, and the Congregational Church) The Presbyterian Church split five times: (Southern Presbyterian Church of the United States, the Northern Presbyterian Church of the United States, the Cumberland Church, The Unitarian Church, Mormonism). The Cumberland Church established in 1810 split again in 1906, but kept the same name. The Unitarian Church was established in 1825 and is considered a cult. The Mormon Church was established in 1820 by Joseph Smith and is considered a cult. The Mormon Church split twice: (The Latter Day Saints Church of Christ and the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints Church of Christ) The congregational Church split three times: (Unitarian Church, the Disciples Church and the Jehovah Witnesses) The Unitarian Church was established in 1825, is composed of congregational church members and Presbyterian Church members. The Unitarian Church established in 1825, is considered a cult. Stone Campbell established the Disciples Church in 1815. The Jehovah Witnesses, established in 1872 by Charles Taze Russell, and it considered a cult. The Separatist Church split three times: (Pilgrims, Baptist, Quakers)


Established in 1560 the Pilgrims Church split once: (Congregational Church). The Congregational Church split into the Jehovah Witnesses and the Unitarian. The Baptist Church established in 1609 split five times: (Southern Baptist Convention, Northern Baptist Convention, National Baptist Convention, the Disciples Church, and the Seventh Day Adventist Church), The Disciples established by Stone Campbell, and is considered a cult. The Seventh Day Adventist was established in 1843, and is considered a cult. The Quakers established in 1649 by Fox. The Quakers church split once: (Worldwide church of God established in 1943 by Armstrong and is considered a cult.) The Anglican Church split twice: (Episcopal and Methodist Church). The Methodist Church was established in the 18th Century, and split three times: (Salvation Army, Church of the Nazarene, and the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel). A sect that was established in 1878 the Salvation Army is the brainchild of William Booth. The Church of the Nazarene was established in 1890 by john Wesley and is considered a sect.


The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, was established by Aimee Semple McPherson in 1890.


M. The European Independents church which split from the Lutheran Church, split itself into two groups. (The Calvin Church and the Anabaptist Church)


3. The European Independents Church split as well into two groups.


a. A long with the Lutherans the European Independents established the Calvin Church.

b. Anabaptist church, split once

1. The Mennonite Church


4. It did not stop there by the year c1800 the Lutheran Church split again this time into four different groups.


a. American Lutheran Conference

b. Lutheran Synodical Conference

c. United Lutheran Conference

d. The Swedenborgians, established in c.1783, considered an occult




L. Other Cults and Sects in America Today

1. Moonies, established in 1954 by Sun Myung Mood, considered a cult

2. Christian Scientist, established in 1926, by Mary Baker Eddy


M. Are you confused, don't worry things get better, just hang in there, hopefully by now you are getting the idea of what has transpired through the history of the Church. Each time there has been a division within the church it has come from within the church itself. To my knowledge, there has never been an instance where a church split due to come outside force.

O. As for the Catholic Church itself, the Greek Orthodox separated in c 1054 A.D. That first split took One Thousand fifty-four years to happen. Then Martin Luther a catholic priest separated from the church in 1517, that is One Thousand Five Hundred and seventeen years since the church started.


P. The Universal Church became the Catholic Church, split Four times.

1. The Greek Orthodox Church, also known as the Eastern Church, split in c 1054 A.D.

2. The Protestant Reformation started by Martin Luther in 1517.

3. The Eastern Catholic Church split from the Western Catholic Church, but remains in full communion with the Western Catholic Church, and the Pope the Bishop of Rome.




4. The Great Western Schism of 1378 to 1417, where the Western Catholic Church split into two different groups

a. The Papacy was located in Rome Italy, but a second Papacy was established in Avignon France. Each side considered itself the true papal seat of the Catholic Church.

b. Each side held conclaves to pick their own popes, each pope not wanting to give up their authority, excommunicated the other pope and their followers.

c. The Pope in authority prior to the Great Western Schism was Pope Gregory XI; his legitimate successor was Urban VI. The French cardinals rebelled against Urban VI and elected Clement VII. This was the start of the Great Western Schism within the church. The Legitimate Popes who were located in Rome Italy included Urban VI (1378-1389), Boniface IX (1389-11404), Innocent VII (1404-1406) and Gregory XII (1406-1415). The Anti Popes located in Avignon France included Clement VII (1378-1394) and Benedict XIII (1394-1417)

d. It was not until the counsel of Pisa in 1409 A.D. during the reign Pope Gregory XII and Benedict XIII, where the cardinals attempted to end the schism. This was the first attempt to bind the wounds of the church. The result of the counsel of Pisa was Pope Alexander V (1409-1410), for the first time in the history of the church there were three different Popes in authority.




At point point three popes were in power at the same time, causing a major division within the Catholic Church. Gregory XII (1406-1415) the Legal Pope, and Alexander V (1409-1410) Anti Pope, and Benedict XIII (1394-1417) Anti Pope.



Then Pope John XXIII an Anti Pope succeeded Alexander V in 1410.




It was Pope John XXIII who convened the Council of Constance, which lasted from 1414 to 1418. This Council legitimized the Papacy of John XXIII. In the year 1417, John XXIII abdicated the papacy, and allowed the Council of Constance to elect a new pope Martin V. Pope Gregory XII the legitimate pope resigned for the good of the church. The chair of peter has a unbroken line of succession beginning with St. Peter to the present day with the reigning Pope Benedict XVI elected in 2005.








His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI


Now for the million-dollar question does this mean that the protestant churches are out of favor with God and have no chance of going to heaven? ABSOLUTELY NOT, our protestant brothers, and sisters are still a part of the church, though they are lacking in the traditions and sacraments that allow them to be in full communion with the church, they are still a part of the Church Christ started over two thousand years ago.

As you can clearly see that, the true Church of Christ was firmly established. The Church continues to this day with little changes since Christ walked the earth. Each time there has been a split within the church it has been from within the church itself.


Each of our protestant brothers and sisters by now should realize that their church beginnings all come from the Catholic Church. Each of the protestant churches are a product of someone within the church deciding that some issue of dogma, tradition, or rite was not being done correctly or that a different interpretation of scripture was not to their liking simply quit, to start a new church of their own.


Religion is not a matter of what I like to call buffet religion. You cannot select what you want to believe or not believe. You cannot choose which traditions, and teaching you want to follow. Christ did not say do some of what I taught you, he said Do as I have taught you.

The problem with humanity is that everyone seeks power, wealth, and authority, everyone has their own interpretation of what the bible means, and everyone has an opinion of what traditions are from God or from Man. It is for this reason that there have been so many divisions in the church. I hope that by now, you have finished your own chart, and you will clearly see a major pattern.


Below are various Biblical passages for you to read and contemplate over.


In a letter by the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians with reference to traditions

Stand Fast to the traditions taught by the Church

2 Thessalonians 2:15 "Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours."


In a Letter by the Apostle Paul who addresses Timothy's conduct.

Traditions come from Christ

2 Timothy 2:2 "and what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well.

2 Timothy 3:16 "We instruct you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to shun any brother who conducts himself in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us."


Heavenly Father, I pray that you send the Holy Spirit to each individual who reads this article that the warmth of your love graces their hearts, and they receive the gift of wisdom, knowledge, and truth. Bless them Lord that they continue on their own personal journey to you. I ask this in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN.
Posted by Larry H. Ramos at 8:15 PM