Only One True Church
In a recent ad, by the Knights of Columbus, the statement is made: "Nearly all Christians agree that there can be only one true Church. Yet there are hundreds of different denominations—some of them miles apart in what they teach—all claiming to be the true Church. Certainly all of them cannot be right...in fact, only ONE can. But, which one? How can we identify it"? We, of the church of Christ, agree with Catholics that all the various shades of denominations cannot be the church of the New Testament and that there is only ONE true Church. There is THIS difference between us; WE stand ready to affirm and prove, by the New Testament, that the church of Christ is the New Testament Church whereas, the Catholics only make the claim and refuse to prove their claim. The ad continues: "The Church is, therefore, not merely a body of people believing in Christ... but the Body appointed by Christ himself to continue his mission of redemption." This statement is true ONLY, if they mean the mission of the Church is to preach the message of redemption but the mission of Christ was and IS to save. (Lk. 19:10) The mission of the Church (and the assumption that it is the Roman Catholic is yet to be proved by them) is to preach salvation but the Church does not save; it is Christ that saves. Those who know the teaching of the Bible know that the Church is made up of the saved (Acts 2:47); and that Christ, when he returns, will SAVE THE CHURCH (Eph 5:23) and hence, no one can be saved who is not member of the LORD'S CHURCH. What we ask Catholics to do is to come out in the open and prove the Roman Catholic Church is the LORD'S Church. But, here is the proof?? offered, in the article, by Catholics: "He who hears you," the Savior said, "hears Me." For Catholics this means that when the Church speaks it is Christ speaking. When the Church offers prayer and sacrifices and forgiveness of sins, it is Christ's prayer and sacrifice and forgiveness of sins." Now, isn't that just marvelous proof??? It is a flagrant misrepresentation of the Word of God. The scripture used above is Lk. 10:16 and Jesus was talking to the apostles (not the Catholic Church; even the Lord's Church had not yet been established). Men were to hear the apostles (as they were inspired men) and today the New Testament is a record of what the apostles spoke. When, therefore, we follow the New Testament we hear the apostles and to hear them is to hear Christ. The Roman Catholic Church has this theory (that people are to hear the Roman Catholic Church) and they in looking for scripture to fit their theory, fall upon a passage that has nothing to do with the subject. Anyone can see they have perverted the Word of God. We want them to give scripture for their church "offering prayer, sacrifice and forgiveness of sins" and that it is "Christ's prayer, sacrifice and forgiveness of sins."
If anyone doubts that we can PROVE by the scripture that the group known as the "Church of Christ" today is the New Testament Church then, let them find a preacher to deny it and we shall be glad to do so.