What is the True Church?

Tim, have you written any articles or have any links to share about the true Church of God and where/who it is?

No, but this is such an important question for every believer it is time I did.

Why So Many Churches?

Most believers probably forget (or purposely ignore) how fractured the Christian world is. To focus on it causes cognitive dissonance. How can “Jesus’ followers” be so divided? Why is Christianity, if it is Jesus’ religion, such a confusing mess?

Christian author and scholar Dr. Roy Blizzard has said that Christianity is divided into 40,000 warring denominations. Of course, the division stems mainly from doctrinal differences. For example, some denominations sprinkle for baptism, others immerse, others don’t do it at all. If you believe immersion is necessary, how can you stay with a group that denies “the truth” (as you see it) or condone them “doing it wrong?” You join or start a new group who you can agree with. This is what people have done over the centuries to produce the confusing Christian scenario that we are all too familiar with. It is a chief bad fruit of the emphasis on “right” doctrinal beliefs, instead of the emphasis on right attitude and actions that Jesus had exclusively.

Everyone naturally thinks that the church they belong to is doing things right and is the true church. From the smallest cult to the largest organization. I have had many Catholics proudly point out that their church is the true church because it is the oldest and preserved the Bible that “you Protestants use to argue against us.”

The Church Defined

But the truth is that to find the true church you do not go examining the Christian organizations or denominations out there. When Jesus said, “I will build my church” (Mt 16:18) he was not talking about Christianity, a religion that developed centuries after he died. The biblical definition of the church is actually the people, the believers. The Greek word translated church is ekklesia which literally translates to “called out ones,” not “church.”

The true ekklesia is you and I and all believers collectively. Whether you gather, assemble or meet or not, we are the church. It’s not contained in any one religion, denomination, system, or organization, but found across them all—and outside them, too. If you don’t “go to church” or don’t “belong to a church” you still are the church.

Today the true church of God is actually not organized. We have no leader. The apostles are gone. We have no system; it’s confusion. Certainly we have no agreed upon beliefs or practices (see above). But that’s OK. Such things are not required to be the called out ones. You only need choose to respond to the calling by believing in the good news of the Kingdom.

What is Repentance?

An important consideration here is that even believers who do not take the calling seriously or who do not act like Jesus instructed are still the church. There is no subdivision of true believers and false believers in the body. Therefore, even the typical Christian who does nothing more than sit through a sermon every Sunday and pay his tithe is still the church. Even if the rest of the week he may act no differently than the world around him, he still qualifies.

If you doubt this, read the letters to seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Jesus corrects most of the churches telling them to stop being lukewarm and repent. Yes, sinning, lukewarm, wicked believers are still the ekklesia. They were called out and the chose to respond, but they are not bearing the right fruit, good fruit.

What fruit? “Fruit worthy of repentance” as John the Baptist called it (Mt 3:8=Lk 3:8). If you read Luke 3, you’ll see that John helpfully illustrates what these fruits look like. Unlike what Christianity teaches, it’s not about accepting Jesus and a bunch of orthodox beliefs and creeds and maintaining membership with a local “church.” Instead it is acting with loving compassion towards others rather than acting with our natural selfishness and indifference. This requires “turning” from your normal instinctive ways, which is the meaning of repent.

By the way, Jesus makes it clear that the members of the church that do not repent will not receive eternal life (Rev 3:5; 3:16). That’s why he implores them to repent. This is again different than what Christianity teaches that once you believe you are saved just for that. Some even teach that “once saved, always saved.” If that was true, why would the church listen to Jesus’ pleading to repent?

How To Receive Eternal Life in Jesus’ Own Words

The members of the church who actually think and act differently than everyone else are not just called and chosen (Mt 22:14), but they are called chosen and faithful (Rev 17:14). They faithfully have an attitude of following (albeit not perfectly) the six commandments required for entry into the Kingdom and receive eternal life (Mt 19:16-19). Jesus told a parable illustrating what those six commandments look like in practice, which is similar to what John the Baptist described:

Matthew 25:41-46 (HCSB) — 41  Then He will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels! 42  For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43  I was a stranger and you didn’t take Me in; I was naked and you didn’t clothe Me, sick and in prison and you didn’t take care of Me.’ 44  “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?’ 45  “Then He will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.’ 46  “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

How much thought and effort does the average Christian put into cultivating an attitude of loving others like that in themselves? Obviously, not much. I have no judgment for them, only sorrow. In their defense, they are simply not taught or trained in having that focus. The focus in churches is on having the right beliefs and getting others to believe the same way and hopefully join the church.

Conclusion

In conclusion, finding or being the true church is very easy. Believers are everywhere. However, finding or being the part of the church that is faithful or on the narrow path (Mt 7:14) is not so easy, although the requirements are thankfully very simple. Put in the simplest way:

Matthew 7:12 (HCSB)  — Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them—this is the Law and the Prophets.,

If you never step foot in a church but you study the instruction of Jesus and act on it, then you will be the best example of the true church available to probably most people who know you.

Is Jesus the “Prince” of Ezekiel 40-48?

What Time Period Is Ezekiel 40-48?

Here’s an interesting question a friend asked on Ezekiel 40-48:

Knowing you have studied most Bible prophesy, to which time period(s) do you attribute these 9 chapters? Who is the prince mentioned? Note HIS sin sacrifice 45:22 and after. Also “his sons” 46:16 (If you want to do it as a Facebook blog I can read it there. Thanks Bro)

It is well known that Ezekiel 40-48 are prophecies of the Millennium (and beyond). The temple referred to there is therefore called the Millennial Temple, not to be confused with the next temple, the Third Temple. Ezekiel 40-46 describes the Millennial Temple, the priesthood and sacrifices there. To most Christians it’s shocking that sacrifices are coming back until they understand the purpose of the sacrifices.

Who is “The Prince?” at the Millennial Temple?

Also strange is how there are several mentions of “the prince” in these chapters. You would think these verses refer to Jesus at the temple:

Ezekiel 44:3 — It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.

Ezekiel 45:22 — And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin offering.

Ezekiel 46:16 — Thus saith the Lord GOD; If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons’; it shall be their possession by inheritance.

However as noted in the question above, there are clear problems with this. For example, Jesus has no sons and is sinless needing no sacrifice. The New American Commentary agrees:

Equally intriguing is the “prince” who may sit inside the gate to “eat in the presence of the Lord,” probably meaning to eat a communal meal. Not even the prince used the entrance of the gate. When he entered it, he entered by the porch (v. 3).

Because of the messianic associations with the eastern gate, some have identified the “prince” as the Messiah, since 37:25 says, “David my servant will be their prince forever.” In spite of this reference, two important details suggest that the “prince” of 44:3 is not the Messiah. First, the prince is not a priest but has priests who minister for him. The Messiah is portrayed in Old Testament prophecy as the coming Priest-King (Zech 6:13). The offices of priest and king are always kept separate because the Messiah is to be the only one in whom these two offices are combined (2 Chr 26:16-21). Second, the prince is required to offer a sin offering for himself (Ezek 45:22) every day for seven days during feasts (45:23). By contrast, the Messiah was the sinless sacrifice for all people and a perfect High Priest (Heb 9:22-28).

If the prince is not the Messiah, then who is he? Some have identified the prince as David resurrected and serving in the temple during the millennium. More likely the prince is a special representative of the Messiah who will serve as an administrator of the temple, temple area, and sacred district. Such a conclusion is suggested by Levenson, who sees the prince as an apolitical messianic leader or a David-like administrator.

What else you want to know? =)

Update: Someone asked if the fact that “the prince” has to atone for his sins means he’s not a glorified saint but a physical man. I think that’s right. He’s not Jesus, David or any glorified saint. (Plus not only will David be glorified, but he will be king over Israel and Judah, not a prince.)

Biblical Holy Day Calendar: Why So Much Confusion?

Here’s a question I received on Facebook that is the same question I and everyone has early on in their “Torah keeping” adventure:

Seeing several people/sites claiming today (Sept 5) is the Feast of Trumpets (or Rosh Hashanah) .. your site lists Sept 8 and I’ve seen others list the 6th, 7th or 9th…. How come we have so much disagreement over something that should be pretty straightforward?

Actually, it was only straightforward for the people to whom the holy days were originally given to keep; ancient Israel. The rest of us, now some 3500 years later who it was not given to, must deal with many ambiguities in the written text all on our own. Some use Jewish tradition to resolve them (Jewish calendar), others astronomy (equinox calendar), others Karaite scholarship (aviv barley calendar) among other permutations.

What is missed by most today is that the Torah did not just drop out of the sky to be read on its own or followed by anyone who comes along. It was given to a specific people and given with key assistance. Namely, ancient Israel was given the Torah through the prophet Moses. When Israel had any question on what to do or what God’s will was in a matter, they could ask the prophet (or later, the priest with the urim and thumim). If he did not know the answer, he was able to inquire of God directly and get the answer reliably. No debate, no division, no doubts (like today).

There are a few examples of this in the Old Testament: 1. The man caught collecting wood on Sabbath, (Nu 15:33-36); 2. the blaspheming son (Lev 24:12-14); and 3. the question about the inheritance for the Daughters of Zelophehad (Nu 27:4-6). In addition they had the judges and Levites to explain what the Torah meant.

In contrast to this, anyone reading the Torah today is missing that key component for understanding it. It’s like trying to operate a complicated proprietary system for your business by reading only the owner’s manual without the onsite company trainer sent to answer all the questions that come up in reading the manual. It’s a recipe for confusion and frustration.

This crucial problem is one of the several reasons why I had to abandon “Torah keeping” years ago.