Christian: Not Catholic or Protestant

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. 2

“…they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”  What does “Catholic” mean?  What does “Protestant” mean? 3

CHRISTIAN Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16 Follower of, belonging to Christ Follower of, belonging to Christ Disciple of Christ, Acts 11:26 Disciple of Christ, Acts 11:26 ▫ Learns from and follows Him, Lk 6:40, 46 ▫ He is saved, and continues steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching, Acts 2:

CHRISTIAN Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16 Being a Christian is NOT about… Being a Christian is NOT about… ▫ Wearing a name, but living a life (Titus 1:16) ▫ Joining a club, but being added by the Lord to His church (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor 1:12-13) ▫ Selfish conduct, but self-sacrifice (Lk 9:23) ▫ Not about worn out “rules”, but living the law of love (1 Jno 5:2-3) 5

CHRISTIAN Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16 Become a Christian by being obedient to the faith, Acts 10:34-35; Heb 5:9 (Mk 16:16) Become a Christian by being obedient to the faith, Acts 10:34-35; Heb 5:9 (Mk 16:16) ▫ Example of the conversion of priests, Acts 6:7 The Christian is added to the church of Christ by Christ, Acts 2:47 (called out ones; saved) The Christian is added to the church of Christ by Christ, Acts 2:47 (called out ones; saved) ▫ Universal church, Matt 16:18; Heb 12:23 ▫ The faithful Christian joins himself to a faithful local church, Acts 2:41; 9:26-28 (31) 6

CHRISTIAN Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16 A Christian departs from iniquity, 2 Tim 2:19; Titus 1:15-16 A Christian departs from iniquity, 2 Tim 2:19; Titus 1:15-16 ▫ A convert, Acts 3:19; Rom 12:1-2; Col 3:1-4 ▫ It is a contradiction of Christ for a Christian to continue to practice sin after being saved, Rom 6:1-2, ▫ Christ knows those who do the Father’s will and do not practice lawlessness, Matt 7:

CATHOLICS Who are they? “Catholic” means “Universal” “Catholic” means “Universal” ▫ The Catholic Church is an Apostate Church: -Gradually developed from A.D due to departures from the faith, 1 Tim 4:1-3 ▫ “The technical use seems to have been clearly established by the beginning of the third century. In this sense of the word it implies sound doctrine as opposed to heresy, and unity of organization as opposed to schism.” (Lightfoot, Apostolic Fathers, cited in Catholic Encyclopedia, “Catholic”) 8

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH Apostasy in Organization Apostasy in Organization ▫ New Testament: Eldership over one church ▫ Over time, departures began… 9 Acts 14:23; 1 Pet 5:2 E E E First century (NT) Bishop Bishop Bishop E E Acts 20:29-30

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH Apostasy in Organization Apostasy in Organization ▫ Eldership over one church ▫ Over time, departures began… 10 Authority of Metropolitans Metropolitans PROVINCE (Diocese) PROVINCE (Diocese) PROVINCE (Diocese) The Bishop (Metropolitan) COUNTRY CHURCH COUNTRY CHURCH COUNTRY CHURCH

Think it Can’t Happen Today? Ethos Church (Nashville TN) Ethos Church (Nashville TN) “Ethos is a Church of Christ. The Church of Christ began as a part of the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement, a movement determined to be simply Christian. Where you come from says a lot about you, but it doesn’t say everything. While we share a commitment to the values of our tradition, we seek to express our faith in ways that embrace the challenges presented by our ever-changing culture.” ( 11

Think it Can’t Happen Today? Ethos Church (Nashville TN) Ethos Church (Nashville TN) “Since Ethos Church has only been in existence for almost two years, we do not currently have our own board of Biblically qualified Elders. By God’s grace, he has provided us with 14 wonderful Elders from the Harpeth Hills Church of Christ (our partner church) that have agreed to serve as the temporary Eldership of Ethos Church until God raises up Elders from within our church body. These men and their wives are passionate Christ followers that love and support God’s work at Ethos Church wholeheartedly.” ( 12

13 PATRIARCHS The Catholic Church Develops Rome Constantinople Antioch Jerusalem Alexandria 13

14 Bishop of Rome: Universal Bishop The Catholic Church The Papacy A.D

15 Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church The Great Schism 1054 A.D. 15

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH Apostasy in Doctrine: Apostasy in Doctrine: ▫ The plan of salvation:  Immersion to sprinkling on death bed  Personal sin to original sin to infant baptism ▫ Worship (Jno 4:24):  Clergy/laity developed; Priesthood  Ceremonial pomp, the mass, etc.  Introduction of instrumental music in worship  Transubstantiation, the Sacraments, etc. 16

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH Apostasy in Morality: Apostasy in Morality: ▫ Licentiousness increased as pagan traditions were co-opted by the church ▫ A corrupt clergy served itself and oppressed the laity ▫ Selling of indulgences : Presumed to relieve a repentant person of ‘temporal punishment’ for sin after God had forgiven its guilt – they began to be sold for sins not yet committed! 17

PROTESTANTS Who are they? Protestant Reformation ( ) Protestant Reformation ( ) ▫ Protested against Catholic abuses ▫ Martin Luther ( ): German monk Protestants multiplied organizational and doctrinal corruption Protestants multiplied organizational and doctrinal corruption Denominations formed based on creeds, confessions and forms of church governments Denominations formed based on creeds, confessions and forms of church governments 18

19

Which “Christian” is Genuine? Which is following Christ? Acts 11:26 Which is following Christ? Acts 11:26 Christians are named after Christ, not… Christians are named after Christ, not… ▫ After an organization (“Catholic” Church) ▫ After a tradition (“Orthodox” Church) ▫ After a movement (“Protestant” Churches) ▫ After a man (“Lutheran” Church) ▫ After a form of church gov’t (“Presbyterian”) ▫ After a Bible action (“Baptist” Church) 20

Which “Christian” is Genuine? The one who is only a Christian (Ac 11:26) The one who is only a Christian (Ac 11:26) ▫ Without any allegiances to the doctrines and commandments of men, Col 2:20-23; 2 Cor 6:17-18 The church of Christ: The church of Christ: ▫ Composed of Christians (not churches or denominations), Matt 16:18; Acts 2:47; Rom 16:16 21