Why is Christianity dictated by the Church?

[sojourner]

Somethingnifty:

So adamantly against heretical sects...
Wherein the community of body of Christ is then breaking off into different parts of itself holding one as outside of, above, different, etc... from the others.
Like the scriptures relate of the body of the faithful in Christ. 1Corinthians 12:1-28

1 Corinthians 10:17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

Here's a real good example that supports my assertion in my post above. This letter is written to one congregation about their internal problems -- not as a "state of the church address." And that internal problem centers, not around theological differences, but around banquet practices. If you read the entire text, we find out that Gentiles are bringing meat that was cooked in pagan temples (which was culturally OK for them to do). Jews, however, are also at the banquets, and cannot eat that meat. Further, we find that people are bringing food from home (as would be the custom) and then not sharing it equally, but eating it themselves. these acts create inequality in a social setting in which all participants are to be treated equally. It doesn't have the slightest thing to do with heresy.

Somethingnifty:

Christianity was a mystery tradition, a gnosis tradition in essence. Which is why Jesus said he spoke in Parables and only in Parables. So that not all would understand.

It developed somewhat into that, but that's not what the statement means -- nor is it even certain that this is an authentic quotation of Jesus.

Somethingnifty:

Perhaps then those who are not the chosen are those who are sectarian and attend church believing in their Bibles and thinking that is where the truth of God lives.

This thinking runs completely counter to the gospel of Matthew.

 

[Shiranui117]

As for the "one mind", as we can see in modern Christianity with the sectarian division that fractures the body of Christ, it is impossible to achieve one mind regarding temporal things like the spirits of God and Jesus.

Are all Christians members of the same Church? Do all Christians share the faith of the Apostles? Surely those who uphold the Trinity and those who deny the Trinity, or those who uphold the Sacraments and those who think they are unnecessary cannot both have the Apostolic faith?

The details matter enough to accomplish that division.
Whereas one mind in scripture didn't mean to refer to everyone thinking the same exact way about Jesus ministry. He was God after all. Who better to know the human intellect and ego than he? And as such he would know one accord about spiritual matters would never be reached.

It's unreasonable to assume a hive-mind, yes. However, everyone's opinion should at least be complementary to one another's.

Jesus spoke about the authorities in the temple.
Luke 20:45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples,Luke 20:46 "Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.

If he spoke against the pride, vanity and ego of power vested in the Temple why would he bring a new testament that authored pride, vanity and ego to build itself a church?

Except, the Church is not about pride, vanity or ego. Recall the words of Christ in Mark 10:

35 James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, *came up to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” 36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 37 They said to Him, “Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. 40 But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41 Hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John. 42 Calling them to Himself, Jesus *said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

In other words, the clergy of the Church should be humble, not proud or greedy. You are correct in that the clergy are not to seek choice spots, either at Christ's side or anywhere else.

1 Corinthians 12:27

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Yes, we as a body of Christians are the body of Christ. However, even within the Bible, we see clear examples of a very early Church hierarchy, specifically in 1 Timothy 3 and 5.

1 Timothy 3:

3 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of" overseer, (Greek episkope, AKA bishop) it is a fine work he desires to do. 2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. 4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), 6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. 7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, 9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. 11 Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Deacons and bishops are not to be drunkards, ill-tempered or greedy, but they should be good at teaching, and they should be gentle, hospitable and peaceful.

And in 1 Timothy 5, we see some of the first qualifications and instructions for priests:

17 The elders (Greek presbyter, English priest) who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. 20 Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. 21 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. 22 Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.
23 No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
24 The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after. 25 Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.

 

[Shiranui117]

Where in those scriptures do you read Jesus "explicitly" talking about the church as is traditionally imagined to be? I.E. a building wherein believers convene.

Hm? I was talking about "Church" with a capital-C, as in, the Body of Christ. You must think I'm talking about "church" with a lower-case c, and I'm not.

Heck, back during the days when Christianity was illegal, Christians would worship in caves in the mountains, or in the catacombs. Some of these caves and catacombs still display icons of Christ, particularly the caves of the Cappadocian mountains in Asia Minor.

The faithful flock of Jesus are the church. One Jesus one message. One Messiah. One deliverer. One God. One community dedicated to the one in gnosis/knowledge of God and the Messiah.
1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.

Yep. And the Church is also the pillar and ground of the Truth:

1 Timothy 3:15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

However, Jesus had other flocks as well.
So that in itself denotes Jesus not advocating one church to contain his truth when his message was known by other flocks than those whom he ministered to and as that what became Bible scripture. So would Jesus then 'explicitly" be foreseeing sectarianism, if he was explicitly ordaining churches be erected in the name of his ministry?
John 10:16
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

No, it simply means that those who are not members of the Church, i.e. righteous atheists, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Taoists, those ignorant of Christianity, etc. also have a hope of salvation, and have a hope of being counted among the ranks of the Church in the world to come. It does not excuse sectarian division. Jesus prayed that we as Christians may be one:

John 17
20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may [f]believe that You sent Me.

 

[Shiranui117]

I understand all what you said, I just feel that these days with all these denominations they all have their mind of their own.

No no, im not an " Eastern Orthodox Christian" because it sounds legit lol Even though I was born and raised in a strict Syrian Orthodox Christian family all my life. But calling myself an "Orthodox Christian" is not enough, I have studied the bible constantly I do try to follow what is told, i'm not one of these hypocrites who call themselves "Christian" and live a life with no Christian morality. However, it is typical you will ask questions as you read and study and that is why I asked this question

Ahh, Syriac Orthodox! A very venerable and ancient tradition. I hope we're of help in answering your questions, and not simply another source of confusion. But if I may ask, have you taken any of these questions to a Syriac Orthodox priest, or a priest of any of the Oriental Orthodox churches? I'm sure they'd be glad to help you as well.

That is true, thats the other part I missed

Except it is not true at all. The first person to give the list of the current canon of the NT was Patriarch Athanasius of Alexandria in the year 367. As you know very well, the Church of Alexandria is completely independent of Rome, and was never beholden to the Roman Church.

 

[rusra02]

I feel its this way because seriously speaking, Jesus didn't come to make a new religion nor break the laws and customs practiced but fulfilled them. After his death and ascension many people started to call themselves "Christians" or even "Messianics".

My point is ever since a new religion was formed "Christianity" the church took power. The church changed many things like i.e instead of Saturday being the holy day it was changed to Sunday because Jesus resurrected on this day. Secondly, the practiced Jewish holidays e.g Passover. Where in the Bible does it say Saturday to Sunday was to be changed? I do know Jesus healed and worked on Saturday, but doesn't changing it break the 10 commandments? Or even where in the Bible does it say Easter our Christian holiday is to be celebrated? I understand its from Jesus' last week but why are we celebrating new things? Again, the trinity it is from the church why do we follow this?

My point is why doesn't the Church stick to what the Bible says instead of fully transforming and creating new rules of its own?

What do you think?

I think the Bible answers your questions. Jesus warned of apostasy from the true faith. (Matthew 13:36-43) The apostles also warned of an apostasy from true Christianity, and these warnings are recorded in the Bible. Paul warned the elders of the Ephesus congregation: "I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among you and will not treat the flock with tenderness, and from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves." (Acts 20:29, 30)

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'Let no one seduce you in any manner, because it will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness gets revealed, the son of destruction.' (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
The apostle Peter wrote: "However, there also came to be false prophets among the people, as there will also be false teachers among you. These very ones will quietly bring in destructive sects and will disown even the owner that bought them, bringing speedy destruction upon themselves." (2 Peter 2:1)
After the death of the apostles, this apostasy blossomed, and by the third century, I believe, was full blown. The religion of those professed "Christians" bore little resemblance to the teachings of Jesus.
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[sojourner]

I think the Bible answers your questions. Jesus warned of apostasy from the true faith. (Matthew 13:36-43) The apostles also warned of an apostasy from true Christianity, and these warnings are recorded in the Bible. Paul warned the elders of the Ephesus congregation: "I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among you and will not treat the flock with tenderness, and from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves." (Acts 20:29, 30)

'Let no one seduce you in any manner, because it will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness gets revealed, the son of destruction.' (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
The apostle Peter wrote: "However, there also came to be false prophets among the people, as there will also be false teachers among you. These very ones will quietly bring in destructive sects and will disown even the owner that bought them, bringing speedy destruction upon themselves." (2 Peter 2:1)
After the death of the apostles, this apostasy blossomed, and by the third century, I believe, was full blown. The religion of those professed "Christians" bore little resemblance to the teachings of Jesus.
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There is no "the true faith" in the way you suggest.