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Did God create The Religion "Christianity" if so HOW and WHERE?
Extra Question Details:
Can a person be ethical or moral and not be religious? How is morality connected to religion?
GOD NEVER told ANYONE to start a religion.
MY friend believes that:
"ALL RELIGIONS are instruments of Satan. Bar NONE."
What can be PROVENto the CONTRARY?
Bible Answers to this Question
Below are Biblically Researched Bible Answers
Community Answers
Nobody is ethical or moral even Christians, we all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. Only those who are redeemed through Christ will be forgiven.
when it comes to Christianity you are right God never told anyone to start a religion, only to follow the teachings of Jesus. after the resurrection of Christ and after he ascended to heaven. His disciples and all that taught the word of God that we now call Christianity actually just referred to it as "the way". Christian is a translation from "followers of Christ" and that is what they were referred to by other people and eventually that's what it became
Jesus mentions the Church before the word ever existed. Jesus himself coined the term "church" (though the word was different, different language after all).
In Matt 16:18 Jesus says he will build the church on Peter (rock).
In Heb 10:25 Christians are COMMANDED to meet together. That is the church.
The first thing Jesus followers did after He left was to wait for the Holy Spirit. While they did this, they already recognized the need for organization. They re-elected a new apostle to replace Judas.
Shortly after they were all baptized in the Holy Spirit, and they began preaching. Many new believers came. This was the beginning of the Church.
The idea that God didn't TELL anyone to make a church (though that ignores His charge to Peter) is irrelevant. Filled and led by the Holy Spirit, they started the church, and God did not admonish them. If He didn't want this organization, would He have let it continue, and even help it? He did both. On the other hand, He killed two new believers for lying to Him. Though they were free to do what they wanted with their money, they lied and SAID they were giving all of it to the Church. God dealt with them swiftly and decisively.
The Bible also says that we, the Church, are His body. 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 mentions as well that God appointed the church.
If you're still not convinced, read Jesus' prayer in John 17. This was just prior to Him going to the Garden of Gesthemene. Over and over again, Jesus prays for the UNITY of Believers. It was one of His top priorities as He went to give Himself as a sacrifice for us.
Now, though we see that God DOES want a Church, the religion can and has often been abused. Fear not though, God speaks to this too.
In Colossians 2:20-23(NLT) we are warned about self made religion. We are NOT encouraged to follow a set of arbitrary human rules. This goes back to the mindset of the Pharisee.
You see, the Pharisees started out great. They were began in the time of the Israelites returning to Israel under Nehemiah. The people scarcely knew how to worship God anymore, and so the Pharisees were begun to teach them how to worship God and teach them the law of Moses. However, as the years went by, the began to ADD TO the Law of Moses (this does not mean they changed the Bible for those who would argue our current Bibles are inaccurate). This is why He had to argue with them about the Sabbath and about other laws. Not only were they adding these severe requirements to the law and expecting the Jews to follow them, but they could never follow them themselves. These laws, after all, could not bring salvation.
Later on the Church began to do some of these things. There were struggles in the church about whether someone needed to be circumcised to be saved and whether it was ok to eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols. Though we are told to be holy as He is holy, we are also warned against being legalistic.
As in everything, a balance must be found. True Christianity is NOT about following laws or doing good works. It is a RELATIONSHIP (a loving one) with Christ Jesus. After all, we are called His bride. But, Jesus said that "If you love Me, you will obey My commands" and James goes on to talk very much about how "Faith without works is worthless". Our works cannot save us, but our salvation prompts good works and obedience to God's commands.
In reference to your other question, how does morality relate to religion, the truth is that we CANNOT be morally sound. Romans 3:23(NLT) says that everyone has sinned (I feel led to make it clear that Jesus DID NOT and HAS NOT and in fact CAN NOT sin). The Bible also says (forgive me that I cannot find the reference right now) that human good is like filthy rags to God. We can't rely on rituals to save us, yet Jesus instructs us to Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This sums up ALL the laws. If a rule falls under that, or the rule to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength, then follow it, if not, it is extraneous.
I hope this has answered your question and that of your friend. Sadly, I have seen many people that refuse ALL church using the excuse of hypocrisy or because of some bad experiences. Being that the Church is composed of humans, we are not perfect. But God wants us to have Church and those who don't ARE in rebellion. These other things are excuses, and they simply don't hold up. Please encourage your friend to find a church God wants him to go to and to get plugged in.