The number 1 religion world-wide, in terms of membership, is Islam. They are much more devoted than Christians and many who claim to be Christians don't attend church. You could say that many who claim to be Christians do attend church, as well. And btw, Christianity includes Catholicism which makes up the majority of its members.
Where is the best place to wage war against your enemy, from the outside or the inside?
hmmm. i'm a major league ballplayer making more money than me and my wife and kids, and their kids, and their kids could possibly spend in their lifetimes. i have the option to make even more money where i enjoy living, play for a contender, and the community loves me. OR, i could go somewhere else, with unlimited unknowns, and make (enter your number here) more than my current club has offered me.
gee, what should i do?
These are the numbers I found in my search. I have no idea if they are accurate, or if it even matters.
World population 6.8 billion
Christianity 2 billion - 2.2 billion Buddhism 1.9 billion Islam 1.57 billion Hinduism 900 million - 1 billion Irreligion 300 - 500 million
Total 4.65 billion - 6.8 billion
Where is the beast place to wage war? I think if we're talking about God and Satan then there is no outside to consider. I might be wrong.
<And actually Christianity has nothing to do with going to church though.It is all about a relationship.>
Really? Could you explain to me, then, my friend, why Jesus came to start a Church, not to start "Christianity"? Matthew 16:18?
Or why Jesus gave his Church (not the Bible) the authority to resolve disputes? Matthew 18:15-18?
Or why the Bible tells us that the Church (not the Bible) is the pillar and foundation of truth? 1 Tim 3:15.
Whoop,
Look what you're referencing in each of these statements: a verse from the Bible.
I would disagree with Dor somewhat - Christianity does not "have nothing to do with going to Church," but at the same time, God's Word is the Truth, for the Word cannot change. *People* of a church are sinners by nature, and while they (most of them) strive to lead a better life, they will always fall short.
What I'm getting at can best be said by looking at the 2nd thing you said; Matthew 18:15 tells of how a person's continual sin should be handled, first by a single person, then by a small group, then by the church, etc. But, how can one person (or many) claim a person has sinned? Humans are all sinners, and there are none who are righteous. The Bible is the standard of Truth by which the Church acts.
I wish I was more knowledgeable about the Bible, or even had a better way of explaining what I'm getting at, but hopefully that made sense.
<<<Really? Could you explain to me, then, my friend, why Jesus came to start a Church, not to start "Christianity"? Matthew 16:18?
Or why the Bible tells us that the Church (not the Bible) is the pillar and foundation of truth? 1 Tim 3:15.>>>
These scriptures referencing the "Church", are talking about the body of believers, and I do agree that in the strongest sense of the word, the church is those that worship the Savior.
What I think Dor was referring to was the physical structure, i.e. the building where the worshipers gather. In that, he is correct. Believers do not have to go to the church (building) to have that relationship.
He was not talking about one specific building in Matthew he was talking about Christianity and read the whole chapter.
There is a difference between a church...the actual building that someone goes to and "the Church" or the body of Christ.
Not all who attend a church are part of "the Church".
Actually just go look at what the word church meant in Greek back then to start with. Here I will help start you Greek word ekklesia which is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones.”
Go check Ephesians 1 about what the church is.
I will stand by what I said ... a lot of the actual buildings we call a church have little to do with Christianity.
The Church itself as in all the followers of Christ of course they are a very important part of it.
No one has to attend a church to find him though...he tells us anywhere 2 or more gather in his name he is present.
Yes, Stephen, your point made sense, and you may rest assured that I know I'm quoting from the Bible. And I most certainly agree that the Bible is God's word and all true. But, that was not my point.
You see, the Bible didn't fall out of the sky one day in bound form, and it doesn't have an inspired table of contents. Without accepting the authority of the Catholic Church at the Councils of Hippo and Carthage, one can't even know for sure that the Bible IS the Bible.
And the Bible - that all Christians accept as true - clearly says that the CHURCH (not the Bible) resolves disputes and the CHURCH (not the Bible) is the pillar and foundation of truth.
Think of it this way: Jesus could have said, "On this rock, I will build Christianity." But, he didn't. He could have said, in giving instructions on how to resolve disputes, to "take it to the Bible." But, he didn't. And Paul could have told Timothy that the pillar and foundation of truth is the Bible. But, he didn't.