Questions tagged [church-universal]

questions about concept and doctrine of the fellowship of all believers, in all places and times

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Biblical basis for the separation of church and state

I know there are a lot of non-biblical arguments for the separation of church and state. Some Christians also support it on biblical grounds, but I've never looked into the matter myself. Which ...
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What are the reasons for calling oneself a "follower of Jesus" rather than a Christian?

In the last several years, I've noticed a trend of people who reject the label "Christian," and instead prefer to use terms like "Christ follower" or "follower of Jesus." (Not to be confused with ...
Affable Geek's user avatar
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3 answers
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What is the biblical basis for the idea that the church is a hospital for sinners?

Pope Francis, in his recent interview, uses a very common metaphor for the church: “I see clearly,” the pope continues, “that the thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and ...
Affable Geek's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
2k views

Did Jesus teach separation of church and state? [closed]

Related: Biblical basis for the separation of church and state In @Richard's answer on the provided link, he mentioned Mark 12:17 as foundation for Christ teaching separation of church and state. I ...
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What Biblical support is there for a non-Churched Christianity?

I'm interested in people who say "I'm a Christian, but I don't go to church." I understand the sentiment - it really fits in well with the "spiritual, but not religious" Zeitgeist, and it seems to ...
Affable Geek's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
257 views

If we are the bride, who are the invited?

Assuming that the Bride in the book of Revelation is talking about the church, then who are the invited in this verse? Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to ...
User's user avatar
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According to the wider hope/inclusive framework, why does the church still exist?

In the wider hope/inclusivist theological framework, very simply put, people who have not heard the Gospel are not necessarily lost and destined for hell. Given that understanding, why does the ...
cblupo's user avatar
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Do any Protestant denominations recognize Latter Day Saints as Christians?

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox churches do not so that leaves the Protestants. By Protestant, I mean the 'mainstream' Protestant denominations, with minimal (...
sirdank's user avatar
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How did Martin Luther justify the separation from the Catholic Church?

Even though Luther found great abuses in the Church of his time, there is the clear idea in the Bible that the Church is one, Jesus even prays that his followers be in unity. ("I pray that they will ...
Dan's user avatar
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2 answers
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What place do ritual and ceremony have in the church today? (Non-Liturgical POV)

Scripture, especially in the Old Testament, goes into great detail about the specific ways of doing certain worship-related things. For example, The ordination of Aaron is a highly ritualized ...
Sticmann's user avatar
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Jehovah's Witnesses's teaching on the Church

I just read a wiki page on Jehovah's witnesses, visited their official website, and was quite surprised that in the list of their believes there is a striking absence of the definition (or at least ...
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How should other churches respond to a pastor and congregation who live contrary to the Gospel?

The news recently had a case of a pastor and two deacons who beat up the pastor's nephew and the nephew's boyfriend on church property in order to prevent the homosexual couple from entering. This ...
James Black's user avatar
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What Biblical justifications are used for having separate denominations?

From my reading of the Bible, I have come to understand that unity among Christians is a good thing. 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ...
Jason R's user avatar
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How do Orthodox Bishops and theologians view the Church Fathers' definition of the word "catholic?"

While perusing the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) website I came across this question. I fully understand what the word catholic by itself means. Orthodox Christians (like many liturgical ...
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1 answer
518 views

What defines official Christian belief? [closed]

Almost every Christian I meet believes in something a bit different. Is there an official set of things you are supposed to believe in order to be considered a Christian? If so, who decides what goes ...
jcora's user avatar
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Is calling the church the "body of Christ" merely a metaphor or is there a deeper significance? [closed]

In numerous places in the New Testament the church is called the "body of Christ." Is this merely a metaphor for the church's role or is it related to the doctrine of the incarnation? I suspect it is ...
Mr. Bultitude's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
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Is it true that Luther didn't consider anyone of the Catholic clergy to be a member of the true Church of God?

Someone told me that Luther had a teaching about the true invisible Church that was a far cry from what could be seen as the Church at his time. Is it true that Luther didn't consider anyone of the ...
brilliant's user avatar
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4 answers
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If our body is the church, why should we go to a place called church?

In the old testament days, God asked Moses to construct a place for Him to reside. Exodus 25:8 (NKJV) And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them But in New testament, We read that ...
Benny's user avatar
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What place do ritual and ceremony have in the church today? (Liturgical POV)

I've already asked this to get a non-liturgical point of view and now I would like to see an answer from a liturgical Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox view. Scripture, especially in the Old ...
Sticmann's user avatar
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6 answers
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Apart from any claim related to antiquity, does the modern Roman Catholic Church claim to be ‘The Body of Christ'?

An argument to be the Universal Church (made by any organisation) might be the argument of continuity and antiquity, that an organisation can trace its existence back to antiquity such that it can ...
Nigel J's user avatar
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Does Platonism have a denomination/group/following within Christianity?

I wish to follow Plato's belief of the forms and find other's who do so. Erm, question is, in Christianity is that actually a 'thing'? CS Lewis followed Plato. Peter Kreeft does...so Christians CAN ...
Sehnsucht's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
821 views

Which is more important to the Roman Catholic Church today: Church unity or the actual text of scripture?

I recently did some study on the fact that Augustine objected to Jerome translating the OT into Latin from the Hebrew instead of the Greek because there were significant differences in the texts. ...
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2 votes
2 answers
201 views

For those who view Israel typologically, what is the significance of the 12 tribes?

Many Christians view the historical nation of Israel that we read about in the Old Testament as a Divinely designed type of the Church, and their inheritance in the Promised Land as a Divinely ...
Jas 3.1's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
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Are Israel and the Church two different kingdoms? [closed]

Are Israel and the Church two different kingdoms? Israel - Psalm 114:2 Church - Matthew 16:18-19 I am asking this question because a Catholic friend of mine insists that there is one kingdom which ...
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