Who can explain the Apostolic Religion to me?
98957
I don't know why it is called apostolic, but I understand it is a Protestant Pentecostal group.  I think they believe that speaking in unknown tongues is the sign that someone has been touched by God.  My experience of pentecostals in Protestant and Catholic groups has left be completely dazed.  I have seen it, I do not understand it.  I believe it must be experienced to be understood.
900495
The answer to your question is actually pretty involved, and would take semesters of study to truly understand.  I'm not an expert, but I can try to sum it up briefly.\n\nBasically, what all these churches differ about is who has the authority to act in the name of Jesus Christ and what the true teachings of Jesus Christ are.\n\nJesus Christ is the son of God and He came to be a sacrifice for the sins of the world, and to teach people the way to return to our Father in Heaven.  When Jesus Christ organized His church approximately 2000 years ago, He called 12 apostles, who were responsible for the workings of the church.  When Jesus Christ was resurrected and ascended into heaven, Peter, the head apostle, became the earthly head of the church of Jesus Christ.  Shortly after that time, however, the members of the church were persecuted and many were forced into hiding.  Also, geographical differences between the congregations of the church meant that many followers of Christ started teaching doctrines that were not correct.  While the early apostles tried to correct the incorrect teachings that were taking place, the early church basically fragmented and went into a period of darkness because the true teachings of Jesus Christ were not being taught in their fulness.  Part of what Jesus Christ gave to his true followers was a power called "priesthood", which basically means the authority to administer sacred ceremonies with the permission of Jesus Christ.  As the church of Jesus Christ fragmented and incorrect teachings were established, the priesthood was not properly passed along in the church.  So, relatively soon after the ascension of Jesus Christ, there were many sects, each of which taught some true doctrines of Jesus Christ, but none of which had the complete doctrine, nor the authority from Jesus Christ necessary to administer His church.\n\nDuring this period of darkness, for quite a long time, the Catholic church was the main church over the Roman empire and, later, Europe.  After Constantine took over, there was a split between the Catholic church and the Orthodox churches.  Reformers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin recognized that the teachings of the Catholic church were not completely in keeping with the true doctrine of Jesus Christ that they had learned from the Bible, and so they tried to form new churches that were closer to the things they read about in the Bible.  That was the beginning of Protestant churches.  Of the ones that you've listed, the Protestant churches are: Episcopalian/Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Seventh-Day Adventist, Amish, and Jehovah's Witnesses.  None of these churches, though, had the authority or direction of people with priesthood authority from Jesus Christ.  And these branches of churches have continued to split to today.\n\nThe good news is that that is not the end of the story.  The world is no longer in darkness and no longer lacking the authority from Jesus Christ.  In the year 1820, God the Father and Jesus Christ personally appeared to Joseph Smith, a young farm boy who lived in New York State.  As a result of this experience and other experiences,  Joseph Smith became a prophet of God, and he was called to reorganize the Church of Jesus Christ.  He received the authority to administer the Church of Jesus Christ directly from John the Baptist and Peter, James, and John, people who had the authority in Jesus Christ's day.  The church organized by Joseph Smith is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and members of this church are sometimes known as Mormons.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is completely separate from other Christian sects because it is a restoration of the original church of Jesus Christ, not a reaction to any other church.  (We use the term latter-day simply because we are talking about the church of Jesus Christ that has been organized in this time period, the last days, but it is the s
876330
Al-Islam\n\n آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللّهِ وَمَلآئِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لاَ نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِ وَقَالُواْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ   Listen to this ayat (verse)\n\n2.285 . The messenger believeth in that which hath been revealed unto him from his Lord and ( so do ) the believers . Each one believeth in Allah and His angels and His scriptures and His messengers We make no distinction between any of His messengers and they say : We hear , and we obey . ( Grant us ) Thy forgiveness , our Lord . Unto Thee is the journeying .\n\nلاَ يُكَلِّفُ اللّهُ نَفْساً إِلاَّ وُسْعَهَا لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ رَبَّنَا لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْراً كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لاَ طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنتَ مَوْلاَنَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ   Listen to this ayat (verse)\n\n2.286 . Allah tasketh not a soul beyond its scope . For it ( is only ) that which it hath earned , and against it ( only ) that which it hath deserved . Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget , or miss the mark! Our Lord! Lay not on us such a burden as Thou didst lay on those before us! Our Lord! Impose not on us that which we have not the strength to bear! Pardon us , absolve us and have mercy on us , Thou , our Protector , and give us victory over the disbelieving folk .
755088
The Catholic Church is apostolic which means it follows the teaching and practice of the Apostles. In the 20th chapter of the Act of the Apostles, the church in Troas gathered on the first day of the week, Sunday.\n\nChristians believe that Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses. Therefore Christians are not held to the ceremonial parts of the Mosaic Law concerning of dietary purity and temple worship.\n\nChristians are held to the moral law of God, some of which is expressed in the Ten Commandments.\n\nThe first Christians were Jews. They went to temple or synagogue on the Sabbath (Saturday) with fellow Jews. \n\nThen they gathered on the first day of the week, the day on which Jesus rose from the dead (Sunday), with fellow Christians to tell stories of Jesus and share Eucharist. See Acts 20:7.\n\nLater Gentiles joined Christianity. The Apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, decided that the Gentiles did not have to covert to Judaism. Therefore, they only attended on Sundays and did not have to abide by Jewish dietary laws.\n\nThis has been the practice ever since.\n\nWith love in Christ.
420927
Isn't it comical seeing people trying to explain spiritual matters when they are not guided in the least by a living prophet or modern scripture.\n\nI have a firm, unshakeable knowledge that the Lord restored His kingdom to the earth in 1830 when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was organized.  It contains the priesthood of Jesus Christ, restored by John the Baptist in 1829 and Peter, James and John, that same year.  It has modern prophets who can communicate the mind, the will, and the voice of the Lord to this generation.  It has a second witness for Jesus Christ--The Book of Mormon.  While most religions contain some truth and some good things, they lack much of what was lost between the death of Christ and the apostles and the raising up of the Prophet Joseph Smith in the early 19th century.
668525
I am so freaking stoked someone asked this question!!!!! lol \nusually I am stuck answering a bunch of anti questions! \n\nQuestion 1,2,3,4\nWhy do you have 12 Apostles? They were just meant to be around for the time of Christ, not to be replaced with new apostles.That's a common misconception, perhaps one that is taught out of necessity among churches that have obviously lost the presence of apostles and prophets that were in the New Testament church. Rather than admit that something has been lost (or that there was an Apostasy), it's much safer to say that the lost elements were intended to be lost. But the Bible doesn't justify such teachings. Look at Acts 1:23-26: \n23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.\n24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,\n25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.\n26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.\nAfter Judas Iscariot apostatized and died, the remaining eleven apostles came together and sought revelation about the next apostle they should appoint to take the place of Judas. Clearly, they understood that the body of twelve was meant to be maintained. \nI'm happy to announce that in these latter days, the Twelve Apostles have been restored under divine direction from Jesus Christ. The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church has taken place! \n\n\nThe apostasy of the early Church in the 200 A.D.- plus era is rather easy to see. Apostles and prophets were rejected, persecuted, and killed, and the Roman state took over the administration of the Church, rather than divinely chosen priesthood leaders. Constantine, not even a Christian himself, melded the power of the state with the affairs of God and drove rapid transformation of the Church. Biblical doctrines rapidly gave way to Greek philosophy and the teachings of men. Ordinances like baptism were lost, the teachings of the temple were lost and corrupted, and even the most basic understanding of the nature of God was replaced with man-made doctrines (the Trinity concept). And all this was according to prophecies about the coming apostasy and the future need for restoration. \nThe issue is not that Christ failed - as many think an apostasy would imply - but that God allows men to choose freely, even if they choose to fail, to reject Him, and to choose darkness over light. Christ knew and taught that the purity of the Gospel and the church He established would continue for a time, but that there was darkness ahead due to the corruption of man and the attacks of the adversary. Hugh Nibley (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 4, Ch.6) summarizes these New Testament teachings as the "Three Acts of the Drama:" 1) the Lord comes and begins His work, 2) villains and impostors take over and rule, 3) the Lord returns in power and fixes everything.\n\nhttp://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_Restoration.shtml for more on this issue\n\nthe New Testament clearly and repeatedly reports that prophets and prophecy were integral parts of the original Church of Jesus Christ after Christ had ascended to heaven. For example, consider Acts 13:1-3: \n1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. \n2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. \n3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. \nUsing the gift of prophecy, leaders in the original Church received revelation through the gift of the Holy Ghost - praying and fasting
853942
Cesara Philippi was a member of Greek philosophy, Roman logic, and Jewish traditional religion.  Jesus set Himself against the back drop of the world's great religious  and philisophical systems asking, "Who do the people say that I am?"  After they answered, "John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah?"  He asks, "Who do you say I am?"  Jesus longed to deepen their faith.  He desired to draw out a messianic confession.  Peter instantly responds, "You are Christ, the Son of the Living God."  This thought could only be inspired by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus affirms Peters faith by declaring, "Thou art Petros (a moveable stone)  but upon this rock (this immoveable foundation--that I am the Christ.)  I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."  The church is built upon Jesus Christ.  He is the cornerstone rejected by the builders. (1 Peter 2:4-8).  Peter clearly understood the rock was Jesus.  Paul clarifies the issue in 1 Cor. 10:4 by proclaiming "That rock was Christ."    David declares, "Truly my soul waiteth upon God, from Him cometh my salvation.  He only is my rock and salvation (Psa. 62:1,2)  There is no other foundation.(1 Cor. 3:11)except Jesus.  The gates of hell will never triumph over His church.  Peter denied his Lord three times.  He attempted to keep Jesus from going to Jerusalem.  The courageous disciple misunderstood Jesus' mission.  Jesus said, "Get thee behind me Satan" (meaning that Satan was influencing him).  No, the church was not built upon Peter's weakness, but upon Jesus' strengths.  Peter discovered the truth for himself.  Jesus became the source of his strength, the center of his life and the foundations upon which he stood.  \n\nSo, as you see Peter was not the first pope.  The scriptures that were supposed to back that theory up and is only a theory, were either mistranslated or just plain misunderstood.  Many people DO translate scripture do back up their own beliefs with out thoroughly studying them and also do take them out of context.  Scripture is best studied from all points of view not just one.
1004963
As a Saudi I must say, that you are being rude and disrespectuful, as you SHOW GREAT IGNORANCE..\n\nAnd about the "Saudi text" which you were refferring to.. well\nWe believe Judaism and Christianity are deviant religions, since Jews REJECTED AND HATED AND STILL ACTUALLY hate Jesus Christ.. as we also believe Christianity is also deviant because Jesus never TAUGHT ANY TRINITY, and for more insight, please check my answer to a questioner asking "Can anyone give me PROOF against Christianity?" go to my personal page and u'll find it there, JACKa$$\n\nand about the apes, are jews.. etc..\n\nWELL, AS A MATTER OF FACT THIS IS TAKEN FROM A STORY MENTIONED IN THE QURAN TALKING ABOUT SOME JEWS WHO USED TO BREAK THE SHABBAT, WE BELIEVE GOD TURNED THEM INTO APES AS A PUNISHMENT FOR THEM AND A LESSON TO BE LEARNT FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T BREAK IT, SO THEY KEEP BEING PIOUS AND SIN NOT.. SO.... THAT SENTANCE DID NOT MEAN THAT JEWS ARE ALL APES.. RATHER, THOSE WHO BROKE THE SHABBAT WERE THE ONES TURNED TO APES..\n\nRead: \n\nQuran 2:63. And (O Children of Israel, remember) when We took your covenant and We raised above you the Mount (saying): "Hold fast to that which We have given you, and remember that which is therein so that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious - See V.2:2).\n\n2:64. Then after that you turned away. Had it not been for the Grace and Mercy of Allâh upon you, indeed you would have been among the losers.\n\n2:65. And indeed you knew those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath (i.e. Saturday). We said to them: "Be you monkeys, despised and rejected."\n\n2:66. So We made this punishment an example to their own and to succeeding generations and a lesson to those who are Al-Muttaqûn (the pious).\n\nand FINALLY, BRING YOUR EVIDENCES THAT SUPPORT THE CLAIM WHICH YOU MADE.. WHEN YOU SAID: "while the swine are the Christians, the infidels of the communion of Jesus.”\n\nWHERE DOES IT SAY THAT IN THE QURAN?!\n\n\nI'm done you f****t
879046
Good question.\n\nMy answer:  You cannot separate the Scriptures from the Church, nor the Church (the Body of Christ) from the Holy Scriptures.\n\nThe Church existed before the Scriptures were made canon - so, the Church, indwelt with the Holy Spirit, in council, is the sole arbiter and interpreter of Holy Scripture...who do you think "canonized" the Scripture in the first place??  The Scriptures are the property of the Church, from the beginning.\n\nIf everyone goes off willy-nilly and translates "cryptic verses" (as you call them), all on their own, without looking to Apostolic teaching and Tradition, then, sure, absolutely... I tend to agree with you...there would be (and is) much confusion about the how's and why's of Holy Writ.  No doubt about that.\n\nThis is exactly why I am an Anglican.  While I love Scripture and read it daily, I'm not required to "check my brains" at the church door.  My life is about studying this very point.  And all of the answers are not limited to "Scripture Alone" ("Sola Scriptura")  Such an idea was virtually unheard-of in the Early and Apostolic Age Church of Jesus Christ.
190974
I have a ton of 'em for all different kinds.  Depends on what you need. Start out with these cults, Scientology, Church of Jesus Christs of Latter Day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, Bahia, Christian Scientists, Church Universal and Triumphant, Raelens, The Seventh Day Adventists and the ICC(International Church of Christ), The Family. You are going to have a problem with a few of them because the only things out thee are either information the church releases or the anti part of the equation.  There is very little real neutral evidence on them.  I will just start with the generics and let you go from there.
1149482
NO PROBLEM!  I practice TRUE CHRISTIANITY as taught by Jesus the Christ!  \n\nNO CULT AT ALL!.. My site has been up for YEARS and has brought many to HIM!  \n\nI escaped R.C. and PRAISE HIM every day for that!\n\nNew Age Stuff?  That is in reality OLD AGE stuff as taught by Madam Blavatsky etc.  \n\nDoing comes after faith-- It is a result of Faith.... it is not, or should not be - ""Working ones way to Heaven!""\n\nAny more  Q or Comments-- please keyboard!\n\nSmiles and Blessing on YOU!   Don D.
72283
Every Catholic priest ordained has to be able to trace his ordination back to the apostolic age. Along with Orthodox, Copts, Armenians, and maybe Anglicans, only we can. \n\nMany denominations preach the good news, and they are all blessed for doing so. The good news that they preach about Jesus, Catholics confirm and encourage. The Catholic church does not look "down" on other church communities, but considers them brethren. \n\nNonetheless - we have preserved something they have not, which is a continuous chain of laid-on hands passing on the apostolic ministry. This is called "apostolic succession." And it makes us a very faithful church in that we have carefully preserved what the apostles handed down to us, over thousands of years. There's a reason that all the older historic churches, despite differences in doctrine and creed, have sacraments almost indentical in character and liturgy.\n\nhttp://www.catholic.com/library/Apostolic_Succession.asp\n\n(Edit: there has never been - ever - any such character as "Pope Constantine." That is a complete and utter fiction. Anyone who does want to know the history of the church in that era can read Eusebius' "History of the Church."
489837
Anyone who seriously wants to learn the facts about the Trinity can find all of their questions answered  by reading a brochure that documents the Trinity's history & how it developed; discusses religious explanations of it in the light of God's word (including live links to those Scriptures); shows & discusses the Trinity  "Proof Texts" (more live links); and also shows who God, Jesus and the holy spirit are ... according to God himself, & Christ himself (more live Scripture links).  \n\n-- Certainly, God and His Son know who They Themselves are!  ...  \nSo how could you go wrong there!?  --  \n\nI hope you'll examine all the Scriptures used, in your own Bible ... whatever translation it may be, and whatever denomination you might be!  (However, the Catholic Douay is numbered/divided differently than others, so Scriptures can be difficult to find, but they're still there.)\n\nYou can find this brochure at:\n\nhttp://www.watchtower.org/library/ti/index.htm\n\nShould You Believe in the Trinity? : \nShould You Believe It? \nHow Is the Trinity Explained? \nIs It Clearly a Bible Teaching \nHow Did the Trinity Doctrine Develop? \nWhat Does the Bible Say About God and Jesus? \nIs God Always Superior to Jesus? \nThe Holy Spirit - God's Active Force \nWhat About Trinity "Proof" Texts? \nWorship God on His Terms \n\nAbove, is a list of the main subjects covered in that brochure.\nYou might also like to view even more such information about God and Christ Jesus ... For that purpose, links to articles about them are listed here:\n\nWe Need to Know Who God Is;  \nWho Is God?   \nhttp://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2002/5/15/article_01.htm\n \nIs Jesus Christ God? : \nWho Is Jesus Christ? \nWho Is "the Only True God"? \n"Those Who Are Called 'Gods' " \nWhat "the Only True God" Promises\nhttp://www.watchtower.org/library/g/2005/4/22/article_01.htm\n\nOn each Web page whose links are provided above, is a list of links -- on the left -- to the rest of the subjects/chapters in that series/brochure. \n\nI hope you don't mind that I've not attempted to answer your question myself.  I don't wish to be part of what can turn into an online debate.  I have both read, studied , and compared the Scriptures to this brochure in it's entirety.  I find it in comlete harmony with Bible teaching.  Therefore, I recommend it highly!
277172
It's not a weird notion.  There is no evidence of a lot of things that transpired during the times of Christ.   Sure the Bible talks about it and is the ONLY accepted history of that time.   I'm inclined to think that the apostles did run with their interpretation of Christ's teachings.   I'm not so sure it was to create an alternate Jewish religion, but an alternate politically correct on of the time.   Jesus didn't come to Earth to have people worship him as God.  That was furthest from his teachings.  His teachings were to show people the way to the Father through his teachings.  Even the perverstion of "The only way to heaven is through Christ."   It simply means that to get to heaven is to be like Christ and follow his teachings.   It does not mean to worship him as God.   Never has, never did, never will.
308524
Wow, there's a question that requires a book to answer! :)\n\nI would recommend a webpage like this one:\n\nhttp://www.beliefnet.com/index/index_10000.html\n\nI can answer questions about all the Christianity-related ones (Chrstian, which includes also Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal). Feel free to send me an e-mail if you want the long version!
841288
YOU are the one who isn't making sense.\nGod speaks to us in a way that PERHAPS we may understand with His help.\n\nRead Isaiah \n59:16...His own arm brought salvation for Him.\n52:10...The LORD has made bare His holy arm.\n48:13...In deed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth..\n\nYes, I care.  It makes sense to me because I study the Bible and God reveals the answers.\n\nHe is trying to explain in terms you may be able to grasp.\nHis arm is definitely a part of Him.  But also a part, if His hand laid the foundation of the world.\n\nStudy more, Pray more, be skeptical less.\n\nGod and His Salvation are ONE.  God saves and did it by becoming flesh to die for our sins.\n\nThe Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one.  Much like your Mind, Will, and Emotions.  They are all yours, but they are separate entities.\n\nGOD BLESS
1031234
You have to consider them as two different books, some religions believe one over the other. (Jewish people don't believe in the New Testament,only the Old for ex.) So choose the one you think makes more sense and run with it.