Why do Protestants separate Jesus Christ and His Church?

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Mannyfit75

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I have a question for Protestants, why do you separate Jesus Christ and His Church?

There has been a saying between Catholics and Protestants regarding this issue.

It is said: “Evangelical Protestants believe in Jesus Christ, while Catholics believe in the Church.”

Isn’t this a false dichotomy? 🤷

I know from Scripture Jesus is the Church.

Act 8:2

And on that day a great persecution arose against the Church of Jerusalem; and were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria, except the apostle. Devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. But Saul laid waste the Church and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Act 9:4-7

And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."

Colossians 1:18

**18 And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he may hold the primacy: **

Please note, I heard the comments made by Protestants from Evangelicals Protestants. I have not heard this being said by Anglican, Episcopalians, or Lutherans, so this question does not necessary apply to all Protestants.
 
Mannyfit75 said:
I have a question for Protestants, why do you separate Jesus Christ and His Church?

There has been a saying between Catholics and Protestants regarding this issue.

It is said: “Evangelical Protestants believe in Jesus Christ, while Catholics believe in the Church.”
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I’ve never heard this saying before…
 
I think my two favorites are:
  • “i dont have a religion i have a relationship”
  • “Religion is an intstitution created by the MAN to keep us down. I follow the God Man Jesus Christ.”
So, while not the direct “quote” the OP gave, it is very much in the spirit of what you are asking.
I wonder the same thing.
 
Still no answer from Protestants except one who said that this is the first he heard of it.
 
The other one that is my favorite that I often hear is

“Why go to church when you can go strait to Jesus!!!”

makes me go :ehh:

In Christ
 
I do not think that is true. We understand that Christ is the head of the Church. It is the Catholics that try to separate Protestants form the church because they do not understand what the Church really is.
 
allischalmers said:
I do not think that is true. We understand that Christ is the head of the Church. It is the Catholics that try to separate Protestants form the church because they do not understand what the Church really is.
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What is the Protestant understanding of “Church”?
 
It is the Catholics that try to separate Protestants form the church because they do not understand what the Church really is.

…ok, what is the Church, really…?
 
Catholics know perfectly well what the Church is.

Protestants simply want to reject whatever is they don’t want to believe and then make-up some believe-system to support their wants.
 
IrishBrigade said:
It is the Catholics that try to separate Protestants form the church because they do not understand what the Church really is.
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…ok, what is the Church, really…?

My question exactly. Catholics know what the “church” is. It is not the building you go to. It is us, collectively as a people.

Catholics have not separated PROTESTants from the church, they have separated themselves.
 
stmaria said:
What is the Protestant understanding of “Church”?
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This is too broad of a question. To understand what “Church” means to a Protestant, you need to ask that particular Protestant what it means to them.

Many Protestants I have encountered view the Church as going beyond mere boundaries of a physical structure that is visible to the naked eye.

Actually, the Catholic Church believes the same thing. The difference is that the Catholic Church views the visible Church as containing the fullness of Truth and that elements of that fullness may be found outside the physical (visible) boundaries of it. Protestants (not all, but I think most) on the other hand believe elements of Truth are contained within the physical structure of the Catholic Church, but that the fullness of Truth itself is found in the “church universal” which is not held within any denominational structure.

I think some denominations do indeed believe their particular denomination contains the fullness of Truth themselves as well. Like I said, the question itself is too broad and you will likely never get a concensus Protestant position on the matter.
 
Stylteralmaldo said:
This is too broad of a question. To understand what “Church” means to a Protestant, you need to ask that particular Protestant what it means to them.

Many Protestants I have encountered view the Church as going beyond mere boundaries of a physical structure that is visible to the naked eye.

Actually, the Catholic Church believes the same thing. The difference is that the Catholic Church views the visible Church as containing the fullness of Truth and that elements of that fullness may be found outside the physical (visible) boundaries of it. Protestants (not all, but I think most) on the other hand believe elements of Truth are contained within the physical structure of the Catholic Church, but that the fullness of Truth itself is found in the “church universal” which is not held within any denominational structure.

I think some denominations do indeed believe their particular denomination contains the fullness of Truth themselves as well. Like I said, the question itself is too broad and you will likely never get a concensus Protestant position on the matter.
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allischalmers said:
I do not think that is true. We understand that Christ is the head of the Church. It is the Catholics that try to separate Protestants form the church because they do not understand what the Church really is.
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Oh really. You can’t serious. I mean I heard Protestants from Evangelical side often say, “I have a personal relationship with Jesus, I don’t need the Church.” or “I don’t go to Church, it’s just me and Jesus.” These lines are more in common in Protestantism, than Catholicism.

The Catholic understanding of Church and Jesus Christ his this. I believe it can be broken down into two symbolic meanings.
  1. Jesus Christ is the Church. He is the Head, and we are members of His Body, the Church. Catholics refer to this as the Mystical Body in Christ, which we became a part of from the moment of our baptism.
  2. Jesus Christ is the Spouse of the Church. The Church is the Bride. We know well in Scripture, Jesus is the Lamb of God. The New Jerusalem is the Church, and describe as the Bride of the Lamb. A wedding feast of the lamb. As you know in marriage, the two shall become One.
I could never grasp the concept of this, “Jesus and I and I don’t know the Church…” That’s a false dichotomy." I do believe in a relationship with Jesus, but you don’t ignore His Church.
 
Mannyfit75 said:
Oh really. You can’t serious. I mean I heard Protestants from Evangelical side often say, “I have a personal relationship with Jesus, I don’t need the Church.” or “I don’t go to Church, it’s just me and Jesus.” These lines are more in common in Protestantism, than Catholicism.

The Catholic understanding of Church and Jesus Christ his this. I believe it can be broken down into two symbolic meanings.
  1. Jesus Christ is the Church. He is the Head, and we are members of His Body, the Church. Catholics refer to this as the Mystical Body in Christ, which we became a part of from the moment of our baptism.
  2. Jesus Christ is the Spouse of the Church. The Church is the Bride. We know well in Scripture, Jesus is the Lamb of God. The New Jerusalem is the Church, and describe as the Bride of the Lamb. A wedding feast of the lamb. As you know in marriage, the two shall become One.
I could never grasp the concept of this, “Jesus and I and I don’t know the Church…” That’s a false dichotomy." I do believe in a relationship with Jesus, but you don’t ignore His Church.
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Everything you have stated is true. But let us not forget that Christ also established a visible Church…His Church has a heirarchy with Peter and all future Popes as the head of His visible Church.
.Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build **my church, **and the gates of Hell will not overcome it.

ACTS 11:25-26
Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves** with the church , **and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”

Matthew 18:17
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to** the church**; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Acts 5:11
Great fear seized **the whole church **and all who heard about these events.
Acts 15:3.

They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through Phenice and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles. And they caused great joy to all the brethren.

Acts 8:1
And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. The Church Persecuted and Scattered ] On that day a great persecution broke out** against the church **at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

Acts 8:3
But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.

Acts 9:31
Then **the church **throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:2
To the** church of God **in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

And to His visible Church he promised that he would send the Holy Spirit to instruct it. Protestant denominations are NOT guided by the Holy Spirit.

John 14:15-17 “ “If you love me, and obey the commands I give you, I will ask the Father and he will give you another** Paraclete-to be with you always:** the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot accept, since it neither sees or recognizes him; but you can recognize him because he remains with you and will be within you”

John 14:26 “The Paraclete, **the Holy Spirit **whom the Father will send in my name, will instruct you in everything, and remind you of all that I told you”

King James John 14:26 “ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name,** he shall teach you all things, **and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
 
Matt 16: 18 & 19

18
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
19
I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Lets look at this closely.

“Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Jesus told Peter "the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. "

So this in essence says that HIS church will not flounder.

However the 2nd part. Whatever Peter looses on earth will be lost in heaven? Are protestants lost? I myself often ask, are protestants lost and does this relate to them? Or anyone who does not want to believe the truth and/or Jesus “church”?
 
stmaria said:
What is the Protestant understanding of “Church”?
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The Church is a living organism, it is the* body and bride of Christ *(hope you can understand that ! It is both visible and invisible It consist of all true beleivers
 
It is both visible and invisible It consist of all true beleivers
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The Church is not invisible - we don’t have invisible people. The Church is visible. It consists of members of the Catholic Church. If you belong to another Church, you have removed yourself from the Church Christ established.
 
Protestants and Catholics are all the body of Christ! Its like an arm and a leg are seperate parts of the body but are all part of one body! I dont know why Catholics try to say we seperate the Church when we all are one body of Christ!
 
This is an offensive and provocative OP.

Protestants don’t do this.
 
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