The following blog is actually a chapter from the book "The American Church" which I wrote in 1986. I just thought it would be interesting to challenge you about the concept found in this chapter and solicite comments - so... here we go! ; {)

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HOW MANY CHURCHES ARE THERE?

"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." Ephesians 4:4-6

WARNING ! WARNING ! WARNING ! WARNING !

THE CHAPTER YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ WILL MOST DEFINITELY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR PRESENT SPIRITUAL STATE. JESUS CHRIST - THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH - HAS DETERMINED THAT APPLICATION OF THE TRUTH CONTAINED HEREIN WILL CAUSE SERIOUS IF NOT FATAL DAMAGE TO THE DOCTRINE OF MAN AND YOUR TRADITIONS!

If you are reading this, you must be a brave soul, and take little consideration for your own wants and opinions. Congratulations! You are on your way to realizing the selfless lifestyle that Jesus said that one must live to enter into the Kingdom of God. In Mark 8:34, Jesus said to the people and His disciples, "... Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." The word - himself - used here is the Greek word heautou, which according to Thayer's Greek Lexicon is referring to "one's own mind". In other words, your own thoughts and opinions. The apostle Paul makes reference to dying to self (my own mind and self-soulish ways) daily. You may think that this is very narrow thinking - and it is - according to the world's way of thinking, but you are not "of this world" now are you? To the believer, this is freedom in the greatest sense of the word! This is your protection - your shelter! You do not have to make the decisions any more! All you have to do is ask "the Boss" and obey His orders. If you do, then it's no longer your responsibility. Stop leaning to your own understanding Church! If those outside the Church are going to say that we have lost our minds, then let's give them reason to believe it is so. Let's lose our own minds and put on the mind of Christ like the Word tells us to.

You must realize that by reading further, you will become responsible in the eyes of Almighty God to receive and act upon the revelation that is contained in this chapter. This truth has changed my life and revolutionized my whole way of thinking about the Church and the Word. I pray to God that your life and way of thinking are changed by a renewing of your mind with the washing of water by the Word of God!

If I were to ask you how many churches are there, most would reply that there is only one true Church - the body of Christ. Those of you who would answer anything else, please close this book - go get your bible and read Matthew 16:18 and see for yourself if Jesus said that He would build His Church. If you still don't see one Church, all jokes aside, you need prayer. You obviously have been deceived somewhere along the line, and you need to back up, be discipled by a man of God, and get your foundation laid down again before you go any further. Now, perhaps some of you think that I just wasted time and space with those last few sentences, however, you would be amazed at the number of born again people who would answer that question incorrectly so please bear with me. We clearly see that all answers other than "one" are wrong, so we have established that there is one true Church worldwide.

Now, let's take this thing a step further. How many Church fellowships are there worldwide? Too many to even make an educated guess, right? Well let's narrow it down. How many in a country, or a state or province? Still, we would be hard pressed to nail it down. Alright, how about in a county? Now we have a manageable and more easily documented number. No problem so far. Now, here is where the fun really starts.

Before you answer this next one, stop and give this question some careful thought so that you can be sure to answer scripturally. How many Church fellowships are there in any one city? Many will now answer any where from 5 to 20 in smaller towns, to several hundred in bigger cities and in our largest cities it just goes up from there. Well, have we answered correctly? Have we answered scripturally? Let's take a look at the Word and see for ourselves.

Starting in the book of Acts, the Church was birthed in Jerusalem. After the disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost and power, they went out and preached the good news or gospel. Such was the power of the anointing, that in Acts 2:41, 3,000 souls were added to the number the first day. Then verse 47 says "And the Lord added to the CHURCH daily such as should be saved." OK now, how many churches were there that the Lord added to in Jerusalem? ONE! Do you want to know something startling? In all the rest of the New Testament scriptures, even after some 50 to 60 years or so that are represented in these scriptures, there was still only ONE Church in Jerusalem! ONE body of all the believers in that city under ONE leadership of elders! Other passages here in these first few chapters of Acts show that this Church was powerfully united in one accord and exhibited selflessness that is unparalleled in the American Church! At one point, when those that were assembled together prayed, the place was physically shaken. It also says that the multitude of them that believed were of ONE heart and of ONE soul, and that none among them lacked! Everyone who had lands or houses and such sold them and brought the price of them and laid it at the apostles' feet. To lay something at someone's feet is a sign of complete submission to their authority. Would you be willing to sell your possessions and lay the money down at someone's feet? An emphatic "NO" you say? Well, that's why we have many who lack today right in our own fellowships and nobody seems to care enough to do something about it. Alright, let's move on.

Briefly now, in Paul's letter to the Romans, how many churches did he address there? It doesn't specifically say, but in verse 7 of the first chapter, we see that it was "To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints..." This very much sounds like one body or fellowship of all the believers to me. At least they all were willing to receive Paul's correction and exhortation in unity of doctrine, which is much more than can be said for all believers in virtually any city in America today. OK now, let's look at 1 Corinthians 1:2. How many churches at Corinth? ONE! In his second letter to the Corinthians chapter 1, verse 1, how many churches are there? STILL ONE! Revealing so far, isn't it? It gets better!

When Paul wrote to the Galatians, what did he say in the second verse of the first chapter? "And all the brethren with me, unto the churches of Galatia". A-HA! There you see, there WAS more than one church in the city of Galatia! Well, time here for a geography lesson, so if you would please turn to the maps in the back of your bible... One of your maps should show what we know today as the country of Turkey, known in that day as Asia. You should be able to see that Galatia was not a city, but a province with many cities. As the Church grew and spread to this area, several cities in this province or area had a body or fellowship of believers. It is doubtless that this letter was indeed sent on to all these cities eventually so that all could benefit.

Mmmm... what about Ephesus? Well, here we have the same type of greeting we found in Romans. Paul again addresses his letter to "all the saints, which are at Ephesus... " If you will pause here and turn back to Acts, chapters 19 & 20, you will see the Church atEphesus from it's inception, to the time that Paul calls the elders from the Church atEphesus to meet him in Miletus, to give them final instructions and pray for them before he left them in full charge of the fellowship. You might also take a little trip to the fourth chapter of Ephesians, and read a lesson in unity of the saints under Christ - given leadership, not under man made puppets!

Moving right along... what about the Phillipians? Same thing here as in Romans and Ephesians - "to all the saints in Christ Jesus". Next, let's stop in at Colosse. Again in verse 2 of chapter 1, "To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ..." Do you see a pattern developing? I DO!

In Paul's epistle to Thessalonica, the first verse, "unto the church of the Thessalonians..." How many churches in each city so far gang? That's right, ONE! In his second letter to the same Church, they are still together as ONE Church in chapter 1, verse 1. You mean they have not had a church split yet? Wow, that's incredible! NO THAT'S GOD!

In the two letters to Timothy, the one to Titus, and the one to Philemon, these are not written to bodies of believers, but to individuals, so enough said there. The letter to the Hebrews was not to a certain church, but to all of the Hebrew believers, and was very likely passed on to each church, which contained believers of Hebrew descent. So far though, we have not seen more than ONE Church in each city. James addresses his letter to the twelve tribes, which are scattered abroad. 1 Peter is a letter to strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, but not to one city or one particular church. 2 Peter is written to "them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God... ". This letter most probably was sent from city to city to be read in each church there. Still, we have no evidence of more than one fellowship of saints in any city. 1 John most likely addresses all of the Churches, while 2 John is addressed to "the elect lady and her children", and 3 John to a Christian brother named Gaius. Jude is another general letter to all believers, and that only leaves us with the book of Revelation.

In this great book, Jesus Christ revealed many things to His servant John. We will concern ourselves, however, with only the first three chapters of the book. Beginning with chapter 1 and verse 4, we read "John to the seven churches, which are in Asia." Now we know that there were seven Churches in Asia, but how many cities are addressed in chapters 2 and 3? You guessed it - 7! In chapter 2, verses 1,8,12,& 18 and in chapter 3, verses 1,7,& 14, it says "unto... the CHURCH" in each of the sevens cities, not churches! Now, this was the Head of the Church Himself addressing His body of believers in each respective city. Surely he would not have just spoken to one particular denomination or non-denomination and totally neglected the others! He only recognized one Church AND STILL DOES TODAY!

If the Lord had a letter sent by one of His servants to THE CHURCH in your city, who would be the lucky one to receive it? The Baptists? The Catholics? The Methodists or the Lutherans? The Assembly of God or Church of Christ, or maybe the Pentecostal Church? But wait... which one of each of these will be the blessed ones? Which Baptist Church? Will it be First United or Grace United? How about the Pentecostal Holiness or First Assembly, Second Assembly, Third, Fourth, or perhaps the Fifth Street Church.... HAVE I MADE THE POINT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR?

The apostle Paul warned against this very type of ungodly, selfish, prideful, demonic, walls of division. He rebuked some in the Church at Corinth in his first letter to them, verse 3 of chapter 3, saying "For ye are yet carnal; for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and DIVISIONS, are ye not carnal and walk as men? For while one saith I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollo's, are ye not carnal?" YOU BET YE ARE! The majority of the so called "churches" that pepper the corners and avenues of our cities are birthed out of strife, envying, division, bitterness, and everything else carnal one can name. They are not birthed by Jesus Christ! Not built by the Master Builder! Not conceived by the Holy Spirit but by an unholy spirit - THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST! The proof is that Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against HIS Church. The gates of hell have prevailed, are prevailing, and will continue to prevail against these selfish, soulish, man made structures WE call churches! It's pathetic, painful, and sickening to even consider that what we see today, even remotely resembles anything that Jesus Christ would build! Let's get real with ourselves and admit that, over these hundreds of years, we have missed it and missed it BIG - because we have been too busy being carnal instead of yielding to the Spirit of the Living God!

It does not even make good common sense to believe that there would be any reason for there to be more than one Church in each city. It you say there needs to be because all Christians do not believe the same things, then I must remind you that there is only one true doctrine and way of believing. Let me also remind you of what the apostle Paul said in Á1 Corinthians 1:9-13, "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" "Speak the same thing", "no divisions", "same mind", "same judgement" - does this sound like the Church today? Not in the least! This was the beginning of "denominationalism" and the walls that go with it. "I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas..." updated, becomes "I am a Baptist, I am a Pentecostal, I am a Methodist, etc." Failure to recognize this is REBELLION and we are deceived already! The very thought of believers not being able to unite together and fellowship each other makes me righteously angry and ill at the same time! You can not give one reason for this kind of behavior, and I openly challenge you in the name of Jesus Christ to prove otherwise!

We are without excuse if we continue in this fashion! We have become a laughingstock to a world that we are supposed to lead to Jesus. The drunks and winos and other addicts down at the local tavern don't agree on every point of their pitiful lives, but they still congregate in the same building for a common purpose. We don't even match that! God forgive us and help us - we have sinned against you and against the very Christ that you sent to die for us and to teach us how to dwell together in unity!

Psalm 133 says, "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."

I believe that when we dwell together in unity in our cities as THE CHURCH, the Lord will pour a precious ointment or anointing upon our head and it will run down from top to bottom. And the Lord will COMMAND THE BLESSING, EVEN LIFE FOR EVERMORE!! It does not matter whether you believe this or whether you agree with it or not. Jesus Christ is going to build His Church - HIS WAY - WITH OR WITHOUT YOU! I would rather see everyone included, but the choice is not mine to make, neither is it the Lord's choice, but the choice, my brethren, IS UP TO YOU! Will you choose spiritual or will you choose carnal? Are you going to move with the cloud or be left behind in your own man made wilderness to be devoured by the elements? WAKE UP, OH MAN OF GOD - GET RIGHT OR GET LEFT BEHIND!

Let's get on our faces before God and repent of our self-sufficiency. If you are not called of God, then step down before you are cut down! Start looking around your city and find the men called of God to eldership. Seek out the apostles and prophets - they are there! They will have direction from God and be able to tear down, expose, build up, and set things in order. Encourage other brethren to do the same. Submit yourselves together in the fear of the Lord to their eldership. Then, maybe we will begin to grow up and start looking something like Jesus Christ! Let's forget the labels and start wearing one name - the name that is above every name! DO IT NOW - DO NOT DELAY! If you are not in order soon, it's going to become painfully obvious, and you will be embarrassed and ashamed!

I say this in love, not in anger. I tell you these things because I have been commanded by Jesus Christ to do so. I am being obedient - not belligerent. I am the least of all, that way you will know that it came from HIM! I simply have been consumed by a desire to see the Church become everything that Jesus wants it to be, and I have received commandment from Jesus to function in my calling and be a servant to the Church. I know my order, and I know what I am commanded to do. If you cannot say the same, then I encourage you to humbly seek God until you KNOW HIS WILL FOR YOUR LIFE!

PLEASE stop trying to build you own ministry and start building the kingdom of God. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." Let's stop reaching for the "things", and start making the Kingdom our TOP priority! You will regret it if you don't, because all you will have is your precious ministry with it's mailing lists, and partners, and the like, but you will not have a part in the Kingdom of God!

"Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in ONE all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in HIM." Ephesians 1:9-10

Now, how many Churches are there in your city? Altogether now, ONLY ONE! PRAISE THE LORD OF GLORY!!