Obviously, every denomination will immediately claim Jesus Christ founded their Church, but the question I am asking us all to share is through which mortal man, or men, do we hold that the Lord did this.
This is not to take glory from Christ, but to establish Christ’s works through His chosen servants such as His apostles. This is also not an unbiblical thing to do as the scriptures themselves draw attention to how the apostles founded the Churches.
“Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:” Romans 15:20
“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” 1 Corinthians 3:10
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19
Speaking for myself, I am a member of the Coptic Orthodox Church that was originally known as the Church of Alexandria in Egypt. It was founded by St. Mark, the writer of the second Gospel of our God, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
This Church was one of the earliest after only the Church of Jerusalem which started in the upper room of Mark’s mother’s house where Jesus held His last supper and later the disciples gathered on the day of Pentecost. After Jerusalem was the Church of Caesarea, then the Church of Antioch then the Church of Alexandria. Other Churches quickly followed such as Rome and the Greeks e.g Corinth etc.
These first Churches that predate Rome are collectively called the Oriental Orthodox Churches and are not to be confused with the Eastern Orthodox Churches such as the Greek Orthodox, Russian etc. although we do share many common doctrines of faith.
We are also the Churches that Rome separated herself from when they began their attempt to bring all Christendom under their control. in 451 AD at the Council of Chalcedon.
Over the years, we have suffered countless persecutions at the hands of pagans and other Christ proclaiming Churches and this often includes various forms of false witness against us, such as the accusation that we are “monophysite” in our beliefs, which can be proven incorrect by examining any of our teachings for nearly two thousand years.
I ask this so we can all learn a little about where the other's perspectives may be coming from in the hopes we can build on our areas of unity and work on those areas where we may disagree.
Peace and Love to all
David Lazarus
