Mr E. S. Vasol, known on his blog as CD2000, Catholicdefender2000, losav, middle east homosexual prostitute, etc, as well as Abe Arganiosa feel down and frustrated. Understandably so because his beloved church the Roman Catholic church dropped the ball big time. How did the Roman Catholic church drop the ball? They failed to realize that the Church built by the Lord Jesus Christ SHOULD be called after its builder and its head, namely the Lord Jesus Christ. And now, the sad truth that their church is named after some invented words is bothering them. The church that Christ build should be named after Him, named Christian church or Church of Christ. Sadly for them theirs is not, rather some “church father” decided they should call their church katholikos. Did I hear someone say apostasy? You see, the church built by the Lord Jesus is not named “Catholic church”. The name, as you would see in this verse is church of Christ.
THE ACTS 20:28 LAMSA TRANSLATION
Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood
I can almost see CD2000 say “Ah, church with a small C! That’s not your church because your churches name Church of Christ, with a capital C.” This would be ignorance number 1. But I’d rather not elaborate concerning this lest CD2000 benefit from the knowledge. I’ll let him stew in his own juices. And if I may add, katholikos is also not capitalized.
Here’s ignorance number 2! He would say that only in the Lamsa translation does it states church of Christ and while in many others it says church of God. If you read the verse carefully and understand it you would clearly see that the translation church of God does NOT make sense. Why am I sure? Simply because God is spirit, that is, God is without flesh and bones AND THEREFORE without blood! So God did not purchase the church with His own blood precisely because He does not have blood.
Here’s ignorance number 3, concerning the name Church of Christ, is it really important that the church built by Christ be called after his name. How important is Christ’s name?
Philippians 2:9-11 New International Version (NIV)
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
How important is the name of Christ? Everyone will bow or worship the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now even common sense dictates that there’s is no better name to call Christ body but his own name thus Christ church or Church of Christ. Besides, how can you tell if a particular church belongs to Christ? The simplest way is by its name. Which bring me to a question: how can you tell if a church is Christ church?
Let me explain using very simple illustrations and common things we see everyday. When one is buying a product, any product, how can one make sure that what he is buying is the genuine article? By inspection, of course. Let’s say basketball shoes, Adidas in particular. The first thing you make sure is to go to a reputable store, preferably one which does not sell fakes! Normally one would see the big display of Adidas shoes. Once you’re in that reputable store and pick one of the Adidas, you inspect the shoes itself. Does it bear the name Adidas? Does it bear the seal of Adidas? Is the quality of work the same as the previous Adidas you bought?
Do you now see the importance of a name? So, if the church you belong to is not named after the Lord Jesus Christ name, it cannot be Christ’s church.