Hello YouKnow :o)
>>In fact he said that anyone who gave his brothers a cup of water on the basis of the fact that they recognized them as Christ's representatives would not lose their reward. That definitely proves that Jesus also operates through an organized association of his followers.
I think that He was using the singular in those passages and speaking about each individual:
Mark 9 v 37: Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
Luke 9 v 48: And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
Matt 10 v 42: And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold [water] only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
Matt 25 v 40: And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.
>>That definitely proves that Jesus also operates through an organized association of his followers.
I think that if we consider that Jesus works through an organised association of his followers, then that organised association of His followers would be known as *the body of Christ*. And members of the body of Christ do not necessarily all have the same function. Some are gifted in teaching, some in preaching, some in caring, some in listening, some in healing, some in visiting the needy, some are able to give financial support etc etc. We all have a part to play - but we are not necessarily all able to do exactly the same thing with equal success - but we are all necessary :o)
>>The proof is that Jehovah's Witnesses are doing the work that Christ commanded Christians to do, namely to go to people of all the nations teaching them about God and Christ and teaching them to observe Christ's commands.
So in that case, the fact that the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the Baptists, Methodists, United Reformed, Pentecostalists etc etc are heavily involved in missionary activities, going to all the nations teaching them about God and Christ and teaching them to observe Christ's commands would also be proof that their respective churches are doing the work that Christ commanded. Many of these *missions* also involve feeding the poor, tending the sick etc.
A few examples for Musky :o) A friend of mine is a Doctor and his wife a teacher so their mission has been tri-fold. Today I was speaking to an engineer who will be going out as a missionary using his professional skills on building/clean water projects as well as preaching. Off the top of my head the following are christian charities which involve mission - Christian Aid, Oxfam, Save the Children Fund, Caritas, CAFOD, Leprosy Mission, Tearfund, Harvest for the Hungry, Operation Christmas Child, Mission Aviation Fellowship, Church Missionary Society etc
The following are some examples of christian witnessing across the denominations in our area: we run christian based holiday clubs for the children; run Mum and Toddler groups; have a drop in centre for young mothers; have a christian GP practice; run Alpha courses; run clubs for the elderly; run a disabled riding centre; have contact and involvement with playgroups and schools; sponsor various youth projects; sponsor groups which go into senior schools to take services, hold discussions etc; have a number of christian schools which are seriously oversubscribed; periodically hold inter-denominational events such as open air services; run Good News courses in homes; make baptismal visits and hold pre-marriage sessions; run after school clubs for children; organise prison visiting; supply volunteers for various charity shops and the hospice; supply volunteer helpers for Harvest for the Hungry and Operation Christmas Child; internet witnessing ;o)
I'm of the view that often actions speak louder than words and that God uses individuals - irrespective of their *label* of membership :o)
For Lieu :o) I agree with you that the implement of Christ's death is of minor importance. It is His death and resurrection which are the important parts :o) Couldn't resist the *impale* gauntlet though ;o)
