“This Church”: False Teaching in Two Words

Words on this page

The Church (with a big C) means all Christians, in every place and every time.

The gates of hell means the power of death and evil.

False teaching means teaching that does not match what the Bible says.

No names

This page does not name any preacher, church or person.

The question

What did Jesus say?

What Jesus said

“On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not win against it.”

Matthew 16:18, in modern English. In simple words: Jesus builds his Church. Evil and death will never beat it.

What some preachers say

“God says gates of hell cannot prevail against this church. Every church that glorifies God, teaches the word of God …”

In simple words: the promise is for this church, and for other churches the preacher thinks are good.

Two-minute check

Open your Bible. Read Matthew 16:13–19. Did Jesus say “my church” or “this church”?

Three changes

What changed?

Three small changes

1. Jesus said “my church.” The preacher says “this church.”

2. Jesus gave no test. The preacher adds a test.

3. The test is not written down. So the preacher decides who passes.

Is a test always wrong? No. Christians have always asked, “How do we know a true church?” In 1530 the Lutheran churches wrote their answer down: a true church is where the good news of Jesus is taught, and baptism and the Lord’s Supper are given in the right way. Anyone can check a church with this answer.

A test that is not written down is different. Only the preacher knows what it means.

The big point

Has the Church ever been dead?

The big point

Jesus said evil would never beat his Church. So his Church has never been dead.

Jesus also said, “I am with you always, to the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). His Church has been alive for two thousand years, in every land where his Word is taught.

Is this false teaching?

Yes. Jesus made the promise to his whole Church. Using it for one church, and leaving out the Church of two thousand years, is a false use of the Bible.

We do not say every preacher wants to trick people. Listen carefully, and check what you hear.

A better way to say it

“Jesus promised that evil will never beat his Church. That promise has been true for two thousand years. It is true for our church too, because we are a small part of his Church.”