The Apostle Paul, in writing to Timothy, stated: “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3:15).

The question naturally arises: “Who, or what constitutes the church of the living God?” The Center for Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theology estimates that there are 47,000 Protestant denominations. This does not include the 35,496 independent or non-denominational churches spread out in 238 countries, as reported by the Association of Religious Data Archives. Modern movements, such as the emerging church and home churches have added an unknown number of churches. Neither are the mega-churches, numbering more than 1,650, according to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, included in these figures.

          All of these so-called Bible churches, each with its own doctrines, disciplines and ecclesiastical structures; are claiming they are following a single authority. These statistics reveal the sad scandal of Protestant disunity. However, the Lord has His appointed agencies, and a church that has lived through centuries of persecution, conflict, and darkness. Jesus loves the church, and gave himself for it, and he will replenish, refine, ennoble, and elevate it, so that it shall stand fast in these last days, amid the corrupting influences, both from within and without.