Is corruption a thing that exists within Christianity, or, has Christianity itself become corrupt?
If it is Christianity itself which has become corrupt, then those embedded in it will see no corruption, bcos everything has been redefined and the paradigm redrawn and reworked, so that, what was corrupt in the first century is now quite acceptable, and has become more than acceptable, it has become the definition of what Christianity and the Church is.
Things which the first century Christians considered corrupt and false now define Christianity.
It is something deeper than endemic corruption: it is a systemic corruption.
Ian Vincent 
October 31, 2011 at 1:40 am
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You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost its savor, how shall it be salted? it is thereafter good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
(Mat 5:13)
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Salt is good: but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
(Mar 9:50)
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Salt is good: but if the salt has lost its taste, how shall it be restored? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dung hill; but men cast it out. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.
(Luk 14:34-35)
November 2, 2011 at 2:19 am
I believe that the reason why Rev 17 is in the Bible is that we won’t be discouraged when we see men, who have almost zero regard to obey what Jesus said, prosper and build big “ministries”.
It is “mystery” babylon : “mystery” means to make people wonder, How can it be that a man can so twist around and disobey Jesus and yet be so successful?
it’s been from the earliest days, it’s not new.
November 4, 2011 at 12:13 am
My point about the salt losing it’s flavor and being thrown out is that, here, salt doesn’t get corrupted, it simply ceases to be salt.
Salt is a synonym here for Christianity. It doesn’t, so much, get corrupted, rather than simply ceases to be Christian, except in name only, and not by the FLAVOR : a salt that may have the name of salt, but no longer tastes like salt.
Much of what is done in the name of Jesus doesn’t “taste” like Jesus, it is salt that has lost its flavor.
November 5, 2011 at 1:38 pm
Ian – I posted this thread on our facebook and was asked to name the corruptions that todays churchianity is known by… here is my response….
Here is Ians blog for the full thought he posted: https://ianvincent.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/corruption-in-christianity/#comment-9956
Here is my attempt to answer your questions without writing a novel:
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1) Denominations: 1 Corinthians 3:4-5, Ephesians 4:2-6
The apostles taught that denominationalism is wrong, and more specifically, that believers calling themselves by the name of a man was a sign that you were at best a carnal babe in Christ. If someone identifies themselves as a Lutheran, Wesleyan, etc, they are carnal – though the Spirit of Paul’s rebuke would surely apply to all denominationalism. Christianity today is built upon and defined by denominations, the very thing spoken against in the word of God. Of course sincere brethren take part in this out of empty tradition but it is plainly corrupt.
2) Clergy-laity system: Matthew 23:8-11, 1 Peter 5:1-3
Jesus forbade the use of religious titles such as ‘pastor’ and firmly stated that all true believers are brethren standing on level ground. The elders being older brothers who served by example, teaching, and encouraging among the saints, not over them. Christianity today is built upon religious titles and positions – this is undeniably what it is known by. Of course sincere brethren take part in this out of empty tradition but it is plainly corrupt.
3) Gods house: 2 Corinthians 6:16, 1 Corinthians 3:16, Ephesians 2:20-22
The apostles taught that every true believer was the temple of the living God. That the Church was the ecclesia, the called out ones… not a building built with human hands. Today, the majority of Christians refer to a building as a church. This is corrupt. Jesus did not die to purchase a building without spot or blemish, but a people. Christianity today is defined by this corruption of the truth. Of course sincere brethren take part in this out of empty tradition but it is plainly corrupt.
4) Church discipline: 1 Corinthians 5
The word of God orders that all sexually immoral people, the greedy and idolaters be put out of the church until they were brought to repentance. This is to keep the sin from leavening the local Church. Today over 50% of church members and 30% of pastors regularly view pornography (I have all kinds of stats on this). Many more watch filthy tv shows and movies full of sexual immorality and innuendos (office, simpsons, desperate housewives, etc) not to mention blasphemy, greed, violence and other things that are an abomination in the site of God. They entertain themselves with the very things that God hates. These people would have been put out of the early church, but today church discipline is not practiced because it would shut down the churches due to the majority of members being put out (including leaders). Ironically true believers are ordered to flee from such churches (2 Timothy 3:1-5), but instead are given a cliché about there being no perfect church so they should “blossom where they are planted”. Christianity today is defined by this corruption of the truth. When is the last time someone was put out of a church that you know of?
5) Salvation: John 3:3, 1 John 3:3-10, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians
The early Church was marked by a passionate love and devotion to Christ and His kingdom even to the point of death. They taught that the new birth was radical and that professing believers should examine themselves to see if they are truly in the faith. They did not comfort people by telling they were “saved” through infant baptism, repeating a sinner’s prayer, agreeing to a creed, or getting their name on a church membership role. They taught normal New Testament Christianity, that whoever does not forsake himself, pick up his cross and follow Christ cannot be a disciple. They taught the grace of God that saves teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldliness and to live Godly lives that are peculiar (Titus 2:11-15). This is not taught today, the largest number of people possible are sucked into the church and somehow or another given a false impression or assurance that their saved because they “believe” in Jesus and jumped through a religious hoop or two. They are also deceived into support churches financially even though they are lost and headed to hell. This is corrupt.
These are just a couple of thoughts, though the word of God from cover to cover states that the last days Christendom will be counterfeit, a harlot imposter of the bride of Christ. We are surely heading in that direction (Proverbs 7, Revelation 17).
2Timothy 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Thesselonians 2:9-15 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
We need to stand fast on the word of God and not the traditions of rome, the reformation, or modern churchianity – even when the word reveals something wrong in our own hearts and lives. That is the way true believers grow in Christ. God bless you. (j)
November 5, 2011 at 9:27 pm
Thanks brother, a good overview.
Pride and power has been institutionalized and Christianized to the point that it now even defines Christianity and the Church.
Those who know Christ, know that He has no part in corruption.
For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
(Eph 5:30-32)
The true Church is a PEOPLE who are ONE FLESH united with Christ Jesus, as His body.