In 1054, East and West became two different entities as the Roman Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox church went separate ways.
The Eastern Orthodox church is a Christian church of 230 million members. More information can be found at this link and in the video below.
The Roman Catholic church is the largest Christian church with more than 1 billion members.
Although run by different governments, both are one in Christ. There is only one Christian church which includes all believers in Jesus Christ. Next week we will look at the Second Church Split known as the Protestant Reformation which occurred about 500 years later. All Christian churches make up One Body in God’s eyes. It is important for us to see one another properly as brothers and sisters in Christ. All who have placed their faith in Christ are simply different parts of the same Body and the same Spirit. There are no superior or inferior churches. All are equally loved and accepted by God and so we should treat one another as one family even though we have different beliefs. Romans 14 is an excellent chapter that helps us to live in unity despite different viewpoints on disputable matters.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism;one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6
The main necessary issue is faith in Christ as the Savior of the world and as the only true Head of one church. Jesus desires that we love one another and that we be united in faith. The body has many different parts but they were created by God to work together in harmony. We all have different gifts but they are given so that we can give them to one another in love; we are created by God to be interdependent upon one another. When we get to heaven, we will all be one bride for Christ. Church unity is the will of God even though we see many different churches in the world. Unity is the prayer of Jesus in John 17: 20-23.
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Watch the video below to understand the first church split
