How Does Your Church Compare?
Ten biblical markers of Christ’s original church, measured across six Christian traditions.
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The table below is not a matter of opinion. Each row represents a verifiable organizational feature described in the New Testament. The question is simple: does a given tradition practice or possess what the biblical text describes? The answers are drawn from each tradition’s own published doctrine, structure, and ordinances.
| Biblical Marker | Catholic | Lutheran | Baptist | Methodist | Non-Denom | Restored Church |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Apostles (Eph 4:11) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Living Prophets (Amos 3:7) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| The Seventy (Luke 10:1) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Priesthood Authority Traceable to Christ (Heb 5:4) | Claimed* | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Baptism by Immersion (Rom 6:4) | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | Varies | Varies | ✓ |
| Gift of Holy Ghost by Laying on of Hands (Acts 8:17) | Partial† | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Baptism for the Dead (1 Cor 15:29) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Temple Ordinances | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Open Canon / Continuing Revelation | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Bishops as NT Describes (Titus 1:7) | Partial | ✗ | ✗ | Title only | ✗ | ✓ |
* The Catholic Church claims apostolic succession through an unbroken chain of bishops from Peter, but this claim involves historically undocumented gaps and was never accompanied by the specific priesthood keys Christ conferred.
† Catholic confirmation involves laying on of hands by a bishop, but is not conferred as a separate ordinance by Melchizedek Priesthood authority as described in Acts 8.
Ten biblical markers. Six traditions. Only one checks every box — not because of human cleverness, but because God himself restored what had been lost.
This comparison is not meant to diminish the sincerity, devotion, or goodness found in any Christian tradition. Millions of faithful believers across every denomination strive to follow Christ with real conviction and real sacrifice. The purpose here is narrower: to ask whether the structural and organizational features described in the New Testament can be found today, and if so, where. We believe the evidence speaks clearly, and we invite you to examine it for yourself.