the term christian church, catholic church or one holy catholic and apostolic church, as it was called by 110 ad, refers to the "universal company of believers". it means every person who has ever accepted or ever will accept the christian faith. the idea is that all these people together make up one "body" called "the church". "the church" (in this sense) is not thought of by christians as an ordinary human organisation. it is thought of as being part of god's way to bring people close to him. "the church" was begun by jesus in the 1st century ad. it is called "the christian church" because jesus was called "the christ" (or holy one from god).