“Remember that with the flexibility to interpret the written word we have not only the ECUSA, ELCA, PCUSA, but also Unitarians, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Church of Christ, Oneness Pentecostalism, Messianic Judaism, Christian Scientists etc.”
Some “so called” religions even have more than “ONE” father. In fact some religions set up men in the church and call them/him “holy father” and even call him infallable. Shameful.
Rom. 3:23
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
Ephesians 4:6
“one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
Despite your negative reaction to names which are nothing more than a title of respect, I think that the previous post was spot on. Call him what you will, but, he is the successor to St Peter to whom Christ himself gave the keys to the kingdom and promised that even the gates of hell would not prevail against it.
He is there as the final arbiter. Christ knows our weakneses. Remember what he told the Pharisees about why Moses allowed the Jews to divorce. He knows that we will always find a way to justify our behavior and gives us through his teaching, the apostles and their successors to help guide us. The church is far from perfect, but Christ promise that the Spirit would be with her always is enough for me, who am i to question my God.
Say what you will, but the profusion of Protestant sects is simply a fact,and one question which Sola Scriptura never quite manages to get around is, what makes ANYONES interpretation of scripture any more or less valid than anyone else’s? If that is the case, then why is this interpretation of the teachings of Jesus any less valid than yours?
This sect or that sect could find obscure language that tells them that those in a committed relationship with a dog, or a building, or three partners are just great with Jesus, after all, He never specifically prohibited them.
That is why, like it or not, Our Lord gave us the Church, warts and all.