Posted on 10/08/2014 11:39:09 AM PDT by NKP_Vet
Why would intelligent, successful people give up their careers, alienate their friends, and cause havoc in their families...to become Catholic? Indeed, why would anyone become Catholic?
As an evangelist and author who recently threw my own life into some turmoil by deciding to enter the Catholic Church, I've faced this question a lot lately. That is one reason I decided to make this documentary; it's part of my attempt to try to explain to those closest to me why I would do such a crazy thing.
Convinced isn't just about me, though. The film is built around interviews with some of the most articulate and compelling Catholic converts in our culture today, including Scott Hahn, Francis Beckwith, Taylor Marshall, Holly Ordway, Abby Johnson, Jeff Cavins, Devin Rose, Matthew Leonard, Mark Regnerus, Jason Stellman, John Bergsma, Christian Smith, Kevin Vost, David Currie, Richard Cole, and Kenneth Howell. It also contains special appearances by experts in the field of conversion such as Patrick Madrid and Donald Asci.
Ultimately, this is a story about finding truth, beauty, and fulfillment in an unexpected place, and then sacrificing to grab on to it. I think it will entertain and inspire you, and perhaps even give you a fresh perspective on an old faith.
(Excerpt) Read more at indiegogo.com ...
Why does It matter?
I am a member of the body of Christ. The ekklesia of those called out by God as His redeemed.
Well, I for one do not want to read lies by freepmail. I am sick and do not need my bp raised like the last time I went to the dr. If it can not be said on here, do not bother me. : ). My eye surgeon appointment is Tuesday and I am not looking forward to the surgery. I know I need it to keep from seeing double but that does not mean I have to like it. : (
I am not, as I reiterate x4, a pacifist nor arguing for pacifism. I am, however, arguing for the legitimate development of doctrine. The Church has the right and the duty ot do this.
True, sound Christian faith and morals, true prayer, preaching and practice, are not confined to what is explicitly mandate, or even described, or even plainly anticipated, in the written pages of the NT.
Some here at FR--- I will mention no names -- seem to take it as axiomatic that if the Church wasn't commanded to do such-and-such in the NT, it ain't to be done; or if it was not at least exampled in Acts and the Epistles, it is not permissible.
Some say that; but none of us, and none of our churches, faith groups and fellowships, actually conducts themselves thus in practice. Our divergences from the written ipsissimi verbi are wide and many. Sometimes this constitutes infidelity, defection and decay. But sometimes it does not.
To take just the question of armed defense: something didn't happen in the NT that was widely expected to have happened: the very prompt return of Jesus with power after his Ascension into heaven. And something did happen which practically nobody anticipated: the Roman Empire collapsed, and civil peace of some sort had to be kept, by armed force if necessary, if human communities were to survive.
This led to a gradual re-evaluation of the question of the right use of the sword. Augustine lived in the era when Rome had lost its control of the world and was quickly falling to other powers. The question of moral values in war were immanent for him. Augustine identified two aspects of war that required moral justification and guidelines:
He, as Catholic Bishop of Hippo in North Africa, made the first significant theological/moral development of doctrine of doing justice in war (the so-called Just War Theory.)
All this is perfectly legit, as far as I can see. The Church spent 300 years non-resisting, in conformity to both the precepts and practice of the Lord Jesus. Exactly what they needed to do. But then circumstances changed, and they were no longer subjects of an empire from which they could expect a rough sort of Pax Romana: they were on their own facing the fire and sword of the barbarian, with no prince to save them. They had to furnish their own princely services. Hence, a new role: protector of the civic peace. And a new paradigm: Jus Ad Bellum, Jus in Bello.
Wise. Authoritative. Providential.
The Church.
I'm OK with that.
you know the playground saying.....
Yes you are wrong.
41And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten. 42Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination. 43Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby. 44For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 45For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
3. Acts 10:9-16
9On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
There is no contradiction between these two verses. Leviticus is operating under the OT Law and Acts is operating under the New Covenant.
Same reason we don't have to continually offer sacrificies or see a priest fo the forgiveness of sin in the NT as they had to in the OT.
Christ is the one time sacrifice for all our sins....past, present and future.
And you won't be. I only tell the truth.
If it can not be said on here, do not bother me.
Then stop asking. You asked 3 times and I gave you an answer 3 times.
Actually, no I don't.
Got it. Still doesn’t answer the lead question posed by the thread’s first article; the headline.
We differ on whether the RCC is the one true and only Church founded by Jesus Christ.
I still vote...nay.
What y’all consider to be truth is not backed up by the Bible. I believe it over what anyone here says unless they quote from the Bible and sometimes, even then, I go to the Bible on my iPad. I want to see what the verses around it says.
Of course there is a contradiction between the passages, your rationalization notwithstanding. A better answer on your part would be the First Council of Jerusalem, with the Jewish Apostles exercising the keys of the kingdom of heaven, ruled that the Gentiles, ("Now, you should listen to this, 'cause this concerns you.") are not subject to all the commandments from the law of Moses (with four exceptions).
except that this was told to Peter, and not the council, at this point so the Biblical answer is the correct one....not a speculative answer as to how the council may or may not have ruled.
Where is there an online doctrinal statement for your church that differentiates your assembly from the thousands of denominations, sects, and cults ?
I’m sorry...
Paragraphs are your friend.
You are wrong!
Animals are our friends; but they won’t pick you up at the Airport.
So do you still slaughters goats for sacrifice also?
Hey, don’t judge me!
How do you reconcile this blatant inconsistency?
Enough already.
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