[snip]
‘A church,’ says Dr. Ripley, ‘that came into existence yesterday, in strict conformity to the New Testament principles of membership, far away from any long-existing church or company of churches and therefore unable to trace an outward lineal descent, is a true Church of Christ.
Exactly. The only authority is the Bible, and the God-called pastor of the local church, whose position is established by the Bible.
Good stuff ... and a thought-provoking perspective on the whole apostolic succession and historical continuity thing.
What was the authority before the New Testament came to be?
This is anti-Catholic inflammatory mush, as much as Islam is anti-Jewish writing throughout.
No thanks. I think Jesus meant what he said when he said “Upon this rock...” He knew it was a human church, which he started through Peter (a human with all his less-than-divine limitations).
This article was written by someone who, down deep inside, realizes he has fallen away from the one, true catholic and apostolic church (most Postestant churches pray the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed).
The theme is — “Go, start your own church, call it Christian, and it will be as good as any other church.” That’s not what Jesus intended...
thanks for this posting
>>>”The only authority is the Bible, and the God-called pastor of the local church...”
I do not see how the Bible can be the authority for what the Bible says about Christ’s Church.
Further it would seem the argument above would allow virtually any church to claim apostolic succession by claiming their, or their pastor’s, interpretation is “apostolic”.
Therefore, the problem of authority, which visible Apostolic Succession specifically addresses, is not solved by this argument.
The authentic apostolic church of the Bible isn’t defined by a name. That is why there were so many groups in church history (Donatists, Novatians, Paulicians, Albigenses, Waldenses, Anabaptists....etc). The authentic church is defined by its doctrine.
Write down the fundamental doctrines of Independent Fundamental Baptists, then write down the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, LDS, or whoever else....then let the empirical data speak.
Deciding an eternal destination (heaven/hell) on one word (Peter) in one verse, is a really bad approach. You wouldn’t do it in any other part of your life with the stakes so high.
Hell is too hot and eternity is too long to be betting the ranch on tradition and pride.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.