Posted on 04/14/2005 12:00:51 PM PDT by Dean Baker
And this "Reverend" calls himself a Christian. Riiiight.
Wouldn't you say that this means, be ye not of this world, but of the life to follow? As the Amish do.
These earthly politics and bickerings are silly diversions. The true faith is in the soul's everlasting
*****
The kingdom of God is not of this world. The kingdoms that have been set up by man are anti-christ...against Christ. Satan offered those kingdoms to Christ when he tempted Him in the wilderness.
He said you would know a believer by their fruits. Love, joy, peace, patience, temperance, long-suffering, ect. Look at the offense that is taken and the way people defend their man taught doctrines, and their denominational kingdoms. Look at the confusion that is in this forum, God is not the author of confusion, nor the Father of it.
Look at a 501 (3) c tax exempt contract and you will see how it all ties to a governmental system and the perks. Follow the money, because the love of it,is the root of ALL evil.
"There is a way that SEEMS right unto man but leads to DESTRUCTION."
It was religious Pharisees and political Rome that joined to crucify Christ. "THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN."
Low church isn't meant as a slur, it refers to the idea that a lot of props and pomp and circumstance are not necessary to worship God. Particularly in the Episcopal church we have low church, which resembles closely a normal Presbyterian service, except they probably take communion more, versus high church which may have crucifixes, genuflection, "smells & bells" (incense), ornate chasubles for the priests and matching altar linen, ornate wood carvings, confession, latin anthems & kyrie, and other "high" churchy sorts of things that the low church finds not only unnecessary, but at times rather offensive. Sometimes these churches are called "spiky" because they tend to have high pointy steeples.
Again, I have nothing against the low church. I like the high church because it reminds me of the magic and the power of the church through the centuries, during which, revisionist history aside, it has more often been a tool for good and for civilization than otherwise.
The only thing that worries me is that while *I* can see through the costumes and remember that the only important thing is knowing and sharing the Love of Jesus Christ, and following His Commandments, I worry that some others may not be so discerning. For example in the Catholic church, while I and most everyone who posts here understands that we are not to worship the pope and the saints, does the peasant in Rio De Janeiro understand as well? Are we causing others to stumble with our piety? Don't know. The Liturgy saves lives, I'm convinced of that.
Several years ago I received an invitation from some realtives who were on a sabbatical in Italy to join them for a couple of weeks. I stayed with them at their apartment in Rome for about half of that time and visited both St. Peter's and the Vatican Museum. I was treated with remarkable decency and courtesy wherever I went, even though I was not a Catholic. That insult to John Paul II was just beyond the pale.
Your posts on the "fake pope" thread have been very good. Thanks,
Rick (aka safisoft)
Because I don't know if you are. I was simply posting my experience, as you did yours.
;^)
(I get it!)
>>>>>>>>But thanks for revealing your deepest spiritual need!
I don't have "deepest spiritual need," you do. What motivates someone to come on a thread to attack a revered figure after his death? That is what you've done, pure and simple. Frankly, I am disgusted by the posthumous Pope-bashers, whether they are fundamentalist whackos like you or atheists like Christopher Hitchens.
You attract no one to your beliefs by your antics, so spare me your false piety and concern. And perhaps think about the life of a man who helped bring freedom to millions and who effectively communicated to millions around the world the love that St. Paul upholds as the highest virtue.
Uh... see above....
Lol
You still haven't explained how the books of the New Testament ended up in the Bible. And you apparently have no interest in figuring that one out.
Now now....
You are going to be taken to the woodshed by the Mormon protectors here in FRland...........
In the case of Jesus being God manifest in the flesh, that isn't just a tradition, it's in scripture. The sinlessness of Mary is a tradition not mentioned in scripture.
"That's why the verse does not prove that Mary sinned any more than it proves that Jesus sinned."
There's a bit of a difference between Mary and Jesus. I'm sure you wouldn't try to claim that Mary is God manifest in the flesh. . .would you?
It's all Greek to me!
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