Christian 'megapastor' blasts believers on Dec. 25 dispute (defends decision to close)

World Net Daily ^ | December 19, 2005

[JamesP81]

Alright, I'm not a Catholic, I don't believe in many of the doctrines, and I don't think the Catholic church is the only true church. But can we ease up on the catholic bashing here? They are still Christians after all.

[A2J]

The "Lord's Day" is what Christians have called Sunday, the first day of week, for nearly 2,000 years. Our Lord Jesus Christ rose victorious over sin and death on the first day of the week, and he met with his disciples on that day, too. And so the church has been gathering on that day ever since.

But Jesus nor any writer of the New Testament commanded it.

[P-Marlowe]

The Lord gathers his church together around Word and Sacrament, the marks of the church.

Wherever two or more are gathered...

Originally this was done in homes. Somewhere along the line someone got the idea to build elaborate edifices.

[A2J]

On the contrary, He leaves His apostles with the power to bind and loose (that is, establish religious discipline).

And I suppose those "apostles" just happen to be all Catholics, right?

[JeffAtlanta]

Pointing out that the role of scripture is greatly marginalized in the Catholic church is not Catholic bashing.

[A2J]

That's what you get when a google search is the only source of scripture.

"Please click in your laptops to the Book of Google..."

[SoothingDave]

And I suppose those "apostles" just happen to be all Catholics, right?

You think they might have been Presbyterians or Methodists?

The original Church eventually schismed into today's Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The Protetants then further splintered off of the Catholic branch. Thus ends your history lesson.

SD

[NYer]

We'll be in a congregation of believers that still believes, along with its "bishop" (1 Timothy 3:1) that the Bible is the Word of God without error

That Bible came from the Catholic Church. It forms our liturgy and readings. You will hear more Scripture at a Catholic Mass than at any other christian service.

[JamesP81]

Originally this was done in homes. Somewhere along the line someone got the idea to build elaborate edifices.

You know, the majority of those 'edifice' building churches (southern baptist for example) frequently plant house churches while in the mission field. So yes, we haven't forgot what the Bible says, contrary to claims made in this thread.

Would you prefer that we just close all the churches?

[JeffAtlanta]

The Protetants then further splintered off of the Catholic branch. Thus ends your history lesson.

Not all early Christians were part of the Catholic church. There have always been groups that believed the church had gone in the wrong direction.

[A2J]

Would you prefer that we just close all the churches?

No, only those who have organized via 501(c)3 and have professional clergy on staff who placate an apathetic group of spectators each week.

[SoothingDave]

Not all early Christians were part of the Catholic church. There have always been groups that believed the church had gone in the wrong direction.

There is no credible evidece for the existence of these alleged churches. Unless you want to claim various heretical churches were the forefathers of your present belief system.

SD

[Polycarp1]

All Eastern Orthodox Christian Churches will have liturgies on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.

[A2J]

The original Church eventually schismed into today's Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

Wrong. It wasn't until after the deaths of the original apostles that heresy became rampant, birthing the Catholic church and its twin the Orthodox Church.

The Reformation tried to correct some of the error but ended up institutionalizing just like the Catholics.

[JamesP81]

No, only those who have organized via 501(c)3 and have professional clergy on staff who placate an apathetic group of spectators each week

Most of the really good evangelical churches are listed as such. I guess we should close down all the churches, the good ones and the bad ones, just because there are a few bad ones. Makes pefect sense.

As I stated before, that means shutting down most Christian charities and most of the church hospitals. Your idea is asinine.

[A2J]

There is no credible evidece for the existence of these alleged churches. Unless you want to claim various heretical churches were the forefathers of your present belief system.

Especially since the Catholic church controlled all of governments where Christians were persecuted for meeting outside the edicts of Catholicism.

The Crusades (another Catholic venture) were nothing in comparison to the Inquisition, where Christians were thrown to something far worse than wild beasts...i. e., the Catholic church.

[Matchett-PI]

You may find this of interest:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1543275/posts?page=206#206

[JeffAtlanta]

Unless you want to claim various heretical churches were the forefathers of your present belief system.

It's convenient that anything outside of the Catholic church was considered heretical so by definition, all non-catholic churches were heretical.

In reality, it was the catholic church and the popes that were corrupt.

[ELS]

In the picture you posted, what's the outfit being worn? What is it with the particular way of folding of the hands, etc.?

It is a part of a picture of Pope Benedict XVI that had been on the home page (the link is to a cached version of the page) of the Vatican's Web site.

Here is a picture of Benedict XVI wearing the same liturgical vestments as in the partial picture that NYer has been using. He wears these vestments when participating in certain liturgical events or when meeting with Catholic dignitaries (government representatives or royalty as opposed to high-level people within the Church).

The way he is holding his hands is not significant. It was probably just what he was doing when the photographer snapped the photo.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

>>Chapter and verse, please. From the bible. You sound just like the Pharisees.<<

- Exodus 20:8 (on the sanctity of the Sabbath)
- Neh 13:15-22 (on the sanctity of the Sabbath)
- Is 58:13 (on keeping the Sabbath holy)
- 1 Cor 16:1-2 (On meeting in fellowship the first day of the week - the new Sabbath day as recognized by Christ's resurrection)
- Acts 20:7 (Gathering in prayer and communion on the first day of the week)
- Rev 1:10 (the Lord's Day being the first day of the week)
- Acts 2:42 (on the importance of meeting together)
- Heb 10:25 (In not forsaking the fellowship)

>>Christians worship every day because worship is not something you do but something that you live...just like eating or drinking which is not bound by certain days or times.<<

I understand that. You must have missed the part of my post wherein I said that a Christian is to worship the Lord privately, and/or as a family every day. However, the Lord's Day, Sunday, is set apart and sanctified for the gathering of the fellowship to worship God corporately.

>>Biblical/historical worship has little to nothing to do with song or being with others but how we live our lives as to whether we please Him or not.<<

Again, then Paul's letters to Timothy on church structure, offices, and order must be hereby null and void, since their not important, right?

To the contrary, public worship, teaching, and exhortation is commanded.

1 Tim 4:13; 2 tim 4:2; Col 3:16; Eph 5:19

If you were to have your way, there would have been no need for any of the epistles on the subject of corporate worship or church government.