[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

The reason is the T.U.L.I.P. garden thinks Augustine is a Crypto-Calvinist

Augustine was no "Crypto-Calvinist". Rather, Augustine was a Proto-Calvinist -- that is, he correctly maintained the Orthodox Doctrine of the Christian Church long before it was utterly corrupted by the Papal Supremacists of Rome.

As I have previously said:

• Given that the Eastern Orthodox Missionary Academy of Scottish Iona was Founded by Asia-Minor Greek Orthodox Predestinarians; and...
• Given that the (Eastern Orthodox) Ecclesial Organization, (Eastern Orthodox) Baptismal and Infant-Baptismal Rites, and (Augustinian) Predestinarian Doctrines of Orthodox Iona were preserved for a thousand years throughout the long dark centuries of bitter Roman Catholic suppression and domination until eventually reinforced and re-established by Knoxian Scottish Calvinism; and...
• Given that the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, that supreme Orthodox Martyr-Patriot Cyril Lukaris, did publish in 1629 a Confession of the Orthodox Faith which is almost-entirely acceptable to me as a High-Church Calvinist Protestant: Confessions of a Byzantine-Rite Calvinist. (Given his Confession, I am willing to submit to Lukaris' definition of the Father-Processional Filioque, the Covenantal Baptism of Infants, the Mystical Eucharist, and the Veneration of Icons; In Turn, you Eastern Orthodox would only have to accept our Western Congregational-Elected Presbyters as Genuine Bishops, according to our Western Protestant Custom)...

AT THE END OF THE DAY, it is the heretical Roman Catholic Papal Supremacists who are attempting a False Anti-Protestant Alliance with the Eastern Orthodox; Never mind the fact that important Patriarchal Confessions within Eastern Orthodoxy have acknowledged hard-core Augustinian Theology as being acceptable to the Orthodox, whereas NO Orthodox nor Protestant has ever accepted the foundationally-Romanistic Dogma of Papal Supremacy and Infallibility.

Whatever our disagreements (and here, we Magisterial Protestants are willing to appeal to Orthodox Patristics and Orthodox Patriarchs and Orthodox Tradition in defense of our Theology), we Calvinists and Orthodox do at least agree upon the God-Ordained Organization of the Church: the Conciliar Form of Church Government.

Whether an Orthodox Council presided over by an Ecumenical Patriarch, or a Presbyterian Assembly presided over by a General Moderator, at least the Orthodox and the Calvinist Churches have the Biblical Modesty to Obey the Biblical Form of Government for the Church:

Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: And they wrote letters by them after this manner... (Acts 15:22-23)

Against this Biblical Model is contrasted the Satanic Organization of the Church of Rome:

THE POPE OF ROME CLAIMS SUPREME, FULL, IMMEDIATE, AND UNIVERSAL POWER OVER ALL HUMAN SOULS: "The Pope enjoys, by divine institution, supreme, full, immediate, and universal power in the care of souls." Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church, #937

LUKE 4:5-7
And the Devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

Satan offered Jesus absolute, Totalitarian Power.

Jesus chose instead to establish a Conciliar Church.

Apparently, the Pope of Rome didn't like the deal, and decided instead that the whole "Absolute Power" thing sounded pretty cool.

Sorry, Rome.... while I may have my disagreements with the Eastern Orthodox as to their particular Theology (and not even so much disagreement at all, if Cyril Lukaris is my Ecumenical Patriarch), I think I'll tell the Papal Supremacists "Get thee behind me, Satan", and stick to the Conciliar Form of Church Government established by the Apostles and Jesus Christ.

Best, OP

[Pyro7480]

Sorry, Rome.... while I may have my disagreements with the Eastern Orthodox as to their particular Theology (and not even so much disagreement at all, if Cyril Lukaris is my Ecumenical Patriarch), I think I'll tell the Papal Supremacists "Get thee behind me, Satan", and stick to the Conciliar Form of Church Government established by the Apostles and Jesus Christ.

If you are correct above, then why is St. Peter mentioned the most times in the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles? Just for kicks?

[MarMema]

I have been thinking of you and wondering how you are. It is so incredibly good to see you posting here again!

Given his Confession, I am willing to submit to Lukaris' definition of the Father-Processional Filioque, the Covenantal Baptism of Infants, the Mystical Eucharist, and the Veneration of Icons

I see you have made some progress on icons since we last shared thoughts...

[Pyro7480]

THE POPE OF ROME CLAIMS SUPREME, FULL, IMMEDIATE, AND UNIVERSAL POWER OVER ALL HUMAN SOULS: "The Pope enjoys, by divine institution, supreme, full, immediate, and universal power in the care of souls." Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church, #937

I think you are making a unfair comparison. The line you quote from the Catechism shows that the Pope's pastoral responsibility is for all human souls. This is contrasted with the Devil's offer to the Lord to give Him power over all human temporal/political affairs, which is something the Devil couldn't give to Him, since He already has it (the Catholic Church believes in the Social Reign of Christ). The Pope's power isn't unlimited, since he is a steward for Christ, who is the real King. The Pope is responsibile for preserving and propagating the Apostolic teachings passed on over the centuries.

[Kolokotronis]

Lest there be any misunderstanding, Lukaris was condemned by the Pan Orthodox Council at Jerusalem in 1672 as was Calvinism generally.

"We believe a man to be not simply justified through faith alone, but through faith which works through love, that is to say, through faith and works. ...

But we regard works not as witnesses certifying our calling, but as being fruits in themselves, through which faith becomes efficacious, and as in themselves meriting, through the Divine promises, that each of the faithful may receive what is done through his own body, whether it is good or bad."

[RnMomof7]

Little Brother you were just on my heart today and I asked if anyone knew how you were doing ! It is a REAL blessing to see you here :)

[annalex]

Good to see you.

[bornacatholic]

*Proto? No dough.

As I have previously said:

*LOL Well, I have certainly been put in my place. I didn't know you were gonna go and cite yourself and bring out the big guns so early :)

I am somewhat cowering as I dare ask - where in the Bible do you locate your authority to definitively rule on these doctrinal disagreements?

[Cronos]

Augustine was no "Crypto-Calvinist". Rather, Augustine was a Proto-Calvinist -- that is, he correctly maintained the Orthodox Doctrine of the Christian Church long before it was utterly corrupted by the Papal Supremacists of Rome.i>

And how come our Orthodox Christian brethern also have the same Christian beliefs as opposed to your philosophy?

Given that the (Eastern Orthodox) Ecclesial Organization, (Eastern Orthodox) Baptismal and Infant-Baptismal Rites, and (Augustinian) Predestinarian Doctrines of Orthodox Iona were preserved for a thousand years throughout the long dark centuries of bitter Roman Catholic suppression and domination until eventually reinforced and re-established by Knoxian Scottish Calvinism; and...

Some more fairy tales -- did the wee folks and hobgoblins preserve it?

Whatever our disagreements (and here, we Magisterial Protestants are willing to appeal to Orthodox Patristics and Orthodox Patriarchs and Orthodox Tradition in defense of our Theology), we Calvinists

Oh, you're willing to stoop down to let the Orthodox humbly join you in your ways?

Satanic Organization

Anything outside The Church is heretical and by extension Satanical. The Orthodox and Oriental Churches are part of the One Church -- many Protestants also believe in Christ's teachings without delusions but others don't.

[bornacatholic]

http://web.archive.org/web/20030604155026/http://ic.net/~erasmus/RAZ474.HTM

[Diamond]

Welcome back, OP. Nice to see you again.

Cordially,

[Frumanchu]

Brother, I knew this post was yours before I even scrolled down to read who posted it.

Great to see you, bro!