Posted on 01/29/2006 5:25:55 AM PST by NYer
Ironic, isn't it? As a former Catholic who still loves and respects the Church and my fellow Catholics, I find myself on occasion having to slap down some dumbass Jack Chick type, only to have some strident RC or Orthodox issue some blanket aspersion on Protestants.
But I still love them. :-)
Christ wrote nothing down; all of his teachings were oral. He established a Church and entrusted it to the Apostles, giving the keys to Peter. That Church has been in existence for 2000 years, guided by the Holy Spirit, who inspired the Gospel writers. Interpretation of Holy Scripture falls to the Magisterium.
My initial response is LOL.
Foot washing! That's what I've forgotten!
They must be really rank by now.
Do you have a source for this?
What, once a month isn't enough?
The Religious Wars.
Many Catholics are unfamiliar with the faith into which they were baptized. Hence, they have no theology on which to base an opinion.
And which church do you belong to?
Excellent point ~ two of the biggest ones too!
lol, you're getting it mixed up with armpit washing. Unless you're French, of course... But I don't remember Jesus saying anything about that. Although He probably has an opinion...
Of course we do! To which church do you belong?
Yes, Holy Spirit baptism especially is kind of important! Tends to change everything. hoho haha heehee
Many of the ex-Catholics are exceedingly knowledgeable in Catholic theology. I think it's the ecclesiastical part that causes the most problems for them (we are speaking of "ex" people here, not "current" Catholics who are all deleriously happy with the way the Church is run.)
"(and for my Calvinist friends, those who Christ has saved with no effort whatsoever on your part).
See y'all there!"
LOL!!!!!!!!!!! Larry, you ought to do trial work...juries would love you!
It's called 'In The Name Of Jesus World Outreach Center'. Just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?
We are currently believing God for an opportunity to raise the dead. hehe
There's a Catholic guy I've heard about in Boston who has quite a miracle ministry. I'd like to go check out his services sometime. Our associate pastor is Irish Catholic, he told me about him- we might take a trip up there.
Jesus said his Church would be "the light of the world." He then noted that "a city set on a hill cannot be hid" (Matt. 5:14). This means his Church is a visible organization. It must have characteristics that clearly identify it and that distinguish it from other churches. Jesus promised, "I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). This means that his Church will never be destroyed and will never fall away from him. His Church will survive until his return.
If we wish to locate the Church founded by Jesus, we need to locate the one that has the four chief marks or qualities of his Church. The Church we seek must be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.
The Church Is One (Rom. 12:5, 1 Cor. 10:17, 12:13, CCC 813–822)
Jesus established only one Church, not a collection of differing churches (Lutheran, Baptist, Anglican, and so on). The Bible says the Church is the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:23–32). Jesus can have but one spouse, and his spouse is the Catholic Church.
His Church also teaches just one set of doctrines, which must be the same as those taught by the apostles (Jude 3). This is the unity of belief to which Scripture calls us (Phil. 1:27, 2:2).
Although some Catholics dissent from officially-taught doctrines, the Church’s official teachers—the pope and the bishops united with him—have never changed any doctrine. Over the centuries, as doctrines are examined more fully, the Church comes to understand them more deeply (John 16:12–13), but it never understands them to mean the opposite of what they once meant.
The Church Is Holy (Eph. 5:25–27, Rev. 19:7–8, CCC 823–829)
By his grace Jesus makes the Church holy, just as he is holy. This doesn’t mean that each member is always holy. Jesus said there would be both good and bad members in the Church (John 6:70), and not all the members would go to heaven (Matt. 7:21–23).
But the Church itself is holy because it is the source of holiness and is the guardian of the special means of grace Jesus established, the sacraments (cf. Eph. 5:26).
The Church Is Catholic (Matt. 28:19–20, Rev. 5:9–10, CCC 830–856)
Jesus’ Church is called catholic ("universal" in Greek) because it is his gift to all people. He told his apostles to go throughout the world and make disciples of "all nations" (Matt. 28:19–20).
For 2,000 years the Catholic Church has carried out this mission, preaching the good news that Christ died for all men and that he wants all of us to be members of his universal family (Gal. 3:28).
Nowadays the Catholic Church is found in every country of the world and is still sending out missionaries to "make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:19).
The Church Jesus established was known by its most common title, "the Catholic Church," at least as early as the year 107, when Ignatius of Antioch used that title to describe the one Church Jesus founded. The title apparently was old in Ignatius’s time, which means it probably went all the way back to the time of the apostles.
The Church Is Apostolic (Eph. 2:19–20, CCC 857–865)
The Church Jesus founded is apostolic because he appointed the apostles to be the first leaders of the Church, and their successors were to be its future leaders. The apostles were the first bishops, and, since the first century, there has been an unbroken line of Catholic bishops faithfully handing on what the apostles taught the first Christians in Scripture and oral Tradition (2 Tim. 2:2).
These beliefs include the bodily Resurrection of Jesus, the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the sacrificial nature of the Mass, the forgiveness of sins through a priest, baptismal regeneration, the existence of purgatory, Mary’s special role, and much more —even the doctrine of apostolic succession itself.
Early Christian writings prove the first Christians were thoroughly Catholic in belief and practice and looked to the successors of the apostles as their leaders. What these first Christians believed is still believed by the Catholic Church. No other Church can make that claim.
Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth
Interesting apologetic. "Outside the Church there is no salvation>"
This certainly isn't a new idea and long pre-dates the Reformation. I didn't realize that it was dogma of the Roman Church, though. I think an excellent theological argument can be made for this proposition but I do think that its a bit presumptious. Orthodox theologians are of two minds about this. Theosis is found within The Church and as a Eucharistic and Liturgical people we are saved in and as members of the Eucharistic Community which is The Church. On the other hand, I suppose I can't see the purpose in denying the power of the Holy Spirit to go whither He will.
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