I fail to see how those are the same as the Christian cross, but if you can provide some linkage I'd be willing to listen.
Posted on 08/12/2006 7:45:47 AM PDT by DouglasKC
Jesus Christ proclaimed, almost 2,000 years ago, "I will build My church." He declared that His Church would never die out, promising that "the gates of Hades [the grave] shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). He assured His disciples that He would guide and preserve His Church until His return, promising them, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
What happened to the Church Jesus built? An eyewitness tells us that, immediately after Christ ascended into heaven after His resurrection, His apostles "went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs" (Mark 16:20). The Church had a powerful beginning.
Millions of people profess Christianity; they claim to be members of the Church Jesus founded. But Christianity is a divided religion, composed of hundreds of denominations and schisms. Through the centuries, most of Christianity's branches have assimilated many nonbiblical traditions—philosophical, cultural and religious—into their teachings and practices, spawning even more variations.
How can we account for the explosion of contradictory practices and conflicting factions in the world of Christianity? Is it possible to reconcile competing denominational groups with the standards and objectives Christ established for His Church? Can we know whether Christianity's bewildering variety of customs and teachings faithfully represents those of Jesus Christ?
Remember, Jesus not only promised He would build His Church, but He assured His disciples that His Church would not perish. Is the divided Christianity we see around us that Church? Only the Holy Scriptures can provide a reliable answer to this question.
If Christ's promise that "the gates of Hades shall not prevail" against His Church should be considered a guarantee that those who believe on His name could never be misled or corrupted, then we would have every reason to accept the collective sum of the various divisions of Christianity as the Church that Jesus built.
But He guaranteed no such thing. Instead, He warned His disciples that "false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect" (Mark 13:22, emphasis added throughout). Later the apostle Paul expressed his concern to Christians in his day that their minds could be "corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" by the preaching of "false apostles" (2 Corinthians 11:3, 13).
Jesus spoke even more plainly, explaining that "narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:14-16).
In these pages we examine the fruits Jesus and His apostles said would identify His Church. We look at the contrasting fruits that identify those who are influenced by a different spirit and preach a different gospel. We will learn, not from human tradition or opinion but directly from God's Word, how we can distinguish "the church of the living God" (1 Timothy 3:15) from those who follow "false prophets" in sheep's clothing.
For clarity throughout this booklet, the word Church (with a capital C) refers to the faithful Church that Jesus Christ founded. The word church (with a small c) refers to local groups of believers or other physical organizations. Since church is not capitalized in the Bible translations quoted, all scriptural quotations—whether referring to the Body of Christ or a local congregation—use church with a small c.
Obelisk.....schmobelisk....it is still a pagan symbol. You think by placing another pagan symbol on top of it makes it any better? The Greek word translated cross is "Stauros", namely a stake planted in the ground. This is commonly referred to as a "Tree" [Acts 5:30; Acts 10:39; Acts 13:29].
You folks have managed to pervert that one pretty effectively. You've got the whole world believing that our Saviour was hung upon a Babylonian Tammuz cross. And you wonder why we just chuckle and shake our heads at you.
Ge 40:19b'shem Yahu'shuaDe 21:22
De 21:23
Jo 8:29
| Result of search for "4716": 4716. stauros stow-ros' from the base of 2476; a stake or post (as set upright), i.e. (specially), a pole or cross (as an instrument of capital punishment); figuratively, exposure to death, i.e. self-denial; by implication, the atonement of Christ:--cross. 4717. stauroo stow-ro'-o from 4716; to impale on the cross; figuratively, to extinguish (subdue) passion or selfishness:--crucify. |
And you wonder why we just chuckle and shake our heads at you.
No, we don't wonder, we know.
Luke 6:25 Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep.
Muslims pray with Washington Monument in rear.
;-)
Many seem to be hung up on the notion that the "keys" God gave Peter was the authority to not only establish the office of pope, but to be the first pope. By extension, the conclusion is that anyone who wants to be saved MUST go through the office of pope because they've got the key. That's why in popular myth Peter is shown as the gatekeeper to heaven, admitting or denying people to heaven. Correct me if I'm wrong on this.
But there is a biblical explanation of what these "keys" are that makes much more sense.
What is the one key that admits you to the kingdom of God?
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
It is absolutely a requirement, the key that unlocks the door to the kingdom of heaven, that one have God's holy spirit. One MUST have God's spirit to be in the kingdom of heaven. There's no getting around it. It is the key to entry.
Not only is it the key to entry into the kingdom of heaven, but it is also another key, the key to understanding anything at all about God:
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
So did Christ give Peter the keys in Matthew 16:19? No, he said he WILL give him the keys:
Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven:
So when did Peter get the key...the holy spirit? On the God created holy day of Pentecost:
Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
This IS the start of the church. And it fits perfectly with Matthew 16:18 about how Christ would build his church so it couldn't die.
Now this key was also instrumental in the conversion of the first gentiles. And yes, Peter had a special role in that he was chosen as the one to preach and WITNESS God's. Note that Peter was chosen to WITNESS God's work:
Act 10:15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
In Acts 10, Peter has a vision in which God shows him that Gentiles were going to be admitted to the church. Later, the holy spirit falls on the same gentiles:
Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Peter did nothing, but he was chosen by Christ to witness this miracle because he first recognized Jesus as the messiah. But Peter wasn't the "vicar of Christ".In biblical times, there was no such thing as a pope. There was no Vatican. There wasn't even a Roman church until Paul established it. God calls, invites whom he will, to come into his church.
That's gotta smart...:-)
Actualy, the candles are a reference to Baal. Especially when y'all waft the smoke and wave your hands throught the flame. Passing throught the fire and sacrificing kids in the fire was a Baal thing.
Actually it's just a shape. No different than a sphere or a cube. It only takes on meaning when there is an intent to use it as such.
Just like all idols
Amo 5:26 But you have carried the booth of your king and Kiyyun, your images, the star of your gods which you made for yourselves. Isa 46:5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? Isa 46:6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.
Isa 46:7 They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
The significance of this graffito is the portrayal (or caricature) of early Christianity by the average Roman. (This has implications for both NT books which are related to Rome: Mark and Hebrews.) It obviously mocks a Christian, suggesting that his worship is ill-founded. The human figure with the ass head on the cross is presumably Jesus, which may represent the old calumny against Jews that they worshipped an ass. If early Christianity was popularly perceived as a variant of Judaism, this association is understandable when associated with the crucifixion.
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Jesus says that Peter could not have figured out who Jesus was on his own, but that it was revealed by the Holy Spirit.
Are saying that the Father and the Holy Spirit are one and the same ?
Good post.
I don't believe I have made that statement....that you cannot use historical records. What I said is if the pronouncements of the early Church Fathers go against scripture....then you must ignore it [post #20]. Use all the historical sources you want and we'll see how they stack up!
Josephus had no agenda....he reported historical fact. I used Josephus to confirm what scripture said already. Peter was in Babylon, where there were multitudes of Jews and other Israelites. That is precisely what Peter was commissioned to do....evangelize the Lost Sheep of Israel.
On the other hand when you claim that the early Church Fathers say that Peter was in Rome....fine! let's see the scripture! If you want to claim that the ECF had no agenda I'll continue to shake my head and chuckle.
Which post? No
Mat 28:19 Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world. Amen.
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As an aside, there was a fascinating story on A&E (I think) a few months ago that chronicled how the obelisk was moved.
Wow! Have you found others who actually think as you ? Or are you in your own little "Religion of One" like marajade?
Good grief! Some people are out to lunch.
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