The mods have already spoken on the propriety of harassing one about what particualr denomination they belong to.
http://209.157.64.201/focus/religion/2503880/posts?page=1471#1471
In cases where there are only a few churches of a particular denomination in a city or area, knowing the particular denomination and a FReeper’s general geographic area, could lead to figuring out where he specifically goes to church, risking compromising his screen name. Demanding that kind of information is more equivalent to demanding to know which particular parish in a city a FRoman Catholic belongs to.
You raise a perfectly valid point, bb. No matter what the denomination of the church, seminary the pastor attended, ordination process, levels of accountability, doctrinal position and fidelity to it that a church has, if it’s not Catholic, it’s not good enough. Never was, never will be.
Knowing specific denominations and doctrines is pretty much irrelevant because the fact that it’s not Catholic is enough to condemn it and all in it.
Why should we play your game, narses? We answer questions just to be told that we’re wrong? We already know what answer the Catholic church has for us, and if we cared, we’d still be going to the Catholic church. All the credentials in the world wouldn’t be enough to satisfy a Catholic, on the basis of them not being Catholic alone.
But we’ve found the truth and the truth has set us free. It’s set us free from the condemnation that is so pervasive in Catholicism. It’s set us free from obeying all kinds of rules and regulations. It’s set us free from forever striving to be good enough to try to earn our salvation and always being afraid that we’re not good enough and not going to make it.
Well put. imho.
Thx.
Thanks, metmom. It doesn’t matter what religion I say, because if it’s not Catholic it is dismissed. From this point on, my answer will be I’m a practicing non-Catholic. We shouldn’t have to justify ourselves to a group of people who are NEVER going to Caucus with us, for ANY reason. This has just been 50 questions of nonsense. And like I told narses, if as much time had been spent searching the scriptures as searcing my church, there very well could have been a discovery made about salvation that could change their life. Anyway, thanks again! svitw
AMEN!
May God's grace increase so that more and more can know the perfect peace of trusting in Jesus Christ alone.
“In cases where there are only a few churches of a particular denomination in a city or area, knowing the particular denomination and a FReeper’s general geographic area...”
We will believe then that the various “denominations” are comprised of a few individuals in a geographic area if it comes down to such a discrete identification.
ArmChair, indeed.
“No matter what the denomination of the church, seminary the pastor attended, ordination process, levels of accountability, doctrinal position and fidelity to it that a church has...”
But there are so many! The doctrinal positions vary from one to another: Trinitarian, Anti-Trinitarian, Montanism, Neo-Montanism, and so forth.
“Knowing specific denominations and doctrines is pretty much irrelevant because the fact that it’s not Catholic is enough to condemn it and all in it.”
That’s the cry of “don’t put my doctrine under the microscope for all to see.” Yeah, yeah. It is easier to attack Catholics than expose what one believes and hold THAT up to a mirror.
“It’s set us free from the condemnation that is so pervasive in Catholicism. It’s set us free from obeying all kinds of rules and regulations. It’s set us free from forever striving to be good enough to try to earn our salvation and always being afraid that we’re not good enough and not going to make it.”
People who think this don’t have a clue about Christ’s own church, the Catholic Church. Obligation? To Worship God with all one’s Heart, Mind, Strength.
Done.
I have hope of my salvation in Christ.
The only thing I can do is just have faith that He will give me the Grace to walk daily.
The concept of “Once Saved Always Saved” is a doctrine that is just plain wrong.
Oh, and BTW, not all Protestant denominations believe the Once Saved doctrine. Some baptise in just the name of Christ, among other things.
There are doctrinal differences and certainly more aberrations in the Church-of-the-Arm-Chair variety, but it’s ok.
I will acknowledge the Protestants’ inability to identify their doctrines because it would identify the street on which the discrete church is located.