Opinions like these and the almost daily posts here on Free Republic about "Crossing the Tiber" and the supposed superiority of The Catholic Church makes me wonder what is really the most important thing here? Which is preferred, that a person comes to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ or they put "Catholic" as their religion on a form? Really, that some seek formality and ritual in their worship and some prefer a less rigid, informal form of worship is what drives many in their preferences in church choice today. Such alternatives were not available in years past but that doesn't make one "better" than another.
What really matters, as a Christian, is do the beliefs comply with scripture and the teachings of the head, who is Christ Jesus? As a non-Catholic (not ANTI) I fully accept, as have many expressed here, that it is the heart that determines the relationship, not the labels. Just as a prime example, look at what the very earliest Christians did:
Acts 2:46-47
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
The saved became part of the body, the church, when they believed. They did not have to join the "church" first.
You wrote:
“Opinions like these and the almost daily posts here on Free Republic about “Crossing the Tiber” and the supposed superiority of The Catholic Church makes me wonder what is really the most important thing here?”
It’s not an opinion. It’s a fact - the SBC was started to uphold the life of slavery and racism.
Opinions like these and the almost daily posts here on Free Republic about “Crossing the Tiber” and the supposed superiority of The Catholic Church makes me wonder what is really the most important thing here? Which is preferred, that a person comes to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ or they put “Catholic” as their religion on a form? Really, that some seek formality and ritual in their worship and some prefer a less rigid, informal form of worship is what drives many in their preferences in church choice today. Such alternatives were not available in years past but that doesn’t make one “better” than another.
What really matters, as a Christian, is do the beliefs comply with scripture and the teachings of the head, who is Christ Jesus? As a non-Catholic (not ANTI) I fully accept, as have many expressed here, that it is the heart that determines the relationship, not the labels. Just as a prime example, look at what the very earliest Christians did:
Acts 2:46-47
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
The saved became part of the body, the church, when they believed. They did not have to join the “church” first.
ABSOLUTELY INDEED.
It is clear from the wailing, whining and emphases hereon virtually 24/7
WHAT THE SPIRITUAL/RELIGIOUS PRIORITY IS for MANY RC’s.
And it ain’t JESUS NOR HIS WORD.
And all the weasel words and rationalizations from now until Jesus comes won’t erase the brazenly DEMONSTRATED facts of such priorities as ACTED OUT relentlessly on these threads.
This is one of the basic differences in catholic/protestant theology
Catholics believes man is saved THROUGH the church , Protestants believe that the church is composed of the saved..