[markomalley]

If the Catholic Church was ONE church, why was their a need to address seven letter? And certainly God wasn't happy with all but one.

The seven churches were dealing with literal dioceses that were all part of the Church Universal (a/k/a Catholic). No different than the Church in Corinth, Thessaloniki, Rome, Colossae, Philippi, and the province of Galatia. And it didn't seem that God was too happy with many of them, either. Especially those rascals in Corinth.

As for the quote from St. Paul, you can clearly tell that he was referring to Judaizers. You can see that from looking at verse 11 in the same chapter: In whom also you are circumcised with circumcision not made by hand in despoiling of the body of the flesh: but in the circumcision of Christ.

In fact, if anything, the context of the overall passage actually informs me that we should worship as the heavenly worship goes. After all, as St Paul says in the verse following: Therefore if you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above...

So if they burn incense in heaven, that works for me. If they have candles burning, that works for me as well.

Do I think that either are essential for salvation? No. So if you don't care for incense or candles, by all means, don't.

[HarleyD]

The seven churches were dealing with literal dioceses that were all part of the Church Universal (a/k/a Catholic).

If they were part of ONE church, it would have been most appropriate to address it to the Pope.

As for the quote from St. Paul, you can clearly tell that he was referring to Judaizers.

Whoever Paul was referring to, he was giving instructions to the church. There are many things that gives the impressions of being "religious" but they serve no benefit.

In fact, if anything, the context of the overall passage actually informs me that we should worship as the heavenly worship goes. After all, as St Paul says in the verse following: Therefore if you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above...

The context has nothing to do with burning incense or candles. Rather we are instructed to be renewed in our minds and purify our flesh:

Col 3:5-9 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

Do I think that either are essential for salvation? No. So if you don't care for incense or candles, by all means, don't.

I see burning incense or candles nothing more then what Paul states, "an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism". They do nothing in putting off the old nature and putting on the new. They are outward signs of piety, not inward signs of renewal.

If people want to burn candles for the dead-go ahead. It is nothing but a corrupt manmade work that does nothing to please God.