You wrote:
“Confiscate, to use as ones own regardless of true ownership. Nice try at deflection again though.”
No deflection. Your use of the wrong term is not a deflection on my part. If it is confiscated, it has to be physical. Someone must be able to ACTUALLY TAKE POSSESSION of it.
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“Christ founded a “universal” church as in all believers in Him are part of that “universal” church. Catholic - a person who belongs to the universal Christian church (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catholic)";
1) I asked for a verse that proved the following: “Okay, show me the verse that says, “Christ founded the catholic (small c) as in universal church of believers.””
Do you have it or not?
2) How many “universal Christian” churches are there?
3) How many “universal Christian” churches did Christ establish?
One (1) and it consists of all those people who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior regardless of what organization they belong to or don’t belong to. Portions of that church are in different locations as we see for instance in Revelation 1.
Christ is the head of the whole church, not some fallible Pope, and He surely doesn’t need a stand in.
Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
1 Cor. 12:8 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
Eph. 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
No more “church” hierchy to approach God for us or “representative” of Christ here on earth and Jesus is our only High Priest.
Hebrews 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
1 Pet. 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
We have our own Shepard and “Bishop” in Christ.
1 Pet. 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
We no longer need the “rituals” of the Old Testament, or the hierarchy of the Priests and Bishops of the old Temple.
Gal. 4: 4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.