If you discovered that everyone who is biblical realized your organization was a cult, you might want them all to come back and play nice again, too. Sorry, marshmallow. What we returned to already is the biblical form of Christianity. Come and join us...if you can.
I’ve never wanted people to “be a part of my particular church”, I’ve just wanted them to accept Jesus and find a church that teaches from the bible. Even if that means catholic. As long as they try to ignore that Apocrypha stuff and ever virgin Mary.
Hence, the author’s question as it seems that reunion with your fellow Christians is not even an option.
I’m confused. Which one of you is right?
Who's "we," and what "biblical form of Christianity" are you talking about?
Lots of anti-Catholic invective on this thread, and very little effort expended in actually coming to grips with the point of this thoughtful article from a thoughtful website.
So I have a question for you. Suppose, tomorrow morning, Pope Benedict woke up, slapped his forehead, and said, "Ach! I really AM ze Antichrist!" An announcement is made, to the effect that not joining the Reformation was a big mistake, and all Catholic churches, and presumably all Catholics, after a suitable period of transition, will be joining the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Of course that implies signing up to all doctrinal aspects of the OPC faith.
So here's my question. Do you think the Wisconsin Evangelical Synod Lutherans (as sternly conservative and rooted in the 16th C. group of Lutherans as OPC'ers are sternly conservative Calvinists) will join, also?
How about any of the really hardcore, violently anti-Catholic, "fundamental independent Baptist" churches? (You know, the folks who say they aren't Protestants, they're Baptists?) Will they join up with the now 1.2 billion strong OPC?
What about the conservative wing of the Mennonites and the other continental Anabaptist groups? Nobody can accuse them of liberalism, cultural, religious, or otherwise. Will they join?
Now do the same experiment with Rome joining the WELS instead of the OPC, and ask yourself if the OPC would join. For that matter, would even the LCMS (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, also a sternly conservative Lutheran Church) join?
Notice I haven't even bothered to consider the über-liberal Protestant groups like the PCUSA, the ELCA, or Episcopalians.
Because that is what cults do. If they want you to pray to Mary or any mortal besides Jesus, then they are a cult.
As a former Catholic myself, I do not believe the way to engage in meaningful dialogue is to call other believers in Christ a "cult" simply because they associate themselves with the Catholic Church and adhere to its doctrine.