This is the same type of argument that John McCain makes when he says that a Muslim shouting “Alahu Akbar” is the same as a Christian Proclaiming “Praise God!”
It’s just not rooted in reality.
In fact, Martin Luther is quoted as saying.
“We are compelled to concede to the Papists
that they have the Word of God,
that we received it from them,
and that without them
we should have no knowledge of it at all.”
The term Papists is one of ML’s favorite derogatory terms for Catholics.
Now Catholics, Protestants and Evangelicals have a lot to learn from one another.
Politicians like John McCain could learn an awful lot to learn too. Especially from a little, 76-year old man... who is a virgin and basically wears a dress to work every day... about how to actually stand up to Barrack Obama.
Perhaps if he could step away from his poker game for a moment he might learn something.
Well said and Amen. Martin Luther was something else with the language; That may have been the nicest thing he said. :)
We should also do a series on Early Church Fathers re: Posts.
Some may not have heard of Ignatius of Antioch (A.D. 107, sentenced to death by lions).
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0109.htm
“Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. The celebration of the Eucharist is valid only if it is administered by the bishop or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Where the bishop is, there let the people also be; just as where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.”
The word Catholic comes from the Greek katholikos, the combination of two words: kata- concerning, and holos- whole – concerning the whole. Also sometimes translated to mean, universal.
Maybe some would ‘prefer’ the Lightfoot version in which he uses universal.
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/ignatius-smyrnaeans-lightfoot.html
Then they can go back and look at the greek for the explanation.
His letters to Polycarp and the churches on the way to martyrdom are priceless. Those waiting to meet him at stops on the way are touching as well.
But what do I know, some may know better than those who were there as bishops, dying for the church. s/
It’s ironic that Ignatius went through persecution and Syria’s going through the same today.
Scripture... telling the end before the beginning. Indeed.