Posted on 09/15/2013 1:37:28 PM PDT by matthewrobertolson
protestant might be the term used by Catholics, I think it is a good idea for New Testament Churches to drop that word.
God through Jesus is the only prayers I say. It’s called Christianity. Praying to dead humans is not Christianity.
Key word of my phrase was related to Catholics praying TO those in alleged "purgatory" state.
And the reason why this is quite relevant is -- that if you're not sure if a deceased person is either a "saint" in heaven...or, not...then couldn't praying directly TO that person constitute the sin of necromancy???
Didn't the prophet Isaiah ask: Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? (8:19)
Catholics should only be asking intercession, never praying TO anyone, save Jesus.
I know....but it is not something one can understand till one is born again.
You are def a kind soul, mlizzy. I just wish so much I could make you all understand.
Well, Jesus can and will do that and if ever you’d like to talk about this or anything else, I am here for you.
God bless you,
jodyel
God be with you jodyel. You have a friend in me... :)
Likewise, mlizzy.
I don’t want to be a leader.
Only if you're into denominationalism. Churches don't save. Denominations don't save. Denominations are irrelevant in regards to a person's salvation.
And are ALL these people respecting Christ correctly? According to His Father?
Maybe or maybe not. It depends on the individual, not the denomination.
And does it matter anyway, if you're leading a good Christian life?
Because leading a *good Christian life* only makes life more comfortable for those around you. It doesn't affect one's salvation. And if one isn't saved, then leading a *good Christian life* is meaningless.
Yeah, "should" technically.
In practice, it's a whole 'nother ball game.
A cursory search of prayers to saints reveals the depths of idolatry Catholicism endorses in its prayers to the dead.
I’m not a protestant. I’m a born again, Holy Spirit filled follower of Jesus Christ.
Being saved is simply trusting in Jesus once for all sacrifice. “Leading a good Christian life” follows.
Yeah, "should" technically. In practice, it's a whole 'nother ball game. A cursory search of prayers to saints reveals the depths of idolatry Catholicism endorses in its prayers to the dead. [Metmom]
Mlizzy...did you not see the very headline of this thread: It’s Biblical to ASK Saints to Pray for Us
How is a Catholic going to "ask" a heavenly saint to do anything if there's no cell phone service or batman-like red hotline available??????????????????
Doesn't asking a saint to do something equate to a "prayer?"
Have we finally cracked an inconsistent faultline here in this "doctrine" of consulting the dead...otherwise known as necromancy?
And a surprising lack of humor, too!
Not saying you are doing this, mlizzy, but some Catholics play the "denominationalism" card like they do the "Luther" card. But, if you actually look at the reasons why there are so many denominations within Christianity or pseudo-Christianity, you would have to come back to what they specifically teach concerning the MAJOR tenets of the Christian faith. These can all be found plainly in Scripture and were the basis for most of the early creeds that were devised by Christians. These early creeds don't even mention such things as church governance or mode of worship services. Things such as music being allowed or not, the role of elders and deacons, the pastors, the way collections are taken up, even what the "proper" clothing should be for the worship service - all these things are MINOR compared to the major tenets. Just because there are numerous non-Catholic churches, doesn't mean that each one has their own version of those major tenets and hardly that every one has their own "interpretation" of Scripture. There can only BE a few ways to state any one tenet (i.e., either Jesus is God incarnate or He's not).
Many denominations have split due to conflict with either major or minor issues. Even the Catholic Church split in the eleventh century between the East and West over what were thought of as major tenets - major enough to warrant a split that has NEVER been repaired, that is. Though the Eastern Orthodox and the western Roman Catholic churches agree primarily on the tenets voiced in the Apostle's Creed or the Nicene Creed, their differences separated them. The Roman Catholic Church today has its own issues with differences that, for all practical purposes, truly makes them seem as separate denominations of Catholicism (i.e., SSPX, Traditionalists, post-Vatican II, Liberals, Conservatives, etc.) It is often claimed here that these different "rites" still hold to the basic tenets of Catholicism, but this is not always the case. My own Mom chose one Catholic Church over another because one didn't have kneeling benches and she thought they should!
In somewhat the same vein, what is called "Protestantism" - or all the non-Catholic Christians bunched together in the same pail, may have started out holding to nearly the exact same major doctrines that the early Christians did and which Catholicism claims it does, too, there have been diversions as well. Some sects claim to be Christian but they are not recognizable when compared to the major tenets of the faith. Some others may have started out straight on those tenets but time, sin and human nature took its toll and they are a shell of their former self. The Reformers pointed out that the Roman Catholic Church had changed her doctrines over time on some of these major doctrines and is primarily why that rift was never repaired either.
What IS clear is that the ONLY authority we have to know what are or are not those major tenets of the Christian faith is Holy Scripture. That is why God gave it to us, why it has been preserved all these thousands of years and why ALL claims for truth must be measured BY it - not men - no matter what their claim to authority is. Like the Apostle John was inspired to write:
Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:30-31)
If a denomination gets that part wrong, then who knows how far they might wander from all the rest of what makes up the faith?
I laugh at things that are actually funny, not ridiculous or pathetic.
Aren’t you supposed to ASSUME that I don’t; and then TEACH me?
It does appear that way at times.
Mirror, mirror; on the wall...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.