Posted on 11/28/2014 2:33:31 PM PST by NYer
“Except for the underground Christian Church that God has always kept.”
There was no such Church. Even Protestant historians admit it: http://www.amazon.com/Baptist-Successionism-James-Edward-McGoldrick/dp/0810836815
**Caths may read the bible but they don’t apply it. **
And exactly how do you know this? Is it in the Bible?
The first 1500 years of Christianity were filled with millions of people discovering Jesus through the Catholic Church, Eastern, Orthodox and Roman. Catholic simply means universal.
Most of the eastern rites have united with the Roman Catholic Church, which makes such good sense. I BELIEVE that it would be what our good Lord would have us to.
Whether you travel the road of John Calvin, Martin Luther or any of those very pious souls who found Christ their own way in the 16th century, you travel to Jesus.
ALL roads worth traveling are with Jesus leading us, with Jesus at our side and with Jesus behind us in case we fall. THAT is the true path. Why cavil at our own Christian paths if they all lead to Jesus?
The Apostles were Jews who became Christians. They would attend synagogue on Saturday and then meet in church homes on Sunday for the celebration of the Eucharist.
Eventually, then, they were expelled from the synagogues.
Of course not. Have you ever heard of Jewish Christians??? That's what the Apostles were. That's what the churches they established were.
it seems that Jesus would have forgiven the whore, the heretic, the sinner in this life, but the Popes did not see it that way, so it seems, given they burned and killed (had killed) millions over a period of 800- 900 years.
I was particularly interested in how they dealt with controversy, either within their own closest religious communities, or when dealing with erroneous movements like the Gnostics, the Donatists, and so forth.
I was looking for rational, patient, persistent approaches. I was looking for balanced people able to be reasoned with; strong for the truth; humble enough to be corrected. I found them!
One could write a History of the Catholic Churh based on crimes, just as one could write a History of the United States of America based on crimes. It would be stirring for those who enjoy the thrill of moral indignation; it would also be biased in a deeply damaging way. But I found it very restoring in mind, heartm, and spirit, to read history based on saints who, like Christ, were truly full of mercy, and would rather suffer than inflict suffering.
I was a 10-year old kid who was invited by his aunt to accompany her to Adoration on some Sunday afternoon in 1948. She disappeared in the choir loft to play the organ and left me fetching for myself.
Here I am sitting in a pew all by myself when some dude in an ornate coat walks in, opens a little door in some safe, puts something white in a gold, cross-shaped thingy, places it on a table, and starts swinging something like a ball on a chain at the Subject on the table.
Smoke starts to billow. Hmm, strange smell, but not unpleasant. Hmm, this is cool, this is strange, I think that this is what I want from now on. In the meantime, my aunt in the choir loft was doing her thing.
The rest is history and I never looked back. Of course, later on in life, the Jesuits just reinforced all the emotions I experienced on that Sunday afternoon.
The End.
Too bad. You might have gained a better understanding of how and why this young man, along with other Evangelicals, chose to come home to the Catholic Church. Consider, for example ...
Frncis J. Beckwith - "Until a few weeks ago, Francis Beckwith served as president of the Evangelical Theological Society, an association of 4,300 Protestant theologians." He Could No Longer Explain Why He Wasn’t Catholic
Ulf Ekman - "I discovered how little I really knew about [Catholics], their spirituality and their beliefs. Unconsciously I carried many prejudices and bad attitudes and have been quick to judge them without really knowing what they actually believed. It has been good to discover and to repent from nonchalant and shallow opinions, based not on their own sources but on their opponents, and to discover a very rich heritage, a strong theological foundation and a deep love for Jesus Christ among them."
Conversion of Sweden's Most Influential Pastor Causes 'Pain and Disillusion'
These Evangelical leaders, like many others, are theologians who were emotionally invested in their Evangelical faith. Their decisions to convert were emotionally difficult and came about after much prayer for discernment. Before you denigrate this young man, watch the short video in which he describes the challenges he confronted. If nothing else, it might convey a better understanding of the power of prayer.
No. They met in homes anytime during the week (whenever they could). They were expelled for teaching Christ and Him crucified. They started their own churches.
#107 I am beginning to gt deep into history, and would like to get deeper. History (as in Stuff That Really Happened)---difficult as it is --- is the field of action of Divine Providence.
Sounds positively paganistic.
My advice to you is to just avoid these threads because, for the most part they only produce rotten fruit.
I can’t go back to Catholicism since I am saved by grace through faith.
This is one of the most sobering scriptures in the Book. It seems the me the Protestant/Catholic question is, “What is the Authority for justification in that faith (Catholic or Protestant...which ever applies). It seems clear the scripture, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit it for the Protestant - The WORD of GOD). It seems the tradition of men preaching another gospel for the Catholic. The Truth Matters.
"RC Liberals" -- that seems to be a contradiction in terms when it comes to faith. The Roman Catholic path is very straight and very narrow.
Liberals like paths that are winding, wide and eclectic and very forgiving. That way there is no reason for the Sacrament of Reconciliations because nothing is wrong or evil. It's also very easy.
To me, being liberal means that almost "anything goes."
I don't think that any Christian, Catholic or any of the 40,000 different Protestant denominations, believe that.
FYI: http://www.city-data.com/forum/christianity/1938892-33000-41000-how-many-protestant-denominations.html
None of what you posted addressed what I posted.
Honest communication between you and me on FR just cannot happen with circumstances as they are now.
Please, no more attempts at this. Please?
Thanks for proving my point.
Why not just man up and realize that their are milions of individuals that disagree with aspects of the catholic church.
Either that, or just quit trying to make it sound that you are trying to be conciliatory to any protestant.
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