Posted on 12/10/2014 6:32:20 AM PST by marshmallow
"Christian unity" is one of those terms that stir up a whole spectrum ofsometimes emotionalopinions.
On the one hand, we know that Jesus prayed to the Father concerning future believers "that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you" (John 17:21a, NIV).
On the other hand, charismatics know it is almost pointless to discuss the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12, 14) with Baptists or most anyone else from a mainline denomination. And Protestants of just about any stripe get riled up when they hear Catholics talking about papal infallibility or their adoration of the Virgin Mary.
It's on this latter point that Rick Warren, senior pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, and successful author, has waded into a hornet's nest of controversy by telling a Catholic News Service interviewer that Protestants and Catholics "have far more in common than what divides us" and that Catholics do not "worship Mary like she's another god."
Regarding Warren's view that Catholics do not worship Mary, Matt Slick, writing on the website of the Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry, goes into great detail with material from Roman Catholic sources that say Mary is "the all holy one," is to be prayed to, worshipped, that she "brings us the gifts of eternal life" and she "made atonement for the sins of man."
If that's not putting her in the place of Christ as a god-like figure to be worshipped, then what is it?
"We believe in Trinity, the Bible, the resurrection, and that salvation is through Jesus Christ. These are the big issues," Warren says. "But the most important thing is if you love Jesus, we're on the same team."
To Warren's point about being on the same team, Slick.....
(Excerpt) Read more at charismanews.com ...
I just chuckled. What would happen in Rick Warren converted to Catholicism?
The premise is true, but the conclusion doesn't follow from it.
Is Jesus Christ fully God? Is he one person, or two (or more)?
God is above our comprehension. God is love. God is spirit. God is omnipotent. He is above our assignment of human terms.
Why the evasive, content-free answer?
I’m sorry you don’t like the answer.
It was an evasion, not an answer. What are you afraid of?
“Praying to anybody who isnt God is idolatry.”
No, WORSHIPING anyone who isn’t God is idolatry. That’s what idolatry means - giving latria (worship/adoration) to an idol.
“(3) God has no beginning or end, obviously Mary is NOT the mother of God.”
Then Jesus isn’t God because Mary is Jesus’ mother.
Getting too close to the paganism and blasphemy parts of Catholicism, I suppose. Where man, the creature, is elevated and God , the Almighty, is lessened. So yes, I guess it is a fear. Are there places where the angels fear to tread? If so, why should I go willingly and hastily?
Your conclusion, not mine.
“God is above our comprehension.”
And yet you deny that Mary is the mother of God as if God is not above our comprehension.
Mary is not above my comprehension. She’s dead, ya’ know?
I’d be as surprised as if Rob Bell were to say “Guess what? I was having a “conversation” the other day with Oprah and it hit me: I’m gay!”
I’m speaking of each man’s trajectory here. Of course I’d rather hear “I’m Catholic”.
Attend a Catholic Mass, come back and let’s discuss who was worshiped, Mary or Jesus Christ. So your have your assignment.
I’ve been to several.
Mary gets way too much time, takes the focus off Christ.
Yeah. We can't have any of that individualism stuff going on now can we?
That way, I KNOW I can't be wrong.
The Holy Spirit is clear in Scripture in calling Mary *the mother of Jesus*.
John 2:1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
John 2:3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, They have no wine.
Acts 1:14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
By claiming that Mary is mother of God, they deny Jesus’ humanity and the Incarnation.
That must be a couple of heresies or other.
The rosary alone if mostly Mary focused.
Fifty or so Hail Mary’s compared to what? How many *Our Father’s*?
Well then if you say it must be true. LOL.
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