Posted on 09/05/2015 10:15:40 AM PDT by Salvation
Msgr. Charles Pope OSV Newsweekly, September 13, 2015
Question: A Protestant co-worker said to me recently, “Who needs a pope? We have Jesus and the Bible and don’t need some man to tell us what to do.” How do I respond?
— Name withheld, location withheld
Answer: At the heart of the office of the papacy is the uniting of the faithful around a visible vicar (or representative) of Christ. Denominations and groups that left the Church and severed their ties to the pope demonstrate this very fact by their subsequent disunity.
The fact is that thousands of denominations have emerged in the wake of the Protestant movement that broke from Catholic Church and rejected the pope’s authority. And though they claim that Christ and Scripture are the only sources of authority and unity, the remarkable disunity among these denominations belies their claim. Simply put, if no one is pope, everyone is pope.
It is not enough to say, “the Bible clearly teaches ‘A,’” because too easily another person will say, “No, Jesus and the Bible actually say ‘B.’” Both camps are invoking the Bible and what they sense Jesus and the Holy Spirit are saying to them. So now what?
What usually happens is just what has happened among Protestants: divisions into new denominations or branches of denominations. They all claim the authority of the Bible and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit but cannot agree even on essentials, such has how one is saved, and if once saved, are they always saved? Protestants also have serious divisions regarding the moral issues of our time: abortion, same-sex unions, euthanasia, etc. These are very serious divisions, and there is no real way for Protestant denominations to resolve them. They say Scripture alone is an adequate source of authority. But without an authentic and authoritative interpreter, their own history shows that Scripture can divide as often as it unites. A text, even a sacred text, needs an interpreter that all agree who can authoritatively deal with differences.
And this is a central reason of why we need the pope. Jesus said to Simon Peter in Luke’s Gospel, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers” (Lk 22:31-32). Peter and his successors therefore represent (not replace) Christ, and through the grace of the Jesus’ prayer, accomplish the necessary work of uniting the Church. This ministry of unity is shown in many events in the Acts of the Apostles.
“Baptism is encouraged but not required for salvation”.
You need to try reading the Bible.
“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit”. John 3:5
All protestants are their own authority, just ask one, they all know the Bible better the next one. In the protestant mind, “Me and Jesus we got a good thing going, we don’t need no stinkin’ church to tell us what it’s all about”. We don’t need to get baptised and we don’t need to go to no stinkin’ church”.
You can't when they demand of others what they allow in themselves.
You can never take hypocrites seriously.
Physical birth and spiritual birth.
Born of water = Physical birth.
Born of the Spirit = spiritual birth.
Take your own advice.
Not necessarily. I was a member of a certain denomination because it gave me voting privileges being part of the congregation.
Additionally, it's wrong in that Christians don't look to tradition as Catholics do, they look to Scripture and are going to join a congregation that puts Scripture ABOVE tradition.
Well, that line of thinking has been debunked so many times that it’s not funny.
On one hand, we’re criticized as you are doing here, for being our own authority.
And on the other hand, we are criticized for putting Scripture as the authority, for adhering to “sola Scriptura”.
Could y’all make up your minds about what you are going to condemn us for? Or is it whatever happens to be the most convenient to discredit Christians with?
And from what I've seen roman catholics haven't been properly baptized as they sprinkle when the Word indicates immersion.
Could you document your claim?
If you're not able, kindly request the RM to delete your comment.
Baloney. You do not have a clue as to what Protestants think or believe. Every Born again Christian has been baptized and we all go to church—usually 3 times a week. Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night. When a revival is going on, we go every night. When I was a very young kid, growing up on a farm, I remember crying myself to sleep because my parents had worked very hard all day on the farm and they did not feel like going one night. I loved going to church and still do.
John was ABSOLUTELY not talking about physical birth. Another mangling of scripture to fit what you want it to say. Water symbolizing washing away sins. There are are only exceptions to water baptism: It is possible to be saved through “baptism of blood,” (martyrdom for Christ), or through “baptism of desire”, that is, an explicit or even implicit desire for baptism, but you die before you can be baptised by water and the spirit.
I grew up a baptist. If I had a dollar for every baptist I knew that didn’t go to church but swore they were a good Christian and they were going to heaven no matter what in the world they did or how they lived their life, I would be a millionare. Every televangelist will say you don’t have to go to Church, just watch his program and that suffices for keeping the Lord’s day holy, your TV set is your church.
The poster is going to believe only what the magicsteeringthem tells him to believe. That’s part of the false security of being in the catholic religion, the institution is deemed responsible for the adherents (unlike Christianity, where every person will answer directly to God, not an institution).
**all*
I doubt that is true.
Is this a caucus thread or just one of the baiting threads?
Sounds like just your own interpretation of Scripture NK.
I’d suggest that you read the Epistles of Paul and you will see that he absolutely down played Baptism for salvation.
1 Corinthians 1:17 King James Bible
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Luke 3:16 King James Bible
John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire
Once Jesus said it’s finished he Baptized by the Spirit not by corruptible flesh. It clears your conscience, but only Jesus Christ can save. By your reasoning man still has a part in Salvation and that has never been the case. Jesus Christ has been mans source of Salvation since the beginning. I know as a RC it’s hard for you to accept Spiritual things as you like the carnal senses of touch, smell, and taste, but that all ended with Jesus.
John 4:23-24 King James Version (KJV)
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Yes John was referring to water birth because you must be born again of the spirit.
John 3:6-7 King James Version (KJV)
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Water (symbolism) doesn’t cleanse the Spirit, but the Holy Spirit does and since the flesh is corrupted and will return to dust it doesn’t count for squat. It’s your soul that will live forever with a new incorruptible body.
Yes it is but it is not to the Gentile church...Most of Jesus' message to the church was given to Paul...Not Peter...And it's recorded in the Epistles, not the Gospels...
LOL! You didn’t even read the Scripture. The Decapolis region IS in gentil (pagan) territory. Christ worked miracles there too....what do you know about that?
““Baptism is encouraged but not required for salvation”.
You need to try reading the Bible.
“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit”. John 3:5”
born of water is not water baptism it is human birth
born of the Spirit is Spiritual birth and what makes a person a Christian sealed by the Spirit
Water baptism is a symbol of the person dying to self and living in the Spirit it is a testimony to the world
It has nothing to do with washing away any sin because water can not wash away any sin (water washing sins is a pagan concept not a biblical one )Only blood can cleanse sin .
Jesus was a Jew not a Greek . He spoke in the customs of his people not the pagan world .
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