Posted on 05/15/2020 7:48:45 AM PDT by Salvation
The first readings at daily Mass this week recount the Council of Jerusalem, which scholars generally date to around 50 A.D. It was a pivotal moment in the history of the Church, because it would set forth an identity for Her that was independent of the culture of Judaism per se and would open wide the door of inculturation to the Gentiles. This surely had a significant effect on evangelization in the early Church.
Catholic ecclesiology is evident in this first council in that we have a very Catholic model of how a matter of significant pastoral practice and doctrine is properly dealt with. What we see here is the same model that the Catholic Church has continued to use right up to the present day. In this and all subsequent ecumenical councils, there is a gathering of the bishops, presided over by the Pope, that considers and may even debate a matter. In the event that consensus cannot be reached, the Pope resolves the debate. Once a decision is reached, it is considered binding and a letter is issued to the whole Church.
All of these elements are seen in this first council of the Church in Jerusalem, although in seminal form. Lets consider this council, beginning with some background.
Peter arises to settle the matter because, it would seem, the Apostles themselves were divided. Had not Peter received this charge from the Lord? The Lord had prophesied, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you all like wheat but I have prayed for you Peter, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers (Luke 22:31-32). Peter now fulfills this text, as he will again in the future and as will every Pope after him. Peter clearly dismisses any notion that the Gentiles should be made to take up the whole burden of Jewish customs. Paul and Barnabas rise to support this. Then James (who it seems may have felt otherwise) rises to assent to the decision and asks that a letter be sent forth to all the Churches explaining the decision. He also asks for and obtains a few concessions.
So there it is, the first council of the Church. That council, like all the Church-wide councils that would follow, was a gathering of the bishops in the presence of Peter, who worked to unite them. At a council a decision is made and a decree binding on the whole Church is sent outvery Catholic, actually. We have kept this biblical model ever since that first council. Our Protestant brethren have departed from it because they have no pope to settle things when there is disagreement. They have split into tens of thousands of denominations and factions. When no one is pope, everyone is pope.
A final thought: Notice how the decree to the Churches is worded: It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us (Acts 15:28). In the end, we trust the Holy Spirit to guide the Church in matters of faith and morals. We trust that decrees and doctrines that issue forth from councils of the bishops with the Pope are inspired by and authored by the Holy Spirit Himself. There it is right in Scripture, the affirmation that when the Church speaks solemnly in this way, it is not just the bishops and the Pope speaking as men, it is the Holy Spirit speaking with them.
The ChurchCatholic from the start!
You are so right. Christ referred to His followers as the “LITTLE FLOCK”, NOT “The Big Honking Horde”.
Well, you choose to think the worst of me. That tells me something about you. Is all fact bragging if YOU don't like it? Hmmmm. I feel sorry for you. What a terrible way to live.
Numbers of Christians/Catholics IS large because it's such an old faith. I was explaining about Father Martin...the Catholic priest who turned his back on his faith. SUCH a shame. As I said, I thought he was probably a very good man. He HAD been.
How do I "square" with muslims? Lol. Whatever that means.
Islam didn't start until the 7th century. Mohammad originally TRIED to become a Christian. The Koran is a "knockoff" the of our Bible, mostly the Old Testament.
I think he was a wanna be but got burned.
PAX TIBI!
Are you one of those "ones"? If so, good for you.
Some people won't read ANY of the "enemy" literature, but that is nonsense. It never hurts to read the other side.
I’ve probably read more on that topic than the majority of Roman Catholics.
As I wrote to another FReeper, not all sins are the same. Or do you equate MURDER with taking your brother's dessert off his plate as the same?
One is a MORTAL sin; one is a venial sin. According to the Catholic Church one merits hell if not forgiven. The other doesn't merit hell.
Or do you think that all sin is the same?
Re: Advancing Mary narrative: Where does MARY was conceived SINLESS, Mary was bodily assumed into heaven at her death, Mary is a co-redemtris along with Christ, rosary prayers to Mary, Mary is our mediator, Mary is the Queen of the Universe, Mary is the throat between Christ, the Head and the Body of Christ, the believers, etc.
THIS is how “ONE ADVANCES A NARRATIVE ABOUT MARY”. Traditions and doctrines OF MEN.
Lol, now you're a mind reader OR you know the majority of Roman Catholics. That would be a stretch since there are, according to Google, 2013, 1.2 billion Catholics in the world.
Do you know ALL of them? If so, I AM impressed.
If not then you are simply insulting the "majority of Catholics." I wonder why you would do that. Do they merit your insults? Are you in the position to judge them?
I wonder what Jesus would say to your comment.
IF the RCs on Free Republic are representative of Roman Catholicism, then yes, I’ve probably read more than most Roman Catholics on the topic.
I tell you what Jesus would say: He would say “Vipers and Thieves” and He would slam down the religious leaders, who BTW, relished in their numbers.
Please don’t feel sorry for me. My beliefs are simple. They are all found in God’s word. Not a worldwide archive of traditions and doctrines of men. EVER LEARNING AND NEVER ABLE TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH
Why do you pay SO MUCH attention to the teachings of Rome? Why do you care? You protest TOO much and pay WAY too much attention to the Catholics.
What is YOUR branch of Protestantism? Lol. You won't tell me but WILL start in again on bashing MY faith. I've asked other Protestants what faith they were and NONE would tell me. THEY also turned back to bashing MY faith.
If you were REALLY secure in YOUR OWN FAITH you wouldn't have the time or inclination to denigrate other faiths. So, I guess you are insecure about your own faith, your own Protestant denomination, whichever it might be.
Then I would ask you to define the tenets of your faith, how you "square up" with Mary, the Sacraments, the priesthood, papacy...etc. You WOULD NOT be able to define your own brand of Protestantism because you don't know those tenets and find MUCH MORE COMFORT in bashing Catholics.
How Christian is it to denigrate others' faiths? Hmmmm? What would Jesus say to you about that? Again, I won't get an answer from you because Jesus would probably not approve of your malevolence.
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But, I like responding to your posts. They keep my mind active and amused. THANK YOU.
Careful, your ego is showing.
Just calling it like I see it.
YAWN.
Pul-eeeeeeze, you're puttin' me to sleep.
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smbrain
False doctrine is always a concern.
There's another thread with a discussion with a Mormon.
What is YOUR branch of Protestantism? Lol. You won't tell me but WILL start in again on bashing MY faith.
Probably because we identify with the Savior...not a denomination. Jesus said to, "come follow Me"....not become a member of a denomination.
If you were REALLY secure in YOUR OWN FAITH you wouldn't have the time or inclination to denigrate other faiths. So, I guess you are insecure about your own faith, your own Protestant denomination, whichever it might be.
I guess by your argument Paul wasn't really secure in his faith as he preached the Gospel around the Mediterranean.
Then I would ask you to define the tenets of your faith, how you "square up" with Mary, the Sacraments, the priesthood, papacy...etc. You WOULD NOT be able to define your own brand of Protestantism because you don't know those tenets and find MUCH MORE COMFORT in bashing Catholics.
A false assumption on your part as already demonstrated.
I’m sure I am. Sleep while you can. You’ve got an eternity to realize the result of the TRUTH you were told from the LIE you believed.
Lol. You know The Truth and you KNOW that I don't. Now THAT is some kind of arrogance.
Not being rude but MAYBE your call sign should be smbrain, sm = smug
I had thought "small" but that might be untrue, so SMUG works for me.
But it COULD be smelly or smarmy as well....all in good fun.
Lol! This is the best you’ve got? Get your head out of the CLOUD mountain.
God’s word is the TRUTH. Not God’s word plus traditions and doctrines of men that add to or take away from His TRUTH in order to create a false religious system. Full of paganism, superstition, contradictions and secrecy. Have another cracker and sip of wine and think you’re impressing God. While ignoring His plea for reconciliation. 2 Corinthians.
Well, my head may be in the clouds but yours is in the sand.
*If the Catholic Church were bogus it wouldn't still be around. Jesus didn't make mistakes.
**If the Catholic Church were bogus there wouldn't be 1.2 BILLION Catholics in the world. How many followers does your own particular Protestant denomination have?
***GOOGLE: In 2017, there were a total of 414,582 priests. While the total number of priests worldwide has therefore remained about the same since 1970, the Catholic population has nearly doubled, growing from 653.6 million in 1970 to 1.229 billion in 2012.
Apparently Jesus' Catholic Church is doing very well.
New denominations keep popping up like new malls. Yet, Jesus' Catholic Church is still around and growing. There is your proof of what works.
How odd it is that you NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER talk about your own faith, your own Protestant denomination. Are you embarrassed? Are you ashamed of it?
Your ONLY opinions on this site are for ONE PURPOSE AND ONE PURPOSE ONLY: to denigrate the Catholic Church, founded by Jesus 2000 years ago and carried on today through the Apostolic Tradition.
How SAD that your contribution to this site is only negative and deprecating towards the Church that Jesus founded 2000 years ago.
Give us some of your own positive thoughts about YOUR OWN Protestant denomination. Or are you afraid to?
False argument. Islam is still around as is Judaism.
**If the Catholic Church were bogus there wouldn't be 1.2 BILLION Catholics in the world. How many followers does your own particular Protestant denomination have?
Another false argument. Numbers do not impress God. If one reads the Scriptures one will find the true followers of God are few in number.
In your 1.2 billion Roman Catholics....are Nancy Pelosi, Biden, the Kennedy's, etc included??
You really have to get your talking points from somewhere other than Catholicanswers.
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