Posted on 06/21/2006 5:15:34 AM PDT by MountainMenace
COLUMBUS, OHIO (6/20/06)-The House of Deputies of the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church today overwhelmingly refused to even consider a resolution that affirmed Jesus Christ as the "only name by which any person may be saved."
(Excerpt) Read more at virtueonline.org ...
"The House of Deputies of the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church today overwhelmingly refused to even consider a resolution that affirmed Jesus Christ as the 'only name by which any person may be saved.'"
They will reap what they sow. You live by the sword, you die by the sword. Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is LORD.
I have never been able to resolve how a bad person can get salvation and go to Heaven while a good, religous person who does not get salvation is denied heaven. At least by those that believe the literal word of the "bible".
This makes me ill. Having grown up in the Presbyterian church, and more recently joined an Episcopalian congregation, I feel great sorrow and disappointment in the actions of both leaderships. We attend the church where my husband grew up and we have many ties there. We're not in a hurry to leave that community, especially since many of the members would not support many of the recent actions of their leadership. We'll just watch how things develop, keep our own faith, and teach our children well.
Romans 10:9 - because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:13 - For, "every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved."
I think that this applies only to the North American Episcopal
Church. it is my understanding that the African Episcopal Church is in vehement disagreement with this and that many North American Episcopal Synods(sp?) are realigning themselves with the far more Biblical and therefore conservative African Synods. it is my understanding that the African Episcopal has experienced explosive growth.
I could be wrong about this as I am not a member of the Episcopal church.
Do you know who the authors of the New Testament were?
In case you are interested.
The Twelve Apostles;
(only two of the writers were not of)
***Writers of the New Testament
***(Simon (Peter) (as reordered by Mark)
Peter eventually went to Rome and while there, it is
believed that Mark (the writer of the Gospel of Mark)
served as his translator as he preached. It is, also,
believed that as Peter told and retold his experiences
with Jesus, Mark interpreted time and time again to
Christian groups and by so doing, gave Mark an almost
verbatim memory of Peter's recollections. After Peter's
death, Mark, realizing the value of Peter's first hand
account, recorded what he remembered so clearly in what we
know as the Gospel of Mark. In this manner, Peter became
the source of our earliest Gospel.
Andrew
Andrew is the brother of the apostle Peter and his
parent's names were Joanna and Jona. Like their father,
Andrew and Peter were also fishermen on the Sea of
Galilee. In fact, the apostles Andrew, Peter, James and
John were all partners in a fishing business prior to
being called by Jesus to follow Him.
Andrew was the first of the Apostles to follow Jesus
(John 1:35-42) and just as John the Baptist introduced Jesus to
the nation of Israel, so Andrew is noted for having
introduced Jesus to individuals. The apostle Peter became
the fisher of men in masse where Andrew was a fisher for individuals.
James (son of Zebedee)
the apostle James was the eldest brother of the apostle
John and that their father's name was Zebedee (their mother's name
was Salome). James, his brother John, Peter and Andrew
were all partners in a fishing business prior to being
called by Christ to follow Him. Zebedee was also a partner
in the business. There is also some evidence that James
was the first cousin of Jesus the Messiah and had been
acquainted with Him from infancy. It is believed that his
mother Salome was the sister of Jesus' mother Mary.
****John
While in Ephesus, by order of the Roman emperor Domitian,
John was exiled to an island called Patmos. In what is
known as the cave of the Apocalypse (located on the
island Patmos), the sacred text of the book of Revelation was
given to the apostle John by Jesus (it is here that John
recorded what is written in the New Testament book of
Revelation.) Other New Testament books accredited to John
are the Gospel of John, along with 1st, 2nd and 3rd John.
All of the apostles met a violent death, however, John
died peacefully in Ephesus, at an advanced age, around the
year 100 AD.
Philip
It's possible that Philip was named in honor of Philip
the Tetrarch who had, some ten years before his birth,
done much to raise the status of the region of his birth.
Philip was born in Bethsaida in Galilee.
Most of his latter ministry took place in Galatia (in
Turkey) and it's believed that at the age of 87, he
suffered martyrdom in Hierapolis.
Bartholomew
The apostle Bartholomew was led to Christ in the region of
Galilee, possibly by the apostle Philip.the apostle Jude
Thaddaeus) was the first to evangelize their region
throughout the years of 43 to 66 AD and that the apostle
Bartholomew joined him in 60 AD (eight years before
Bartholomew was martyred).
It is said that Bartholomew carried with him a copy of the
apostle Matthew's Gospel. This copy was reported to be
found at a later time and a converted stoic philosopher by
the name of Pantaenus is said to have brought it to
Alexandria.The apostle Bartholomew is said to have been
martyred in the year 68 AD.
Thomas
After the resurrection of the Lord Christ Jesus, Thomas
went to Babylon. It is believed that he established the
first Christian church there. He is also known to have
gone to Persia and from there he went to India and
preached the Gospel making many converts. It is also
believed that the apostle Thomas evangelized as far as
China, and while in India, he suffered martyrdom; being
killed with a lance
***Matthew
The apostle Matthew, also called Levi, was the son of
Alphaeus and the brother of the apostle James the Less,
or, James, son of Alphaeus. By profession, Matthew was a
tax collector before being called by Jesus to follow Him.
Matthew was a gifted writer, an ardent disciple, and was
perhaps the best educated of any of the Twelve Apostles.
He was the writer of The Gospel of Matthew.
James (son of Alphaeus)
The apostle James ( the son of Alphaeus), who is also
called "Less" or "Younger," was a brother of the apostle
Matthew and the son of Mary. Which Mary is not altogether
certain though she seems to be the wife of one Cleopas.
Jude (Thaddaeus)
After the ascension of Jesus, Jude was one of the first
apostles to leave Jerusalem for a foreign country. In
fact, it is believed that Jude was one of the first
apostles to witness directly to a foreign king, a Gentile.
Jude is believed to have evangelized the area of Armenia
associated with the city of Edessa, in company
perhaps of the apostle Bartholomew, and for a brief time,
with the apostle Thomas.
Simon (the Zealot)
Simon ( the Zealot ) was believed to have preached the
Gospel throughout North Africa, from Egypt to Mauritania,
and even into Britain.
There is a church tradition which says that he was
crucified by the Romans in Caistor, Lincolnshire, Britain
and subsequently buried there on May 10, circa 61 A.D.
This cannot be confirmed, however, as there is also a
strong tradition which says, that having left Britain,
Simon, at some point , went to Persia and was martyred
there by being sawn into.
Judas Iscariot
Perhaps the most significant thing that can be said of
Judas Iscariot, was, that, in feeling sorrow for his crime
of betrayal, he did not seek to atone for his sin to the
One (Jesus) whom he had wronged, but , rather, went to his
accomplices in crime (the priests) and there sought
to set himself aright. Because those whom he had served in
his selfishness failed him at the end (the priests), he
went out and hanged himself.
Not of the original twelve apostles:
Matthias
It is believed that Matthias evangelized in regions of
Armenia and great peril befell him in the cities of
Colchis, Sebastopol and elsewhere. It is also believed
that he at one time, was aided by the apostle Andrew.
****Saul (Paul)
The apostle Paul was at first a great enemy to the
Christian, being present at the stoning of Stephen, the
executioners laying their cloaks at his feet. But after
the death of Stephen, while Paul was on his way to
Damascus, the glory of the Lord shone suddenly upon
him, he was struck to the earth and was made blind for
three days. After his recovery (although there is some
evidence he never fully completely recovered his sight), he
was converted and became an apostle and, lastly,
suffered as a martyr for the religion which he had
formerly persecuted. Paul's great abilities and earnest
enthusiasm in spreading the gospel of Christ have made his
name revered wherever the Christian religion is known. It
is his writings, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
which make up much of the New Testament of the Bible.
***Luke
Luke was an educated Greek, a doctor by profession. He
wrote Luke and Acts which together account for two-fifths
of the New Testament. He covers the period from the birth
of Christ into the first thirty years of the story of the
early church, a period of 60 years. His writing gives a
historical context for the rest of the New Testament.
Luke's record as a historian
Luke's ability as a historian has been amply documented.
There are numerous instances where he refers to rulers and
historical events in his two books. These can be tested
from other sources. It is interesting to note the number
of times in which Luke has been thought to have been wrong
in the particular titles he has given to rulers in certain
countries or cities, and which later archaeological and
other discoveries have proved to be right. Some examples
are: reference to Philippian rulers as praetors, his
choice of the word proconsul as the title for Gallio in
Corinth, his describing of Publius as "the leading man of
the island" in Malta, and his usage of politarchs to
denote the civil authorities of Thessalonica. (He gets no
less than fifteen Roman governor titles right.) Luke's
accurate employment of the various titles used in the
Roman Empire has been compared to the easy and confident
way in which an Oxford man in ordinary conversation will
refer to the Heads of Oxford colleges by their proper
titles - the Provost of Oriel, the Master of Balliol, the
Rector of Exeter, the President of Magdalen, and so on.
His accuracy in such details extends also to the more
general sphere of local colour and atmosphere in such
places as Jerusalem, Syrian Antioch, Philippi and Ephesus.
He gets the atmosphere right every time. It is worth
noting that the description of his sea voyage with Paul to
Rome, and their shipwreck on Malta, in Acts 27, has been
called "one of the most instructive documents for the
knowledge of ancient seamanship" that we possess. There
is, in fact, only one other document in existence that
gives similar detail as to what sailing was like in those
Not all of the Presbyterians. The PCUSA is right below the Episcopalians in "Christian" quackery. We in the PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) affirm Christ's deity, and the infallibility of scripture.
"The Scriptures that you read are a product of the Catholic church, which was one Church until the Orthodox separated in 1054."
If the Bible is the product of the Catholic church, then why does it not include some of the principal tenets of Catholicism ? For instance, the pope, and how he is an Alter Christos (another Christ) ?
Also, the priesthood, and where does it say that priests have the authority to command Jesus to leave his seat at the Right Hand of The Father to be re-sacrificed at every mass ?
"I have never been able to resolve how a bad person can get salvation and go to Heaven while a good, religous person who does not get salvation is denied heaven. At least by those that believe the literal word of the "bible"."
A "bad" person who recognizes in his heart, that he is a sinner, (as we all are) and who repents and accepts Jesus as his Lord and Savior will be saved.
It's what is in your heart. I can be a "religious" person, show up for church every Sunday, put money in the collection plate, and look and act "religous", but that won't get me to Heaven. Epesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — 9 not by works, so that no one can boast."
Good works don't get you to Heaven, we are saved through faith in Jesus and no one else. If we could save ourselves by doing good works, then Jesus died for nothing. But thats not correct, Jesus paid the price for all sins of those who believe in HIM.
You are correct. It is only the ECUSA (Episcopal Church in the USA & Canada) that is pushing this nonsense. I can only conclude that this convention is seeking a permanent schism, otherwise they would not have acted in this way. Right now I am completely sick to my stomach. I've been an Episcopalian for 40 years and I don't know if I could go to another denomination now. So far my own parish is staying true to Scripture but who knows what lies ahead.
If you follow that thinking logically, you'll realize that is the very reason that the whole idea of a Pope is dangerous. Because the Pope has absolute authority over the Roman Catholic church, he is free to define what scripture means and what it doesn't. As we have seen throughout history, as Popes change, so do various church doctrines. Scripture is our authority, not the Pope or any other man.
"Catholics re-present and participate in the one sacrifice of Christ."
I believe it's called Transubstantiation, is the change of the substance of bread and wine into that of the body and blood of Christ.
Can you point to a scripture verse, that says is what happens ?
"My conclusion is that the Episcopalians no longer qualify as a 'Christian' denomination."
I am starting to agree....
Here's one way of looking at it that might help...
Heaven is not a reward for being good. It is a return to God.
And to return to Him, reparation must by paid to Satan (with whom mankind allied itself in leaving God in the original "Fall of Man").
Jesus paid that Reparation on the Cross...He has tossed us a Life Saver. But to be saved, we must grab onto the Life Saver...we must accept Salvation.
It depends on what the meaning of "is" is.
Can you provide a Scripture verse that tells us that we may only believe dogma that is given explicit treatment in Scripture?
SD
"Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, 'Take, eat; this is my body.' And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'" (Mt. 26:26-28)
"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the Blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the Body of Christ?" "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the Body and Blood of the Lord." (1 Cor)
"For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the Body eats and drinks judgment upon himself." (1 Cor)
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