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To: William Terrell; Quix
All Christians of all types [...] are the Bride of Christ.

The Catholic ecclesiology is as follows. There is no such thing as invisible church. The boundaries of the Church are visibly defined by the sacrament of Baptism. Those who are properly (with water, in the name of the Triune God) baptized are baptized into the Catholic Church. This is because Christ has one bride and one body, and one mother, and either three are the type of Church. If a baby is baptized by a Trinitarian Protestant minister that baby is Catholic and if he dies he goes to heaven, as any sinless Catholic. If the baptized Christian continues the life as Christ commanded, confessed his sins and receives Communion and grows in faith, no matter what he calls himself, he is Catholic. In other words, we don't make the distinction between the universal Church and the Catholic Church, and we reject the unscriptural notion of universal invisible church. By this definition, curiously, there may be more Catholics who call themselves Orthodox than who call themselves Catholic, thanks to the vibrant church life of the Orthodox.

There is no salvation outside of the Church.

Jesus seeing that His birth mother is to be taken care of

Jesus had any other mother? Mary is the Mother of Christ entire, per council of Ephesus. Tell me you are not sneaking in any nestorianism by this strange epithet.

The notion that Mary was provided for as elderly mother at the last possible moment of Christ dying on the Cross is also strange. Do you really think that Christ -- who foretold His death to everyone who'd listen -- neglected to provide for the welfare of His mother in an orderly fashion? The scripture indicates that the relationship is of adoption as much as of elderly care, in other words, not only John takes care of Mary but Mary adopts John. As anything that transpires on the hill of Golgotha, this is a moment pregnant with deep meaning. At least that is how the Catholic church teaches about it.

I do not intend to turn this thread into another generic discussion about Mary or the meaning of the Church Universal, and unless you have specific questions of what the Church teaches on these matters, will not respond to any mariophobic or anticlerical barbs.

I, of course, invite you to continue the discussion on the proper roles of Scripture and Tradition, as is the topic.

126 posted on 11/15/2006 3:12:23 PM PST by annalex
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To: annalex
I do not intend to turn this thread into another generic discussion about Mary or the meaning of the Church Universal, and unless you have specific questions of what the Church teaches on these matters, will not respond to any mariophobic or anticlerical barbs.

I'm not being "anticlerical", other than some things I say hurt the clergy's interests.

One of your traditions says it has the right of judgment of my soul, another says that no one who does not become Catholic can be saved, another says the Catholic church has sole authority to give the meaning of scriptures, a number says the Catholic church is a gate which God must pass through to get to me and me to Him.

I am definitely discussing the "proper roles of Scripture and Tradition, as is the topic". I'm just not agreeing with them and telling you how I reach that conclusion.

There is no salvation outside of the Church.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Please read these two passages. They are the words of Jesus, and if they are not true, how can any passages in the New Testament be true?

What they do, just those two, regardless of the balance of the scripture that says or implies the same, is take any authority of the final disposition of a man's soul from any church.

That disposition has been reserved and promised to those individuals who, at their election, seek the Kingdom, or, according to what I understand Calvin's doctrine to be, the Book of names to be saved has already been written.

Either way, the effect is the same. When individuals have the same holy power over their destinations that the church claims, the church must be just another organization.

As for Baptism, two kinds are what I see named: of water and of the Holy Spirit wherein the Holy Spirit enters the individual baptized.

According to the scriptures, John baptized by water for repentance of past sins. Jesus and His disciples baptized with the entry of the Holy Spirit.

I was baptized with water, but I repented my sins. I still am repenting as I break down my barriers of rationalization and become aware of my wrongness in a matter.

Water, from the passages that refer to water baptism, seems to be a symbol and sets those baptized on a path of repentance. It clearly shows that John didn't expect those he baptized to make a full repentance instantly. Baptism of the Holy Spirit is another matter. The scriptures related to that show a dramatic and immediate effect on the individual.

I've seen this in protestant churches, and I would have probably seen it in Catholic churches. But the great majority do not experience this, and if they did the Earth would be white as snow.

If the Catholic church had the authority to baptize with the Holy Spirit, then every priest, regardless of rank would cast the Spirit on those he baptizes. This doesn't seem to be so. And no protestant church pastor or group would be able to cast the Spirit. It seems some do.

It appears to be the quality of the individual priest or pastor and the belief of the baptized that have the effect of calling the Holy Spirit. Not the authority of an organization, no matter how old. That seems to be the only option left.

Do you really think that Christ -- who foretold His death to everyone who'd listen -- neglected to provide for the welfare of His mother in an orderly fashion?

Who judges that it was or was not in Jesus' orderly fashion when He did it? The Catholic church? You would have to agree that would be awfully convenient.

127 posted on 11/15/2006 6:38:47 PM PST by William Terrell (Individuals can exist without government but government can't exist without individuals.)
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To: annalex

SEEMS like, SOUNDS like, READS like a LOT of Biblical perspective I can affirm. Praise God for that.

Thx.


128 posted on 11/15/2006 7:56:39 PM PST by Quix (LET GOD ARISE AND HIS ENEMIES BE SCATTERED. LET ISRAEL CALL ON GOD AS THEIRS! & ISLAM FLUSH ITSELF)
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