Posted on 07/08/2008 5:56:30 AM PDT by NYer
“Why do we have over 30,000 different non-Catholic Christian denominations?”
Maybe because the Catholic denomination strayed from the original purpose of the church and became caught up in fulfilling man’s idea of what a church should be and not God’s idea. The measure of a “denomination” should be if it can be held up in the light of Scripture. I believe that not only does the Catholic Church pass this test but also several other Protestant denominations. They all also have their own internal issues with clergy preaching false doctrine, passively tolerating abominations and sinful behavior, abuse in the Church etc... but that is where each person is suppose to measure what they believe and the acts of the Church by Scripture. No man is perfect and all sin but if your Church cannot be justified through the Bible than you need a new Church. The issue I have is the Catholic idea that they are the only true Church. The Church as established by Jesus is not a distinct group of people reciting the same liturgy, dressing the same, having a pot luck dinner every Sunday, it is the body of all believers in the world who believe in Jesus Christ and follow His teachings. To set one up as an inclusive group based on the way you pray or worship as compared to others ( who pray and worship as directed in the Bible ) is wrong and I believe not the intent of the Father. That is where many Churches ( Catholic and Protestant go wrong ).
The Bible is the sole authority for my Christianity and no other writings penned outside the influence of the Holy Spirit will suffice as stated in the Bible ( neither add nor take away etc... ). Word of mouth tradition ( then written ) passed down by man is fallible in light of the Bible. Today’s Church is a confluence of the Catholic and other main Protestant denominations and there is plenty of Bible studies produced by both that any person with a 6th grade education can read and based on the analysis of the bulk of accepted material can determine what teachings are correct and which are false when held up to the Bible. If that is not the case and only a “church” can interpret Scripture then how is a person suppose to exercise the decision to leave a church if false doctrine is taught. Who is the judge? The person(s) teaching the false doctrine.
Do not infer that I am saying the Catholic Church teaches false doctrine, I am not, I am asking how is a person to know if he/she is not allowed to participate in interpreting the Bible. It is my salvation and I am more in line with depending on my relationship with Jesus to secure that than anything any man tells me I must do.
It’s my nature to be arrogant. However, I am not justifying the Church of Rome, but simply suggesting kindness to fellow Christians.
It’s all so frustrating!!
Peace
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Phil. i. 2
He must be Catholic. They don’t believe in scripture as our authority. They have the traditions of man and the magestricals who tell them what to believe, LOL.
AMEN, Resolute. Great post.
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