Episcopal Bishop: Individual Salvation is "Great Western Heresy"

Associated Baptist Press ^ | 07/10/2009 | Bob Allen

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so very much for sharing your insights, dear grey_whiskers!

The anti-Christs always want to pretend that Jesus is "a way" and that the divine light is within us, yada yada. Like the slave girl in the market whom Paul cast the demon out of ("*A* way of salvation, not *the* way).

Precisely so.

And therefore the importance of trying the spirits, of asking as Jesus did "What think ye of Christ?" (Matt 22:42)

If a person responds that He is "a" God or "a" Creator or "a" Way or "a" Truth or "a" Life - then it is the spirit of anti-Christ.

If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. - 2 John 1:10-11

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. - Psalms 91:14

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. – Matthew 10:32-33

And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God. – Deut 12:3-4

God's Name is I AM.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you oh so very much for those beautiful Scriptures, dear grey_whiskers! They are absolutely perfect!

But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. – 2 Timothy 2:23-26

To God be the glory!

[Quix]

Thanks for the ping.

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD.

BLESSED BE THE WORD OF THE LORD.

BLESSED BE THE WAYS OF THE LORD.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Christ uses all mechanisms to save us

Perhaps it's semantics, but there is only one "mechanism" by which God dispenses saving grace -- faith in His Son as Lord, King and Savior, made known to us through the Scriptures as we are guided by the Holy Spirit.

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds" -- Hebrews 1:1-2

[grey_whiskers]

It is trust and faith in Christ which leads to salvation: but the trust may be engendered, inspired, or nourished through many channels. Including (as you point out) the scriptures; but also many other means, including hymns, the liturgy, fellowship, prophecy, miracles, and testimony.

Cheers!

[bobjam]

According to Catholicism, Christ saves the Church. If you are in the Church, then you’re saved. If not, then you’re in trouble because there is no salvation outside the Church.

[Petronski]

I’m sure you can show me where the Catholic Church says that, say, from the Catechism or some such document.

I’m not inclined to believe you, mostly because I’m quite certain you are wrong.

[betty boop]

Jeepers and yikes!!! grey_whiskers! LOLOL!!!!

But notice in the clip, the swimmer is terrified by the approaching "doodie," and is desperately trying to get away from it. This is where the analogy breaks down: The Maitreya addicts are desperately trying to "grasp" the "doodie."

Which they never can do. Based on the literature (Creme's books, and even more so, Alice Bailey's), the whole deal is a rigged game. If one comes across some particularly outrageous claim in the text, one is advised that one just doesn't understand the wisdom buried therein; but that if one will only have just another "initiation" or two, THEN maybe one would get it. Meanwhile, go work on trying to figure out your own personal "rays"....

Once one gets on that treadmill, it can be tough to get off.

[Joya]

Alamo-Girl, thank you for this ping, thanks for sharing your wisdom, I appreciate the contrast you made between John and Paul, as well as the similarities you pointed out.

It is a blessing to be who we are, know what He wants, and to do it, there is lasting fruit in that. And, indeed, we must stay focused on loving the LORD God with all our hearts. May our Father help us to love Him most of all, our Most Beloved.

[betty boop]

So the Christian who needs only the Scriptures and a little quiet time will have what that he needs. And the Christian who needs the teacher and the grand Cathedral will have what he needs. And even the huddled Christians worshiping in small groups in secret in a Communist country with not a scrap of Scripture among them will have what they need.

Oh so beautifully said, dearest sister in Christ!

And this from Dr. Eckleburg bears repeating:

And how do men show their love to God? By obeying Him and worshiping Him in truth and love.

If that is done, everything else falls into place.

But if we worship something other than the Triune God and swear allegiance to part of the creation instead of the only Creator, we can never be right with God because that skewed trajectory is only taking us ever farther from Him.

I'd further add: Absent God, we cannot even be right with ourselves. As Benedict says, "Without God man neither knows which way to go, nor even understands who he is."

Thank you so very much, dearest sisters in Christ!

[Dr. Eckleburg]

hymns, the liturgy, fellowship, prophecy, miracles, and testimony

All those God-given "channels" aid our sanctification, but as Paul says "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph. 2:8-9)

Saved by grace through faith.

"Be not afraid; only believe." -- Mark 5:36

[bobjam]

I’m glad to hear that what I was thinking was not correct. I had been under the impression that traditional Roman Catholic doctrine holds that the Roman Catholic Church is the one and only Church, outside of which there is no salvation.

[betty boop]

Or as Chesterton said in a similar vein, some people are very fond of saying that Christianity and Buddhism are very similar, especially Buddhism.

That Chesterton is (astutely) remarking on it goes to show how far back in time this "movement" goes. It was in full bloom around the turn of the last century in the influential theosophist Madame Helena Blavatsky's London salon. She had many, many notable visitors including, it is said, Henry Ford and Frank Lloyd Wright.

Anyhoot, the Maitreya doctrine is a muddled mess of Buddhism and Christianity — mainly some sort of ersatz Buddhism with a tiny (yet reassuring to some) increment of Christianity added into the brew. It's interesting to note, however, that the Christian symbols are stripped of their accustomed meanings and given new ones altogether. I don't know whether a similar operation has been performed on Buddhist symbols. (I'm not at all well versed in traditional forms of Buddhism.) But I wouldn't be surprised if it had.

The anti-Christs have really outdone themselves with this Maitreya confabulation. For this time, they claim that Christ is not even "a" Way; he's actually pretty much a big stumblebum in the grand scale of things, only a third-degree initiate who must take a fourth initiation, which he might fail.

If Christ can "fail," then it logically follows that reliance on him is misplaced. Enter the "lord" Maitreya....

Cheers!!!

[betty boop]

What have the Moose-limbs to say about this doorknob?

Don't really know, grey_whiskers. But I imagine they wouldn't be too enthusiastic about "the reappearance" of any "Hidden Master of the Hierarchy" — unless (of course) it be the Hidden Imam, the Mahdi.... There seems to be a strong analogy here; but note the cultural underpinnings are completely different. [Which may only point to the amazing versatility of the Spirit of Evil.]

cheers dear grey_whiskers!

[betty boop]

Thanks for the ping, I think ;-)

LOLOL! Well, please let me know when you're sure!

Have you read the encyclical markomalley? IMHO, it's awesome.

[Alamo-Girl]

Amen!

[Alamo-Girl]

Which they never can do. Based on the literature (Creme's books, and even more so, Alice Bailey's), the whole deal is a rigged game. If one comes across some particularly outrageous claim in the text, one is advised that one just doesn't understand the wisdom buried therein; but that if one will only have just another "initiation" or two, THEN maybe one would get it. Meanwhile, go work on trying to figure out your own personal "rays"....

Jeepers. And to think that so many fall for it.

Thank you for sharing your insights, dearest sister in Christ!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you oh so very much for sharing your testimony, dear sister in Christ, and thank you for your encouragements!

[Alamo-Girl]

I'd further add: Absent God, we cannot even be right with ourselves. As Benedict says, "Without God man neither knows which way to go, nor even understands who he is."

So very true.

Thank you oh so very much for sharing your insights, dearest sister in Christ, and thank you for your encouragements!

[Alamo-Girl]

The anti-Christs have really outdone themselves with this Maitreya confabulation. For this time, they claim that Christ is not even "a" Way; he's actually pretty much a big stumblebum in the grand scale of things, only a third-degree initiate who must take a fourth initiation, which he might fail.

If Christ can "fail," then it logically follows that reliance on him is misplaced. Enter the "lord" Maitreya....

Jeepers.

Thank you so very much, dearest sister in Christ, for sharing your insights into this anti-Christ cult!