Posted on 01/05/2010 9:46:47 PM PST by the_conscience
I just witnessed a couple of Orthodox posters get kicked off a "Catholic Caucus" thread. I thought, despite their differences, they had a mutual understanding that each sect was considered "Catholic". Are not the Orthodox considered Catholic? Why do the Romanists get to monopolize the term "Catholic"?
I consider myself to be Catholic being a part of the universal church of Christ. Why should one sect be able to use a universal concept to identify themselves in a caucus thread while other Christian denominations need to use specific qualifiers to identify themselves in a caucus thread?
Well Christians are always watching. And waiting. And hoping. And praying. We’re the Dusty Springfields of religion
Faith without works is dead.
Do you imagine a dead faith could lead one to redemption?
Just for a little more clarity would you mind defining what you see as the difference between worship and prayer...inregards to God.....in regards to representative images...seperately. Thank you.
Any keywords ? I'm unaware of it.
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
Sure we do. See, for example, Col. 1:24.
“Faith without works is dead.”
True. Faith that produces no works is dead faith.
At the same time, are you saying that we bring our works to the work of Christ for salvation? If that is true, how do we know when our works are complete to assure salvation?
Does the merciful God let us know the precise requirements for salvation?
Col 1:24 “Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.”
Are you saying that Paul is a co-redeemer for the saved?
Not sure I agree with that. Of course grace comes first before all and with that grace comes ears to hear the truth of God's word.
But "doctrine" is just another word for the many, coherent truths found in Scripture ordained by a rational God for our good.
The doctrine of predestination clarified my knowledge of Christ and the reason for my faith. That doctrine did change my life. What was a feeling became an understanding that permeated every part of my existence...and changed it for the better.
Harleyd often says that it was only after he learned the doctrines of grace that the Bible made full sense to him. I agree with that completely.
We'll never have all the answers, but the answers we do have are more comprehensive and understandable when learned according to the sound doctrine found in Scripture.
That's not a dry, academic approach to God; that's God in the fullness of His revelation of Himself.
In fact, there was a time in my own experience the doctrine of predestination was actually stronger than my understanding of my faith. During college, like many young people, I fell away from religion, but the logic of a universe ordered by God somehow never left me.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." -- Philippeans 4:7-9"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
When you pass from this life to the next.
CCC 1949 Called to beatitude but wounded by sin, man stands in need of salvation from God. Divine help comes to him in Christ through the law that guides him and the grace that sustains him:Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. --Phil 2:12-13.
Since I’ve only reccently been seeing more of this in the news I don’t have the buzz about it yet. But UNISCI.com has an article..it’s being monitored.
“Struggle Seen as Sun Switches Magnetic Field Polarity”
Even my brother, who is scientifically minded, brought it up in conversation yesturday. He said they are uncertain what the effects will be but the science community seems to be watching. Something about earth needs to be in a certain position when this occurs or we’re done. Wish I had paid more attention, he generally knows what he’s talking about.
He’s also mentioned the Collider where they are trying replicate the atom..says it’s a very dangerous endevour.
So, if I don’t believe the right thing, I am not saved? Is faith a saving work that must be done correctly?
The plain sense of the verse is that Paul is filling up some deficiency (what is lacking) in Christ's suffering. And he is doing so for the Church.
What do you make of this?
The word “pray” in the sense of “make a request” is also used in court documents here in Virginia. FWIW
What we need is not logical assent to doctrine, but “to present [our] bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is [our] spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of [our] mind, that by testing [we] may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” - Romans 12
Watch it. Thinking like that got me to the edge of the Tiber.
I think I disagree about some of what you and Calvin said. (Wow! WHO could have seen THAT coming?)
I am open to the concept of "lousy Christian." And some lousy Christians may just really be "immature". And depending on personality types and gifts, a lot of their doings may be in the realm of doctrine.My persistent analogy is: would I rather read an anatomy text book or make love to my wife? Knowing SOME anatomy will certainly make the love-making more excellent. And the love making will certainly inform my thinking about anatomy. So one is clearly better, and the study without the love, if it never gets beyond that, will have been wasted.
Anyway, thanks for the post. Good, thoughtful, and thought provoking stuff.
“Struggle Seen as Sun Switches Magnetic Field Polarity”
Even my brother, who is scientifically minded, brought it up in conversation yesturday. He said they are uncertain what the effects will be but the science community seems to be watching. Something about earth needs to be in a certain position when this occurs or we’re done. Wish I had paid more attention, he generally knows what he’s talking about.
Here's an article from 2001. The sun's magnetic poles flipped that year, as they do about every 11 years:
February 15, 2001 -- You can't tell by looking, but scientists say the Sun has just undergone an important change. Our star's magnetic field has flipped.
The Sun's magnetic north pole, which was in the northern hemisphere just a few months ago, now points south. It's a topsy-turvy situation, but not an unexpected one.
"This always happens around the time of solar maximum," says David Hathaway, a solar physicist at the Marshall Space Flight Center. "The magnetic poles exchange places at the peak of the sunspot cycle. In fact, it's a good indication that Solar Max is really here."
The Sun's magnetic poles will remain as they are now, with the north magnetic pole pointing through the Sun's southern hemisphere, until the year 2012 when they will reverse again. This transition happens, as far as we know, at the peak of every 11-year sunspot cycle -- like clockwork.
End of excerpt; full story at the above link.
Also, I looked up the specific article that you referenced from UNISCI: "Struggle Seen As Sun Switches Magnetic Field Polarity" ... and what do you know? That article was also written about the 2001 event:
Struggle Seen As Sun Switches Magnetic Field Polarity
So, in a nutshell, this is a recurring solar cycle and nothing that should cause great alarm to anyone. Of course, since the next flip will probably occur in 2012, I suppose it will inevitably be used as grist for the mills of those who predict the end of the world in 2012. ;-)
We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread (sorry for the derailment).
Dr. E-Not sure I agree with that. ...doctrine did change my life.
Yes, I would agree with you Dr. E. I'm feel more strongly than ever that doctrine is not something that results from a changed life. Why else would we have so many incorrect doctrines by legitimate Christians-even in high places?
Rather our job as Christians is to come to the right understanding of doctrine and the very nature of God. And in doing so, correct doctrine is life changing. It is the wisdom that God imparts to us as He so pleases. We should pray for this wisdom.
There is a biblical example of how doctrine changes a life in 1 Kings 19:11-19. Recall how Elijah was so zealous for God and was in despair, not seeing progress. God visually showed Elijah that His power rest not in great strengths (earthquakes, wind, etc.) but in low whispers. Elijah got the message and went back more knowledgable and strengthened to do God's work. Correct doctrine changed Elijah's outlook.
And my understanding of predestination and the TULIP has radically transformed the way I view myself, my Christian walk, and the world around me. Although I've been a Christian for just about 40 years now, I feel like such a babe in Christ and every day holds new knowledge of God's grace and mercies that I never fully understood before. Correct doctrine is something that changes life. That is why I harp on it so much.
I want to say this kind of post is what I wish we could do more of without the stomping down each others' throats with hobnail boots on.
The "Theophany of the Mount of God" story is wonderfully rich, and I'm grateful for your take on it.
uh oh, did we derail this? sorry not intended to do so.. will post you privately when I come across something relating, but not the domesday equations.
Not to worry ... threads take off in unexpected directions from time to time. ;-)
But yes, please do FReepmail me if you find any additional info that you’d like to share. :)
I thought it was a legitimate question.
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