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?
I would say that in the Christian pantheon, there are degrees of separation from Christianity, rather than an outright repudiation. Let us say that there are 100 points (to pick an arbitrary number) of Christian belief; there can be a point of 1 to 10 on each of these on what the individual believes. Then, overall, a mathematical summation of adherence to Christianity might be calculated. There are some quizzes on the intrawebs, that start to address the whole deal, but I have never seen a really complex and involved one.
I and [my] Father are one. - John 10:24-30
That and Matthew 22:34-39 kinda sum up the Gospels.
Matthew 22: 34 19 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them [a scholar of the law] 20 tested him by asking, 36 "Teacher, 21 which commandment in the law is the greatest?" 37 He said to him, 22 "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and the first commandment. 39 The second is like it: 23 You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There are a bunch of folks scattered about that hate, sneer at, and despise their neighbours...
And the content and the intent of these works (a la Matthew 25) will be considered as well. We by and large agree. Now, to wrangle you over the Tiber...
It is simply that the priests and inhabitants of the house are speaking to you in a clear and concise language that is foreign and unintelligible to you.
Thanks very much for your response to my questions.
I appreciate the time you gave to them.
I’m thinking much about it.
As we read in Isaiah: “For it is You who have accomplished all that we have done”.
Ooo, good idea. Thanks!
however.
I agree with you on that, which is why I am so grateful to God for all my real life protty friends, who have taken the time to share their faith with me.
:)
As usual on the Religion Forum, we were speaking of theological degrees of separation among those who believe in Christ. And as usual, your "eyes" lifted up from the trees and saw the forest, the separation between man and God.
That separation would make for a much better discussion and I do hope will be addressed in one of your upcoming essays!
And I, too, perceive much from Chambers' devotion today, particular this statement:
Thank you so much for your encouragements, dear sister in Christ!
Bump!
And of course I strongly agree with you about their relevance to Christian faith. As evidence I would point to atheistic countries in which Christian belief, Scriptures and assembly were long banned - and yet the Christian faith grew and strengthened underground by word of mouth, secret meetings and perhaps an occasional treasured scrap of the Bible.
In the end, I pray that my brothers and sisters in Christ will keep Romans 14 in their hearts when they look at someone else who testifies his belief in the Triune God.
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in [his] brother's way. – Romans 14:7-13
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. - I John 4:8
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23
I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. – John 15:5
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. - Matthew 7:17
Thank you. Every now and then Christ Jesus my Savior blesses me. ;-D
Very nice to see you this morning on the thread.
But we are only human and often say things poorly, e.g. a parent telling a child "you are stupid" instead of "that was a stupid thing to do." The child is apt to think his parent hates him when that was not in his heart but in his unfortunate choice of words.
Then again, I always look for the best fruits. LOLOL!
I remember when I first read that verse and saw, "Against such there is no law." Honestly, I laughed out loud! Lovely, touching humor.
In other words, I thought, "No law against being loving, joyous, peaceful, longsuffering, gentle, good, faithful, meek, temperate."
Thank you for calling that to mind!
Thank you for commenting on this. I agree fully.
What you are saying is that God opens everyone's eyes and heart and can accept or reject God at that point by making a decision. I'm saying that is not found in scripture nor is that what the complete word of God teaches. You will not find the gospel of John saying that.
Amen. Beautiful post, Harley. What do we have that we have not been given? (1 Cor. 4:7.)
That is why every Christian no matter their persuasion will tell you that "God saved me." as someone here mentioned. Deep down, every Christian knows this fact and is the cause of our praise to God.
God willing they know that. But those of the "I chose correctly" persuasion do not have the same security as someone who knows God chose them for nothing yet in them, and that all God's choices are "correct" because He will make them so.
Deep down the free will believer has the uncertainty of "...saved if I can just hold on to my faith."
The Calvinist believes men who have been given God's grace to believe will hold on to their faith and believe unto the end.
It makes a world of difference in this life.
"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." -- John 6:37
From John Murray...
"...In concluding, may we return to John 6:37, 44, 65. When a sinner comes to Christ in the commitment of faith, when the rebellious will is renewed and tears of penitence begin to flow, it is because a mysterious transaction has been taking place between the persons of the Godhead. The Father has been making a presentation, a donation to his own Son. So perish the thought that coming to Christ finds its explanation in the autonomous determinations of the human will. It finds its cause in the sovereign will of God the Father. He has placed upon this person the constraint by which he has been captivated by the glory of the Redeemer and invests in him all his interests. Christ is made wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Here is grace surpassing; and it is grace insurmountable."
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