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 rather agree.
However, there are mysteries along those lines that none of us on either side know fully and certainly that none of us can articulate fully adequately,
imho.
So...we are born again without having the Spirit indwelling? “9You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” - Romans 8
Yes, and this verse describes those who already do have the indwelling Spirit. They were all believers. If this was meant to counter my statement I don't see how it does.
I don’t think slave is ever how God wants to describe his sons. Paul uses it as an analogy to help make a point - like a parable. Notice he says he is “speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations”...
That's right, and we shouldn't forget that the concept of slavery in those days included more than just the oppressive kind found in "Roots" or on the Israelites in Egypt. "Slave" could also refer to a well-treated servant. I think when Paul is talking about being a slave to righteousness he is speaking in terms of strongly desiring to serve God. That is what the regenerated heart wants to do.
[Re: Rom. 6:16-19] He is encouraging us to obey - yet that assumes we have the ability to disobey. But God is sovereign? How can any man thwart his will?
Well, we certainly do disobey from time to time even with a regenerated heart, so encouragement is in order. However, in the whole the Christian will not be in a constant state of disobedience. God's will is never thwarted, though. Because of God's nature His outward commands must be in accordance, so He must demand perfection because He is God. How could He settle for less in His communications to us? Given this, God knows that none of us can live up to the Law so He already knows we are going to blow it, and when. If God had wanted, He could have zapped the old man out from us completely upon faith, but He didn't. Therefore the results are in accordance with His will.
Consider Galatians 4: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. 8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?”
Yes, this is highlighting the oppressive slavery to sin. Nothing good about it. The contrary is being a son and an heir. But this would not relieve the son from duty. He would still be expected to behave as a good son, etc. In righteous humility he would want to be a servant or slave to what is good. I know it's a little odd for us to think of being slaves as a good thing, but consider what you would be like if you were the greatest slave to righteousness around. You would be the closest to Christ, wouldn't you? You would have the mind of Christ.
Some excellent points though I didn’t make it through the long doc.
Thanks.
I suppose it depends on how folks define “everyone.”
Certainly not 100% of everyone agrees on what color the carpet should be, much less on some points of theology.
The folks the Vatican has tossed out have tended to be few and far between in my observation. Rather like the number of politicians who continue on with Communion as usual unless and until a big enough stink is raised that some Bishop decides to limit their access.
Nope. On this score, my assertions stand. The Vatican has NOT behaved remotely consistently with its purported strictness against such outrageous excesses.
There’s far more collegial back slapping and cooperative publishing goes on OF THE VERY EXCESSES people run and hide behind the ‘strict standards on’ whenever an OUT-GROUP person calls attention to such. Otherwise, it’s CELEBRATION of the excesses more or less by one and all as usual.
Even hereon the very excesses are usually defended tooth and toenail as perfectly kosher—even glorious.
Wow! That was the best analogy I have seen on this thread. Perfectly stated!
“Jack Hayford, James Robison, Pat Robertson, . . . a list of well known folks around the world quickly speak out on any significant heresy and most not so significant—usually they speak out in very clear and unequivocal terms. And the vast majority of Pentecostalism/Charismania concur. Certainly all those with a track record of demonstrated capacity and habit of hearing Holy Spirit concur—regardless of denomination etc.”
Even where we might not always agree on the extent of the “sign” gifts that should be sought in the “Gentile Church” (I am using that now without strict doctrinal implication—only recognizing that the vast majority of Christians since the end of the Acts era have been from the Gentile populations), I am with you Quix, on the attitude of many professing believers toward Christians who seek a true Spirit-led walk and ministry (and not breaking the Scriptures, of course).
I am always conscious of the ridicule that even the Baptists (only because I identify as such; no high-mindedness or superior attitude intended) and others, of a much older, less worldly heritage, incur when in their worship, prayer life, and service, they see manifestations of Holy Ghost power to which worldly or carnal Christians and their churches are unaccustomed.
We believe in Holy Ghost manisfestations, often very unusual ones, not first because we experience them, but because the Scriptures are clear that He is a Person of the Godhead who abides with us and now is in us, and He is active and operative when the Truth is preached — and obeyed — from the Book of which He is the Author.
I cannot even describe many of the manifestations of Holy Ghost power we have seen in churches of the old heritage where each family is Bible-oriented and arrive in a place together already praying in the Holy Ghost and worshiping in Spirit and in Truth.
So many churches arrive at their appointed meeting place waiting for someone else to flip the “worship switch” in a meeting. But that is not how it happens. The Holy Ghost manifests power when their is a genuinely worshiping people with expectation of the work of Holy Ghost.
I encourage you to continue to hit upon these issues. It is good for that part of the Body of Christ who only walk by sight, and their view is not heavenward.
God twice told Abraham about the vast fruitfulness of his seed: once it was illustrated by the dust of the earth, or the sand of the sea for multitude; but the second time it was “Look up and tell the stars if you are able to number them”(!). Israel had both sorts of people: those who had an earthly view being merely physical seed, and living as under the curse of the Law; but then those who, following the faith of Abraham, looked for a city whose builder and maker is God-—living in the fullness of God’s promises, and enjoying the power of God. These were they who died IN FAITH (Hebrews chapter 11), not having received the promises but seeing them afar off (As Anna and Simeon at the birth of our Saviour, who had not quit waiting to see Him).
Keep on keeping on, Brother!
No doubt.
However, the rabid RC cliques hereon are
paragon masters of the horrific double bind.
Consequently, I have little to no sympathy for you folks on that score.
I MUCH AGREE.
YOUR KIND WORDS touch me DEEPLY.
Thanks tons.
Have a blessed weekend.
Bottom teeth to come out today at 09:30. Prayer would be welcome.
Wheee.
LUB
Yes...in that it was foreknown and then that creation was set in motion.
Is there a problem with God, who is outside time, knowing everything perfectly?
He either does or He doesn’t.
Answer the following:
A. God knows everything
B. God does not know everything.
What is your choice?
First of all, it's a BLOG.
Secondly, the fact that the Church approves of the existence of the Legion of Mary IS NOT validation for everything that the members of the Legion of Mary say.
The OPC has now or in the recent past had ordained ministers that believe in racial segregation and deny the Holocaust. If one was to follow your logic, that would mean that the OPC believes in segregation and denies the Holocaust and that the OPC members share this mindset.
Dr. Eckleburg: A distinction without a difference.
The difference is when one asks the obvious question "obtains for us" salvation...obtains for us from whom?
As with all other things, the Blessed Virgin Mary leads us back to Christ.
"Do whatever He tells you."
Perhaps that is her point.
Amazing how some totally miss the significance of the Wedding at Cana.
Omniscience does mean that God knows everything. One cannot forget, however, that God is omnipotent and omnipresent.
So the issue is that God has the power to enact that which He has foreseen.
Is it illegal to desire someeone to die?
Is it illegal to take out a contract to have another human killed?
The malignant machenoma is known to devastate the higher-reasoning centers of the brain.
Oooh. Wow.
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