You said “The very concept of truth dictates that you cannot have opposing organizations all truthfully claiming to be universals. That is logically impossible.”
No it isn’t. First, we are not opposing organizations- unless the opposition comes from you. Second, since the church belongs to Christ, only He can say with certainty who is right and who is wrong. I think we’ll find more inclusivity in the true body of Christ than any of the faulty earthly organizations demonstrate.
You said “Do my words offend you?”
No. Love’s not easily offended. That was actually part of my point with the ease at which Roman Catholics are offended; seems if you know you’re right you could just smile quietly and wait for God to turn my sect and it’s followers into a greasy spot.
I only wrote to explain that your premise that the term ‘Roman Catholic’ was a term meant to be derogatory was not in fact always true. Regardless of whether I am right or you are right or (and here’s the probability) God is Bigger than both of our understandings and theologies combined; I was simply trying to assure you that the term is not necessarily derogatory.
There are many terms for the Roman Catholic church that are; and if this were a question of whether we should use the term “Whore of Rome” or Catholic church, I too would jump in and decry such animosity masquerading as Christianity.
I don’t expect to change your mind, and you won’t likely change mine; but I think I expressed why, in some cases, the term “Roman Catholic’ does not meet your presupposition of negative motive fairly clearly.
On the bright side- we’ll probably get to spend eternity together- well after you’re out of purgatory and all. :) Look me up.
Will
You wrote:
“No it isn’t.”
Yes it is.
“First, we are not opposing organizations- unless the opposition comes from you.”
Protestantism IS opposition to the Church - that’s why it came into existence and that’s where the name comes from.
“Second, since the church belongs to Christ, only He can say with certainty who is right and who is wrong.”
No. He sent THE Church to teach authoritatively not willy-nilly.
“You said “Do my words offend you?” No. Love’s not easily offended. That was actually part of my point with the ease at which Roman Catholics are offended; seems if you know you’re right you could just smile quietly and wait for God to turn my sect and it’s followers into a greasy spot.”
Christ sent one Church. It isn’t your sect. I will not just smile quietly at someone choosing the false sect as opposed to the Church sent by Christ. That’s indifferentism and many Protestants embrace it.
“I only wrote to explain that your premise that the term ‘Roman Catholic’ was a term meant to be derogatory was not in fact always true.”
But it was true and it is true. Where then is the always?
“Regardless of whether I am right or you are right or (and here’s the probability) God is Bigger than both of our understandings and theologies combined; I was simply trying to assure you that the term is not necessarily derogatory.”
That is not for you to decide.
“There are many terms for the Roman Catholic church that are; and if this were a question of whether we should use the term “Whore of Rome” or Catholic church, I too would jump in and decry such animosity masquerading as Christianity.”
Great. That’s a start and I thank you for that. I still won’t smile queitly at the formation of sects, however.
“I don’t expect to change your mind, and you won’t likely change mine; but I think I expressed why, in some cases, the term “Roman Catholic’ does not meet your presupposition of negative motive fairly clearly. On the bright side- we’ll probably get to spend eternity together- well after you’re out of purgatory and all. :) Look me up.”
Don’t assume heaven is automatically yours. You believe a false gospel.