Posted on 05/13/2010 11:22:06 AM PDT by markomalley
Traditionally, there are 4 "Marks" of the Church. These 4 marks tell us about the character and nature of what the Church is. The Catechism describes them in this way:
811 "This is the sole Church of Christ, which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic." These four characteristics, inseparably linked with each other, indicate essential features of the Church and her mission. The Church does not possess them of herself; it is Christ who, through the Holy Spirit, makes his Church one, holy, catholic, and apostolic, and it is he who calls her to realize each of these qualities.
Excellent!
The Marks of the Church:
The Sacraments
The Word of God, rightly divided and preached to the people of God.
- Martin Luther
Excellent!
Any of these marks cover Visible (versus irrational, invisible church of the gazillion sects of Protestants, all disagreeing about everything)?
1) - What sacraments was Luther talking about?
re: The Word of God, rightly divided
2) - The Bible wasn't divided into chapters and verse till like the 14th century. So I guess that "mark" of Luther's church didn't exist for like 1400 years of Christianity. come to think of it, Luther, nor the false religion that he thought up in his head didn't exist either.
I was having trouble finding the part that justifies screwing little boys and covering it up, and then there it was #15.
Here we’re talking about marks of Christ’s Church, and you have to say something negative about Christ-followers who happen not to be Roman Catholic.
Typical. Roman Catholic FReepers hate those who follow Christ, who don’t belong to their particular denomination.
Again, I wonder: Why such antagonism toward Christ-followers? Why such arrogance about your particular expression of Christ’s Church?
You’re calling the Christ’s Church a “false religion”? How can you dismiss those who have repented and are following Christ and been adopted into His family? How can you label such Christians members of a “false religion”? Why such animosity toward Christ-followers who look a bit different from you?
Where’s the love, Leoni?
Seriously, why do you need to slam other Christians in order to prop up your own denomination? Who is Christ to you? Your Lord? Your Savior? He’s mine, too, and yet you say that following Christ is a “false religion”? Do you even think before you type?
I like the 15 just as much as I like the four!
Too bad that ALL churches cannot brag about these marks or faith!
You are calling your false church Christ's Church. Only the Catholic Church is Christ's Church. Your church is whatever you interpret from the bible, it really is a church of one, you.
re:How can you label such Christians members of a false religion? Why such animosity toward Christ-followers who look a bit different from you?
No animosity at all, on the contrary, I do this out of charity, because I know that if you die outside of the Catholic Church you are going to hell. All religions outside of the Catholic faith are false, ALL, are just gates to perdition.
You are rigth in your accusation, however, if you were talking to a Catholic who erroneously believed that you could be saved in your religion, then there is no point in any Catholic trying to convert you, in other words, if EVERYONE that calls himself a Christian is on the same plane to heaven, and Catholics just think they are in 1st class, I consider it a waste of time to debate about the details of our differences
You are calling your false church Christ's Church. Only the Catholic Church is Christ's Church. Your church is whatever you interpret from the bible, it really is a church of one, you.
re:How can you label such Christians members of a false religion? Why such animosity toward Christ-followers who look a bit different from you?
No animosity at all, on the contrary, I do this out of charity, because I know that if you die outside of the Catholic Church you are going to hell. All religions outside of the Catholic faith are false, ALL, are just gates to perdition.
You are right in your accusation, however, if you were talking to a Catholic who erroneously believed that you could be saved in your religion, then there is no point in any Catholic trying to convert you, in other words, if EVERYONE that calls himself a Christian is on the same plane to heaven, and Catholics just think they are in 1st class, I consider it a waste of time to debate about the details of our differences
So for you, Rome is your savior, not Christ.
I have to say, you defame Jesus.
Straw man. No Catholic ever said "Rome is my savior, not Christ".
The Catholic Church is the Church of Christ, the ONLY earthly vehicle instituted by Christ and guided by the Holy Ghost to lead us in truth to salvation.
All other false churches were created by men like 1000+ years after Christ's death. They guide no one in any truth, they are always seeking truth, and never finding it. Each "Protestant" is a church of one, following their own whims, and then using a verse in scripture to comfort themselves (delude themselves).
One example: the use of contraceptives, always forbidden from the time of the creation of man, since the 1930's, the use of contraceptives are promoted by all Protestants sects, as almost a requirement. Only one Church stands against it, the Catholic Church. Divorce, abortion for the raped, female priests, and openly homosexual clergy, are all areas where all the Protestant sects have changed their "biblical interpretations"(in one or all cases).ONLY the Catholic Church stands unmoved in these teachings.
Martin Luther wrote 500 years ago:
"In matters of faith, to be sure, each Christian is for himself Pope and Church. There will be the greatest confusion. Nobody will allow himself to be led by another mans doctrine or authority. Everyone will be his own rabbi: hence, the greatest scandals.
There are as many sects now and beliefs as there are heads. This fellow has nothing to do with baptism. Another one denies the sacraments. A third believes there is another world between this one and the last day. Some teach that Christ is not God. Some say this, some say that. There is no rustic so rude that if he dreams or fancies anything believes it must be the whisper of the Holy Spirit and that he himself must be a prophet.
"If the world lasts, it will be necessary, on account of the differing interpretations of Scripture which now exist, that to preserve the unity of faith, we should receive the Catholic councils and decrees and fly to them for refuge."
You, my pompous FRiend, said, “All other false churches were created by men like 1000+ years after Christ’s death.”
No, my Church traces itself back to Christ Himself. The body of people known as the Roman Catholic Church became apostate, heretical, blasphemous, idolatrous, adulterous, perverted — and as He’s done before, God called His remnant from among it. This remnant looks to Christ as her Savior and Lord, to God as her Father, to the Holy Spirit as her comforter and teacher. This remnant is His Church, the body of believers who’ve been adopted into His family.
Your church may look pretty, and its priests may wear some pretty snazzy clothing, and you may have some old traditions, but without Christ in His preeminent place among you, it is empty. God is not confined to your bureaucracy.
Man, I hate those who divide the Church of Christ, who defame Him by exalting their system above Him.
What year exactly did that happen? Anyone can go to any secular encyclopedia and find the history of the Catholic Church, not one mentions your theory. What page is your theory?
I have no idea which it is, but unless it is Catholic, I think that it is colouring outside the lines. Or finger painting.
The body of people known as the Roman Catholic Church became apostate, heretical, blasphemous, idolatrous, adulterous, perverted and as Hes done before, God called His remnant from among it.
I googled it up. Google laughs at this enquiry. As do I.
This remnant looks to Christ as her Savior and Lord, to God as her Father, to the Holy Spirit as her comforter and teacher. This remnant is His Church, the body of believers whove been adopted into His family.
This remnant of whom you speak. I assume that you count yourself among them. What pole barn do they currently hang out in?
God is not confined to your bureaucracy. Man, I hate those who divide the Church of Christ, who defame Him by exalting their system above Him.
Check out that mirror, my friend, when you say that.
I propose a truce on this thread: You guys don’t demean the means through which the Lord has saved me and brought me into His family, and I won’t demean the means through which the Lord has saved you and brought you into His family.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.