It does appear the catholic church...then..doesn't change anything but rather..”expands and clarifies”?????? That looks like a twisting of terminology to escape the use of the word “change”.
I don't believe believers who have opted out of the catholic church, or those who belong to other denominations are catholics gone astray or lost. Rather they see the contradictions clearly and the twisting of scriptures, even opposition to them, which is why people are not “sold” on the catholic church...Christ rather is central to their life.... and to some all the “other” trappings the catholic church requires are just another road of works and or compliance to their church and what Rome determines...rather than the freedom Christ gives to worship Him without all the “other” trappings. IMO.
Most who follow Christ and the truth desire a deeper understanding of Christ over that of their church...which is basically a meeting place for believers. We become the “body of Christ” as we come together, and it is we who reflect Him to an unsaved world.
It is not twisting or spinning to delve deeper into theology and trying to understand its meaning for us as Christians who are separated by conflicting beliefs.
The Church has seen the divisions and been hurt by them. It also acknowledges that within the Protestant faiths there is much truth and an abundant love and faith in Jesus.
Jesus declared there is one Lord, one faith, one body of Christ. What Jesus says is true, therefore how can it be that so many brothers and sisters are separate?
The Church has come to understand that they are not, that though there is not full and complete communion between us, we are nevertheless sisters and brothers in the One Lord, one faith and one body.
It matters not whether one believes they are a Catholic or whether one believes in Catholicism. The Lord has spoken and declared that there is only one Lord, one faith and one body.
That things are twisted or contradictory is again, an opinion, one that is not supported in Scripture. And, again, we come full circle to who gets to decide what exactly Scripture says. I don’t believe we will ever settle that question here. It is for the Holy Spirit to guide us to communion with one another.
I don’t believe believers who have opted out of the catholic church, or those who belong to other denominations are catholics gone astray or lost. Rather they see the contradictions clearly and the twisting of scriptures, even opposition to them, which is why people are not “sold” on the catholic church...Christ rather is central to their life.... and to some all the “other” trappings the catholic church requires are just another road of works and or compliance to their church and what Rome determines...rather than the freedom Christ gives to worship Him without all the “other” trappings. IMO.
Most who follow Christ and the truth desire a deeper understanding of Christ over that of their church...which is basically a meeting place for believers. We become the “body of Christ” as we come together, and it is we who reflect Him to an unsaved world.
INDEED.