Posted on 01/14/2011 5:57:52 PM PST by topcat54
Evangelical book catalogs promote books such as Planet Earth: The Final Chapter, The Great Escape, and the Left Behind series. Bumper stickers warn us that the vehicle’s occupants may disappear at any moment. It is clear that there is a preoccupation with the idea of a secret rapture. Perhaps this has become more pronounced recently due to the expectation of a new millennium and the fears regarding potential Y2K problems. Perhaps psychologically people are especially receptive to the idea of an imminent, secret rapture at the present time. Additionally, many Christians are not aware that any other position relative to the second coming of Jesus Christ exists. Even in Reformed circles there are numerous people reading these books. Many of these people are unaware that this viewpoint conflicts with Scripture and Reformed Theology.
(Excerpt) Read more at reformed.org ...
All it takes is a united front against the hoards!! ;o)
Hey, JA, you can confront my dogma whenever you want. I ain’t skeered! ;o)
Suppose one is a non-denominational Christian and simply believes the Bible is truth. What could they possibly say to satisfy you?
I pointed you to a thread that explains very well what I believe.
That is the essence of the message. THAT is what is going to get me to heaven.
I realize that Catholics have a hard time when not in control. Believe me, I know.
There seems to be this constant, compulsive need to compartmentalize everyone so they know just where they’re coming from and what to expect out of them. Maybe that need to control is what gives them so much trouble in simply accepting eternal life as a free gift, and rather adding their own good works to it to *help*. They can control their own good works. it makes them feel in control.
Depending completely on God means relinquishing control.
A large part of the reason I refuse to *give up* information to be more specific is the anticipated reaction on the part of Catholics. I’ve seen how snottily, condescending they are to someone who gets their non-Catholic doctrine *right*, IOW, it happens to agree with Catholic doctrine.
So what if there’s area of agreement? That does not mean I am on my way *back across the Tiber*, that I am then by default, admitting that everything else the Catholic church teaches is true and right, or that I accept, by default again, that the Catholic interpretation of the whole body of Scripture is correct.
Plus, there is simply that independent side of me that resists being categorized and labeled, or manipulated. I am not a crowd follower.
I have made it quite clear what my position is on salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. And I’ve been equally clear on the authority and sufficiency of Scripture alone for the believer. I don’t need to claim denominational affiliation and quote theologians to validate those beliefs.
For all the marshmallow and coward insinuations, I still have not been manipulated into providing what it is apparent that Catholics wish to hear out of me. Not the soft squishy characteristics of a coward or marshmallow.
No, it’s saying that I didn’t get back to you right away because I have other things to do.
Hoards? Are you hoarding things now?
“No, it’s saying that I didn’t get back to you right away because I have other things to do.”
Well, Quix is so colorfully and formatically...well, you know, he’s hard to follow sometimes. It’s like trying to follow a squirrel whose been at the fermented grapes lying on the ground.
Besides, this is an open thread and as far as badgering, well, there’s a certain person who is always bellowing about people being thin-skinned so I’d wonder about that.
pwnd
The denomination I prefer to attend I don’t either for a variety of reasons, none of which are anyone’s business.
However, I can worship with the congregation I now attend and there are some truly wonderful, godly people there.
Yeah. I’ve got lots of practice in dealing with it, having been raised with and worked with Catholics.
That’s all anyone wanted to know.
If you are interpreting and reading for yourself, that’s what you are comfortable with, and believe that right now you need to do this, that’s fine.
That’s all you needed to say. Not location, not particulars, just what you did.
“It’s manipulation through intimidation to get what they want— it’s the Catholic way, the Liberal way.
CONTROL/MANIPULATION/INTIMIDATION - satanic/deceptive tactics - the root of Catholicism.”
Balony.
The game y’all rigged is hide the theology. If you come in for combat you expect us box with one hand.
What we believe is out there for all to see. 2000+ years of it.
What y’all are playing at is the game of hiding the particular differences in y’alls theology to play the game of united front/sola scriptura in the guidance of the Sprit all for one, while in truth, y’all aren’t.
The manipulation is all on y’all’s side.
If I got this right . . . it’s quite OK and sanctified holy enough etc. for daintily clad new agish dancers to prance about during the Mass in come RC congregations. That’s sanctified modesty.
And obviously, as we observe on FR,
Quite a sizeable contingent of Rabid Clique types evidently are utterly convinced that their Prancingly Prissy bitterness, resentful, vengeful, hateful, spiteful wicked hearts spewing all such particularly over all nearby Proddys
IS VERY SANCTIFIED and Holy.
After all, it’s in the service of Mary and the White Hanky Brigade so it is automatically by definition modest, sanctified, holy, infallible etc.
Shoot with just a few teaspoons more Prancingly Prissy wickedly modest bitter, spite-ridden, vengeful saturated, resentful, hateful heart spewing, y’all could probably get some new encyclicals, dogmas, rituals enshrined as obligatory quite quickly.
Oh, right. Most such folks behave as though that’s already old hat. My error.
Welllll, perhaps a few more TABLESPOONS of Prancingly Prissy wicked heart modesty and ya’ll could petition for some special rejuvenated, resurrected, overhauled, perpetual virginity for each of y’all. Goodness, think of the marketing prospects of THAT!
Maybe with a quarter cup of added Prancingly Prissy wicked heart modesty, y’all could petition the Vatican AIWSOTARM to get the new plastic idol and trinket concessions accordingly. Just think of all the black plastic wickedly modest hearts idols, dash board models, necklaces . . . dark green jade wickedly modest hearts, the gold and silver wickedly modest hearts, the wood, hay and stubble wickedly modest hearts. Just think of the loot such could bring in!
Yeah, I do confess, compared to all such, most Proddys are just neophytes at Prancingly Prissy Wickedly Modest Heart Spewing. We’ll just have to concede the points on such scores.
Based on the reactions and responses I’ve gotten, I was not under the impression that, that was all anyone wanted to know. I’ve been asked much more specific questions that were addressed in that post.
I appreciate that that satisfies your curiosity.
A good number of fitting and accurate points in that post, imho.
Thx.
Been at the Google random word generator again, eh.
I bet if I run that through Altavista Babelfish I can ask it to translate from gibberish into English!
ABSOLUTELY INDEED:
Thank you for stating this. I, too, have had in casual conversations with someone, either in person or even on the phone who I had never met before, about faith in Jesus Christ and there is a common bond almost immediately.
It doesn’t matter to me, or them, what the name of my church is or what I call myself. It is the Spirit bearing witness with Spirit and you just know you have a spiritual connection with that person in the Lord.
It’s happened so many times that I am convinced that this will be what is like in heaven. There will be a community of those who love the Lord and have obeyed his commands to love him with all our hearts, our minds and our souls. And we will love each other as he loves us.
Labels and church membership and denominations will be forgotten and in there place will be the common connection of brotherhood in Christ. I even see glimpses of that here already!
If someone criticizes Catholics, let them show how much better their own beliefs are by stating them, or let them hold their peace. Hiding behind generic “I believe the Bible” baloney is cowardly.
Normally I would agree with you - if I were to debate with a person who was of the Sola Scriptura crowd, because you are right, in that context, "I believe the Bible" is baloney because we all like to think that we believe the Bible, but the moment we speak we find that we believe quite differently. With Rome, Mormons and other religions who reject Sola Scriptura it isn't discussing the Bible, it discussing the Bible and other documents, traditions and foreign syncretisms. For example, Mormons throw in the very subjective "burning of the bosom" as validation to some conjured up lunacy. Y'all like your Holy Traditions which is a virtual cornucopia of mischief to those who restrict their theology to those things found strictly within the canon of Scripture.
Lets say that you agreed with your opponent to discuss differences from the subset of your authorities - the Protestant Bible. At that point you have eliminated the variables and can have a coherent discussion on how exactly you "believe the Bible". Almost all Roman Catholics are not willing to "tie one arm behind their back" and thus there will be this insipid and endless quarrel over admittable authorities that will just maintain discord.
If you were particularly clever, you would not care so much for the denomination as you would ask - by what Confession does your denomination hold? If the answer is "No Confession" then technically you aren't talking to a Protestant, you are talking to the equivalent of an Anabaptist at which point denominational affiliation is pointless since the denomination itself doesn't believe anything.
I guess this is just a long-winded way of saying, forget the denomination, there is no fruit in nit-picking it, go ahead, if you are correct in your faith to challenge their interpretation of their texts. Dragging in traditions, the Book of Mormon or Hal Lindsey's latest book is just stirring up strife - yet another sin and displeasing to the LORD.
This is the reason I normally don't challenge Roman Catholics, because you do cherish your Traditions and hold them at an equivalent esteem as the Holy Bible. You should already know a Protestant's opinion on Traditions, it is stupid and pointless to demand that we somehow consider them valid - its an argument absolutely guaranteed to go no where. So if you drag in Traditions, as far as we are concerned you might as well be reading a cookbook or from random pages from wikipedia. Sorry, that is why we have two very different faiths - the Bible isn't good enough for you and you demand something more.
A thread? Interesting. And not doubt you will deny whatever on that thread you happen to dislike in a manner of obfuscation. I post what I believe, and I post links to the documents that I believe. I am not a coward.
I realize that Catholics have a hard time when not in control. Believe me, I know.
I don't believe you. This is not about control; it is about truth.
Depending completely on God means relinquishing control.
And? I don't see your posts showing that you relinquish control to God. I see them as hoarding the control to yourself.
I have made it quite clear what my position is on salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. And I’ve been equally clear on the authority and sufficiency of Scripture alone for the believer. I don’t need to claim denominational affiliation and quote theologians to validate those beliefs.
You have made many unChristian and antiChristian claims over the recent past, including a repudiation of the Nicene Creed and the Gospels. Interesting way to show faith through Christ alone.
For all the marshmallow and coward insinuations, I still have not been manipulated into providing what it is apparent that Catholics wish to hear out of me. Not the soft squishy characteristics of a coward or marshmallow.
I will ask for an apology from you for this. You were not part of that conversation nor a subject of it, and you have no right to intrude upon it in this fashion. It was not about you and it speaks volumes upon your character that you assume it.
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.