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Reformation Day – and What Led Me To Back to Catholicism
The Catholic Thing ^ | 10/28/11 | Francis J. Beckwith

Posted on 10/28/2011 6:59:29 AM PDT by markomalley

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To: D-fendr
the number of ‘denominations’ in the world currently exceeds 26,000

I used think that was high, but with the "I am the church" posts lately, I'm thinking it could be way low.

All you have to do is open up a phone directory for an indication.

2,321 posted on 11/15/2011 5:22:32 PM PST by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: MarkBsnr
>> You may wish to check a bunch of your dates, but the Roman Catholic Church never claimed Biblical authorship to itself.<<

do I actually have to go back and find all the times on this thread alone that the statement was made that the CC WROTE the Bible? Oh, and I’ll stand by those dates.

2,322 posted on 11/15/2011 5:22:52 PM PST by CynicalBear
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To: boatbums
When you can point to Scripture that says that you boatbums are saved, then I will cheer and carry you about on my shoulders. However, what this is, is the declaration of self to the ranks of the saved. The Judgement of Christ is not about what seat you get watching heavenly football on Sundays.

Non sequitur, Mark, you of all people should know that. Where does it say Peter was saved, or Paul, or John?

That's a very good question. We believe that they were saved.

How asserting faith in the promises of God equates to a "declaration of self to ranks of the saved" is beyond me. I am trusting in the EXACT same words Jesus spoke to the multitudes, to his disciples, they to their followers and from them to us through Holy Scripture. Whats more, God knows my name, and he is the ONLY one who counts. Why is it so impossible to accept that God can be trusted?

You keep interchanging faith and knowledge. I don't say that God cannot be trusted. He is not fallible. You and I are.

You say "The Judgment of Christ is not about what seat you get watching heavenly football on Sundays" as if that is what I think or believe. Reading that only confirms my fear that the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who died to make us free, is lost on you. It sounds as if you have no faith in Christ to save you at all but must live in constant fear that any minor failure on your part has the power to condemn you for eternity. I don't read trust or love or surrender or faith in your words but only dread. That someone has to formally be named a "saint" to know they have made it to Heaven at all is a disconnect with what God has already said.

Every time I make my point on this matter, the retreat begins. You may read dread; but I think that my faith is every bit as strong as yours. You also have repeated the fallacy that only declared saints make it to Heaven.

I don't want you to proclaim me or carry me on your shoulders because it isn't about that. It is each person one-on-one, between them and God, accepting or rejecting his GIFT of eternal life. What do you do with this gift? Why mock anyone who steps out and says they have accepted it? Why doubt that God truly gives assurance and comforts his children with his presence, answers their prayers, provides all their needs, forgives and cleanses them from all their sins and is, right now, preparing a place for us? Why doubt that the Holy Spirit is within each of us who are his, working within us to conform us to the image of Jesus, teaching us the way to walk in holiness and growing our faith?

You have not merely said that you have accepted it, you have declared that you know of your salvation. Do not conflate faith and knowledge and we will post more evenly to each other.

You must choose whether or not you will believe Jesus, believe what he clearly has said and rest in his precious promises. Nobody can do that for you and no place or person can grant to you what only God can give. I KNOW I have eternal life because I have received the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. I believe he died on the cross to pay for my sins - a debt I could NEVER have satisfied. Because of him, I am redeemed and for eternity I will dwell with him and it is all because of HIM, not me. Grace is not something to mock, it is the ultimate sin to do so, and unless it is repented of, it will send one to Hell for eternity. Don't mock grace, please, and don't mock those who live by faith in the grace of God.

I do not conflate faith and knowledge; and I reserve the right to upbraid those who do.

2,323 posted on 11/15/2011 5:31:44 PM PST by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: boatbums; CynicalBear
I don't recall you making the claim that each Gospel wrote the inscription in a different language (except for Mark who wrote in Esperanto or something).

You don't seem to remember a lot of things we have hashed out over the years. It's one thing to disagree, but an entirely different thing to say you've NEVER seen it before. And I have to agree with CB here, on this kind of argument being used a lot by atheists and agnostics. I even remember you and Kosta50 going at the same thing with me when he was still on FR.

Before you blow a gasket, let me repost from 2195:

Interesing. I don't recall seeing this claim before. Do you have a source? After all, the NT was written entirely in Greek. Why would the Gospel writings each pick a different language?

How quickly they forget! Didn't we have this dicussion a mere few months ago! The Gospel of Luke explains EXACTLY what Cynical Bear has stated - and I posted the same to you: Luke 23:38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

I don't recall you making the claim that each Gospel wrote the inscription in a different language (except for Mark who wrote in Esperanto or something).

I did not say that I didn't see it before; I said twice in two succeeding posts that I did not recall seeing the argument made that each Gospel writer wrote in a different language. I also posted to CB why I thought that his choice of languages attributed to each Gospel write made no sense.

2,324 posted on 11/15/2011 5:35:10 PM PST by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: MarkBsnr
>>It doesn't say that anywhere<<

Sigh,,,,,,,do you not read my posts?

Luke 23:38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew

I’m not sure why you have such a hard time with this. Is it because you so desperately want there to be a contradiction?

2,325 posted on 11/15/2011 5:35:37 PM PST by CynicalBear
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To: MarkBsnr
>>You may wish to check John 1, the various Passion accounts and Acts 2.<<

As I’ve told you before. Jesus put that veneration in perspective and I will stick with His words on it.

Luke 11:27-28 27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Nay rather, (Greek Menounge: nay surely, nay rather) blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

2,326 posted on 11/15/2011 5:39:45 PM PST by CynicalBear
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To: MarkBsnr
>>In Sola Interpretata-World, history begins anew each morning.<<

If you don’t know any better than that maybe I should find an adult to debate.

2,327 posted on 11/15/2011 5:42:31 PM PST by CynicalBear
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To: presently no screen name
It's supposed to be all about Jesus;

I asked is it ALL about JESUS for 'you'.

Not very clearly. The answer however, is that it is all about the Triune God, who consists of God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

the legacy of the Reformation is that it is not for the children of the Reformation.

Those who believe God's Word is THE FINAL AUTHORITY are God's children and NO ONE can snatch them for HIS HAND. They would never bow, believe, follow man made teachings/traditions. They are 'HIS' for eternity and ALL His promises to them are 'yes' and 'amen'. Thank You, JESUS!

Hebrews 6: . 4For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift* and shared in the holy Spiritc 5and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,* 6and then have fallen away, to bring them to repentance again, since they are recrucifying the Son of God for themselves* and holding him up to contempt.d

And Paul goes on to say:

7Ground that has absorbed the rain falling upon it repeatedly and brings forth crops useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God.e 8But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is rejected; it will soon be cursed and finally burned.f 9But we are sure in your regard, beloved, of better things related to salvation, even though we speak in this way. 10For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having served and continuing to serve the holy ones. 11We earnestly desire each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of hope until the end,g 12so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who, through faith and patience,h are inheriting the promises. So if you believe in God and do works, and don't fall away, this is tied to your salvation.

2,328 posted on 11/15/2011 5:42:59 PM PST by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: CynicalBear
So if you believe that Christ is in you what happens upon your death? Does He just abandon you at that point then?

Matthew 22: 1a Jesus again in reply spoke to them in parables, saying, 2“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast* for his son. 3* He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come.

4A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ 5Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. 6b The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.

7* The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. 9Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ 10The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,* and the hall was filled with guests.

11* But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. 12He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. 13* c Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ 14Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

If we do not do His Will, He will Judge us.

2,329 posted on 11/15/2011 5:46:42 PM PST by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: CynicalBear
>> Why would you use a list from the first anti Pope as a beginning for anything?<<

LOL The accolades the CC gives him show they still venerate him. He doesn’t appear to have been denigrated too much.

Can you show me veneration of Hippolytus?

2,330 posted on 11/15/2011 5:47:25 PM PST by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: Natural Law
Mark - it would appear that those who profess to be experts on Catholicism still do not have a clue. They seem to believe that Catholic saints have live perfect lives modestly suffering on their knees in mystical prayer. For the record Catholics only recognize two persons to have ever been without sin. Sainthood is a recognition of persons by the Church for living extraordinary lives of who great charity and heroic virtues. They are as much to be emulated as venerated.

Excellent. Good examples, too. I brought up the example of Tertullian, but I missed Origen.

2,331 posted on 11/15/2011 5:48:45 PM PST by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: Natural Law
It is as silly as them claiming to be part of the universal catholic (small "c") church while maintaining 33,000+ doctrinally different denominations.

How many paramecia live in the ocean? Krill? No doubt to one krill, others are different.

2,332 posted on 11/15/2011 5:50:50 PM PST by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: CynicalBear
You actually didn’t understand the term “entering the holiest”? That is not a literal building here on earth. It’s the right to come before the throne of God through the blood of Christ. All who rely solely on the blood of Christ for salvation can go before the throne of God whereas prior to Christ’s death only the High Priest could and then only once a year and after ceremonial cleansing.

Oho. Another good one. One has to be perfect in order to be Judged. Matthew 22 and 25 don't count? The great white throne Judgement is for the pure?

2,333 posted on 11/15/2011 5:57:48 PM PST by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: CynicalBear
>> You may wish to check a bunch of your dates, but the Roman Catholic Church never claimed Biblical authorship to itself.<<

do I actually have to go back and find all the times on this thread alone that the statement was made that the CC WROTE the Bible? Oh, and I’ll stand by those dates.

Please do. I stand by my statement and will be vindicated by my posts. Please read carefully lest you be embarrassed.

2,334 posted on 11/15/2011 5:59:13 PM PST by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: CynicalBear
>>It doesn't say that anywhere<<

Sigh,,,,,,,do you not read my posts?

Luke 23:38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew

I’m not sure why you have such a hard time with this. Is it because you so desperately want there to be a contradiction?

You specified what inscription each Gospel writer wrote in what language. Where does it say that they wrote in any other language than Greek? Scripture, please.

2,335 posted on 11/15/2011 6:01:12 PM PST by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: metmom

I’m reminded of the illustration Jesus gave in Matthew chapter 21 of the the landowner that let out his vineyard to cultivators while he traveled abroad.

Well the conclusion of the illustration was that the kingdom was to be taken away from that nation, Israel, and given to a nation producing the fruits of the kingdom. (vs 43).

Great age, having sacred rites and rituals, being in a favored status would not prevent that kingdom from being taken away from them and being given to another.

We can note that it wasn’t a few bad apples and that those who abandoned that corrupt nation saved their lives.


2,336 posted on 11/15/2011 6:03:01 PM PST by count-your-change (You don't have to be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)
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To: MarkBsnr
So the fact that He first invited the Jews but they weren’t interested then invited the Gentiles some of whom accepted and clothed themselves in His righteousness and others just came as they were thinking they were good enough answers my question how?

I’ll ask it again. So if you believe that Christ is in you what happens upon your death? Does He just abandon you at that point then?

2,337 posted on 11/15/2011 6:05:42 PM PST by CynicalBear
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To: CynicalBear
>>You may wish to check John 1, the various Passion accounts and Acts 2.<<

As I’ve told you before. Jesus put that veneration in perspective and I will stick with His words on it.

Luke 11:27-28 27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Nay rather, (Greek Menounge: nay surely, nay rather) blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Wtihin the context of Jesus teaching, of course, He wanted them to pay attention to Him at the moment, rather than disturb His teachings to the crowd.

However we still have the elaborate verses in Luke 1. And never forget the Wedding in Cana, where He tells the steward to do whatever she tells him to do. Wait, what? Almighty God telling a human being to do whatever another human being tells him to do? Sounds just a little special to me.

2,338 posted on 11/15/2011 6:07:42 PM PST by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: CynicalBear
>>In Sola Interpretata-World, history begins anew each morning.<<

If you don’t know any better than that maybe I should find an adult to debate.

You already have. Tell you what; why not make a small survey. Pick out a short list of mallfront churches blind from the phone book and visit one each week. Perhaps you might be surprised. I know that in my prodigal years, that I was repeatedly surprised...

2,339 posted on 11/15/2011 6:09:42 PM PST by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: CynicalBear
I’ll ask it again. So if you believe that Christ is in you what happens upon your death? Does He just abandon you at that point then?

Since you have abandoned Christ (another term for sinning), He will send you to the fate you have chosen. If you refuse Christ, what does He say about you?

2,340 posted on 11/15/2011 6:12:18 PM PST by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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