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To: boatbums

Protestantism has become so unlike ancient Christianity that it has to be treated like another religion.

Ecumenism with Protestantism is worthless, save for Election Day when we need to keep the atheists at bay.

An Ecumenical Council capable of resolving all of the outstanding issues between Rome and the Eastern Churches is a possibility.

Protestants, however, are mission territory.


540 posted on 01/20/2012 10:52:22 PM PST by rzman21
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To: rzman21
Protestantism has become so unlike ancient Christianity that it has to be treated like another religion. Ecumenism with Protestantism is worthless, save for Election Day when we need to keep the atheists at bay. An Ecumenical Council capable of resolving all of the outstanding issues between Rome and the Eastern Churches is a possibility. Protestants, however, are mission territory.

It appears that "Protestantism" is just a junk-drawer category some people use for all the "not-Catholic" Christians. You certainly have not held back your obvious disdain for them. The thing is, Rzman, the faith I practice as well as many others here on this forum is not defined by what you say it is. In fact, I will put my faith up against yours compared to "ancient" Christianity any day. The ancient Christianity I follow is found in the Holy Bible and you can't get any earlier than that.

Christianity is exactly OPPOSITE from any and all other religions in the entire world. The word, religion, means "to bind back" and that is why there are literally thousands or millions of them. Religion is man's attempt to bind himself back to God. No matter if the end reward is called heaven or nirvana or happy-hunting-grounds, it is always what man must do to deserve it or merit it. Christianity is not what man does to bind himself back to God but what God has done to bind man back to him. Heaven is a free gift that we can do nothing to earn or deserve but it is offered by the grace of God and we acquire it by faith. So, if you believe that you get to heaven by faith PLUS anything else you do, then your religion is just like any other religion - just not Christianity.

So, I agree with you, at least, that Ecumenism is worthless especially if the Roman Catholic Church is driving it. Through the various "councils" and "Bulls", Rome has declared itself the only way to God, so naturally, if they want to be consistent, they MUST insist that anybody who wants to "play" must do so by their rules. "Our way or the highway", right? Any attempts to "resolve" the issues separating the Orthodox and Rome will, mark my words, only be possible when the East relents and submits to Rome. The schism has been going for over a millennium, there MUST be some reasons why it hasn't happened yet. If they're smart, they'll STAY separated.

627 posted on 01/21/2012 7:46:52 PM PST by boatbums (Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us. Titus 3:5)
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