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Pope: Everyone, Even Atheists, Want to See the Face of God
Asia News ^ | 1/16/13

Posted on 01/16/2013 8:57:49 AM PST by marshmallow

General audience, Benedict XVI defines the Incarnation as "something unimaginable, the face of God can be seen, the process that began with Abraham is fulfilled." The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, he asks "for the great gift" to "proclaim together that Jesus is the Savior of the world."

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "The desire to know the face of God is in every man, even the atheists," but this desire is only realized by following Christ, in whom, in the Incarnation, "something unimaginable took place, the journey that began with Abraham is fulfilled. He is the Son, the fullness of all Revelation; the mediator who shows us the face of God. "

And "to proclaim together that Jesus is the Saviour of the world" Benedict XVI asked for incessant prayers for "the great gift" of Christian unity in the forthcoming week, which begins on the 18th of this month.

Previously, in his catechesis, he again reflected on the meaning of Christmas, in a commentary on John's Gospel in which the apostle Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father. The answer of Jesus, "introduces us to the heart of the Church's Christological faith; For the Lord says: "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father" (Jn 14:9).This expression summarizes the novelty of the New Testament, the novelty that appeared in the cave of Bethlehem: God can be seen, he showed his face is visible in Jesus Christ".

The theme of "seeking the face of God" is present throughout the Old Testament, so much so that the Hebrew term "face", occurs no less than 400 times, 100 of which refer to God." The of Jewish religion which the religion forbids all images, "for God can not be depicted," and "can not be reduced to an object," tells us that "God...

(Excerpt) Read more at asianews.it ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Ecumenism; Ministry/Outreach; Skeptics/Seekers
KEYWORDS: spiritualjourney
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To: xzins
What, there’s not enough info on the web yet?

Or is it that you think we should put something up so you can “check us out” to see if we are doing the “church” thing right according to your view of what an “organized church” should be? Our High Priest is Jesus who is over the husband who is head of the household.

Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

761 posted on 02/03/2013 5:49:50 AM PST by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2)
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To: xzins; metmom
>> Acts 20:20 NIV You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.<<

Those were home churches. Small gatherings of believers. When those home churches were started there were “elders”, those who were more mature who were establishe as overseers of what transpired in those gatherings. As it says in Acts 20 there were times when one of the apostles would come in but they would work with the “elders” in each of those groups. Those could also become the teachers but others in the group could also speak to what they had learned.

>> The content of a "preaching" is a "sermon" by definition, and it can be a proclamation of the gospel or a teaching, something "helpful",. What was Paul's sermon in Athens?<<

LOL Show scripture where that “preaching” or “sermon” had to come from the same person each time. Surely you don’t think that Paul or any of the other apostles were in each of those homes each week do you?

762 posted on 02/03/2013 6:06:01 AM PST by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2)
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To: xzins; CynicalBear
I actually think that you are a little group and it might fit in a house, and I think a bigger group needs a big group sized building.

No doubt but it's simply a matter of convenience, not a requirement.The Bible says were to praise God with everything imaginable, including musical instruments, which would include an organ. Do you use musical instruments in your worship?

But it doesn't HAVE to include an organ. There's no Scripture that demands that music MUST be made with musical instruments.

On the contrary....

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

What does it matter of a group doesn't use instruments?

From what I read of church in the the Book of Acts, I am not sure that they're recognize what we do on Sundays here in America as church.

763 posted on 02/03/2013 6:28:35 AM PST by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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To: xzins; metmom
>> So, you have a scripture someplace that says the Court of the Gentiles in the Temple does not exist?<<

I have never said there were no larger gatherings. What I have said it doesn’t need to be large gatherings. The attitude here seems to be that unless one is “affiliated” with some organized religion set up by man that it’s somehow not part of the church. The “church” is not an “organized religion” as people now seem to think. It’s all of the believers whether they are affiliated with some organized group or “where two or three are gathered in my name”. This attitude of “my church is better than your church” has got to go. Christ’s body, the church, is anywhere “two or three are gathered”.

>> The Bible says were to praise God with everything imaginable, including musical instruments, which would include an organ.<<

Did I say anything was wrong with that? My point was that the “cookie cutter” image that most people have is not necessarily what happens everywhere and every time. When a group of Christians meet in Haiti, South America, Africa, or anywhere else in the world there are many different types of music used in worship.

>> Do you use musical instruments in your worship?<<

LOL Is it required? Do people dance in your church like Daniel danced?

2 Samuel 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

764 posted on 02/03/2013 6:30:48 AM PST by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2)
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To: HarleyD; metmom; xzins
Is this before or after I get my definition on "free will"? ;O)

Since the term "Free Will" is not used in the Bible, I don't think we could expect her to rely on the Holy Spirit's guidance or the scripture to provide you with the "infallible" (and universally accepted by the "True Believers in Christ ") definition of Free Will.

Predestination however is a Biblical term.

765 posted on 02/03/2013 6:38:21 AM PST by P-Marlowe (There can be no Victory without a fight and no battle without wounds.)
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To: boatbums; betty boop; metmom

“”I am content to believe that God IS in control, that all things are evident and open in His sight, that He knows the end from the beginning and that He STILL allows the present to happen according to His good pleasure.””

Good point , dear sister

Try looking at it this way explained by Saint Thomas Aquinas from Jacques Maritain translation
http://maritain.nd.edu/jmc/etext/gc3_73.htm

That Divine Providence is not inconsistent with Freedom of the Will

THE government of every prudent governor is ordained to the perfection of the things governed, to the gaining, or increasing, of maintenance of that perfection. An element of perfection then is more worthy of being preserved by providence than an element of imperfection and defect. But in inanimate things the contingency of causes comes of imperfection and defect: for by their nature they are determined to one effect, which they always gain, unless there be some let or hindrance arising either from limitation of power, or the interference of some external agent, or indisposition of subject-matter; and on this account natural causes in their action are not indifferent to either side of an alternative, but for the most part produce their effects uniformly, while they fail in a minority of instances. But that the will is a contingent cause comes of its very perfection, because its power is not tied to one effect, but it rests with it to produce this effect or that, wherefore it is contingent either way. * Therefore providence is more concerned to preserve the liberty of the will than to preserve contingency in natural causes.

2. It belongs to divine providence to use things according to their several modes. But a thing’s mode of action depends upon its form, which is the principle of action. But the form whereby a voluntary agent acts is not determinate: for the will acts through a form apprehended by the intellect; and the intellect has not one determined form of effect under its consideration, but essentially embraces a multitude of forms;* and therefore the will can produce multiform effects.

3. The last end of every creature is to attain to a likeness to God (Chap. XVII): therefore it would be contrary to providence to withdraw from a creature that whereby it attains the divine likeness. But a voluntary agent attains the divine likeness by acting freely, as it has been shown that there is free will in God (B. I, Chap. LXXXVIII).

4. Providence tends to multiply good things in the subjects of its government. But if free will were taken away, many good things would be withdrawn. The praise of human virtue would be taken away, which is nullified where good is not done freely: the justice of rewards and punishments would be taken away, if man did not do good and evil freely: wariness and circumspection in counsel would be taken away, as there would be no need of taking counsel about things done under necessity. It would be therefore contrary to the plan of providence to withdraw the liberty of the will.*

Hence it is said: God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his own counsel: before man is life and death, whatever he shall please shall be given him (Ecclus xv, 14-17).

Hereby is excluded the error of the Stoics, who said that all things arose of necessity, according to an indefeasible order, which the Greeks called ymarmene (heimarmenê).


766 posted on 02/03/2013 8:19:50 AM PST by stfassisi ((The greatest gift God gives us is that of overcoming self"-St Francis Assisi)))
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To: metmom; xzins; CynicalBear
But it doesn't HAVE to include an organ. There's no Scripture that demands that music MUST be made with musical instruments......There's no Scripture that demands that music MUST be made with musical instruments.

Wonder if those 'church building folk' realize their lungs and heart are organs.

Colossians 3:16 "Let the WORD of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Seems some just glance at Scripture/God's Word while favoring what 'man' says. Catholicism and Calvinism - same mindset w/organized religion.

767 posted on 02/03/2013 8:48:23 AM PST by presently no screen name
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To: presently no screen name; CynicalBear
Wonder if those 'church building folk' realize their lungs and heart are organs.

ROTFLOL!!!!!!!!!


768 posted on 02/03/2013 8:51:15 AM PST by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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To: presently no screen name; CynicalBear
Wonder if those 'church building folk' realize their lungs and heart are organs.

Good think I wasn't eating or you would have owed me a new keyboard.

769 posted on 02/03/2013 8:52:01 AM PST by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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To: P-Marlowe; metmom; xzins
Since the term "Free Will" is not used in the Bible, I don't think ...

You sola scriptura wackos are all alike... ;O)

770 posted on 02/03/2013 8:57:06 AM PST by HarleyD
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To: CynicalBear
Do people dance in your church like Daniel danced

They save it for their 'church dance night' in their church building and hire a band. Maybe even have $door prizes and crown someone the 'best dancer'. There is no telling what else 'man' will do in these 'worldly church buildings' - maybe even have a 'decoration committee', 'menu committee' - you just never know as the world has so much to offer man.

771 posted on 02/03/2013 9:06:09 AM PST by presently no screen name
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To: P-Marlowe
Predestination however is a Biblical term.

So is *choose*, *receive*, and *foreknew*.

772 posted on 02/03/2013 9:12:00 AM PST by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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To: metmom
or you would have owed me a new keyboard.

Just in case..Shop for musical keyboard on Google.

I'll pick up the tab. ;)

773 posted on 02/03/2013 9:13:31 AM PST by presently no screen name
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To: metmom
So is *choose*, *receive*, and *foreknew*.

And *ALL*.

774 posted on 02/03/2013 9:15:49 AM PST by presently no screen name
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To: presently no screen name

GMTA....

I was just thinking that I should have added that as well, but I had already hit the *Post* button.


775 posted on 02/03/2013 9:20:55 AM PST by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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To: presently no screen name; CynicalBear

And some people can’t figure out what Christians are getting tired of church as usual.....


776 posted on 02/03/2013 9:22:18 AM PST by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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To: HarleyD
Since the term "Free Will" is not used in the Bible, I don't think ...You sola scriptura wackos are all alike..

How many times is "God's Will" used?

If you don't obey God's Will - what do you call it?

Whose "Will" are you following?

777 posted on 02/03/2013 9:25:26 AM PST by presently no screen name
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To: metmom

Somehow I knew that was your intention.


778 posted on 02/03/2013 9:28:35 AM PST by presently no screen name
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To: metmom; HarleyD

So, after you give me your infallible definition of “Free Will” which isn’t in the Bible, can you give me your infallible definition of these terms?

Predestination
Choose
Receive
Foreknew

And then when you are done, please tell me how your definitions differ from that of the Roman Catholic Church and the Council of Trent.


779 posted on 02/03/2013 9:38:00 AM PST by P-Marlowe (There can be no Victory without a fight and no battle without wounds.)
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To: P-Marlowe

Do you have an infallible definition of *predestine* and *preordain*?

Or is it only the dictionary definition?


780 posted on 02/03/2013 9:41:52 AM PST by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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