Posted on 12/10/2014 6:32:20 AM PST by marshmallow
"Christian unity" is one of those terms that stir up a whole spectrum ofsometimes emotionalopinions.
On the one hand, we know that Jesus prayed to the Father concerning future believers "that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you" (John 17:21a, NIV).
On the other hand, charismatics know it is almost pointless to discuss the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12, 14) with Baptists or most anyone else from a mainline denomination. And Protestants of just about any stripe get riled up when they hear Catholics talking about papal infallibility or their adoration of the Virgin Mary.
It's on this latter point that Rick Warren, senior pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, and successful author, has waded into a hornet's nest of controversy by telling a Catholic News Service interviewer that Protestants and Catholics "have far more in common than what divides us" and that Catholics do not "worship Mary like she's another god."
Regarding Warren's view that Catholics do not worship Mary, Matt Slick, writing on the website of the Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry, goes into great detail with material from Roman Catholic sources that say Mary is "the all holy one," is to be prayed to, worshipped, that she "brings us the gifts of eternal life" and she "made atonement for the sins of man."
If that's not putting her in the place of Christ as a god-like figure to be worshipped, then what is it?
"We believe in Trinity, the Bible, the resurrection, and that salvation is through Jesus Christ. These are the big issues," Warren says. "But the most important thing is if you love Jesus, we're on the same team."
To Warren's point about being on the same team, Slick.....
(Excerpt) Read more at charismanews.com ...
“”They just let someone else do the thinking for them and go for the group hug kind of mentality.””
More like a circle the wagons while drinking Papal Kool-Aid mentality
If one truly believes all Catholics who obey their faith are destined for hell, but does not tell the truth about where they assemble, it is hypocrisy. If one is really just trying to convince or reassure himself that the Catholic Church is completely wrong, but really does not care about his neighbor, then he will protest in anonymity, never risking his own affiliation for shame, doubt, uncertainty, or accountability. Anyone can form an assembly of protestors, until they split, and split.
Another case is the Catholic who has left the faith and is screaming inside to remove, as it were, an indelible mark. This case is not unique to former Catholics and indicates unresolved issues rather than the peace of the Holy Spirit.
Another case entirely are those who confess their affiliation while not holding faith in the Catholic Church as the correct manifestation of the holy catholic apostolic church. IIRC, individuals have confessed affiliation with Anglican, Nazarene, Orthodox, Reformed Baptist, Southern Baptist Convention, and Wesleyan. I don't think all these affiliations are reciprocal but I honor those who have the courage of conviction in their choice to confess them.
I've been thinking the same thing. The depth of the depravity of the Catholic Church has been an eye opener to me.
Everytime I think just maybe I am mistaken I see something like that. Amazing.
That's a fact. And Catholics had better take heed. The corruption of the words of God in Scripture by the Catholic Church has left those who follow her in the dark and truly walking after the flesh.
They want others to join their "church" yet even the very word "church" that they use is a total and complete corruption of the word "ekklesia" used in the New Testament to identify those who meet and have been "called out" by God. As the word church is used today it has no similarity or connection to the word "ekklesia" or the concept it portrays.
From their understanding of that corrupted word "church" and it's meaning today Catholics would have it that others identify with some form of that corrupted concept.
Not until people understand the concept and meaning of "ekklesia" used in the New Testament will they understand what the ekklesia of Christ really is.
I have answered this often-demanded question previously on FR. Four or five times. My answered was ignored every time.
I don’t like your attitude or insinuations and deny your demand this particular time. Your accusations against me are mounting, though.
Take care when judging those you do not rightly comprehend.
Mark
metmom made the ONLY valid point: Beliefs are to be made against and in contrast to, and only to, the authority of the Scriptures, anything else is subject to false interpretation and human error.
What matters is what God and Jesus say matter, not what you, af_vet, think matters, nor what the Pope says matters, nor what any preacher says matters, save that it is found in the plain reading of the Word. Why? Because, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death;”....”for God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are our ways God’s ways.”
Therefore, what could it possibly matter WHICH denomination someone may be or NOT be affiliated if they make their statements while standing upon the Word of God?
I don’t care WHAT denomination someone attends, if they haven’t accepted Christ as their personal Savior, GOD SAID they will NEVER enter into Heaven. Repentance and belief in Christ is the condition for salvation, not works, lest anyone should boast.
Now, if someone wants to remain a baby, drinking milk or baby formula until they die a physical death, they can attend any false church or formula feeding church they wish, while never having attained the fullness of Christ within their lives that God would have desired. Hebrews teaches us about those who want to stay babies. Hebrews also teaches us it is the mark of a ‘meat and potato’ Christian who allows the Holy Spirit to work in their life, with daily reading and study of the Word which causes spiritual maturity. As maturity occurs, the Holy Spirit will be able to better guide them as to what a believer should do or where a believer should attend church. Spiritual maturity is between God and the individual.
I can remain saved no matter what church I attend, but if one chooses to become spiritually mature, the believer will be prompted by the Holy Spirit to seek out those churches/pastors which teach the Word of God, from Genesis through Revelation, not just ‘topical’ subjects from the Word.
Hilarious!
ty Elsie.
As an exercise in consistency, and that you practice what you preach, I expect you to invite into your home anyone who knocks at your door and asks you to study the scriptures. You are not permitted to ask their religious affiliation. You are only permitted to pray with them that all of you will find truth in whatever translations you each prefer. Otherwise hypocrisy will be on the door posts of your home.
That’s like Satan telling the Lord to throw himself off the cliff as God has promises His angels charge to care for Him lest even His foot strike a rock.
Any more jokes?
I’m glad you’re interested in growing spiritually and studying God’s Word.
Read the Gospel of John.
When you’re done, come back for your next instruction.
The two have nothing to do with each other.
Besides, I don't know that anyone here on FR has said that ALL Catholics are going to hell.
And how would it be hypocrisy to not tell what church they belong to? Unless of course, you are thinking that it's churches that save you. A very telling comment on your part.
If one is really just trying to convince or reassure himself that the Catholic Church is completely wrong, but really does not care about his neighbor, then he will protest in anonymity, never risking his own affiliation for shame, doubt, uncertainty, or accountability.
Who said the Catholic church is completely wrong? Why are you making blanket statements about fictional persons who don't exist and passing them off as fact?
And again, it's not a matter of comparing one religion to another but comparing a church's teaching to Scripture and Scripture stands alone on its own, without denominational affiliation.
Catholicism is such a religion of control freaks.
If people don’t do it their way, they stand condemned.
And who are you to make demands on someone else and who are you that you seem to feel that people are answerable to you?
Neither you nor your church have any claims of authority on ANYONE outside of it.
IOW, go pound sand.
“Saying *mother of my Lord* does NOT mean *mother of God*.”
The Lord is God. God is the Lord. Remember, plenty of Protestants admit this.
Elisabeth confessed faith already in the person of Jesus, for she noted that Mary bore the God-man (mother of my Lord). Footnote in The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible.
“Making something more vague does not make it clearer.”
Take that to heart because you’re the one doing it.
“Saying *mother of God* only leads to more opportunity for error.”
Actually, no. There is no error in it or connected with it. There is only error in rejecting it because when you reject it you are denying that Christ is God.
“Oh; me too!”
And that just confirms what Newman said.
“You are SO right!”
I am right. Get used to it.
That way, I KNOW I can't be wrong.
The Holy Spirit is clear in Scripture in calling Mary *the mother of Jesus*.
John 2:1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
John 2:3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, They have no wine.
Acts 1:14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
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.