[Mrs. Don-o]

If the Church is "composed of all those who have washed their robes in the Blood of Christ and are His redeemed children,"--- and I'll not give you any hassle about that ---then when we are told to "listen to the church," to whom are we supposed to listen? If we are supposed to bring our disputed questions to the "church", can we take them to any church in the phone book?

If these churches disagree on doctrine and moral law, how can I be confident that any one of them can render true judgment on a disputed question?

I don't think you would, but do you you recommend the phone book approach?

[MHGinTN]

You cannot be this dense! Mom MD referred to the body of believers, not some denomination or specific org such as Romanism. Yet you try to twist what she wrote so your devilish agenda is served which conflates all believers throughout HISTORY, with the institutional orgs you wish to empower. You cannot be so dense ... but you can use sophistry to tangle the discourse!

[Iscool]

If the Church is "composed of all those who have washed their robes in the Blood of Christ and are His redeemed children,"--- and I'll not give you any hassle about that ---then when we are told to "listen to the church," to whom are we supposed to listen? If we are supposed to bring our disputed questions to the "church", can we take them to any church in the phone book?

Isn't this what Catholics do??? You have a problem that needs spiritual attention, you go to your own church or one in another city if that's where you are at to get advice from a priest...You don't go to an arch bishop or your pope...You go to a local Catholic church...

And that is the biblical way to handle it...That is what the scripture is describing...

Looking at the biblical model, the Apostles went around and beget preachers and teachers and bishops and pastors...And then those preachers and teachers and bishops and pastors beget others to lead churches in other areas...And what did they use as their guide??? The scriptures...

Again, the continuity is between the churches and the scriptures...When the scriptures tell us to avoid those religions where the uppity ups wear long robes and are called father, we are to avoid them like the plague...When other religions drift from the doctrine that was taught in the scriptures, we are get out ohere as fast as we can...That's NOT continuity...

Look at the difference...Your continuity is between your local Catholic churches and your religions history and catechism which was put together over a 1500 year period...Some of your continuity only goes back to 1950 or so...

The continuity of the biblical Christian churches goes back to the beginning...To the words first penned under the inspiration of God...Yours is not the church of the bible...Yours is the church of Catholic history, which is still being written...

[Elsie]

---then when we are told to "listen to the church," to whom are we supposed to listen?

If you just Read the BOOK you guys put together...

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Acts 17:11 New International Version (NIV)
 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

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It seems to be fairly good advice.

If what was WRITTEN DOWN as SCRIPTURE at this point in time was good to follow; then a rational person should conclude that whatever else is WRITTEN DOWN as SCRIPTURE later would be too.