Televangelist John Hagee Apologizes to Catholics

lidiapurple »

Sat May 17, 2008 11:33 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 1

Believer,
The following groups are listed in the “Trail of Blood” as early Baptists. But they do not sound Baptist at all.
1 Montanists denied all second marriages, even after the death of the spouse. They required all virgins to wear veils in church and denied the forgiveness of sins, thus making a movement without hope..
2 Novatianists taught that no sin was to be forgiven after Baptism. They too denied second marriages under any circumstances. .
3 only valid when performed by a Donatist.
4. Paulicians believed in the plurality of gods, held that all matter was bad, rejected the Old Testament, denied the incarnation, and said Christ was an angel. They refused to honour the cross by saying Christ had not been crucified.
5. Albigensians believed in two gods, one good and the other evil. They rejected all sacraments, and declared it was sinful to marry. This promoted sexual permissiveness. Pregnancy was to be avoided and abortion was promoted.
6. Catharists were followers of all the heresies of the Albigensians.
7. Waldenses taught that the Church should have no property and condemned tithing. However, they accepted the Holy Eucharist as the Body of Christ

Calif. Court Says 'Yes' to Gay 'Marriage'

lidiapurple »

Fri May 16, 2008 11:20 am Agree: 2   Disagree: 2

schloss8
Can you please provide scientific proof that people are born Gay? I have not been able to find anything other than opinions and theories.

Televangelist John Hagee Apologizes to Catholics

lidiapurple »

Fri May 16, 2008 9:15 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

HyperionOverseer
Actually, Martin Luther DiID hate Jews. His Essay Called "On the Jews and Their Lies, 1543" is quite hateful.

Christian TV Host 'Comes Out,' Gets Support from Churchgoers

lidiapurple »

Sat Apr 26, 2008 1:29 am Agree: 2   Disagree: 2

If they were "customary", they were ALWAYS regarded and noted as customarily SINFUL.

Evangelicals Give Mixed Reactions to Pope's Visit

lidiapurple »

Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:22 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 2

The bible, not a made up doctrine, the bible says we will be save thru fire. How do you, wilderness, interpret 1 Corinthians 3:15?
Again, Please clarify “one who is not walking in the light””. If you mean someone who has turned away from God, there is no purging, no second chance…just Hell.

When quoting the Saints, please remember that everything that God says and does is infallible. Yet, if God gives someone, even a Saint, a true private revelation, there can be errors on two counts. First, the one receiving the revelation may have misunderstood. Second, the one writing down the revelation may make an error. Sacred Scripture is immune from both of these types of errors, but private revelation is not.

Therefore, if one finds small discrepancies, or awkwardly worded statements, or things that are unclear, one cannot thereby conclude that the claim to private revelation is false. True private revelation is not the same as infallible Sacred Scripture.

Evangelicals Give Mixed Reactions to Pope's Visit

lidiapurple »

Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:09 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

I'll keep checking in!

Christian TV Host 'Comes Out,' Gets Support from Churchgoers

lidiapurple »

Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:05 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 4

Dear Openminded,
The Bible is the Word of God without error. But there are different writing styles in the Bible. It was written over hundreds of years, by many different writers. A basic rule of thumb for reading the bible is to take it literally whenever possible.
Understand that those things you mentioned –“ yet they eat bacon and plant their garden with more than one kind of seed and wear multi-fibered clothing “ were part of the 600+ Levitical laws that passed away with the crucifixion.
You also need to understand that some of the things mentioned in the New Testament, like women not talking in church, or wearing head coverings, were considered customs of the time, and were to be adhered to out of respect for the customs.
Also, we believe that the OT is a foreshadowing of the NT. So, if something is different in the NT than the OT one always accepts the newer scripture.
It is very hard, if not impossible to know these things by just reading the Bible. That is why the concept of “Sola Scriptura” has never worked for me.
There are scholars who have written guides on how to read the bible. I’m sorry I can’t suggest a certain one right now. Maybe some here can.

Evangelicals Give Mixed Reactions to Pope's Visit

lidiapurple »

Fri Apr 25, 2008 5:35 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 2

Leap frog,
It doesn't have to be either/or. Of course you can pray straight to God. but the intercession of fellow Christians—which is what the saints in heaven are—also clearly does not interfere with Christ’s unique mediatorship because the Bible also says that Christians should interceed: "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. This is good, and pleasing to God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:1–4). Clearly, then, intercessory prayers offered by Christians on behalf of others is something "good and pleasing to God," not something infringing on Christ’s role as mediator.

What Divides Catholics and Protestants?

lidiapurple »

Fri Apr 25, 2008 5:05 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 2

? M y point is that your unity of essentials is non-existent. The only thing I have seen that ALL Protestants are unified is that the Catholic Church cannot be the authoritative church of Christ.
There is a minimum knowledge required to make one a Catholic. Jesus must be your only Lord and savior, and you must humbly submit your intellect and will to the teaching of the Church. There are many people who are “Cultural Catholics” who only give lip service to our Lord and to the Church. However, if and when they are ready to submit, there is one teaching authority , not a consensus of the “essentials” by various denomi nations.
I’d be happy to try private e-mailing. Not sure how that will work, but you can leave me your address.

Evangelicals Give Mixed Reactions to Pope's Visit

lidiapurple »

Fri Apr 25, 2008 4:34 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 1

Catholics believe that Christ accomplished all of our salvation for us on the cross. But that does not settle the question of how this redemption is applied to us. The Bible reveals that it is applied to us over the course of time through, among other things, the process of sanctification through which the Christian is made holy. Sanctification involves suffering (Rom. 5:3–5), and purgatory is the final stage of sanctification that some of us need to undergo before we enter heaven. Purgatory is the final phase of Christ’s applying to us the purifying redemption that he accomplished for us by his death on the cross.

You can’t say that suffering in the final stage of sanctification conflicts with the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement without saying that suffering in the early stages of sanctification also presents a similar conflict. Our suffering in sanctification does not take away from the cross. The cross produces our sanctification, which results in our suffering, because "for the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness" (Heb. 12:11).

Wilderness wrote: In addition, to offer someone (who is not walking in the light) the possibility to atone for his or her sins is dangerously wrong. Please clarify “one who is not walking in the light””. If you mean someone who has turned away from God, there is no purging, no second chance…just Hell.

Evangelicals Give Mixed Reactions to Pope's Visit

lidiapurple »

Fri Apr 25, 2008 2:49 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 1

One at a time, Leapfrog, one at a time! Let’s start with purgatory.
First of all, Scripture teaches, nothing unclean will enter the presence of God in heaven (Rev. 21:27) Through repentance we have gained the grace needed to be worthy of heaven. We has been forgiven and our soul is spiritually alive. But that’s not sufficient for gaining entrance into heaven. We need to be cleansed completely.
Purgatory is that cleansing experience, a purging, a purification, for those who die in God’s grace, but who still have many impurities in us, like venial sins, or the attachment to sinful ways.
2 Thessalonians 2:13, declares that God chose us "to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit." Sanctification is therefore not optional, something that may or may not happen before one gets into heaven. It is an absolute requirement.
Hebrews 12:14 states that we must strive "for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." There are very few of us who die in a completely holy, sanctified state. Something has to happened to us between death and our entrance into Heaven that will finish our sanctification.
Matt. 12:32, Christ refers to the sinner who "will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come" suggesting that one can be freed after death of the consequences of one’s sins.
1 Cor 3:15. Paul tells us that, when we are judged, each man’s work will be tried. And what happens if a righteous man’s work fails the test? "He will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire". This loss, this penalty, can’t refer to hell, since no one is saved there; and heaven can’t be meant, since there is no suffering in Heaven.
" Luke 12:59 "I tell you, you will never get out till you have paid the very last copper” Between death and Heaven soul is purified of the remaining consequences of sin
Are you looking for the word “purgatory” in the bible? If so, it won’t be found. Just as the Trinity and Incarnation aren’t in Scripture either. Yet those doctrines are clearly taught ,just as purgatory is.

Evangelicals Give Mixed Reactions to Pope's Visit

lidiapurple »

Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:00 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 1

" RCC teaching is not in the Bible.'
Pattiepie,
All Catholic teaching is scriptually grounded. Let's tackle one issue at a time. Please list one Catholic teaching that is not in the bible.

What Divides Catholics and Protestants?

lidiapurple »

Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:58 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 1

“Protestants acknowledge a unity on essentials that makes us brothers and sisters.”
Can you please show me where the bible lists the essentials ? Where it states which Christian beliefs are more essential than others? And where does it show us how to determine these things? How do we come to a consensus about it?

Christian TV Host 'Comes Out,' Gets Support from Churchgoers

lidiapurple »

Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:48 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

“Sin is what dwells inside of you...things such as lust & greed. So stay away from those things and worry little about OT laws”.

I just want to clarify that the OT laws you are referring to are the Levitical law, not the 10 commandments. We are still bound by those.
Matthew 19:17-19
17 "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
18"Which ones?" the man inquired.
Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19honor your father and mother,'[d] and 'love your neighbor as yourself.

What Divides Catholics and Protestants?

lidiapurple »

Fri Apr 25, 2008 12:48 am Agree: 2   Disagree: 2

Just got home frne "Expelled". Great Documentary!

"St. Bernardine of Sienna says, that God did not destroy man after his fall, because of the peculiar love that he bore his future child Mary. (The Glories of Mary Translated From the Italian of St. Alphonsus Liguori)".
Well, that could very well have been one reason, because we know from Genesis 3:15 she was in his plans from the start. But that doesn't go against what scripture says in John 3:16.
In any case, Catholics are not bound to believe the private revelations of the saints.

What Divides Catholics and Protestants?

lidiapurple »

Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:39 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 1

Online,
Thank you for the references. I had not read the second one. I will study it and get back to you. But the first one does not say the same thing. For Catholics hold that all Christian churches who came out of the Catholic church at the time of the reformation and since are still a part of our family and part of that universal church whether or not they acknowledge it .

What Divides Catholics and Protestants?

lidiapurple »

Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:16 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 3

"Behold, the handmaiden of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to your word". Luke 1:38. Mary gave herself completely to God. Do you think that Catholics believe Mary has any power that is not from Jesus? We do not. Anything that we attribute to her thru her intercession we know comes from God. We know that Jesus honors his mother now as he did on earth. We know that she is Blessed among women. We know that her prayers as a most righteous person will be heeded by her son. Jesu allows his angels to watch over us and protect us. Why wouldn't he allow his mothr to do the same?

What Divides Catholics and Protestants?

lidiapurple »

Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:29 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 1

Wilderness,
Because he is the only God-man and the Mediator of the New Covenant, Jesus is the only mediator between man and God (1 Tim. 2:5), but this in no way means we cannot or should not ask our fellow Christians to pray with us and for us (1 Tim. 2:1–4). If I asked you to pray for my sick child, would you say to me. “ No! There is only one mediator between God and man, the man Jesus. Go straight to Jesus?” Of course you wouldn’t. You’d probably be happy to pray for my child. Catholics believe that intercession and mediation are the same thing, and that we can go to Jesus thru you, wilderness, or thru the saints . In particular, we should ask the intercession of those Christians in heaven, who have already had their sanctification completed, for “the prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects" (Jas. 5:16). For we believe that death cannot separate us from the love of Christ, that those Christians who have gone before us are very much alive in Christ, and are still capable of interceding for us.

What Divides Catholics and Protestants?

lidiapurple »

Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:12 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 1

Online,
Can you please show me the Catholic teaching (either from the Catechism or from encyclicals) that states “ALL” must submit themselves to the pope in order to be saved”. Likewise with your statement that shows Catholic teaching has elevated the Pope to replace Christ? I must have missed those documents in my studies.

Christian TV Host 'Comes Out,' Gets Support from Churchgoers

lidiapurple »

Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:20 am Agree: 3   Disagree: 1

quecat wrote”
“I can think of no other sin where the sinner has the nerve to walk into a fellowship and demand that those of the body of Christ redefine-away a sin so that he may cater to his carnal lusts. Man may be fooled, but God isn't”
I can think of one. The sin of perverting the sexual act by fragmenting it’s intended use. Sex is for bonding and babies. When the majority of Christians accepted the use of artificial birth control , we redefined sex and are now free to cater to our own carnal lusts.