Should I be rebaptised?

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Stranger

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Who says you have to be one or the other? I am neither.

It all depends on how you define 'catholic'. BreadOfLife sees only the Roman Church as catholic. But catholic just means universal. Look at the 'Apostles Creed'. The word 'catholic' was originally not capitalized. That is because it spoke of the entire body of Christians. And you as a believer in Christ, are part of the catholic church. In other words, you can truthfully recite 'I believe in the holy catholic church'.

A Protestant is one who is aligned with any group of Christians who identify with those who separated (protested) from the Roman Church. And it is possible you do not belong to any of those. But if you consider the Roman Church and it's doctrines, and do not believe you could be a part, then you are protestant in spirit.

But you are still 'catholic'. You just are not 'Roman Catholic'.

Stranger
 

Stranger

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In that case, I'm not a "Roman" - I'm a Catholic.
AGAIN - your idiotic argument would render me a "Nazarene" since I follow Christ . . .

Do you answer to the Roman Pontiff or not? If you tell me no that you answer to your bishop, then does your bishop answer to the Roman Pontiff? If you tell me your bishop does not answer to the Roman Pontiff, then what does the statement mean in Vatican II that I showed you in post #(1083)?

Stranger
 

Stranger

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Oh, you/'re a Protestant alright - but not a Catholic.
That's an oxymoron . . .

Why? You don't consider me part of the Church of Jesus Christ? Is that because I was not baptized as an infant? Do I reject Jesus Christ? Why am I not part of the holy catholic church?

Stranger
 

tabletalk

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My original background is Southern Baptist. They were similar to the Roman Church in that all was really dictated from the Southern Baptist Convention, and it's center was Fort Worth. They would never admit that. In fact they would declare all the Southern Baptist churches were independent. But just wait till you had a doctrinal issue with them and you would find out that they controlled the Southern Baptist churches. Of course much of that is no more as they have divided also.

Once, in my early Christian years, when I was a member of a Southern Baptist Church, they had a guest speaker. And after the service me and a close friend of mine were still sitting in the pews looking in the Bible concerning some things he said. The guest speaker being done with the handshakes saw us and came over and said, "that is going to get you boys in a lot of trouble". Whether he was kidding or not, I don't know. But, he was right.

I have been a member of the Presbyterian Church of America. I liked it very much. They in fact did baptize infants, though I don't think it was for salvation purpose.

And I have been a member of various other denominations, but they were independent of any larger control. Bible Churches. Independent Baptist. etc. etc.

I am Christian part of the Catholic Church. I am Protestant. I am Evangelical. I can worship with any believers no matter what denomination. That includes the Roman Church.

Stranger

But, the 'Roman Church' believers will be (most likely) worshipping the bread and wine. Are you united in Christ with one who worships a physical object?
 

Stranger

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But, the 'Roman Church' believers will be (most likely) worshipping the bread and wine. Are you united in Christ with one who worships a physical object?

You don't know that every Roman believer is worshiping an object. I as a Protestant take the Lords Supper. I consider it very important and the warning that goes with it very real.

So, yes, the Christian in the Roman Church, I have no problem fellowshipping with.

Stranger
 

epostle

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You're playing with words. You are the wordsmith. I never said you were a Roman citizen. I said your church is Roman. And it is because the Roman Pontiff is who you answer to. It is really very simple. I am puzzled by this refusal of yours to be identified with the Roman Church.

Do you answer to the Roman Pontiff or not? If you tell me no you answer to your bishop, then does your bishop answer to the Roman Pontiff or not. If you tell me no, then what does the statement in Vatican II mean, that I showed you in post #(1083)?

Stranger
You're playing with words. You are the wordsmith. I never said you were a Roman citizen. I said your church is Roman. And it is because the Roman Pontiff is who you answer to. It is really very simple. I am puzzled by this refusal of yours to be identified with the Roman Church.

Do you answer to the Roman Pontiff or not? If you tell me no you answer to your bishop, then does your bishop answer to the Roman Pontiff or not. If you tell me no, then what does the statement in Vatican II mean, that I showed you in post #(1083)?

Stranger
It is you that refuses to understand the multiple senses that the prefix "Roman" is used. "Do you answer to the Roman Pontiff or not" is standard invincible ignorance that anti-Catholics have in their pathetic understanding of the relationship Catholics have with the Pope. You have a habit of beating dead horses.

A single rite does not encompass or define the entire CATHOLIC CHURCH. CoreIssue's lovely chart clearly shows 23 rites to be One, Holy, Universal (Catholic) and Apostolic. These are divine attributes, not denominations. They cannot be the work of man alone; the CATHOLIC CHURCH would never have survived this long with one missing.

The Catholic Church grieves your divisions and sectarianisms, which is clearly condemned in the Bible. We accept you as Christians but boasting about separations is not of God.
 

CoreIssue

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It is you that refuses to understand the multiple senses that the prefix "Roman" is used. "Do you answer to the Roman Pontiff or not" is standard invincible ignorance that anti-Catholics have in their pathetic understanding of the relationship Catholics have with the Pope. You have a habit of beating dead horses.

A single rite does not encompass or define the entire CATHOLIC CHURCH. CoreIssue's lovely chart clearly shows 23 rites to be One, Holy, Universal (Catholic) and Apostolic. These are divine attributes, not denominations. They cannot be the work of man alone; the CATHOLIC CHURCH would never have survived this long with one missing.

The Catholic Church grieves your divisions and sectarianisms, which is clearly condemned in the Bible. We accept you as Christians but boasting about separations is not of God.
The chart does not show a singular Catholicism anymore than a chart shows a singular Protestantism.

Call it denominations, sects, rites or what ever you wish, they are the same thing.

There is not unity in Catholicism under the Pope.

There is nothing divine about Catholicism. It is condemned in the Bible.
 

Stranger

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It is you that refuses to understand the multiple senses that the prefix "Roman" is used. "Do you answer to the Roman Pontiff or not" is standard invincible ignorance that anti-Catholics have in their pathetic understanding of the relationship Catholics have with the Pope. You have a habit of beating dead horses.

A single rite does not encompass or define the entire CATHOLIC CHURCH. CoreIssue's lovely chart clearly shows 23 rites to be One, Holy, Universal (Catholic) and Apostolic. These are divine attributes, not denominations. They cannot be the work of man alone; the CATHOLIC CHURCH would never have survived this long with one missing.

The Catholic Church grieves your divisions and sectarianisms, which is clearly condemned in the Bible. We accept you as Christians but boasting about separations is not of God.

Really? BreadOfLife doesn't like any where the term 'Roman' is used.

And so I ask you, do you answer to the Roman Pontiff or not?

The Roman Church created the divisions that exist. First with the eastern orthodox, and then with the Protestant.

Stranger
 
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charity

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@Acolyte:- 'Should I be re-baptized?'

Why?
 

Pearl

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Again, I have been trying to highlight the central actual difference here: whether or not a non-repentant person can be baptized. That's the core issue.
They can be baptised and I suppose there are many that do go through a form of baptism for a variety of reasons but without the inner heart change that true repentance brings. In these cases I don't think it would count.
 
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Pearl

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@Acolyte:- 'Should I be re-baptized?'

Why?
Infant baptism isn't really baptism. I had the same dilemma and chose to obey God even though I had to leave the Church of England to do it.
 

charity

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Infant baptism isn't really baptism. I had the same dilemma and chose to obey God even though I had to leave the Church of England to do it.
'I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,
beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is:-
. one body, and
.. one Spirit, even as ye are called in
.... one hope of your calling;
...... One Lord,
........ one faith,
.......... one baptism,
............ One God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

(Ephesians 4:1-6)

Hello @Pearl,

Thank you for sharing. :)

I was baptised too, soon after I came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour, because it was expected of me. At the age of 12 yrs I did not then understand what baptism signified. - Now I do.

I did not know that John the Baptist baptised with water for repentance and remission of sins, and that the Lord Jesus Christ be made known unto Israel (Mark 1:4; John 1:31). I did not know that there were two baptisms in operation during the period covered by the Acts of the Apostles: 'water baptism' and 'baptism with the Holy Spirit' (Acts 19:2-6). Or that during this present dispensation only one baptism is required: and that is a baptism which is of the Holy Spirit only; therefore requires no water, or work of the flesh, as all is of the Spirit: for the believer is 'complete' in Christ Jesus their risen Lord (Colossians 2:10). - Now I know. :)

Praise His Holy Name!

In Christ Jesus
Chris
 
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Pearl

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'I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,
beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is:-
. one body, and
.. one Spirit, even as ye are called in
.... one hope of your calling;
...... One Lord,
........ one faith,
.......... one baptism,
............ One God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

(Ephesians 4:1-6)

Hello @Pearl,

Thank you for sharing. :)

I was baptised too, soon after I came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour, because it was expected of me. At the age of 12 yrs I did not then understand what baptism signified. - Now I do.

I did not know that John the Baptist baptised with water for repentance and remission of sins, and that the Lord Jesus Christ be made known unto Israel (Mark 1:4; John 1:31). I did not know that there were two baptisms in operation during the period covered by the Acts of the Apostles: 'water baptism' and 'baptism with the Holy Spirit' (Acts 19:2-6). Or that during this present dispensation only one baptism is required: and that is a baptism which is of the Holy Spirit only; therefore requires no water, or work of the flesh, as all is of the Spirit: for the believer is 'complete' in Christ Jesus their risen Lord (Colossians 2:10). - Now I know. :)

Praise His Holy Name!

In Christ Jesus
Chris
Friends from the Pentecostal church kept arguing that I needed to be baptised as the infant 'baptism' didn't count. I determinedly argued back that, no I didn't I was 'done' as a baby'. Then God stepped in and told me to be baptised so I obeyed. You can't argue with God. Well you can, but it isn't wise.
 

charity

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Friends from the Pentecostal church kept arguing that I needed to be baptised as the infant 'baptism' didn't count. I determinedly argued back that, no I didn't I was 'done' as a baby'. Then God stepped in and told me to be baptised so I obeyed. You can't argue with God. Well you can, but it isn't wise.
Hello @Pearl,

God has never spoken to me, I have never heard His voice. I believe the written word of God to be the sum of all revelation, and the light of my path.

May God's perfect will be done in each one of us, for His Name and Glory's sake.

With love.
In Christ Jesus
Chris
 

Pearl

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Hello @Pearl,

God has never spoken to me, I have never heard His voice. I believe the written word of God to be the sum of all revelation, and the light of my path.

May God's perfect will be done in each one of us, for His Name and Glory's sake.

With love.
In Christ Jesus
Chris
He speaks into my Spirit and shows me things and it is always a WOW moment when he does.
Bless you.
 
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Helen

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He speaks into my Spirit and shows me things and it is always a WOW moment when he does.
Bless you.

Agree. Yes, Father /child relationship.

I was chatting to the Lord long before I "knew Him" ...just because I believed that He was there to be spoken to.

I didn't learn to 'listen' until after I was saved. :)
Romans even says how He speaks to us through creation...He talks all the time...if we take time to tune our ear and listen.
 
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Pearl

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Agree. Yes, Father /child relationship.

I was chatting to the Lord long before I "knew Him" ...just because I believed that He was there to be spoken to.

I didn't learn to 'listen' until after I was saved. :)
Romans even says how He speaks to us through creation...He talks all the time...if we take time to tune our ear and listen.
Absolutely he does. He hasn't stopped speaking.
 
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epostle

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Really? BreadOfLife doesn't like any where the term 'Roman' is used.
Wrong. BofL doesn't like your single derogatory use of the prefix "Roman", and neither do I. Stop being such a bigot.
And so I ask you, do you answer to the Roman Pontiff or not?
The question is just as stupid as me demanding 'do you answer to your pastor or not' (who ever he may be that day).
The Roman Church created the divisions that exist. First with the eastern orthodox, and then with the Protestant
. Again, referring to the 23 rites of the Universal Church as all "Roman" is sheer bigotry. To call a Melkite or Syrian Catholic a "Roman" Catholic would be an insult; but bigots don't care who they insult.

The Catholic Church did not separate from anyone. You haven't a shred of authentic historical evidence to prove otherwise, just the same boring false histories that have been refuted by Protestants themselves.

The Eastern churches were excommunicated 5 times by the authoritive historical CHURCH, for that to happen the other way around is IMPOSSIBLE.

You have no scholarly, historical evidence to support your claim that the Catholic Church separated from a so called "true church", so you have to invent it.
 
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Helen

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@epostle

Where have you been? Long time no see?
Missed you.

Were you banned??? :D
 

epostle

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They can be baptised and I suppose there are many that do go through a form of baptism for a variety of reasons but without the inner heart change that true repentance brings. In these cases I don't think it would count.
Let me get this straight so I understand you. The only recorded dispute regarding infant baptism in the late 3rd century was whether or not it should occur exactly 8 days after birth, keeping the scriptural Jewish tradition of circumcision. Luther and Calvin baptised infants. So if infant baptism "doesn't count", then a majority of Christians had invalid baptisms until God told a minority of pastors long after the reformation to stop baptising infants. So Protestants, Orthodox and Catholics were all wrong and no one noticed for nearly 1800 years. Do I understand you correctly?

Do we acquire Original Sin by a conscious choice? No. Therefore it can be removed without a conscious choice. Demanding to be old enough to repent is a man made Protestant tradition, an age requirement is nowhere to be found in the Bible. It's not the same if one is an adult and in need of baptism, they have to repent.