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You were correct regarding my ignorance of Christ's church. But neither was I totally familiar with the teachings of Rome. That didn't come until much more recently. And it wasn't the SDA church teachings that led me away. After my conversion , it was the priest and his response to my...

They watch for our souls by ensuring we have the best possible environment in which to grow our relationship with Jesus. It's about what Jesus instructed the church to do... Make disciples. It isn't about compelling us to do stuff their way. As I said. The authority of the church does not...

I agree with him MMOG. I was a Catholic before you were born, and spent 23 years at the feet of brothers and priests learning Catholic principles and teachings. Scott is correct. Catholics have a serious issue as to what they truly rely on regarding salvation. They may say they trust in God, or...

I am by no means a Calvinist, but couldn't agree more with some of his stances, particularly in the realm of prayer and access to the only true Mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ. Thanks for ditching the dance analogies. Eloquent and poetic though they may be .

My brother. That is all God is looking for. Trending toward Him, in practise and growth. And at whatever stage we may be at, whether a delicate bulb or a fully developed flower in full bloom and beautiful fragrance, either way, we are perfect in His eyes. Perfect, yet not complete. A seeming...

What is it exactly that we are trusting in to gain heaven/salvation? The word of God/the authority of scripture/Jesus? Or... our membership of a particular church, our following of a particular ideology, or even in the trustworthiness of others, such as saints and holy men of former times...

Identifying Christ's church is the question isn't it, and the specific criteria we use in establishing a conclusive answer. The first criteria we need to discuss is the use of scripture, and the view of scripture any church adopts as it's source of truth, faith, and practise. Hence all the...

I noticed you astutely ignored the above. Personally I think it's a valid argument, but hey, you do you right? And yet European domination was the intent of papal supremacy and primacy throughout the middle ages, and one could rightly argue, that there is more than a suggestion of global...

Continued from above... The lack of the word begotten at John 3:16 is not confined to modern versions. William Tyndale’s translation (1525) has “For God so loveth the worlde yt he hath geven his only sonne that none that beleve in him shuld perisshe: but shuld have everlastinge lyfe.” John 3:16...

For any JWs who may still be reading this thread... Perhaps the words of Thomas were not inspired, but it is very noticeable that John, who was inspired (writing under the influence of the Holy Spirit), used them as a climax to all that he had previously written. It is noticeable too that there...

Oh. Did I give the impression that I was under no persons authority? Yet even so, their jurisdiction is limited. Their authority over me does not extend to spiritual truth and doctrine. That prerogative belongs to Jesus, while man's authority pertains to behaviour.

Absolutely. Why wouldn't He? He died for me, funny you thing He would have my best interests at heart? So why would He not tell me when I go off the rails?

No, but thanks. It is your church's practise to use history and it's links to the apostles as proof evident of your church's valid claims to truth, authority, and right to dominate the world. I am simply pointing out that it doesn't work that way. Many lines of Christian faith had their roots in...

That would be all well and good if that Catholic line to the Apostles was the only line. But you and I know that it wasn't don't we. The Christian faith spread across Asia, Africa, and Europe, and Rome was just one of many equally young struggling local communities like any other, except for...

God. And not one of your church fathers will be standing next to you holding your hand when you answer to Him.

Looks like a plan to me.

Unless it isn't. The papacy by it's very nature, is a union of church and state. This union didn't exist prior to the 4th and 5th centuries. This union did not exist at the time of Christ or the apostles, therefore was a concept and arrangement designed to empower man to rule over others by...

Or a pebble on the beach by Peter's fishing boat.

Then you would be taking the authority of the church fathers over the authority of scripture.

But they can bless the food and all will be well.