Does the denomination matter?

[MartyrForJesus]

Absolutely.

Our Blessed Lord established One Church on St. Peter, outside of which, as the Church has always taught, there can be no salvation. St. Peter himself, who left Antioch and established his bishopric in the city of Rome, was martyred there, and since him, there have been 264 Bishops of Rome as his successors (Popes).

From Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition we know that the True Church contains four marks: One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. Only the Catholic Church can fulfill these requirements.

The Catholic Church is One in faith and belief. The teachings of the Church are unchanged, unchangable, and unchanging since her creation by Our Blessed Lord. The Catholic Church is the only Christian religious body that can stand forth and proclaim that her doctrines have not been varied or subject to human opinion throughout the ages.

The Catholic Church is Holy. The Catholic faith has produced countless numbers of Saints and holy men throughout the ages, whose writings, works, lives and faith ascertain this. The doctrines of the Catholic Church concerning faith and morals conform to that of her founder, Our Lord Jesus Christ. From the very beginning of the Church she has taught of the sanctity of human life. Until the 1930s, every protestant denomination cohered to the Catholic teaching on sexuality concerning contraceptives, until they all fell into accepting it. Only the Catholic Church has taught the same morality as the Apostles and the Blessed Lord through her unchanging and unchangable doctrines.

The Catholic Church is Catholic. Her faith and beliefs have been professed everywhere in the known world, and continue to do so, as the Church has followed the command of Our Blessed Lord: Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 28:19. The Church is universally the same, if you enter any Catholic church in the world they will profess and practice the same faith and beliefs.

The Catholic Church is Apostolic. She originated with the Apostles, and has faithfully preserved their teaching and authority until the present day. The head of the Apostles was St. Peter, as we can see from Sacred Scripture, and his authority passed to his successor, Pope St. Linus of Rome, and then to St. Clement, and so on and so forth, to Pope Benedict XVI of the present day. The Catholic faith's unchanging nature is ascertained by the reading of the writings and teachings of the early Church fathers, whose written records of the faith and beliefs of the early Christians completely uphold the Church's claims to be the One True Church.

God Bless.


-http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_would_somebody_convert_to_Catholicism

 

[Prentis]

God builds his church. Man have desired to build it, and have done it their own way, but the church is not ours, it is his.

Only by following the Spirit can we be one with him.

 

[brionne]

God builds his church. Man have desired to build it, and have done it their own way, but the church is not ours, it is his.

Only by following the Spirit can we be one with him.

that is exactly right Prentis... the fruits of Gods spirit is what identifies true followers. If a church is not producing the right fruits, then it is not going to be 'one' with God and that is why denomination does matter. If our denomination is not producing the right fruits, then there is a problem with it.

Jesus words are something we all must take to heart: Matthew 7:19 Every tree not producing fine fruit gets cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Really, then, by their fruits YOU will recognize those [men].
These words are proof that denomination certainly does matter because Jesus was speaking about his own followers in this passage.

 

[Prentis]

that is exactly right Prentis... the fruits of Gods spirit is what identifies true followers. If a church is not producing the right fruits, then it is not going to be 'one' with God and that is why denomination does matter. If our denomination is not producing the right fruits, then there is a problem with it.

Jesus words are something we all must take to heart: Matthew 7:19 Every tree not producing fine fruit gets cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Really, then, by their fruits YOU will recognize those [men].
These words are proof that denomination certainly does matter.

Or one could also use it to prove denomination DOESN'T matter... Rather it is whether or not men within it are producing fruit.

The way I see it, there is no such thing as denomination, either we are one, or we aren't with him at all. Brothers are recognized by the life of Christ that is in them.

When the church is alive, it's life transpires all cliques groups and views... Two churches that are alive and one with Christ will recognize each other, and be one when they are together.

 

[Comm.Arnold]

No not at all, everyone has a different relationship with God everyone accepted Jesus under different circumstances. I attended a christian science service for fun last year, all I can say is WOW !

 

[brionne]

Or one could also use it to prove denomination DOESN'T matter... Rather it is whether or not men within it are producing fruit.

The way I see it, there is no such thing as denomination, either we are one, or we aren't with him at all. Brothers are recognized by the life of Christ that is in them.

When the church is alive, it's life transpires all cliques groups and views... Two churches that are alive and one with Christ will recognize each other, and be one when they are together.

'the life of christ that is in them' is a very emotional way of looking at things

there must come a point where our rational mind is involved. Jim Jones was leading a congregation who believed they were had the life of christ in them too... but we all know how they ended up

We have to be rational about our religion.

 

[Prentis]

'the life of christ that is in them' is a very emotional way of looking at things

there must come a point where our rational mind is involved. Jim Jones was leading a congregation who believed they were had the life of christ in them too... but we all know how they ended up

We have to be rational about our religion.

That is only true if we by our own opinion are saying that we have the life of Christ in us. Yes, the mind is involved, but that does not mean 'you will recognize them by their doctrine'.

Rather it is by our FRUITS that we are known. When the church is truly alive it can be seen because of the presence of God. Yes, the doctrine will generally line up. But the doctrine flows from the life of God, because it is the SPIRIT that teaches all truth. Unless we see the Spirit of God at work somewhere, it is not the church... And then again, if the Spirit is working in spite of what men are doing, that is God's work, but not the church.

Rather the church is the body of Christ, and does what he did. When men will be truly walking in his power and life, it will be recognizable for any who also walk in that power and life.

The other side of the coin is that until men are walking in this power, the work of God goes on in silence (so to speak, or underground, you could say). It could be likened to a colour, let's say it's purple... When God pours his power on his people, and we have to recognize it, it's like having a whole wall of purple in front of us. Either we are spiritually blind, or we clearly know that this is the work of God. At that point, the spirit divides between the blind and those who see. But when we are not operating in this power, it is like having a tiny spot of purple on a rainbow colored wall... Where is it? Can you see it? Thus, now we have to get our senses sharpened.

 

[brionne]

That is only true if we by our own opinion are saying that we have the life of Christ in us. Yes, the mind is involved, but that does not mean 'you will recognize them by their doctrine'.

Rather it is by our FRUITS that we are known. When the church is truly alive it can be seen because of the presence of God. Yes, the doctrine will generally line up. But the doctrine flows from the life of God, because it is the SPIRIT that teaches all truth. Unless we see the Spirit of God at work somewhere, it is not the church... And then again, if the Spirit is working in spite of what men are doing, that is God's work, but not the church.

Rather the church is the body of Christ, and does what he did. When men will be truly walking in his power and life, it will be recognizable for any who also walk in that power and life.

The other side of the coin is that until men are walking in this power, the work of God goes on in silence (so to speak, or underground, you could say). It could be likened to a colour, let's say it's purple... When God pours his power on his people, and we have to recognize it, it's like having a whole wall of purple in front of us. Either we are spiritually blind, or we clearly know that this is the work of God. At that point, the spirit divides between the blind and those who see. But when we are not operating in this power, it is like having a tiny spot of purple on a rainbow colored wall... Where is it? Can you see it? Thus, now we have to get our senses sharpened.

looking at it from the ancient example of the Isrealites, if the priests were not living in harmony with Gods requriements, the whole nation was punished regardless. At times when the isrealites were invaded and sent into captivity, even the faithful servants were not spared.

So we should never rest on our laurels and think that we can individually still be acceptable to God if whatever religion we are apart of is not living up to Gods requirements. Because inevitably, whatever religion/denomination we choose to be a part of, we are supporting that denomination and in supporting them we are condoning whatever wrongdoing or wrong teaching they are putting out.

And you are right, it is by their 'fruits' that true christians are recognized... but that implies that we all can individually make a determination on a church by its fruits. If we see bad fruits or, like the fig tree that Jesus cursed, a tree without fruit, then we should seriously consider our involvement in it.

 

[Prentis]

looking at it from the ancient example of the Isrealites, if the priests were not living in harmony with Gods requriements, the whole nation was punished regardless. At times when the isrealites were invaded and sent into captivity, even the faithful servants were not spared.

So we should never rest on our laurels and think that we can individually still be acceptable to God if whatever religion we are apart of is not living up to Gods requirements. Because inevitably, whatever religion/denomination we choose to be a part of, we are supporting that denomination and in supporting them we are condoning whatever wrongdoing or wrong teaching they are putting out.

And you are right, it is by their 'fruits' that true christians are recognized... but that implies that we all can individually make a determination on a church by its fruits. If we see bad fruits or, like the fig tree that Jesus cursed, a tree without fruit, then we should seriously consider our involvement in it.

Daniel is a good example... Yes, he was brought into slavery with the people... But was he condemned? No!

Thus men may be righteous within an unrighteous system.

I do agree we should come out when we see the flaws and find the brothers, those who are of the same Spirit.

 

[InquisitiveAgnostic]

I know I'm replying on a few long-dead threads.

Even though I don't believe in the various doctrines; if they are true I would hope denomination wouldn't matter.

If the only way to salvation is through jesus, than a few man-made rules and interpretations shouldn't factor in.

Seeing as how there are +30 000 denominations, most believing that only their followers are on the right path to heaven...you have better odds putting your life savings on 32 Red. ^_^

 

[soupy]

I believe there are very few denomination that believe only their followers are the right path to heaven. I've been members of several denomination and never heard that.

Yes, Faith in Christ is the narrow road, man made rules don't mean anything. I've also never attended a church with a dress code as mentioned.

Every church I've belonged to, followed the Bible closely, as humanly possible.
I like many denomination and other churches, but don't wish to attend weekly, my church has good relationships with neighboring churches. I'm surprises by all the negatives reactions others have had in church.