If You Believe Your Denomination Is...
- Thread starter BarneyFife
- Start date
-
- Tags
- denominations elitism truth
-
Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.
You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!
Hi. Didn't Jesus pray to the Father that we would be one, like He and His Father are one? Isn't there one truth, one true faith, one true baptism and one true God, who does not change? It reminds me of the 6 blind men and the elephant. I'm sure some have heard it before, but for those who haven't I'll tell it again.
Six blind men were directed to an elephant and were asked to describe it. The first blind man reached out and touched the elephant's skin. "It's like sand paper." The second one touched it's leg and said that an elephant is like a tree. The third touched it's tail and said it was like a rope. The fourth touched it's ear and said that an elephant is like a baby's blanket. The fifth, after touching the tusk, said it was like smooth stone. And the sixth touched the trunk and said it was like a fire hose. Who was right? Though they each had a piece of the truth, none of them were able to describe the elephant in detail. But if they got together, without territorial preservation intent or selfish ambition, they would all realize at once exactly what an elephant was. Can you imagine what would happen if the body was united? No need to duplicate ministries? I'm a bit of an idealist, but this is doable, but only if that's what all concerned wanted. For those who want, prayer is a beginning. After all, it's what the Lord wants. Shalom.
Six blind men were directed to an elephant and were asked to describe it. The first blind man reached out and touched the elephant's skin. "It's like sand paper." The second one touched it's leg and said that an elephant is like a tree. The third touched it's tail and said it was like a rope. The fourth touched it's ear and said that an elephant is like a baby's blanket. The fifth, after touching the tusk, said it was like smooth stone. And the sixth touched the trunk and said it was like a fire hose. Who was right? Though they each had a piece of the truth, none of them were able to describe the elephant in detail. But if they got together, without territorial preservation intent or selfish ambition, they would all realize at once exactly what an elephant was. Can you imagine what would happen if the body was united? No need to duplicate ministries? I'm a bit of an idealist, but this is doable, but only if that's what all concerned wanted. For those who want, prayer is a beginning. After all, it's what the Lord wants. Shalom.
Philip James
Well-Known Member
'One may say with certainty where the Church is, but NOT where it is not'
I stole that one from our Orthodox brethren
Peace!
On another forum where I participated for years, which was owned and administered by a Catholic, one of the wisest people on that forum was an Greek Orthodox priest who lived in Florida. I once knew precisely which church it was, but it has long ago fled away from my mind. I told him if ever I came to Florida I would take him out to coffee. He came back with that if I were ever in Florida he would make it a full breakfast. He was very skilled in the Koine Greek, but more than that his Spirit was not a put on with me... He was a man of God.'One may say with certainty where the Church is, but NOT where it is not'
I stole that one from our Orthodox brethren
Peace!
The forum is still there, but the priest is not and the forum, which was once a very open one so as to make non-Catholics welcome has almost died. I rarely visit there any more. I do have some fond memories of it and of a few friends I had there... including that priest. I still have at least one of his better posts saved in my computer.
historyb
Well-Known Member
I would be lying if I didn't say that I would like that forums name.
Philip James
Well-Known Member
Some things can be questioned. Some can not.
I expect you probably agree that the Canon of the NT cannot be altered..
Trust and love go hand in hand.. Who are these men??
Our brothers, our sons, who have submitted their entire lives to serve Christ and His Church. We have trained them,
tested them,
and anointed them (through the episcopate) by the power of the Holy Spirit .
And yes we trust them to preserve and hand on what we have received.. And they will be held to account for every sheep left in their care...
They are our servants, and we are theirs..
On the contrary, man is intimately involved as just discussed.
When the Church determines: 'it seemed good to us and the Holy Spirit...' To settle some argument/faction/division within the body, can that determination be questioned?
Can a 'church' arbitrarily contradict itself over time? Does the Truth change?
Why cant some visionary declare: all we need are Pauls letters.. Toss the rest away...?
Who arbitrates our disputes while preserving the unity of the body?
For what, would you separate yourself from your brethren?
Peace be with you!
historyb
Well-Known Member
That must be my cue... but you already stole my line!'One may say with certainty where the Church is, but NOT where it is not'
I stole that one from our Orthodox brethren
Philip James
Well-Known Member
That must be my cue... but you already stole my line!
Ah, forgive me brother.
As reparation, I offer my continued prayers for the full reconcilliation of our Patriarchs.
I eagerly hope for the joyous day, when they concelebrate the Divine Liturgy.
Peace be with you!
Yes, I know! I have been a member there as a Protestant since 2008. That is the forum where I was also once a mod, but that was several years ago. I was moderator along with Catholic Crusader. He's still there but I don't think he's been a moderator for quite a while. What name do you use there? I was Amadeus there as well.
historyb
Well-Known Member
Wow, cool. I am whitetiger there. When I got there the first time it was like the wild west about like here and I mostly watched the back and forth and the Owner asked for mods after we kept telling him we need some kind of structure so he asked for volunteers and Me and two others volunteered. At first me and CC butted heads but now we are good. There are about ten people there now we welcome all. I hope I wasn't bad to you, I recall you there vaguely.
I remember your name, but you became a moderator I believe when I was close to moving to other places because we had lost so many of good conversationalist. I liked it when Olsen's [the originator of the forum] son was deeply involved. I forget his name now, but he is the one who selected me and CC as moderators at the same time hoping his strong Catholicism and my non-Catholicism would work to smooth things out on both sides of that fence. I only lasted 2 or 3 months because as moderator I found myself too often having a conflict between forum rules and my own beliefs. I finally resigned but stayed active on the forum for a while after that.
When I had the earlier conversation with you I went back to check on Linsinbigler, the Orthodox priest. He last posted there in 2017. He held off some the worst ones there, while remaining tolerant. I know he burned inside when some very silly people questioned his clarifications of the original Greek. He knew his stuff, but did not let it swell his head too much.
As for CC, I learned to accept what he was as some people never could. Friends we never were, but we after a while we did not butt heads so hard or so often. In the early days CC did drive a number of people away especially Protestans, but he respected Linsinbigler and that I believe that respect helped him back off from some of his harsher ways. The only other older one that was close to me who stayed long after I left was Ped. He was also not a Catholic. I contacted him once very early this year but with the lockdown and deaths of people close to me I broke the connection again. I'll have to try again soon. Nice talking to you.
historyb
Well-Known Member
No need. You are doing me a service; I prefer the silent, background actor role more anyway.
We can hope and pray. Healing a thousand year old wound that only grew worse over the centuries requires a great miracle.
Peace be unto you too!
I missed connecting with him this last May, but I just sent him an E-mail message to the address he once gave me. He gave it to me a long time ago when we were both active on T2O. Hopefully he will receive it and respond.
Fr. Linsinbigler was one of kind. I believe that he was a pastor over a church in Florida. He was was married with children at home, I believe, but I have no idea where in Florida he was. My only way to contact him was through that forum.
Is this the one? Their priest is Fr. Harry Linsinbigler. They have his email and contact phone under About Us -> Contact.
Yes, thank for that. Sometimes on the forum someone used to call him Father Harry! It's been a long time, but I do believe I will attempt to make contact with him again. Thanks again!
Marymog
Well-Known Member
- Mar 7, 2017
- 11,422
- 1,681
- 113
- Faith
- Christian
- Country
- United States
Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
markh7: 6 He answered and said unto them, Well has Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7 Nevertheless in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, all of you hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things all of you do.
9 And he said unto them, Full well all of you reject the commandment of God, that all of you may keep your own tradition.
Similar threads
