pia
Well-Known Member
I agree with most of what you wrote in blue...One thing I learned is that yes there is only one church, His church, His bride, made up of those who believe in Him, and that came straight from His mouth, so no one on this planet or beyond is ever going to dissuade me from that...Since He has not yet been joined to His Bride ( as yet, she is not one in herself ), He is not the church on earth, He HAS His Church on earth, and when the time comes, there will be a full joining and they will finally be truly ONE.I am a Christian, and as one, I am called to hold my fellow Christians accountable.
Just as, if I speak something that isn't true - YOU, as a Christian should hold ME accountable.
Although - MANY of the doctrines being preached around here are hardly Christian . . .
Actually - I agree with much of what you said about Scripture. It's NOT the entire Word of God - and that is a very Catholic teaching. The Word of God is revealed in BOTH Scripture AND Sacred Tradition. And that's about where I stop agreeing with you . . .
You speak of "churches" - and there is only ONE Church (Matt. 16:18).
You use the following verse out of context: "You cannot serve two masters."
Jesus wasn't talking about His Church - but material wealth. You an others like mjrhealth simply don't have a complete understanding as to what Christ's Church actually is - so allow me to educated you with the Biblical definition:
- Jesus established ONE Church (Matt. 16:16-19). He prayed fervently that this Church remain ONE - as He and the Father are ONE (John 17:20-23). There is NO other.
- Jesus is Truth itself (John 14:6).
- Jesus promised His Church that the Holy Spirit would guide her to ALL Truth (John 16:12-15).
- The Church is the Pillar and Foundation of Truth (1 Tim. 3:15).
- The Church is the Body of Christ and He is the Head (1 Cor. 12:12-31, Eph. 4:3-6, Col. 1:8).
- The Church is the FULLNESS of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23).
- Jesus identifies His very SELF with His Church (Acts 9:4-5).
- Jesus gave the Church supreme Authority on earth and whatever it ordains on earth is also ordained in heaven (Matt. 16:18-19, 18:15-18, Luke 10:16, John 20:21-23).
It's not TWO masters: Christ OR the Church.
The Church IS Christ on earth.
We can be one individually with Him for now, and even with some others, but it will take Him, to bring us all together in complete 100% unity.......No more broken body.
Thank you very much for your reply this time, without the 'you know what'........I know for an absolute fact, that I cannot quote scripture as you can do, nor do I understand very much of it ( other than the things He has taught and shown me), but I am willing to bide my time, pray about understanding, and wait on the Lord for the answers, and some have taken years, because to understand one thing, we often have to understand other things, to get the fuller picture.
His advice to us is and was "Have faith in God' Not in other humans, not in groups of humans, no matter how well meaning, not in any other thing or being...He and only He is ALWAYS Truthful, Faithful, Righteous, Comforting, Helpful, Joyful, Peaceful etc. etc. but most of all He is ALWAYS Loving...
Have a truly lovely day In Him Pia