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A conversation about unity.

MarkRohfrietsch

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No, not yet, we are searching for him, and are as ready as we will ever be. While we just don't use Holy Water, it is used in our Exorcism rite; it's preparation is also clearly instructed within the rite; as is the use of Holy images, incense, and particularly prayer.
 
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MarkRohfrietsch

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So debunk it.
It is difficult to debunk when debunking is met with a wall of bunk. It is soon time to take St. Paul's advice and shake the dust off of my feet and move on.
 
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Hentenza

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It is difficult to debunk when debunking is met with a wall of bunk. It is soon time to take St. Paul's advice and shake the dust off of my feet and move on.
That’s wise but I have to stay as long as we are viewed as second class citizens and not Christian enough.
 
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ozso

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Attacking the Catholic church would be claiming it's an apostate church, a synagogue of satan, the pope is the antichrist etc. None of that is going on here.

"No one can buy or work their way into heaven" is a common position held within Christianity with Ephesians 2:8 as a foundational verse and many others like it.
 
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A New Dawn

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The discussion is about unity. Protestants aren’t wanting the Catholic communion. Unity revolves around respect for the faith of fellow believers, not wanting what the other has. As you say, it is a tenant of the Nicene Creed, a show of solidarity with the body of Christ. It’s pretty obvious who is and who is not interested in unity, but it is one of the things Christ expects of His followers.
 
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ozso

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I was asking a question, not giving an answer. And yes I didn't have a clue as to what you were talking about until you just explained the situation some. How would I deal with a situation like that? How am I supposed to know that when I don't know what the details of the situation are?
 
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ARBITER01

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My brother in Christ, citing general scripture without comment or exegesis as a defense does not in any way help you debunk what the previous poster was promoting. Please be specific and I will be happy to engage.

I don't think they can.

Truth is truth. Jesus is our High Priest, our Mediator of the new covenant in His blood. If any of us doesn't have His regeneration and His ongoing forgiveness of sins in our lives, than we are not His. Period.

Just because a denomination makes up a bunch of rules and laws to abide by, and creates a couple of scenarios to engage in under the guise of salvation, doesn't mean anything if Jesus is not involved and granting forgiveness in the process.

Unity amongst denominations and different churches is just foolish. What matters is an ongoing relationship with Jesus. Only He is going to allow you in the marriage supper of The Lamb. No one is going to be able to work their way in otherwise.
 
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Xeno.of.athens

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The Roman Catholics aren’t the ones wanting access to other people’s communion.
Exactly, Catholics do not seek to receive bread and red juice.
I cannot recall the creeds ever saying "I believe in one holy catholic apostolic and invisible church", can you?
According to the whole would be a bad fit for a good number of Protestant organisations.
It helps if they give some thought to what the scriptures say about sacraments, governance, and doctrine. It is not as if the scriptures say nothing about it.
The Catholic Church is engaged in discussions with many other churches, and as far as I know no one insists on receiving communion in a Catholic mass if their own sacramental theology denies the real and physical presence.
 
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ozso

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The Roman Catholics aren’t the ones wanting access to other people’s communion.
The point that's being made is "other people's communion". Where does scripture endorse separate exclusive communions? Did not Paul speak against division when addressing communion in 1 Corinthians 11?
 
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ozso

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Exactly, Catholics do not seek to receive bread and red juice.
If not bread then what? And it's non-alcoholic wine. But really the main thing is at the church I attended you'd be viewed as a fellow Christian welcomed with open arms and quite welcome to partake in communion with us.
 
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Xeno.of.athens

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If not bread then what? And it's non-alcoholic wine. But really the main thing is at the church I attended you'd be viewed as a fellow Christian welcomed with open arms and quite welcome to partake in communion with us.
No doubt, but I would not partake.
 
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Xeno.of.athens

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The point that's being made is "other people's communion". Where does scripture endorse separate exclusive communions? Did not Paul speak against division when addressing communion in 1 Corinthians 11?
“The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being.” (CCC §1325)

“Ecclesial communities derived from the Reformation… have not preserved the proper reality of the Eucharistic mystery… It is for this reason that Eucharistic inter-communion is not possible.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church §1400

1. 1 Corinthians 11:27–29Unworthy Reception
“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord… For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgement on himself.”​
This is the most direct warning. Paul insists that communion must be approached with self-examination and spiritual discernment. Many churches interpret this to mean that only those in a state of grace and doctrinal unity should receive the Eucharist.
2. 1 Corinthians 10:16–17Communion as Ecclesial Unity
“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body…”​
This passage links Eucharistic participation with visible unity in the Body of Christ. It implies that communion is not merely a personal act of devotion but a public sign of ecclesial membership and doctrinal concord.
3. Acts 2:42Apostolic Fellowship and Teaching
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”​
The early Church’s Eucharistic life was inseparable from fidelity to apostolic teaching. This suggests that communion presupposes doctrinal alignment, not merely individual belief.
4. Titus 3:10Avoiding Division and Heresy
“As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him.”​
While not directly about communion, this passage supports the idea that persistent doctrinal dissent or schism warrants exclusion from ecclesial fellowship—including sacramental participation.
 
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ozso

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The summation of 1 Corinthians 11 is:

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

So that is the unworthy manner Paul spoke of that brought judgement.
Which Christian churches hold to.
Christian churches hold to that as well. Although the Protestant ones consider apostolic teaching to be from the gospels and epistles written by the Apostles which are considered scripture.
Which would mean someone in a church stirring up division and dissent among the congregation. There probably isn't a single church that won't ask a trouble maker to leave. Controversy, disagreements and clashes exists within the Catholic church though. Even among the clergy. For example, there were Catholics who considered Francis to be an illegitimate Pope, or at least disagreed with things he said and his institution of the Pachamama ritual. Were they told to leave because they held that belief, or would they have only been told to leave if they started stirring up trouble within a parish?
 
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Strong in Him

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There are actions normally required for salvation which are done in churches, such as baptism and the Eucharist,
Not required for salvation.

Jesus saves; no one and nothing else, Acts 4:12, John 1:12, John 14:6, Ephesians 2:5, 8.
A person could become a Christian but die before they can be baptised, or receive communion. They would still be saved.
 
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ozso

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Not required for salvation.

Jesus saves; no one and nothing else, Acts 4:12, John 1:12, John 14:6, Ephesians 2:5, 8.
A person could become a Christian but die before they can be baptised, or receive communion. They would still be saved.
What that comes down to is someone else besides God has to be involved in bringing about salvation. Some person has to baptise you in order for you to be saved. Some person has to consecrate bread and wine for you to eat and drink before you're saved. There must be a human intercessor involved.

If you can't find a human being to baptise you and consecrate bread and wine for you, after you've repented and belived in and put your faith in Lord Jesus for salvation, you're toast if you die before then.
 
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Strong in Him

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Fortunately God doesn't agree with that.
 
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CerebralCherub

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Do you believe baptism is required for salvation?

Our church teaches against this and has told us that only 'cults' believe in this because it is contrary to scripture.

I'm interested because it is something that my mom believed before we read the scripture together and I passed on the knowledge from my church. Up until that point, I never even knew she believed that baptism was a requirement for salvation.
 
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