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Was the Reformation an Experiment gone wrong?

LittleLambofJesus

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Originally Posted by Pfaffenhofen
Jesus said, Peter, meaning Stone, the rock, the solid rock where the Church of Christ is built. From Peter up to Benedict XVI, Satan could not overcome their gates. As promised by Jesus Christ....
Kewl post!

Not sure I understand all the extra mumbo jumbo you added in parentheses tho
 
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Root of Jesse

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Actually, it should be pretty easy. Take a doctrin taught in the RCC and try and find specific biblical support for it.

Take a specific Protestant teaching, and try to find specific biblical support. Altar calls? The Trinity? The canon of the Bible? How about "Accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour"? Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura, I can keep going for you...
 
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Root of Jesse

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Yes, I "in all honesty, have the guts to say that the Roman Catholic Church's pope is infalliable", not because of what was left by his predecessor, but because of the gift of the Holy Spirit granted Peter by Jesus.

Regarding the rest of your statement, those of us baptized have had the blindness removed by the cleansing spittle and mud of Christ's saving actions. We know what the Bible says about Peter being infallible.

Regarding the gift of infallibility, and the transfer of authority:

Matt. 10:1,40 - Jesus declares to His apostles, "he who receives you, receives Me, and he who rejects you, rejects Me and the One who sent Me." Jesus freely gives His authority to the apostles in order for them to effectively convert the world.
Matt. 16:19; 18:18 - the apostles are given Christ's authority to make visible decisions on earth that will be ratified in heaven. God raises up humanity in Christ by exalting his chosen leaders and endowing them with the authority and grace they need to bring about the conversion of all. Without a central authority in the Church, there would be chaos (as there is in Protestantism).
Luke 9:1; 10:19 - Jesus gives the apostles authority over the natural and the supernatural (diseases, demons, serpents, and scorpions).
Luke 10:16 - Jesus tells His apostles, "he who hears you, hears Me." When we hear the bishops' teaching on the faith, we hear Christ Himself.
Luke 22:29 - the Father gives the kingdom to the Son, and the Son gives the kingdom to the apostles. The gift is transferred from the Father to the Son to the apostles.
Num 16:28 - the Father's authority is transferred to Moses. Moses does not speak on his own. This is a real transfer of authority.
John 5:30 - similarly, Jesus as man does nothing of His own authority, but He acts under the authority of the Father.
John 7:16-17 - Jesus as man states that His authority is not His own, but from God. He will transfer this authority to other men.
John 8:28 - Jesus says He does nothing on His own authority. Similarly, the apostles will do nothing on their own authority. Their authority comes from God.
John 12:49 - The father's authority is transferred to the Son. The Son does not speak on his own. This is a transfer of divine authority. John 13:20 - Jesus says, "he who receives anyone who I send, receives Me." He who receives the apostles, receives Christ Himself. He who rejects the apostles and their successors, rejects Christ.
Acts 1:15-26 - the first thing Peter does after Jesus ascends into heaven is implement apostolic succession. Matthias is ordained with full apostolic authority. Only the Catholic Church can demonstrate an unbroken apostolic lineage to the apostles in union with Peter through the sacrament of ordination and thereby claim to teach with Christ's own authority.

Acts 1:20 - a successor of Judas is chosen. The authority of his office (his "bishopric") is respected notwithstanding his egregious sin. The necessity to have apostolic succession in order for the Church to survive was understood by all. God never said, "I'll give you leaders with authority for about 400 years, but after the Bible is compiled, you are all on your own."
Acts 1:22 - literally, "one must be ordained" to be a witness with us of His resurrection. Apostolic ordination is required in order to teach with Christ's authority.
Acts 6:6 - apostolic authority is transferred through the laying on of hands (ordination). This authority has transferred beyond the original twelve apostles as the Church has grown. Acts 9:17-19 - even Paul, who was directly chosen by Christ, only becomes a minister after the laying on of hands by a bishop. This is a powerful proof-text for the necessity of sacramental ordination in order to be a legitimate successor of the apostles.

Regarding the different Churches, they have different traditions of worship, they speak different prayers, kneel at different times, etc. But they all have the exact same Jesus. Why? Because of the authority and infallibility of the apostles.
 
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Root of Jesse

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Exactly. The Universal Christian Church. Catholic. Keep in mind that it's you folks who exclude yourselves from being part of the one Church Jesus founded, not us.
The head is not separated from the feet. Christ is truly present in every Catholic Church.
I think you're mistaking that "the Church" consists of only buildings. It does not.
4. Paul said, though we may express our worship differently and argue about the difference between our ways of seeking the Lord, we are still united in Jesus Christ as a body of spiritual entity.
This does not give groups license to change the doctrines Christ laid down. There are not two separate Catholic Churches. There are several rites. Each worships Christ, though they follow local practices.
There's no riddle in "Truly, Truly, I say to you..." It's not a metaphor, it's not an allusion, it's not an allegory, and it's not been believed to be any of those things from the day of Pentecost to today by the Catholic Church.
But I will be with you always until the end of the age means that His church would be there from his Resurrection until he returns. Other than the Catholic Church, none of you fits that prophecy.
You say we venerate Mary, but that's your interpretation, and your problem. Jesus told us that we should not try to judge others' hearts, and yet you do. You see someone kneeling, you interpret that as worship, you think that, when we give special meaning to Mary, it means we're worshipping. But there's several forms of veneration. There's that which is due only to God (latria), there's that which is proper for man (dulia). Mary has signature veneration, which is called hyer-dulia. More than man, less than God. We know where Mary stands, obviously, you don't. You're ready to trot her out at Christmas, sing "Round yon virgin mother, and child" then lock her up in the closet again. The issues with Marian devotion are yours, not ours.

It's funny how you mistake Satan for God. It was God who used Constantine to preserve the Bible. Had he not, you wouldn't have it. It's like when the Pharisees accused Jesus of being Satan: Luke 11:17 ff:
Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls. 18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? So they will be your judges. 20 But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed. 22 But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder. 23 He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.

By the way, did you know that Constantine converted??? So regardless of what he was before, he was Christian after.
 
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Root of Jesse

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Root of Jesse

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to be clear...You separate yourselves. We didn't separate you. As is apparent from your judgement of 1.2 billion hearts. We all believe that Jesus created one Church. We believe that all baptized Christians are part of the Body of Christ. Whether you do too, or not, is your own problem. Our arms are open and welcoming. You just have to learn to obey God. Not Calvin/Luther/Hubbard/Osteen.

Where was it ever said that "only Catholics will be saved"?
Well, we believe that anyone who seeks Jesus will not be turned away...
The pope is the Vicar of Christ-his representative on Earth. Then where does that leave Jesus' prophecy that His Church would last until he returns???


Well we agree on two things then.
Yes, there is. The difference is that Mary is the Mother of God. She was the new Ark of the Covenant. By the way, who are you to criticize how we choose to respect Mary? I think you need to repent of your sin.
Was Mary the Mother of Jesus? Was Jesus God when he was conceived in Mary's womb?

No man on earth ever succeeds completely in anything.
 
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Root of Jesse

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That's not what the Church decreed. The title of the Bull is "Outside the Church there is no salvation". I don't believe Urban defined what "the Church" means...
Again, I think you exclude yourself from the Church of Christ, not the other way around.
The interpretation of John Chapter 6 has been believed by the Universal Church from the day of Easter.
No, to see them as non-Christian.

9. I see.

10. Precisely. Since God is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Mary cannot be the mother of God. If she were to be called as the mother of God, then she'd had to have given birth to the Father, Son, as well as Holy Spirit. Remember that God exists outside of the time itself and because Mary was human, she only gave flesh to the Son, who then became Jesus Christ. God is applicable to all triune heads of the Trinity, thus Mary cannot be the mother of God, but only the human mother of Jesus Christ.

"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." -2 Corinthians 4:4- (NIV) "The god of this age" is one of many titles of Satan.

Satan is actually a strong figure on the chessboard right now. He was powerful to the extent where the archangel Michael couldn't even manage to bring an insult to be pitted against the creature.

Jude 1:9 “Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"

It is stated in the Bible that anyone who is not with Jesus is against Him.

Constantine, cover-up, and sun worship
Constantine, Origin of Sun Worship, Sunday Sabbath and Babylon
What is the origin of the Catholic Church?
Cult of Roman Catholicism[/quote]

So you're saying that Jesus is not God? Let me ask you this. Does a woman give birth to a nature? Or to a person?
 
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Root of Jesse

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Doesn't say 1000 years. Jesus said his Church would be until he returns.
 
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Root of Jesse

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Where is the doctrine of the Trinity in scripture?
 
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UnamSanctam

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We believe that all baptized Christians are part of the Body of Christ.

You have not always believed this.

You just have to learn to obey God. Not Calvin/Luther/Hubbard/Osteen.

Newsflash: The Bishop of Rome is not God. Not even the RC church believes this.

Where was it ever said that "only Catholics will be saved"?

Unam Sanctam.
Well, actually it said that being an RC was a necessary prerequisite for salvation, not a guarantee, but the point still stands.

The pope is the Vicar of Christ-his representative on Earth. Then where does that leave Jesus' prophecy that His Church would last until he returns???

You're still stuck in the "The RC church is the church that Jesus founded because it is, because we say that God said so, therefore God said so, so it is". You haven't backed it up with anything at all.

Yes, there is. The difference is that Mary is the Mother of God. She was the new Ark of the Covenant. By the way, who are you to criticize how we choose to respect Mary? I think you need to repent of your sin.

Why don't you get the beam out of YOUR OWN eye before telling someone else there's a speck in his?
 
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Root of Jesse

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You have not always believed this.
Proof of your assertion?
Newsflash: The Bishop of Rome is not God. Not even the RC church believes this.
And where did I mention the bishop of Rome about this?
Unam Sanctam.
Well, actually it said that being an RC was a necessary prerequisite for salvation, not a guarantee, but the point still stands.
That's not what it says, though. That's what you think it means.
You're still stuck in the "The RC church is the church that Jesus founded because it is, because we say that God said so, therefore God said so, so it is". You haven't backed it up with anything at all.
Mark 3:16; John 1:42 – Jesus renames Simon "Kepha" in Aramaic which literally means "rock." This was an extraordinary thing for Jesus to do, because "rock" was not even a name in Jesus' time. Jesus did this, not to give Simon a strange name, but to identify his new status among the apostles. When God changes a person's name, He changes their status.
In Eph. 2:20, the apostles are called the foundation of the Church. Similarly, in 1 Peter 2:25, Jesus is called the Shepherd of the flock, but in Acts 20:28, the apostles are called the shepherds of the flock. These verses show that there are multiple metaphors for the Church, and that words used by the inspired writers of Scripture can have various meanings. Catholics agree that God is the rock of the Church, but this does not mean He cannot confer this distinction upon Peter as well, to facilitate the unity He desires for the Church.
Matt. 16:18 - Jesus said in Aramaic, you are "Kepha" and on this "Kepha" I will build my Church. In Aramaic, "kepha" means a massive stone, and "evna" means little pebble. Some non-Catholics argue that, because the Greek word for rock is "petra", that "Petros" actually means "a small rock", and therefore Jesus was attempting to diminish Peter right after blessing him by calling him a small rock. Not only is this nonsensical in the context of Jesus' blessing of Peter, Jesus was speaking Aramaic and used "Kepha," not "evna." Using Petros to translate Kepha was done simply to reflect the masculine noun of Peter. Also, in quoting "on this rock," the Scriptures use the Greek construction "tautee tee" which means on "this" rock; on "this same" rock; or on "this very" rock. "Tautee tee" is a demonstrative construction in Greek, pointing to Peter, the subject of the sentence (and not his confession of faith as some non-Catholics argue) as the very rock on which Jesus builds His Church. The demonstrative (“tautee”) generally refers to its closest antecedent (“Petros”). Also, there is no place in Scripture where “faith” is equated with “rock.”
Matt. 16:19 - Jesus gives Peter the "keys of the kingdom of heaven." While most Protestants argue that the kingdom of heaven Jesus was talking about is the eternal state of glory (as if Peter is up in heaven letting people in), the kingdom of heaven Jesus is speaking of actually refers to the Church on earth. In using the term "keys," Jesus was referencing Isaiah 22 (which is the only place in the Bible where keys are used in the context of a kingdom).
Isaiah 22:22 - in the old Davidic kingdom, there were royal ministers who conducted the liturgical worship and bound the people in teaching and doctrine. But there was also a Prime Minister or chief steward of the kingdom who held the keys. Jesus gives Peter these keys to His earthly kingdom, the Church. This representative has decision-making authority over the people - when he shuts, no one opens.
Jer. 33:17 - Jeremiah prophesies that David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the earthly House of Israel. Either this is a false prophecy, or David has a successor of representatives throughout history.
Dan. 2:44 - Daniel prophesies an earthly kingdom that will never be destroyed. Either this is a false prophecy, or the earthly kingdom requires succession.
Isa. 22:20 - in the old Davidic kingdom, Eliakim succeeds Shebna as the chief steward of the household of God. The kingdom employs a mechanism of dynastic succession. King David was dead for centuries, but his kingdom is preserved through a succession of representatives.
Isa. 22:19 - Shebna is described as having an "office" and a "station." An office, in order for it to be an office, has successors. In order for an earthly kingdom to last, a succession of representatives is required. This was the case in the Old Covenant kingdom, and it is the case in the New Covenant kingdom which fulfills the Old Covenant. Jesus our King is in heaven, but He has appointed a chief steward over His household with a plan for a succession of representatives.
Isa. 22:21 - Eliakim is called “father” or “papa” of God's people. The word Pope used by Catholics to describe the chief steward of the earthly kingdom simply means papa or father in Italian. This is why Catholics call the leader of the Church "Pope." The Pope is the father of God's people, the chief steward of the earthly kingdom and Christ's representative on earth.
Isa. 22:22 - we see that the keys of the kingdom pass from Shebna to Eliakim. Thus, the keys are used not only as a symbol of authority, but also to facilitate succession. The keys of Christ's kingdom have passed from Peter to Linus all the way to our current Pope with an unbroken lineage for almost 2,000 years.
Why don't you get the beam out of YOUR OWN eye before telling someone else there's a speck in his?
 
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Basil the Great

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I cannot say if the Reformation was an experiment gone wrong. I will leave that up to God to say. However, it would seem that the splitting of Western Christianity into hundreds or even thousands of different ecclesiastical communities has NOT been helpful in terms of showing a unified witness to non-Christians. If the Protestant Revolt was as all justified, it is a shame that the Protestants could not have stayed together as one united Protestant faith group. Hence, in that one specific area anyway, it may have been an experiment gone wrong. However, we could also ask this question? What has caused more harm to the cause of winning non-Christians to Christ in our modern era, the Protestant Revolt which split Western Christianity into countless groups or the institutionalized use of torture by the Holy Office of the Inquisition for five centuries during the Middle Ages, since said violence was NOT consistent with the Gospels?

Now, a case can be made for the RCC being the Church founded by Christ for the salvation of mankind. However, since the teachings of Vatican II "effectively" renounced the Unam Sanctam and Cantate Domino infallible Papal decrees that deal with salvation for those outside of the RCC, there seems to be little urgency for Protestants to return home to Holy Mother Church. Maybe the cause of Christ would have been served better if Luther had joined the Eastern Orthodox Church and brought Northern Europe into the Orthodox fold?
 
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Basil the Great

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Root of Jesse - I respect your dedication to Mother Church. However, to say that the Church has always believed that all baptized Christians are part of the body of Christ is at the very least misleading. While this may be true on one level, the more important fact is that Mother Church certainly believed and taught that non-Catholic Christians had to become members of Mother Church prior to their death or else they could not be saved. Forget the Unam Sanctam decree for the moment. The Cantate Domino infallible Papal decree is even more specific and leaves no room for any doubt.
 
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LittleLambofJesus

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I always like that verse

Young LT) Mark 5:25 and a certain woman, having an issue of blood twelve years, 26 and many things having suffered under many physicians, and having spent all that she had, and having profited nothing, but rather having come to the worse,
[Luke 4:24]

 
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Root of Jesse

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Care to quote where said document excludes non-Catholics? Cuz I don't see it. It certainly says that there is only one Church, but that's biblical teaching. It certainly says that, outside of that one Church, which is the Church Christ founded, there can be no salvation. What most people fail to see is what is meant by "the Church". While it may not have been seen exactly this way, God lead his people through the desert for 40 years to lead them to have faith in him. But this is how doctrine develops-we gain a deeper understanding of what that means. To be Christ's Church, anyone who is baptized and believes in Jesus as his Lord and Savior is part of it. To be honest, we didn't know whether Jesus was true God and True man, 100%, 50%, neither, or either for a really good while until we debated it. So it's easy to see how faith deepens. The Catholic Church does not turn her back on anyone who wants to come into her fold. People turn their backs on the Catholic Church, but not the other way around.
 
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Root of Jesse

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Huh? Who are you to judge me? I examine my eyes for planks all the time. You don't know me, so have no right to judge.
 
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Root of Jesse

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When you make an assertion, you'd best back it up. That the Medieval Inquisition used torture at times is true, but it was not institutionalized, any more than the abuse of children by modern priests is institutionalized. More often than not, it was threatened, in rare cases was it used, and it was never authorized by the Holy See, although he did sanction the Inquisitions themselves. It is important to note that the courts of the medieval inquisition were actually modifying and limiting a practice common to secular judicial proceedings of the time. The use of torture in inquisition courts was much less extensive, and far less violent, than the norms of secular courts.
 
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UnamSanctam

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Proof of your assertion?

It's right there in Unam Sanctam. I could also point to Tridentinum.

And where did I mention the bishop of Rome about this?

You said I had to do what God says. I already do, so you must mean "The bishop of Rome" instead, or assume that said bishop is God.

That's not what it says, though. That's what you think it means.

No, that's what it means, and what it was taken to mean from its inception until Vatican II decided it'd better loosen up a little.

I will, on principle, not engage in a battle of copy-paste. Please come back when you have something to say yourself, and not just copy-paste from a webpage.


This
 
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