Monday, March 30, 2009

CHRCH

What's missing?

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Depends on what you mean by "church".

Carlus Henry said...

Anonymous,

There seems to be many different definitions of Church. Some are harmonious while others seem contradictory.

I mean Church in the same sense that it has always been interpreted since Christ established it.

Anonymous said...

That's a big help. How about how it's defined in the New Testament?

Carlus Henry said...

Anonymous:

Matt 16:18 - Jesus establishes his Church

1 Cor 3:11 - Jesus is the foundation of the Church

Eph 2:20 - the Apostles are also part of the foundation of the Church

One, Holy, Catholic (universal), Apostolic....

What do you think that Church is?

Anonymous said...

The Church is the called out body of believers, those whom God calls, and gives to the Son. Christ is the chief cornerstone. The The OT Prophets and NT Apostles are part of the foundation.

The Apostolic succession claimed by the Catholic has no direct support from scripture, and only questionable support from historical fact, that of claims concerning Polycarp and Clement.

Christ is the chief cornerstone, the ONLY mediator between God and Man and we are not to call any man "Father", as one refers to God as Father. Although we do have spiritual fathers and mentors, no man can claim to be an "alter christus" (another Christ), which is in Catholic tradition the role of the Priest.

That would make the priest, when performing priestly duties, etc. equal with Christ, speaking as if Christ Himself is speaking, You cannot deny that long held Catholic doctrine and become a good Catholic.

Anonymous said...

The churdh, catholic yes, Catholic no........

Carlus Henry said...

Anonymous,

The Church is the called out body of believers, those whom God calls, and gives to the Son. Christ is the chief cornerstone. The The OT Prophets and NT Apostles are part of the foundation.

Amen!!!!

Christ is the chief cornerstone, the ONLY mediator between God and Man

Amen!!! If by the only mediator you mean that He is the only one that could atone for our sins, then I agree with you 100%. If you mean that He is the only one who we should pray with, that would be an error. I can ask anyone to pray for me, so in that sense, the person that is praying for me is also a mediator.

and we are not to call any man "Father", as one refers to God as Father.

Of course, I do not agree. I have already wrote on this topic:

http://learningthefaith.blogspot.com/2008/09/call-no-man-father-hmmmm.html

Although we do have spiritual fathers and mentors, no man can claim to be an "alter christus" (another Christ), which is in Catholic tradition the role of the Priest.

Catholics believe that the priests can act in the person of Christ (persona Christi), which is completely biblical (2 Cor 2:10).

That would make the priest, when performing priestly duties, etc. equal with Christ, speaking as if Christ Himself is speaking, You cannot deny that long held Catholic doctrine and become a good Catholic.

This is restricted to the sacraments. For instance, during the Sacrament of Confession, it is not the priest who forgives sin in the confessional, it is Christ. It is not the priest who baptizes, it is Christ.

God bless...

Carlus Henry said...

Anonymous,

Call no man father, hmmm....

A little better link.