This statement is fundamentally false.
No it’s not. That’s exactly why they split.
The Church (not church, mind you) is holy and divine. It is not corrupt, and cannot be so.
I disagree. Not only does history tell us that the church became corrupt, there are many incidents in scripture where the church is rebuked for its corruption, both doctrinal and political.
The Church has lasted 2000 years. It has lasted longer than any other human institution or government. And it will continue to do so. It will be here long after all others are gone. Christ said the gates of hell would not prevail against it. They have not, and will not. Only such divine protection can account for the Church’s survival against endless attacks from within and without. This divine protection will ensure it’s continued survival and growth.
I agree. And the Reformation was a large part of God’s plan to protect the integrity of the church.
Luther headed up a group of people who were upset and bitter over legitimate wrongs and practices.
“Legitimate wrongs and practices”? I thought you just said that the church cannot do this. Which is it?
Rather than reform the Church (again, not church) from within, Luther was cursed with pride and his new practice bore his own name.
First of all, Luther may have had pride, but I don’t believe that he ever demanded that people kiss his ring or defer to him as God’s representative on Earth.
Second, Lutheranism was not called Lutheranism by Luther.
This is why Lutheranism is dwindling away, and will be virtually gone within the next 40/50 years
I disagree. A February 16, 2006 article in Christianity Today noted that, while the number of Lutherans in North America has fallen slightly, it has risen sharply worldwide.
it is a man’s vision of how he wanted things to be, not how Christ wanted things to be.
I disagree. Having actually taken the time to study it, I believe it is very much Biblically based.
It was doomed from the start. Anglicanism - formed when a king was not allowed an anullment - is dying, as well.
Again, I disagree. Anglicanism is not dying. There is a rift between two factions of Anglicanism: one following Biblical teaching, one following doctrinal and social liberalism incompatible with Biblical teaching.
I’m following this story pretty closely and while the numbers of that remnant may be small, they are very strong and I believe that their allegience to the Gospel and to sound doctrine will bear a lot of fruit.
Protestants often argue that Catholics allow a man to come between them and God when they confess to a priest. What malarkey.
It’s not malarkey at all. There is a man in that little booth to whom you must confess.
Protestantism can be boiled down to one’s own interpretation of the text
And that’s simply not true. If it were, then we would not have creeds and confessions, we would not have doctrinal standards, and we would not have discipline for those who violate those doctrinal standards.
The truest form of Protestantism is one man, alone with a Bible, understanding it as he sees fit, and believing what he reads (if he can read, comprehend, etc) as the True Word - all others false.
Such a person would surely be pointed out as being a “LOne Ranger Christian”, a practice which is very much condemned in Protestant and Baptist sects.
Protestantism revolves around the church. If you’re not aware of this, then you really need to go back and study the Reformation before you criticize others.
Christ gave humanity a teacher - the Catholic Church. Eventually, most will realize this (as I hope you do) and will come home.
My home is in Christ, not in any religious organization. While Christ gave the church to be a teacher (although I do not believe it is your church), He also gave the church His word to guide it in all matters doctrinal and practical.
One last thing, as a bonus: Western Civilization exists only because of the Catholic Church. You know this, do you not?
Yes, I do know that the Catholic church played a large role in Western Civilization. I also know that the Reformation and the Reformers played an equally large role.
CentralFloridaJames:
Didn’t the Baptists separate from the Church of England in the early 1600s - decades after Luther’s rebellion and a generation or so after King Henry appointed himself the new head of God’s Church in the The Act of Supremacy of 1534? Do you consider Baptist religious lineage extending from Protestantism or do you consider your religion extending from Catholicism?
Here you go:
yellowstone.net/baptist/history.htm
Basically I’d like to know if Baptists consider themselves more Catholic or more Protestant?
Protestant.
[imputed righteousness] is non-biblical
Really? Then how do you explain:
“ And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” – Romans 4:22-25
“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”- James 2:23
“And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:” – Romans 4:11
TealBlue:
Jesus never commanded us to follow a bible or his apostles to write anything down.
I disagree. The Bible is clear that the scriptures were written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
As far as OSAS goes Paul makes it clear we can lose our salvation.
That is so. They were broken off because of unbelief, but you are there because of faith. So do not become haughty, but stand in awe.
21
For if God did not spare the natural branches, (perhaps) he will not spare you either.
22
See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but God’s kindness to you, provided you remain in his kindness; otherwise you too WILL BE CUT OFF.
23
And they also, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again
Which part of this passage do you believe says that we can lose our salvation?
SeanBoyle:
You think people leave the Catholic Church because of the sex abuse scandals, why? Why would someone leave the scandals in the Church for the scandals in your church?
Yes, I have heard of people who have left the Catholic church because of the rampant preist sex abuse and because of that institution’s unwillingness to do anything about it.
What scandals are there in our church?
Why would Catholic need to know anything about what you believe?
Because it’s foolish to tell somebody that they’re wrong when you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Since Christ founded the Church and promised that it would preserve until the end, why would anyone explore any other faith tradition for spiritual growth?
I agree, but we’re not talking about Christianity in general, we’re talking about one organization within Christianity.
peary:
What is the disfference between ‘infused’ and ‘imputed’???
Simply put, infused righteousness means that God gives you a measure of righteousness that you either keep or lose, depending on your actions.
Imputed righteousness means that God knows that we are not righteous and considers us righteous, not because of our own works, but because of our standing in Christ.
Imputed righteousness is taught in the Bible in, among other places:
“ And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” – Romans 4:22-25
“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”- James 2:23
“And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:” – Romans 4:11