J
Jon_S_1
Guest
Not quite.The Samaritans did that.
The Samaritans were only half Jewish and were not part if the 12 tribes. They found their own way to worship God.
Not quite.The Samaritans did that.
No. They would have said they rejected the Pope’s jurisdiction, but they never said they “left” the Catholic Church. They were “reformers.”Luther and Calvin most certainly left the church and made no qualms about it? They founded their own man made churches and even in the case of Calvin, set up an entire city to confirm to his will.
I understand that its messy. But Christians have never all been on the same boat. There have always been divisions and unless a miracle actually occurs, there will continue to be until the Lord returns.The church is the place we go to resolve a doctrinal dispute.
For example you believe in adult baptism-believers baptism. I dispute that and say its not historical or biblical. We turn to the Bible and you share a few verses and then I share a few. No resolution, we then turn to two or three witnesses. Maybe mine our church fathers and yours founders of the Pentecostal movement.
According to Matt 18, we are now supposed to go to the church to resolve this issue.
Which church?
Can you point me to any true New Testament divisions?No. They would have said they rejected the Pope’s jurisdiction, but they never said they “left” the Catholic Church. They were “reformers.”
On the subject of Calvin setting up an entire city to follow him, Calvin was part of the Magisterial Reformation, which worked on the principle that territorial authorities were responsible for implementing reform. It was the municipal council that decided to institute Reform in Geneva. There was already a trend of localities wanting to shake off the grip of Rome over ecclesiastical matters. Even the Peasant revolts demanded the right of villages to choose their own pastors and to end oppressive feudal obligations to monasteries and abbeys.
I understand that its messy. But Christians have never all been on the same boat. There have always been divisions and unless a miracle actually occurs, there will continue to be until the Lord returns.
How did they stay within the Church?What is the church? Who is the church? From my perspective, Luther and Calvin, et. al., never left “the church.” They simply contended within the church according to their convictions.
Well, if you read the letters in the New Testament it becomes clear there were factions among Christians. No sure if that points to complete “divisions.” When we look later on, we clearly see divisions. In fact, the more Christians tried to rigorously define what they believed the more divisions appeared.Can you point me to any true New Testament divisions?
How does one leave the church? The reformers repudiated the jurisdiction of Rome in religious matters, but they never repudiated their membership in the Catholic (i.e. universal) Church. They never saw Rome as synonymous with Catholic.How did they stay within the Church?
you are mistaken…From my perspective, Luther and Calvin, et. al., never left “the church.” They simply contended within the church according to their convictions.
Did King David’s sins affect the truth in his Psalms?How does one leave the church? The reformers repudiated the jurisdiction of Rome in religious matters, but they never repudiated their membership in the Catholic (i.e. universal) Church. They never saw Rome as synonymous with Catholic.
And in the New Testsment when there was a disagreement (not a division) what happened? They went to the Apostles for a definitive decision. Or Paul or Peter wrote correction letters to them.Well, if you read the letters in the New Testament it becomes clear there were factions among Christians. No sure if that points to complete “divisions.” When we look later on, we clearly see divisions. In fact, the more Christians tried to rigorously define what they believed the more divisions appeared.
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Exact same argumement JW’s use for Charles Taze Russell.I do not have time right now to answer you completely. I’m about to go on a trip, but later on tonight I’ll give a more complete answer.
Were not Martin Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, and et. al. “from within the church.” It’s not their fault that an often corrupt and unwieldy institution based in Rome and often captive by political/secular interests chose to escalate tensions rather than listen to widespread demands for reform.