Disunity in the Church

[5pintLutheran]

Dominus Tecum,

Recently, through prayer and diligently seeking the truth, I have come to a conclusion about disunity in the Christian church body.
As many of you know, a new protestant church is established every day(?), and every one of them proclaims that they have the “truth” as it is presented in scripture. I was informed that over 40,000 different “religions” that are Christian denominations, are in imperfect communion with the Catholic Church, but communion nonetheless.

I’ve seen that the Catholic church has maintained unity for about 2,000 years. Anyone care to comment on this? My anti-catholic mentality is slowly starting to crumble away. I’m admitting this b/c it’s very true. Pax Domini. Amen.

 

[Delta2]

That occurs not only in protestant churchs but also in another religions such as Islam

Within the same denomination or religion, the message varies/changes from iman to iman, from scholar to scholar, from village to village, from city to city and country to country

There is not a single Head that speaks for all, there is no a single Head that is a infallible voice

There is no community of saints

There is no one head with only one body

RCC has only one head, one body, and it is a community of saints…in this life and in the other

A mystery that you must understand, think, and reflect

 

[jmcrae]

Dominus Tecum,

Et cum spiritu tuo.

Recently, through prayer and diligently seeking the truth, I have come to a conclusion about disunity in the Christian church body.
As many of you know, a new protestant church is established every day(?), and every one of them proclaims that they have the “truth” as it is presented in scripture. I was informed that over 40,000 different “religions” that are Christian denominations, are in imperfect communion with the Catholic Church, but communion nonetheless.

It might not be quite that many. Even so, more than one is one too many, and it’s true that there are a great many of them.

I’ve seen that the Catholic church has maintained unity for about 2,000 years. Anyone care to comment on this?

It is because the Catholic Church is the one to whom Jesus said, “The gates of Hell shall not prevail against you.” (Matthew 16:18-19)

My anti-catholic mentality is slowly starting to crumble away. I’m admitting this b/c it’s very true. Pax Domini. Amen.

Praise God!! :extrahappy:

 

[JonNC]

Dominus Tecum,

Recently, through prayer and diligently seeking the truth, I have come to a conclusion about disunity in the Christian church body.
As many of you know, a new protestant church is established every day(?), and every one of them proclaims that they have the “truth” as it is presented in scripture. I was informed that over 40,000 different “religions” that are Christian denominations, are in imperfect communion with the Catholic Church, but communion nonetheless.

I’ve seen that the Catholic church has maintained unity for about 2,000 years. Anyone care to comment on this? My anti-catholic mentality is slowly starting to crumble away. I’m admitting this b/c it’s very true. Pax Domini. Amen.

While I’ve never had an anti-catholic mentality, I agree with you. Forget for a moment the other non-catholic groups, and just focus on we Lutherans. I don’t know what synod you are, but I look at the drift of the ELCA, the ecumenical stubborn-ness of my own LCMS. And we can’t even get along with ourselves! It is all disquieting.

This is not to say that our Catholic brothers and sisters don’t have their squabbles. You can see some pretty mean statements between them here. They just all seem to go back to Rome together when they’re done.

Now, you Catholic friends. Don’t be getting all smug on us! :dts:
Jon

 

[cyberjacques]

This is not to say that our Catholic brothers and sisters don’t have their squabbles. You can see some pretty mean statements between them here. They just all seem to go back to Rome together when they’re done.

That’s the beautiful thing about family. You will have your disagreements, even your shouting matches and door-slamming. But at the end of the day, you’re still family.

 

[joeybaggz]

Your words “diligently seeking the truth” are key.

I have always thought the most important question in Scripture for us to answer is Jesus’ question to the twelve, “and who do you say I am?” And the second is Pilate’s question to Jesus on Good Friday, “And what is the truth?”

If you follow the threads on this site you will find that there are Catholics who, on any given issue, will have varying points of view; some liberal, some moderate, and some conservative. But notice that virtually all catholics agree on the basic premise of the point in question. Why, because there is one head of the Catholic Church, the Holy Spirit, and the bishop of Rome, the Pope, is the successor to the original head of the Church, Peter. Peter, the apostle chosen by Jesus, and entrusted with the authority and the responsibility to teach and guide. The Catholic Church speaks in one voice on an issue, and that teaching is never a perverted doctrine or dogma. Why, because the Holy Spirit guides.

If you study the history of the Popes, you will find many holy men, some kind of average, some arrogant and pompous, and a few downright scandalous successors to the throne of Peter. But no Pope in the 2000 year history of this Church, has ever changed, perverted, polluted, or abandoned the fundamental teaching (doctrines/dogmas) of our faith. Changed some practices, devotions, or smaller traditions, yes, but the Catholic faith as to its foundational beliefs, has not wavered in 2000 years.

I have seen some media programs with believers who have come to the Roman Catholic Church from other Christian traditions. And they say there is much good and much worth in those traditions. But to a man, they say that the reason they came to Rome, is that there was no unity in belief and teaching; every minister was his own pope, and the truth was whatever that individual taught and believed. Unity of belief and teaching is the great strength of the Catholic Church. Not to be judgmental, but that is lacking in the other Christian denominations.

I wish you well in your search. Remember the words of St. Paul (and this probably isn’t verbatim - examine everything, and keep that which is good.)

Shalom

 

[Delta2]

So we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Romans, 12-5