I totally get your post here. I share many of the same concerns. I do not enjoy many of the “concert” style etc services I have attended. HOWEVER, there are churches within the non-Catholic realm that also have unity and accountability. Certainly there is a lot more within so called “Protestantism” than the type of churches you have described.
Quite Augustinian.He wrote that Peter ate with his confession at the end of the discourse (and perfecr spot for Christ to end the discission). Somewhere he even writes leave your teeth and belly behind (confessed belief is eating…hence ritual became known as eucharist…giving of thanks, which you wouldnt do if you didnt believe).
But we, after we have thus washed him who has been convinced and has assented to our teaching, bring him to the place where those who are called brethren are assembled, in order that we may offer hearty prayers in common for ourselves and for the baptized [illuminated] person, and for all others in every place, that we may be counted worthy, now that we have learned the truth, by our works also to be found good citizens and keepers of the commandments, so that we may be saved with an everlasting salvation.
Having ended the prayers, we salute one another with a kiss. There is then brought to the president of the brethren bread and a cup of wine mixed with water; and he taking them, gives praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and offers thanks at considerable length for our being counted worthy to receive these things at His hands.
And when he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all the people present express their assent by saying Amen. This word Amen answers in the Hebrew language to ge’noito [so be it].
And when the president has given thanks, and all the people have expressed their assent, those who are called by us deacons give to each of those present to partake of the bread and wine mixed with water over which the thanksgiving was pronounced, and to those who are absent they carry away a portion.Hey Wannano, I wanted to address this before i forgot; The apostles were Jews, in every Jewish covenant babies were brought in immediately. God didn’t exclude them until they grew in gnosis. For a Jew it would be inconceivable to leave out their children and babies from a covenant. Even Jesus was brought into the old covenant of Israel as a baby. Baptism, once it is understood from a biblical point of view is a seal of the covenant children are sealed with that covenant. And like Jews with the bar-mitzvah, confirmation is the rite of passage to adulthood. It is a modern invention to keep children out of the covenant until they reach gnosis at the age of consent. As for the church “dictating” i have never been dictated to, However we are catechized and whatever you choose to do beyond that is up to you, unlike irresistable grace in which God forces you to do things, God nor the church forces us to do anything but respects your free will. However there seems to be a misconception with regard to Mortal sin, confession should be pursued immeiately after realizing you have committed mortal sin. Venial sin (things you do by mistake Numbers 15:29-31, which Christ is able to remedy Heb 5:2 the Ignorant and wayward (sins done by mistake and on purpose) because unlike the old priests beset by sin themselves, he has a greater piriesthood. And he gave this ability to the apostles in Jn 20:21-23 as they are part of his body and he works through them.
If that were all why would eating be a test of faith?
“To what purpose do you make ready teeth and stomach? Believe, and you have eaten already.”
perhaps we misunderstand…the belief is not in real presence but as Peter confessed, that Jesus is the Son God, and is eternal life
With regard to h “some” of his other writings, you mean almost all of them? You really should read those ancient catholic fathers instead of cherry picking for apologetics they are a treasure house information.