Does Jesus care about church affiliation...

[joe370]

JeanMichel, this is an awesome post. :thumbsup:You hit the nail right on the head.

Joe, this is such a good question and can be the fount of countless hours of discussion. Fundamentally, I believe that God is very concerned about our membership in his Church. However, does that mean that all of those people who are not presently members in danger of damnation? Fundamentally, I would answer no.

God works in wondrous ways and I believe that he is active in the life of every person on the earth that seeks a relationship with God. I believe that some people are doing the Lord’s work exactly where they are at present. I also believe that this life is a journey and each of us will be judged by the way we live our lives. Eventually we each will come into a perfect union as the Body of Christ within his Church, but until that time we each work within the parameters we have been given for knowing truth.

I have felt for some time that knowing truth is important, but living truth is even more important. Is it better for us to be lukewarm Catholics or “hot” Anglicans? I think God wants us fully engaged in truth, finding it and living it.

I often think about what made Jesus so disgusted with the Pharisees of old? They each knew the law, but were incapable of living the law. They were dried sepulchers devoid of Spirit, love, and charity. The law alone, in my humble opinion, does not save us. Our hearts must yearn to be one with God; we must hunger after righteousness.

When we are hungry for the Spirit, we become one in unity with God and his Church. I for one, will admire those who live the truth they know and seek to share the fullness of the Gospel with them. I then will have faith that God will take care of their souls as well as he has with mine.

Thank you again for a great question.

 

[PJM]

=joe370;7533109]JeanMichel, this is an awesome post. :thumbsup:You hit the nail right on the head.

The Bible can ONLY be revelant IF IT"S THE TRUTH. And IF THE BIBLE ARTICULATES THEE TRUTH [ONLY ONE TRUTH PER ISSUE IS PERITTED], Then all are obligated to SEEK the truth; although, no-doubt, not everyone will find it, or upon incountering it; will be so GRACED as to be able to accept it.

The CC RIGHTLY maintians that ALL salvation MUST and MOST CERTAINLY DOES, flow through Her.

Among the reasons for this are the following:

Christ ONLY founded One new Church , One New Faith on One New Covenant [Matt. 16:15-19; John 10:16; Eph. 2:19-20; and Eph. 4:4-8] are but a few Biblical proofs of this.

The Bible was “birthed by the CC.” She collected the books of the OT, Her sons authored 100% of the NT, and She set the Canon of the Bible that was approved by God. [John14:16-17; John 17:14-19.]

Teaching on Forgiveness of Sin [1 John 1:8-10; 1 John 5: 16-17 and John 20:1-15-23], The Eucharist: [Matt. 26:26-28, Mark 14: 2-24, Lukr 22:19-21; 1st.Cor. 11:23-29, and John Chapter 6], the need for Christian Baptism [John3:5] and OBEDIENCE to God’s Commandments [Mark 19:17] are Universal Mandates; not only Catholic mandates.

If one choses to deny God His RIGHT to Teach and DEMAND salvation be THROUGH Him, and in THE MANNER, that He, as our God desires; one does so at GREAT risk to there salvation.

I AM NOT saying that ONLY Catholics have an opportunity to gain heaven; rather that it is Catholics that are Informd and Practicing the Catholic Faith, who have very clear a distinct advanatges, that other do not have. WHY? Becaus they adhere to what God wants; not simply what the men founders of various faiths, have chosen to accept or reject.

God Bless,
Pat

 

[jmcrae]

In the world of Christianity, with so many separate and segregated churches, with there own unique magisters interpreting scripture, and teaching, as they are moved by the holy spirit, do you think that Jesus is indifferent as to which church a Christian decides to establish an allegiance with and deference to…?

Abstolutely. Jesus revealed Himself to His Church, and wants His Church to reveal Him to the whole world, and to obey His commandments. But a church that teaches heresy, or that is ontologically incapable of obeying His commandments due to their lack of a priesthood, can do this only in part - so, yes, Jesus cares very much what church you belong to, and wants you to belong to a church that does not teach heresy, and that has the ability and the willingness to obey His commandments - in addition to being readily accessible to as many people as possible, so that the undiluted message can get out to “the whole world” - that is, all who live - rather than limiting it to a particular region or language-group.

 

[joe370]

Seems reasonable.

The Bible can ONLY be revelant IF IT"S THE TRUTH. And IF THE BIBLE ARTICULATES THEE TRUTH [ONLY ONE TRUTH PER ISSUE IS PERITTED], Then all are obligated to SEEK the truth; although, no-doubt, not everyone will find it, or upon incountering it; will be so GRACED as to be able to accept it.

The CC RIGHTLY maintians that ALL salvation MUST and MOST CERTAINLY DOES, flow through Her.

Among the reasons for this are the following:

Christ ONLY founded One new Church , One New Faith on One New Covenant [Matt. 16:15-19; John 10:16; Eph. 2:19-20; and Eph. 4:4-8] are but a few Biblical proofs of this.

The Bible was “birthed by the CC.” She collected the books of the OT, Her sons authored 100% of the NT, and She set the Canon of the Bible that was approved by God. [John14:16-17; John 17:14-19.]

Teaching on Forgiveness of Sin [1 John 1:8-10; 1 John 5: 16-17 and John 20:1-15-23], The Eucharist: [Matt. 26:26-28, Mark 14: 2-24, Lukr 22:19-21; 1st.Cor. 11:23-29, and John Chapter 6], the need for Christian Baptism [John3:5] and OBEDIENCE to God’s Commandments [Mark 19:17] are Universal Mandates; not only Catholic mandates.

If one choses to deny God His RIGHT to Teach and DEMAND salvation be THROUGH Him, and in THE MANNER, that He, as our God desires; one does so at GREAT risk to there salvation.

I AM NOT saying that ONLY Catholics have an opportunity to gain heaven; rather that it is Catholics that are Informd and Practicing the Catholic Faith, who have very clear a distinct advanatges, that other do not have. WHY? Becaus they adhere to what God wants; not simply what the men founders of various faiths, have chosen to accept or reject.

God Bless,
Pat

 

[PJM]

Abstolutely. Jesus revealed Himself to His Church, and wants His Church to reveal Him to the whole world, and to obey His commandments. But a church that teaches heresy, or that is ontologically incapable of obeying His commandments due to their lack of a priesthood, can do this only in part - so, yes, Jesus cares very much what church you belong to, and wants you to belong to a church that does not teach heresy, and that has the ability and the willingness to obey His commandments - in addition to being readily accessible to as many people as possible, so that the undiluted message can get out to “the whole world” - that is, all who live - rather than limiting it to a particular region or language-group.

Another GREAT reply!

Right ON:thumbsup: