HELP me convey to my Baptist friend that he is a Protestant!

[Julia1]

This IS my hobby, sweetie-pie! (one of them, anyway…)

Actually I’m here doing research.

 

[RyanL]

Julia1:

Anybody care to take a stab at whether those ‘gates’ or stationary or not?

Briefly - gates move to let people in and out. So in that sense, no, they’re not stationary. However, gates do not attack - so in that sense, yes, they’re stationary.

There are, I believe, two ways of understanding the “gates of Hell” quote:

Way #1: The legions of Hell will not overcome the Church, such that the Church teaches error and leads people astray. Those passing through the gates of Hell would be the attackers of the Holy City of God, and indeed they will not prevail. This is the traditional understanding.

Way #2: When you seige a city, you attack the gates. The Gates of Hell will not prevail against (i.e., will be knocked down by) the Church, leaving Hell defenseless. We will rob Hell of souls and lead them to Heaven. This, of course, does not apply to the damned (as they are damned forever), but rather to those on earth who are “children of Satan”.

Any wonder why we refer to the Christians on earth as “The Church Militant”?

Which way is true? Personally, I think both are.

God Bless,
RyanL

 

[Eden]

Julia1:

This IS my hobby, sweetie-pie! (one of them, anyway…)

Wait a minute! You said you were here to “annoy” us. That’s one of your hobbies? What are the others? Putting banana peels on the church steps and making crank calls to the rectory? :whacky:

Actually I’m here doing research.

Oh, pardon me.