How do non-denominational Christians pick a church?

[MyRdmrLvs]

Okay - going with your analogy of the body - without Baptism, we have no 'lungs" and without Holy Communion we have no “heart” - we are going on “Brain” (the Bible) and “Nervous System” (how we feel about God) alone, without these things. You are absolutely right - we aren’t going to get very far with no lungs and no heart.

So - why say that they are “non-essential”? Everything is essential.

Let me ask you this. You come across a car accident a man is pinned in side and is clearly not going to live. He tells you he is afraid to die because he has heard that bad people go to hell and he is sure he is not good enough for heaven. You only have a minute what do you say?

 

[Lapey]

Yes. the catholic church is the universal Christian Church.

You are so right…but if you want to refer to the Catholic Church, you are talking about the Roman Catholic Church and those in communion with the Holy See.

Big C little c…important difference!

 

[PRmerger]

Let me ask you this. You come across a car accident a man is pinned in side and is clearly not going to live. He tells you he is afraid to die because he has heard that bad people go to hell and he is sure he is not good enough for heaven. You only have a minute what do you say?

I say, "When you meet your loving Creator, and he says, “do you want to be with me? Do not say NO!”

For isn’t that what hell is–the eternal NO to God’s Divine Marriage Proposal?

 

[MyRdmrLvs]

I do rejoice in your faith.

I am, however, puzzled by your posts.

Why should we not know whether baptism saves us? Or whether we must truly eat His flesh and drink His blood to have eternal life? I want to be able to love God with my entire heart, soul, MIND and strength. My MIND tells me that I can know the truth about these questions.

It sounds like, now, you’re saying it doesn’t really matter–God will look at our faith and rejoice that we’re Christian–and the other truths don’t matter.

I ask you why God doesn’t really care then if someone is a good, faith-filled Muslim? Why don’t you rejoice in his faith?

You see, you draw a line, too, and are exclusive in your beliefs, yet criticize Catholics for drawing a line and being exclusive in our beliefs.

what about the theif on the cross who asked Jesus to remember him? He had no baptism, no communion, nothing but the belief in who Jesus was and that He might show Him mercy. Jesus told Him he would be with him in heaven.

 

[PRmerger]

what about the theif on the cross who asked Jesus to remember him? He had no baptism, no communion, nothing but the belief in who Jesus was and that He might show Him mercy. Jesus told Him he would be with him in heaven.

Yes, indeed. By Catholic tradition (small “t”!) he is known as St. Dismas.

He is a saint!

See my post about the hundreds of people that CC recognizes and gives a feast day to that were never baptized and never received communion! Oh, and there’s a nearby parish that’s dedicated to these holy, unbaptized, uncommunicated individuals. They get *an entire church *named after them, in the Catholic church’s tradition–complete with soccer teams proudly displaying the name, school uniforms emblazoned in their memory, banners and signs all proudly proclaiming that they are the

Holy Infants!

 

[Xavierlives]

So, all the questions are answered. Now I can rest.

 

[Xavierlives]

I say, "When you meet your loving Creator, and he says, “do you want to be with me? Do not say NO!”

For isn’t that what hell is–the eternal NO to God’s Divine Marriage Proposal?

This seems a bit watered down compared to 40 posts ago.

 

[MyRdmrLvs]

And what is it that you believe in this catholic church?

that they once gatherd and debated doctrines and those who were out voted went home, … that they had not one Bible but had many books of the Bible that were wildly used and excepted. I believe they had errors but no one church ruled over the others.

 

[MyRdmrLvs]

Does your “catholic church” believe in infant Baptism? Baptism by immersion, by sprinkling, in a body of water? Is it an ordinance or a sacrament?

What about the Rapture?

Must you speak in Tongues to be saved?

Can you be a divorced man and get married by your pastor in this “catholic church”

What does your “catholic church” teach on abortion?

What does it teach about Homosexuality?

Are you once saved, always saved?

Are women allowed to be pastors in this “catholic church”?

Does this church teach a pastor must be ordained?

Is drinking allowed?

Must you attend weekly services, or you don’t have to go to church?

Is God‘s Holy Name Jehovah?

Can men and women sit together during services?

(You don’t have to answer, MRL. I’m just trying to make a point! The above are just a sampling of the multitude of different belief systems that people have created by reading the very same verses in the Bible, and coming up with different–sometimes contradictory!–understandings. It’s mind-boggling!

And, IMHO, a paradigm created in the depths of hell. What better way to create chaos in the Body of Christ than this. :sad_yes

Do you think there is total agrement in the RCC? Or are people just silent so they wont be told they are not Catholic? what is the percentage of Catholics who use contraception?

 

[MyRdmrLvs]

I say, "When you meet your loving Creator, and he says, “do you want to be with me? Do not say NO!”

For isn’t that what hell is–the eternal NO to God’s Divine Marriage Proposal?

You would not tell him about Jesus and that He died for him?

 

[fbl9]

When persons bring up the theif on the cross and sceniors of immediate death they tend to forget two things one the is the parable of the man hiring workers and that they themselves are not hanging on a cross dieing or are near death.It is impossible to apply exceptions to those that are fully capable.

 

[Xavierlives]

So then these verses below are what you consider essential beliefs, essential things that are necessary for our salvation?

We are saved…

By believing in Christ (Jn 3:16; Acts 16:31)

By repentance (Acts 2:38; 2 Pet 3:9)

By baptism (Jn 3:5; 1 Pet 3:21; Titus 3:5)

By the work of the Spirit (Jn 3:5; 2 Cor 3:6)

By declaring with our mouths (Lk 12:8; Rom 10:9)

By coming to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4; Heb 10:26)

By works (Rom 2:6-7; James 2:24)

By grace (Acts 15:11; Eph 2:8)

By his blood (Rom 5:9; Heb 9:22)

By his righteousness (Rom 5:17; 2 Pet 1:1)

By his Cross (Eph 2:16; Col 2:14)

By eating his flesh (John 6)

Ok, I think the ultimate question is, are we really killing about 10 birds with one stone.

If I have faith that Jesus is Christ. Am I not saying I am a sinner? Am I not saying that sin separates me from God. By having that faith, am I not acknowledging God’s plan to bring us together? That the plan includes the shedding of his blameless blood for me. And That while I am the chief of sinners he still loved me. While he didn’t have to do it, Jesus showed a compassion I can barely comprehend, to lay down his life, that I might take it up. Is it not that burial and resurrection of baptism that shows all who witness it that I have that faith? . Am I not saying that my faith in Christ is what will allow my ultimate communion with him, my common union. Is it not my faith that gives me the ability to remember his sacrafice when I come together with fellow Christians? Is it not my faith that defines me? It is my faith.

 

[MyRdmrLvs]

When persons bring up the theif on the cross and sceniors of immediate death they tend to forget two things one the is the parable of the man hiring workers and that they themselves are not hanging on a cross dieing or are near death.It is impossible to apply exceptions to those that are fully capable.

the point is the essentials in this case was very minimal. So essentials are relative?

 

[fbl9]

Do you think there is total agrement in the RCC? Or are people just silent so they wont be told they are not Catholic? what is the percentage of Catholics who use contraception?

There are things that are open to opinion.
Or are they silent cause they don’t want to be told that they are not in a state of grace?
The exact same percent that are in sin for doing so.

 

[Xavierlives]

You are so right…but if you want to refer to the Catholic Church, you are talking about the Roman Catholic Church and those in communion with the Holy See.

Big C little c…important difference!

I understand the difference between a big C and a little c. I used them.

 

[Xavierlives]

Does your “catholic church” believe in infant Baptism? Baptism by immersion, by sprinkling, in a body of water? Is it an ordinance or a sacrament?

What about the Rapture?

Must you speak in Tongues to be saved?

Can you be a divorced man and get married by your pastor in this “catholic church”

What does your “catholic church” teach on abortion?

What does it teach about Homosexuality?

Are you once saved, always saved?

Are women allowed to be pastors in this “catholic church”?

Does this church teach a pastor must be ordained?

Is drinking allowed?

Must you attend weekly services, or you don’t have to go to church?

Is God‘s Holy Name Jehovah?

Can men and women sit together during services?

(You don’t have to answer, MRL. I’m just trying to make a point! The above are just a sampling of the multitude of different belief systems that people have created by reading the very same verses in the Bible, and coming up with different–sometimes contradictory!–understandings. It’s mind-boggling!

And, IMHO, a paradigm created in the depths of hell. What better way to create chaos in the Body of Christ than this. :sad_yes

Was this intended for me?

 

[fbl9]

the point is the essentials in this case was very minimal. So essentials are relative?

So you are dieing at this moment
the point is you are fully capable the expections are not.you can not apply the same “rules” to an invalid as to one who has full use.

 

[Xavierlives]

When persons bring up the theif on the cross and sceniors of immediate death they tend to forget two things one the is the parable of the man hiring workers and that they themselves are not hanging on a cross dieing or are near death.It is impossible to apply exceptions to those that are fully capable.

Err… can you clarify this?

I don’t understand what "that they themselves are not hanging on a cross dieing or are near death.It is impossible to apply exceptions to those that are fully capable."means.

 

[fbl9]

Err… can you clarify this?

I don’t understand what "that they themselves are not hanging on a cross dieing or are near death.It is impossible to apply exceptions to those that are fully capable."means.

Are you hanging on a cross or near death?No you are not so why do think the same applies to you as one who is in the precceeding position?
It would be simular to lining up a football team of persons incapable of using their legs to play against the greeen bay packers with the same rules that the GBP would play by against a capable team.

 

[Xavierlives]

Are you hanging on a cross or near death?No you are not so why do think the same applies to you as one who is in the precceeding position?
It would be simular to lining up a football team of persons incapable of using their legs to play against the greeen bay packers with the same rules that the GBP would play by against a capable team.

So God has different plans for different people?