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Sixtus
Guest
I think that there will never be unity between the sects and the Catholic Church. Just as I do not believe they will ever unite with the main Protestant groups.
Already there is a lot of cooperation between Anglicans Methodists, Catholics etc. But the SDA and JW’s seem further away than ever.
I think it is not desirable that we ‘all become one’. I see God as a great mountain. Wherever you stand, you see a different picture. On the north side, pine trees and snow, on the south short grass, luscious plants and citrus fruit, on the east and west somewehere in between. So too with Anglican, Methodist, Baptist and Catholic, Unitarian, Society of Friends.
In nature, it seems that God is about diversity. So too human culture. We can work together and have joint worship such as the Easter Witness which is often very ecumenical.
In one community, up until recently the local Methodist Minister was our own Deacon. He was asked by the Methodist community to undertake a caretaker role following the sudden death of their Minister [an outstanding man of admirable Christian principles and for whom I had a lot of respct].
But, I do not see SDA or JW’s ever being reconciled wiht Methodists or anyone else.
Already there is a lot of cooperation between Anglicans Methodists, Catholics etc. But the SDA and JW’s seem further away than ever.
I think it is not desirable that we ‘all become one’. I see God as a great mountain. Wherever you stand, you see a different picture. On the north side, pine trees and snow, on the south short grass, luscious plants and citrus fruit, on the east and west somewehere in between. So too with Anglican, Methodist, Baptist and Catholic, Unitarian, Society of Friends.
In nature, it seems that God is about diversity. So too human culture. We can work together and have joint worship such as the Easter Witness which is often very ecumenical.
In one community, up until recently the local Methodist Minister was our own Deacon. He was asked by the Methodist community to undertake a caretaker role following the sudden death of their Minister [an outstanding man of admirable Christian principles and for whom I had a lot of respct].
But, I do not see SDA or JW’s ever being reconciled wiht Methodists or anyone else.
A
AlegreFe
Guest
If Jesus were to tell people which Church is His, that wouldn’t mean that He is coercing anyone into anything. It simply means that He is telling people and if they chose to believe they will.
It’s the same thing when Jesus told everyone that they were to eat His Body and drink His Blood. Some believed and stayed, others didn’t believe and walked away. When they walked away, He didn’t stop them because He knew what they were thinking and didn’t have to clarify anything for them. They just chose not to believe. If Jesus tells everyone that the Catholic Church is His, those Protestants who will still be stubborn prideful can still chose not to believe and they can walk away and Jesus won’t stop them.
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zerinus
Guest
Based on the context. The context says nothing aobut “heaven”. The context is all about what is going to happen in the last days here on earth, not in heaven.
zerinus
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Montalban
Guest
Which is a truism. If everyone’s united to the Pope then everyone will be united to the Pope ( ie. have Christian unity).
I didn’t realise taht ‘authentic Catholic teaching on Christian unity’ was so profound
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water
Guest
we can look at this:
2 peter 3:
10. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 13.But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
Revelation 21: 1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
Matthew 5:17
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away…
J
JonathanKinsman
Guest
And based on the CONTEXT, Z-bot, the quotation says nothing about the Mormon sect as the one true church.
The context, Zerinus, the context.
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AlegreFe
Guest
God already established His Kingdom here on earth. He did that back with Jesus and the Apostles. That was one of the reasons why Jesus was born, to establish His Kingdom and to appoint a Prime Minister here on Earth, the Pope. And of course to die for us and rise again.
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Beno
Guest
God, I want to say yes, that Christian unity is really possible. But I believe that as long as people are people and that we have free will, and barring some world-wide supernatural manifestation revealing the one true Christian faith, that unity will not be possible on this side of paradise. God forgive me for my doubt. 
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Montalban
Guest
When was there a Prime Minister of the Church?
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Montalban
Guest
Well, in absolute terms there will never be unity because there will be some doubters. However one could possibly have more unity.
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AlegreFe
Guest
The one true Church has already been established and revealed.God, I want to say yes, that Christian unity is really possible. But I believe that as long as people are people and that we have free will, and barring some world-wide supernatural manifestation revealing the one true Christian faith, that unity will not be possible on this side of paradise. God forgive me for my doubt.
And you know very well that’s the Catholic Church. 
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AlegreFe
Guest
That’s just another title for the Pope as the title in the OT.When was there a Prime Minister of the Church?
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Beno
Guest
Yes, of course. I should have clarified that I was envisioning the idea of a world wide supernatural manifestation revealing clearly and without doubt to all humankind that the Catholic (and Orthodox?) Church is the one true Church which Jesus established.The one true Church has already been established and revealed.
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Friend_Of_Rome
Guest
I think what was probably meant was a government leader. Our borders don’t show up on the screen
Anyways, I just wanted to recount to you all another happening, on top of the one that made me start this thread. My parrents own a bakery, and we have numerous salesmen place our orders for raw materials i.e. flour sugar etc . . .Our newest is a Born Again Christian. Well, he told my mother that her place was home, not in the bakery. Poeple wth such emotional claims, who lack reason and knowledge, must also realize that their faith does nto entitle them to bash others!
Anyways, I just wanted to recount to you all another happening, on top of the one that made me start this thread. My parrents own a bakery, and we have numerous salesmen place our orders for raw materials i.e. flour sugar etc . . .Our newest is a Born Again Christian. Well, he told my mother that her place was home, not in the bakery. Poeple wth such emotional claims, who lack reason and knowledge, must also realize that their faith does nto entitle them to bash others!
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jmcrae
Guest
I’m guessing he won’t last very long in your servlce.
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Contarini
Guest
Why would Jesus pray for something that was not desirable?
True unity allows for diversity–it does not abolish it.
One of the great stumbling blocks for ecumenism used to be that the RCC seemed to identify unity with uniformity. This has clearly changed in principle, although I’d like to see the change work down more deeply from theory into practice. The current Pope, just to give one example, has said explicitly that liturgical, cultural, and even theological diversity is desirable and that reunion will not abolish that.
In Christ,
Edwin
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Montalban
Guest
When was he appointed? Our Prime Minister is elected.
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Montalban
Guest
I love ‘just-so’ statements
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jmcrae
Guest
John 21:15-19.
The reason we elect our Prime Minister is that we are a democratic monarchy. The Queen is our real ruler; the Prime Minister is her “vicar,” who takes care of day-to-day business that she doesn’t have time for. Everything he does in his official capacity as Prime Minister, he does on her behalf and in her name.
The Pope has that exact same role with regard to Jesus our King.
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