geno75:
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The RCC is Christs church, but not THE church. The whole idea of this one master, headquartered church handing down authority does not fit the new covenant gospel of salvation.
Actually, your contention is the exact opposite of the truth. Try the following scriptures:
John 17:20 visible unity
Matt 5:14 city on a hill
Matt 18:15-17 tell it to the church
Matt 16:18 one church
1 Tim 3:5 bishops care for the church
Titus 1:7 bishop is God’s steward
Titus 1:9-10 bishop is to confute the inusuborinate etc.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey you leaders and be subordinate because they watch over your souls.
Titus 2:15 Paul tells Titus[a bishop] “Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.”
1 Tim 4:11 Paul to Timothy[a bishop] “Command and teach these things.”
In the 17th chapter of John’s gospel Jesus prays for unity among the apostles, and then prays for the unity of all of those that will believe by their word. In both cases Jesus prays that the unity He calls for will be the same unity shared by He and the Father. Clearly, this kind of unity can only be achieved by having a guiding hierarchical structure as shown in the above NT passages.
Moreover, look at what Paul says about unity in the following:
Eph 4:1-5
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord,
one faith, one baptism,
Phi 1:27
Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing** firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith ** of the gospel,
Phi 2:1-2
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy,make my joy complete: be of the
same mind, having the same love,
And look what the NT says about factions:
1 Cor 11:18-19
For, in the first place, when you assemble as a church, I hear that there are
divisions among you; and I partly believe it, for there must be
factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized
Jude 1:18
“In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who set up
divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And convince some, who doubt; save some, by snatching them out of the fire; on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
I do not believe that your view conforms to the unity called for by Jesus, nor do I believe that your view is conducive to unity, nor do I believe that your view respects or recognizes authority within the church.