justathought:
I may be wrong, but I think the point nondenom was trying to get across was that in the Old Testament, the tabernacle and temples were made mighty and glorious because that was the people’s ONLY way to God. Today, we have Jesus as the direct connect (I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life) to God Himself so elaborate buildings are not necessary. I think the point nondenom was trying to make is that the amount of money put into the cathedrals and such could have gone to a much more Noble purpose.
I believe that the major difference between Catholics and Protestants is in the Church that Peter began. Catholics see the Church founded by Peter as a religion; Protestants see it as Christianity.
I personally feel that Jesus’ purpose was to make Christianity a non-religion. I believe this because of Galatians 2:11-21. When Paul rebukes Peter, it is because he is being too religious. Jesus rebuked the legalism of the Pharisees as did Paul of Peter.
Peace be upon all who read thisWhat bunk! And so this falls to us who have maintained not only the faith of the apostles but the art and beauty of Christianity for 2,000 years while you n-Cs come along and build big rec centers and huge churches?
Let’s look at a couple of pertinient passages of the NT real quick here: Re: “Noble purpose”
"John 12:1 Jesus therefore, six days before the pasch, came to Bethania, where Lazarus had been dead, whom Jesus raised to life. 2 And they made him a supper there: and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that were at table with him. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of right spikenard, of great price, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 4 Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, he that was about to betray him, said: 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the purse, carried the things that were put therein. 7 Jesus therefore said: Let her alone, that she may keep it against the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you have always with you; but me you have not always."
Re: “religion”:
“James 1:26 And if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. 27 Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation: and to keep one’s self unspotted from this world.”
You worry too much about another man’s servant…
Romans 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? To his own lord he standeth or falleth. And he shall stand: for God is able to make him stand. 5 For one judgeth between day and day: and another judgeth every day: let every man abound in his own sense.6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord. And he that eateth, eateth to the Lord: for he giveth thanks to God. And he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth thanks to God. 7 For none of us liveth to himself; and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord. Therefore, whether we live, or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose again; that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. 10 But thou, why judgest thou thy brother? or thou, why dost thou despise thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written: As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 Therefore every one of us shall render account to God for himself. 13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more. But judge this rather, that you put not a stumblingblock or a scandal in your brother’s way.
Pax vobiscum,