No, no, no. Not at all.
That is how all the
Catholics here have been pretending to assert unity among Catholics.
The problem is that
true Christian unity is not found in a simple nod in the direction of a laundry list of doctrines. That is
the Catholic way as can be seen from this thread, and it is entirely unfortunate as it is no barometer of one’s faithfullness to our Lord or their love of God and neighbor.
No.
True Christian unity is not primarily based on a to-do list of doctrines, but on
a working and walking relationship with Jesus Christ.
Those in Christ
ARE one…no matter what. They are all one
in Him.
Through Him, with Him, and in Him…in the unity of the Holy Spirit.
That is Christian unity.
Even
unregenerates can nod at a Catechism, and many indeed do.
The Pharisees nodded affirmingly at all the Scriptures and their doctrines
all day long,
yet they remained white-washed tombs. They had the same definition of unity that many sadly embrace today…to the loss of so many in the Body.
Both “groups”?
What “groups”?
That is
not what is happening here. What is happening here is everyone is comparing
one church of choice and comparing it to
a bunch of other church
es…and then marvel that they all disagree in one fashion or another.
One church compared to
many churches will always yield the same. It’s like Calvary Chapel comparing their statement of faith against all other churches
that are not Calvary Chapel and then hooting and hollering because…who would’ve thought…all the other churches are not duplicates of Calvary Chapel.
That is nonsense comparison, if there ever was one.
I know full well that not everyone in my church agrees with all the stated doctrines, but our apologetic for the faith is not how much we are supposedly doctrinally unified (as if that self-centeredness should ever be used to lead people to Christ). The RC apologetic is the total opposite, as the apologists boast about what they do not have. Bunkum! This is nothing more than anti-Catholic propaganda without the least substance. No supporting facts exist to make this a valid assertion. If they did exist…you could have long ago supplied them and (God knows) we have given you every opportunity to do so.
**Here it is perfectly from the Catholic Encyclopedia:
"The unity of the Church stands out as a fact altogether unparalleled in human history.
Her members all over the world** are united by
the profession of a common faith,
by participation in a common worship, and
by obedience to a common authority…
One and all hold the same belief,
join in the same religious ceremonies, and a
cknowledge in the successor of Peter the same supreme ruler. Nothing but a supernatural power can explain this."
"The Church is One because its members;
- Are all united under one government
- All profess the same faith
- All join in a common worship"
“Further, when it is said that the members of the Church are united by the profession of the same faith,
we speak of external profession as well as inward acceptance.”
**All that above is fantasy. A mirage. A facade.
It does not exist and never has.**