what is the best way to draw closer to Christ?

[guanophore]

You ignore the obvious. Catholics are just as prone to splintering beliefs as any Protestant. If you want to talk church doctrine, any church can have a concrete doctrine as Catholicism does and many do, but it does not halt the differing beliefs. I personally know Catholics who do not believe in the Immaculate Conception or the Real Presence. At this point, the belief system becomes irrelevant to the question. Catholics are no more immune to this than anyone. As far as concrete doctrine goes, my chuch professes the Nicene Creed as you do.

No, it is quite obvious that most American Catholics are actually Protestants, because they are not in unity with the Teaching of the Church. It is precisely BECAUSE of the individual’s proneness to get off track that Jesus had to establish an authority.

Does not the Nicene Creed affirm a Catholic Church? How can you say you espouse this?

 

[RomanCath379]

No, it is quite obvious that most American Catholics are actually Protestants, because they are not in unity with the Teaching of the Church. It is precisely BECAUSE of the individual’s proneness to get off track that Jesus had to establish an authority.

Does not the Nicene Creed affirm a Catholic Church? How can you say you espouse this?

I agree. Whenever non-Catholic Christians recite the Creed…what are they thinking that it really means?

 

[PRmerger]

As far as concrete doctrine goes, my chuch professes the Nicene Creed as you do.

That’s great.

Did you know that at the Council of Nicea it was Bishops–Catholic Bishops–who came up with this creed?

BTW, these same Bishops professed the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, celebrated the Divine Liturgy, venerated Mary, prayed for the dead…does your church follow these same teachings?

 

[Richard_Kastner]

The best way is always to go direct. Thats why God bestows the Holy Ghost to His people as their personal guide and counselor. You dont need anybody else when you already have God’s spirit with you. That is provided you are bestowed with Him

I agree wholeheartedly Mosacked and I think the bible bears us out.

1Cor.2:9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

God reveals things into the heart of man by His Spirit.

11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Again “we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God”. Not the church.

13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The Spirit reveals things to the heart of man that are not taught through the wisdom of man but through the Spirit (Spiritual discernment) of God.

1Jn.2:23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
24Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
25And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
26These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

That John is here talking to and about individuals is evident. And what specifically is he talking about?

27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Why he’s talking about the baptism (anointing) of the Holy Spirit, which He gives to individuals. This is also talked about in Jeramiah as being the primary characteristic of the new covenant.

Jer.31:31Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

So, God Himself shall write His will upon our minds and heart through His Spirit. 34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Don’t let anyone tell you any different Mosacked. You got it right.

 

[guanophore]

10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Again “we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God”. Not the church.

On the contrary, the “we” here IS the Church. The “we” to whom the Apostle writes refers to those who are in unity with the Apostles, and their successors.

26These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

The Apostle writes to the Catholic Church - those in unity with the Apostles, and their successors.The HS does not reveal truths to individuals that contradict those He has already revealed to the Church, through the Aposltes, and their successors.

 That John is here talking to and about individuals is evident. And what specifically is he talking about?

Individuals can benefit from the promise to the extent they are in unity with the One Church founded by Christ.

Don't let anyone tell you any different Mosacked. You got it right.

One has to wonder, if you and Mo are so convinced you “got it right” why are you here?

 

[jdobbins]

That’s great.

Did you know that at the Council of Nicea it was Bishops–Catholic Bishops–who came up with this creed?

BTW, these same Bishops professed the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, celebrated the Divine Liturgy, venerated Mary, prayed for the dead…does your church follow these same teachings?

The best way to get closer to God is through prayer from the heart. You can’t pray from the heart unless you grow to love God. So, you have to first know God before you can love Him enough, and you have to love Him enough before you care about doing His will. You come to know God through scripture. So your life is a perpetual spiral of knowing God, loving God, and doing His will, which then leads you to want to know Him better, so you can love Him more, and seek more ardently to do His will. This is all done through through prayer. You first learn how to not just read scripture, but to pray with scripture.