what is the best way to draw closer to Christ?

[Justy90]

I have found that scripture (not the Catholic Sacrament of Confession) exposes the darkness of my soul and brings me again and again to the foot of the cross where Christ died for my sins.

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12

When I confess my sins, Christ is my mediator; I do not need a Catholic priest:

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men – the testimony given in its proper time."
- 1 Timothy 2:5-6

Scripture shows me my sins; and when I confess to Jesus, his blood cleanses me from my sins.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" - 1 John 1:9

It’s as close to Christ as you can get.

Amen Priscilla! Those are three great powerful Scripture readings that really sum up why it is that Scripture should come first in our lives and how it truly is the level and plumb of Christians. I’m glad that you have come to find Christ in them as so many of us have.

 

[RomanCath379]

33,000?? can you name them?

Sure.
**If you are Lutheran—Martin Luther in 1517 ex-monk of the Catholic church in the year 1517.
Church of england—your religion was founded by King Henry VIII in 1534 because the pope would not grant him a dicorce to remarry.
If you are Presbyterian—your religion was founded by John Knox in Scotland in the year 1560.
If you are Protestant Episcopalian—your religion was an offshoot of the church of England founded by Samuel Seabury in the American colonies in the 17th century.
If you are a Congregationalist—your religion was originated by Robert Brown in Holland in 1582.
If you are Methodist, your religion was launched by John and Charles Wesley in England in 1744.
If you are Unitarian—Theopilius Lindley founded this church in London in 1774.
If you are a Mormon—(LDS)—Joseph Smith started your religion in Palmyra, NY in 1829.
If you are Baptist—you owe the terets of your religion to John Smyth who launched it in Amsterdam in 1605.
If you worship with the Salvation Army—your sect began with William Booth in London in 1865.
If you are Christian Scientist you look to 1879 in which your religion was born to Mr. and Mrs. Baker Eddy as it’s founder.
If you belong to anything else called "church of the Nazarene, “Pentacostal Gospel”, “Holiness church”, “Pilgrim Holiness church”, “Jehovah’s Witness”, your religion is one of the hundred new sects founded by men within the past century.

If you are Catholic—you know your religion was founded in the year 33 A.D. by Jesus Christ, the Son of God and is still the same church. **

 

[charsan2]

Where does it say that the bible alone will save you in the bible?

Where does it not say Christ will not save you. You need to drop the condescending tone.

 

[SingleMomMonica]

33,000?? can you name them?

I’ve heard the number 33k many times. I don’t know where that specific number comes from. All I know is that there are way too many Protestant Churches for me to count. My phone book alone shows 33 different Baptists Denominations (there are a total of 40 Baptists Churches listed - but a few of them are of the same Denomination).

I won’t list each of the denominations, but to name a few: First Baptist, Evangelical Baptist, Missionary Baptist and Third Baptist.

Now I would imagine that each denomination using the name Baptist will probably be pretty similar, but there are definite differences since each is it’s own denomination or maybe it would be proper to say sub-denomination.

Perhaps the differences are within their government structure or perhaps in their minor points of theology - I’ve even heard of Baptist Chuches spliting based on whether or not men wear or don’t wear ties? I would venture to hope that that type of petty thing doesn’t normally split a Church.

 

[PRmerger]

33,000?? can you name them?

Actually, it’s now over 40,000.

Here’s just some of the A’s. I could give more if you like! But I think you can easily extrapolate that there’s 40,000.

A

A of BC in Luzon Visayas Mindanao
A Unterstütz in Mennonitengemeinden
Abbott Loop Fell of Community Churches
Aboriginal pentecostal congregations
Absolute Maori Established Church
Acção Bíblica
Acción Misionera Iglesia de Dios
Achang Church
Achewa Baptist Church
Action Apostolique
Action Biblique
Acts Mission Church of South Africa
Acts of Apostles Christ Church Nigeria
Advent Christian Church
Advent Christian Conference
Advent Christian Conference of Japan
Adventist Church
Adventists of the True Remnant
Africa Christian network
Africa Evangelical Church
Africa Evangelical Church of Malawi
Africa Gospel Church
Africa Gospel Unity Church
Africa Inland Church
African Apostolic Church of Johane Maranke
African Apostolic Church of Johane Masowe
African Apostolic Church of Nigeria & Benin
African Apostolic Church St Simon & St Johane
African Apostolic Faith Mission
African Assemblies of God
African Baptist Assembly Malawi
African Born Full Gospel Apostolic Ch
African Brotherhood Church
African Catholic Church
African Christian Church & Schools
African Christians Fellowship
African Church
African Church Mission
African Church of Jesus Christ in Kenya
African Church of the Holy Spirit
African Church The
African Congregational Church
African Covenant Church
African Disciples of Christ
African Divine Church
African Evangelical Presbyterian Ch
African Faith Tabernacle Church
African Free Presb Church of Zimbabwe
African Full Gospel Church
African Gospel Church
African Holy Zionist Church
African Independent Church of Kenya
African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa
African Interior Church
African Israel Church Nineveh
African Methodist Church in Zimbabwe
African Methodist Episcopal Church
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Ch
African Mission of Holy Ghost Church
African National Church
African National/International Church
African New Life Ministries
African Reformed Coptic Church of God
African Salvation Army Church
African Union First Colored MP Ch
Afrikaans Baptist Church
Afrikaans Protestant Church
Agape Fellowship
Agape Ministries International
Akha Church
Aladura Internat Church UK & Overseas
Alaph Divine Temple
Aliança Biblica do Brasil
Aliança Cristã e Missionária
Aliança das Igrejas Cristãs Ev do Brasil
Alianca Ev C&MA
Alianca Evangelica Missionaria
Alianza Cristiana Pentecostal
Alianza Cristiana y Misionera
Alianza Cristiana y Misionera del U
All One in Christ Fellowship
Allegheny Wesleyan Meth Connection
Alliance Baptiste Ev de Paris E et N
Alliance Church in South Africa
Alliance Church of Swaziland
Alliance Church of Zimbabwe
Alliance des Eglises Chrétiennes Miss
Alliance des Eglises Evangéliques
Alliance des Egls Ev Indépendantes
Alliance Ev Chr et Missionnaire
Alliance for Renewal Churches
Alliance of Christian Churches
Alliance of Reformed Churches
Alliance Spirituelle et Fraternelle
All-Ukrainian Union of Assocs of ECBs
Alpha & Omega Christian Church
Alt-Katholische Kirche in Deutschland
Alt-Katholische Kirche in Österreich
Altreformierte Kirchen in Deutschland
American Anglican Catholic Church
American Association of Lutheran Churches
American Baptist Association
American Baptist Churches in the USA
American Episcopal Church of N America
American Ev Christian Churches
American Evangelistic Association
American Rescue Workers
Amis du Charpentier
Amuri Free Church
Anchor Bay Evangelistic Assoc of the P
Anchor Bay Evangelistic Association
Ancient Church of the East: P Baghdad
Angkola Christian Prot Church
Angl Church in Aotearoa NZ & Polynesia
Anglican Catholic Church
Anglican Catholic Church in Australia
Anglican Catholic Church in N America
Anglican Catholic Church of Canada
Anglican Church
Anglican Church (D Antigua)
Anglican Church (D Cyprus & the Gulf)
Anglican Church (D Egypt L & N)
Anglican Church (D Egypt)
Anglican Church (D Europe)
Anglican Church (D Guyana)
Anglican Church (D Jamaica)
Anglican Church (D Kuching)
Anglican Church (D Mauritius)
Anglican Church (D Nassau & B)
Anglican Church (D Papua & New Guinea)
Anglican Church (D Polynesia)
Anglican Church (D Singapore)
Anglican Church (D Virgin Islands)
Anglican Church (D Windward Is)
Anglican Church (D Windward Isles)
Anglican Church (J North & Central Europe)
Anglican Church in America
Anglican Church in Lesotho
Anglican Church in Malawi
Anglican Church in Southern Africa
Anglican Church in Zambia:
Anglican Church in Zimbabwe:
Anglican Church of Aruba (D Antigua)
Anglican Church of Australia
Anglican Church of Bermuda (D Bermuda)
Anglican Church of Cameroon
Anglican Church of Canada
Anglican Church of Ghana
Anglican Church of India
Anglican Church of Kenya
Anglican Church of Malaysia
Anglican Church of Nigeria
Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea
Anglican Church: D Antigua
Anglican Church: D Barbados
Anglican Church: D Belize
Anglican Church: D Botswana
Anglican Church: D Cyprus & the Gulf
Anglican Church: D Damaraland/Namibia
Anglican Church: D Gambia & Rio Pongas
Anglican Church: D Guyana
Anglican Church: D Jamaica
Anglican Church: D Mauritius
Anglican Church: D Nassau & the B
Anglican Church: D Polynesia
Anglican Church: D Seychelles
Anglican Church: D Singapore
Anglican Church: D Swaziland
Anglican Church: D Trinidad & Tobago
Anglican Church: D Windward Isles
Anglican Episcopal Church of N America
Anglican Mission in America
Anglican Orthodox Church
Anglican Orthodox Church of N America
Anglican Orthodox Church of Zimbabwe
Anglican Orthodox Church: D Pakistan
Anglican Orthodox Free Church
Anglican Province of America

 

[SingleMomMonica]

Sure.
**If you are Lutheran—Martin Luther in 1517 ex-monk of the Catholic church in the year 1517.
Church of england—your religion was founded by King Henry VIII in 1534 because the pope would not grant him a dicorce to remarry.
If you are Presbyterian—your religion was founded by John Knox in Scotland in the year 1560.
If you are Protestant Episcopalian—your religion was an offshoot of the church of England founded by Samuel Seabury in the American colonies in the 17th century.
If you are a Congregationalist—your religion was originated by Robert Brown in Holland in 1582.
If you are Methodist, your religion was launched by John and Charles Wesley in England in 1744.
If you are Unitarian—Theopilius Lindley founded this church in London in 1774.
If you are a Mormon—(LDS)—Joseph Smith started your religion in Palmyra, NY in 1829.
If you are Baptist—you owe the terets of your religion to John Smyth who launched it in Amsterdam in 1605.
If you worship with the Salvation Army—your sect began with William Booth in London in 1865.
If you are Christian Scientist you look to 1879 in which your religion was born to Mr. and Mrs. Baker Eddy as it’s founder.
If you belong to anything else called "church of the Nazarene, “Pentacostal Gospel”, “Holiness church”, “Pilgrim Holiness church”, “Jehovah’s Witness”, your religion is one of the hundred new sects founded by men within the past century.

If you are Catholic—you know your religion was founded in the year 33 A.D. by Jesus Christ, the Son of God and is still the same church. **

Assemblies of God was founded in 1914.

Like the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church can trace it’s roots back it’s establishment by Christ, in the Holy Spirit, through the Apostles.

St. James founded the Orthodox Church in Jerusalem.

St. Paul had established Orthodox Churches all over Greece which are still there now and whom books of the New Testament have been named after, like the Church in Thessalonica (I know an Orthodox man who works at a hotel in Thessalonica whose family has been attending that Church for generations upon generations).

St. Peter founded the Orthodox Church in Antioch and later went to Rome with St. Paul to establish the Church there. St. Andrew founded the Orthodox Church in Byzantium later called Constantinople. St. Mark established the Orthodox (Coptic) Church in Alexandria. St. Thomas, the Church in India.

**There is a huge difference in theology and practice of the Christian Faith between our Churches who have historically traceable roots back to Christ and those “Johnny-come-lately” Churches.

I honestly think though that the vast majority of Protestants don’t ever wonder about the foundations of the Church they are attending and whether or not it could possibly be part of the Church that Christ established with history going back to the Apostles and Christ. I think that it’s just not a part of most of their though processes. **

At least that’s how it is with the Protestants I know personally and have within my own extended family. For example, when my parents moved to the mountains for retirement, it was a long drawn out process for them to “find” their new “Church home” - for Catholics and Orthodox we would have just found the nearest Catholic or Orthodox Church - but for my Protestant parents - they had to visit all these different churches for like a year and see if they “felt comfortable” and if they liked “the way the Pastor preached” and if they liked “the type of people who attend the church” and if the paperwork did not have anything written in it that they didn’t agree with - like the church’s mission statement. The church they settled on is called “Chapel in the Pines” - they’ve been going there for months now and my mom said today that she doesn’t even know what Protestant Denomination it is - I looked it up, apparently it’s denomination is called: Independent. I’ve never heard of that one before.

 

[RomanCath379]

PRmerger, that’a a lot of work for one alphabet! good job.

 

[PRmerger]

PRmerger, that’a a lot of work for one alphabet! good job.

Just to give credit where credit is due…that list was created by the author of the website I cited.

But, since it was so fun the first time…here’s a list of more from…let’s just pick another letter…how about P.

Pacific Ocean Mission
Pakistan Christian Fellowship
Palau Evangelical Church
Paliau Church
Parauk (Va) Churches
Pasundan Christian Church
Patriotic Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Peace Evangelistic Centre
Peli (Hawk) Association
Pemba Yearly Meeting of Friends
Peniel Churches of VOCA
Pente Assemblies of Newfoundland
Pente Church of God of Andhra Pradesh
Pente Evangelistic Fellowship of Africa
Pente Holiness Association Mission
Pentecost Faith Mission
Pentecostal Apostolic Church of God
Pentecostal Apostolic Church of God in R
Pentecostal Assemb of the W Indies
Pentecostal Assemblies of Africa
Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
Pentecostal Assemblies of God
Pentecostal Assemblies of God in Z
Pentecostal Assemblies of God of Z
Pentecostal Assemblies of Jamaica
Pentecostal Assemblies of the AF
Pentecostal Assemblies of the W Indies
Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies
Pentecostal Assemblies of the World
Pentecostal Assembly of Churches of JC
Pentecostal Bible Way Church
Pentecostal Church
Pentecostal Church (Sihombing)
Pentecostal Church in Sorong
Pentecostal Church of Christ in Africa
Pentecostal Church of Georgia
Pentecostal Church of God
Pentecostal Church of God in Japan
Pentecostal Church of God of America
Pentecostal Church of God of the P
Pentecostal Church of Indonesia
Pentecostal Church of Latvia
Pentecostal Church of Malaya
Pentecostal Church of Zambia
Pentecostal Churches
Pentecostal Churches in Lithuania
Pentecostal Churches in Tanzania
Pentecostal Churches of Christ
Pentecostal Churches of Christ in Serbia
Pentecostal Churches of Christ in Yugoslavia
Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic Faith
Pentecostal Churches of Uganda
Pentecostal congregations
Pentecostal Ev Assembly of Christ Elect
Pentecostal Evangelical Churches
Pentecostal Evangelistic Fell of Africa
Pentecostal Fellowship
Pentecostal Fire-Baptized Holiness Ch
Pentecostal Free Churches
Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church
Pentecostal Friends
Pentecostal Holiness Association
Pentecostal Holiness Ch
Pentecostal Holiness Church
Pentecostal Holiness Church in S Africa
Pentecostal Holy Church of Ghana
Pentecostal Ministerial Association
Pentecostal Mission
Pentecostal Missionary Church
Pentecostal Movement
Pentecostal Movement Church
Pentecostal Movement in Denmark
Pentecostal Movement in Iceland
Pentecostal Protestant Church
Pentecostal Revival Church
Pentecostal Revival Movement of S
Pentecostal Revival of Finland
Pentecostal Union
Pentecostal Union of Bulgaria
Pentecostal Union of Moldova
Pentecostal Union of United Churches
Pentecôtistes des Eaux Vives
People of Destiny International
People’s Church Movement
People’s Church of Africa
People’s Church Toronto
People’s Churches
Peoples Churches (Kwasizabantu)
People’s Missionary Church
Persia Church in Zion of Botswana
Petite Eglise (Vendéenne)
Philadelphia Pentecostal Church
Philadelphia-Verein
Philippine Church (Adarnista)
Philippine Episcopal Church
Philippine Independent Church
Philippine Missionary Fellowship
Phillipian Church of South Africa
source: here.

 

[RomanCath379]

Ooooh, this is so much fun…can you give me an H ?

 

[PRmerger]

Ooooh, this is so much fun…can you give me an H ?

I most certainly could! And, I could give 23 other letters as well! (Well, actually, 22 as there’s no denominations that begin with the letter X).

:tiphat:

The existence of even 5000 denominations is quite sad. However, 40,000 is simply…obscene. :sad_yes:

It bears witness to the idiocy of saying, “The Holy Spirit will inspire me to the proper interpretation of Scripture.”

This 40,000 denomination thing is not the result of the Holy Spirit, but was a paradigm constructed in hell, IMHO.

 

[catholic-rcia]

Understand that God is love, that he allows us to share His love with each other as the Father and Son have shared within them for all of eternity.

Pass this love on to others, put others first in your life.
That is how we draw closer to Christ, closer to each other.

www.utahmission.com

 

[RomanCath379]

I most certainly could! And, I could give 23 other letters as well! (Well, actually, 22 as there’s no denominations that begin with the letter X).

:tiphat:

The existence of even 5000 denominations is quite sad. However, 40,000 is simply…obscene. :sad_yes:

It bears witness to the idiocy of saying, “The Holy Spirit will inspire me to the proper interpretation of Scripture.”

This 40,000 denomination thing is not the result of the Holy Spirit, but was a paradigm constructed in hell, IMHO.

Haven’t heard anything from the op as to you answering his question when he stated “Name them”.Sad indeed. Thank God for the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic church. The ONLY church of Christ.

 

[distracted]

I’d surely disagree with that. Paul says that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ. He never says anything about going to Jesus through Mary. Scripture tells us that Jesus is the only mediator between God and man.

Mary was a good and pure obedient woman, but she cannot do anything divine for us.

Mary was created & conceived by God without sin…

so i disagree…

i have found her to be incredibly powerful against certain kidns of evil… sexual impurity mostly

 

[distracted]

Sorry, I got distracted, Distracted and missed your reply!

Well, I’m not quite convinced I am a Catholic, yet. So I’m using that analogy, for the moment. Have a few questions I need answered before I come out of my closet.

i can answer them. i know everything about Catholicism…



well, i have studied it… fairly in depth…

am curious as to your questions…

 

[distracted]

Where does it not say Christ will not save you. You need to drop the condescending tone.

how can you tell waht tone a person has just from written words on the inet???

it is you who have a tone…

 

[emarc]

“He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him.” (Jn 6) Can’t get any closer than this.
God bless.

 

[Richard_Kastner]

Jesus said:

15 If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. Jn.14:15 (ASV)

 

[guanophore]

Worship Him

I think you hit the nail on the head, Hisalone. It is for this purpose we are made. There is no way to be closer to Him in this life than the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

 

[guanophore]

Mary was a good and pure obedient woman, but she cannot do anything divine for us.

This is one of the most faithless statements I have ever read. it is through the pure and obedient servant of God that the best of His divinity shines!

This is like saying that no healing can happen through people! Do you deny all the miracles in the Bible?

 

[Justy90]

Actually, it’s now over 40,000.

Here’s just some of the A’s. I could give more if you like! But I think you can easily extrapolate that there’s 40,000.

A

Church in N America
Anglican Catholic Church of Canada
Anglican Church
Anglican Church (D Antigua)
Anglican Church (D Cyprus & the Gulf)
Anglican Church (D Egypt L & N)
Anglican Church (D Egypt)
Anglican Church (D Europe)
Anglican Church (D Guyana)
Anglican Church (D Jamaica)
Anglican Church (D Kuching)
Anglican Church (D Mauritius)
Anglican Church (D Nassau & B)
Anglican Church (D Papua & New Guinea)
Anglican Church (D Polynesia)
Anglican Church (D Singapore)
Anglican Church (D Virgin Islands)
Anglican Church (D Windward Is)
Anglican Church (D Windward Isles)
Anglican Church (J North & Central Europe)
Anglican Church in America
Anglican Church in Lesotho
Anglican Church in Malawi
Anglican Church in Southern Africa
Anglican Church in Zambia:
Anglican Church in Zimbabwe:
Anglican Church of Aruba (D Antigua)
Anglican Church of Australia
Anglican Church of Bermuda (D Bermuda)
Anglican Church of Cameroon
Anglican Church of Canada
Anglican Church of Ghana
Anglican Church of India
Anglican Church of Kenya
Anglican Church of Malaysia
Anglican Church of Nigeria
Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea
Anglican Church: D Antigua
Anglican Church: D Barbados
Anglican Church: D Belize
Anglican Church: D Botswana
Anglican Church: D Cyprus & the Gulf
Anglican Church: D Damaraland/Namibia
Anglican Church: D Gambia & Rio Pongas
Anglican Church: D Guyana
Anglican Church: D Jamaica
Anglican Church: D Mauritius
Anglican Church: D Nassau & the B
Anglican Church: D Polynesia
Anglican Church: D Seychelles
Anglican Church: D Singapore
Anglican Church: D Swaziland
Anglican Church: D Trinidad & Tobago
Anglican Church: D Windward Isles
Anglican Episcopal Church of N America
Anglican Mission in America
Anglican Orthodox Church
Anglican Orthodox Church of N America
Anglican Orthodox Church of Zimbabwe
Anglican Orthodox Church: D Pakistan
Anglican Orthodox Free Church
Anglican Province of America

Oh please. This shows dozens of listings for the Anglican church. It cannot be more inaccurate!