Choice of Denomination

[R.C. Anderson]

denominations differ from each other. In many of the denominations it was the "secondary issues" which caused the differences, but in a few it was the "primary issues" which should be the same in any Christian church.

honoring Sunday as the Sabbath Day

Doesn't the Bible say to not judge anyone concerning days of worship? Don't we worship on Sunday because of the resurrection?

Many Christians believe that the reason they worship on Sunday instead of Saturday is because of the resurrection. Worshiping on Sunday to honor the resurrection has nothing to do with Honoring the Sabbath though. They are 2 separate days and 2 separate reasons. Honoring the Sabbath has nothing at all to do with the resurrection. They just do not realize that the Sabbath was actually changed by the Roman Catholic church, and it was NOT changed because of the resurrection, it was changed because in their opinion, Sunday was easier to do for them than Saturday was. It fit THEIR schedule better. They were more interested in their schedule than in God's. Today many Christians have tried to justify the reason they do not honor the Sabbath is because of the resurrection.

[Guest glcorkern]

why do we argue over denomination. is it that we are all convinced that we are right, and everyone else is wrong. John 3:16 says that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

so in the end are we not all members of the body of christ. does it matter how we get there? just as long as we get there. maybe i'm way off base. i'm new to my faith. i've been in and out of church all my life, but until recently i didn't understand what jesus' sacrifice was all about. i spent all my time trying to earn my way into heaven. guess what? that won't work, i'm human and liable to make mistakes.

katrina sent a shockwave through my faith. I quit church and pretty much became a wanderer of the world. Seeking pleasures to and fro. Iam glad to say that i am back in church and working on my relationship with my savior. so in the end it doesn't matter which denomination you choose. Just find somewhere you are happy. whether it be catholic or pentacostal. It's all about the worship of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

[ONE WHO WISHES TO LOVE GOD]

See this is what i mean about smoke and mirrors first of your sinasisum is not needed and your exsample is apples to oranges Further more the argument of silence is the point that it seems you are not understanding I believe where God does not speak neither you nor I get to fill in the blanks so I posed my questions because although i dont believe that God is three persons I do believe in Jesus as the Son of God and my only means of salvation

but like so many I have asked what you really get is an attitude a vain attempt to brow beat one by treating them like they are stupid so as to scare them into submision...well guess what it dont fly with me. and another thing i didnt start the issue of the trinity in this discusion however i may end it. I hope some one more mature than you will be willing to help me with my questions since *****if i am wrong i wont scriptures not some ones fanicfull interpetations or illustrations

I would assume what I placed in bold from your post, means you want scriptural proof of the trinity? as in someone actually using the word "trinity" or are you saying that, because Jesus was quoted as saying he was God that we have to "interpret" from scripture the trinity?

I think what you are confused on is descriptional interpretation of a given event. For example, taking the following verse from Scripture John 14:7-11 (NKJV)

7

[st. Worm]

Although the Bible does not mention the term denomination it does talk about doctrine and obviously denominations are born from attempts to interpret God's Word. There is only one way to God and that is through the cross of Christ. We are saved not by some choice we make but are declared just in the sight of God because of Jesus's life, death and resurrection. We are counted as righteous for His sake and receive this by faith.

Any church or denomination that does not present the gospel accurately is not a true church. As Luther wisely noted the tests for a true church are proper presentation of the Gospel and right adminstration of his Sacraments. I question whether most evangelical churches today do that since the emphasis is on "decision theology" whereby faith is not viewed as a gift from God but as a choice we make or a good work.

[ONE WHO WISHES TO LOVE GOD]

See this is what i mean about smoke and mirrors first of your sinasisum is not needed and your exsample is apples to oranges Further more the argument of silence is the point that it seems you are not understanding I believe where God does not speak neither you nor I get to fill in the blanks so I posed my questions because although i dont believe that God is three persons I do believe in Jesus as the Son of God and my only means of salvation

but like so many I have asked what you really get is an attitude a vain attempt to brow beat one by treating them like they are stupid so as to scare them into submision...well guess what it dont fly with me. and another thing i didnt start the issue of the trinity in this discusion however i may end it. I hope some one more mature than you will be willing to help me with my questions since *****if i am wrong i wont scriptures not some ones fanicfull interpetations or illustrations

I would assume what I placed in bold from your post, means you want scriptural proof of the trinity? as in someone actually using the word "trinity" or are you saying that, because Jesus was quoted as saying he was God that we have to "interpret" from scripture the trinity?

I think what you are confused on is descriptional interpretation of a given event. For example, taking the following verse from Scripture John 14:7-11 (NKJV)

7

[st. Worm]

One of the main problems with your biblicist and fundamentalist view is that you seem to reject all authority concerning the Bible except your own. The church has rejected your view (Arianism and modelism) about the nature of God and the Trinity has a heresy for quite a long time. In other words you can have your one little interpretation of the Bible and creat your own religion but to reject the doctrine of the Trinity makes you a non-Christian. While the church is not the ultimate authority it is still authoritative. Any discussion about theology proper must begin with the nature of God and the Trinity. And any discussion about Jesus must begin with the proper Jesus who was the Godman, 100% God and man.

What training have you had in interpretating the Bible? More than St Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and every other credible church father who embraced the biblical Trinity? Can you read the OT and NT in the original languages? Are you in your arrogance saying that for 2000 years the church is wrong and YOU are right? The vast burden of proof is not on others to produce evidence of the Trinity, but instead on you to show why the Scriptures do not reveal the Trinity and why the entire orthodox church for 2000 years is now suddenly wrong just because you say so. Sad to say, some popular teachers such as TD Jakes hold a heretical view of the Trinity just as you apparently do and therefore worship a different God and different Jesus than the rest of us.

In terms of biblical example, although the Trinity is evident throughout the Bible, the great example that is so easy to see is the one described at the baptism of Jesus where Father, Son and Holy Spirit are clearly revealed in three distinct persons. I would urge you to read the vast amount of writing about the Trinity that exists by orthodox Christian teachers and move away from the heretics you are now embracing.

[other one]

Thank you all for this thread. After reading through it again, I am reminded of why I stopped going to church several years ago.....

Merry Christmas to all

[st. Worm]

"Thank you all for this thread. After reading through it again, I am reminded of why I stopped going to church several years ago....."

Not good. A rejection of Christ's church is a rejection of Christ himself. God's Word was not given to us so that each believer could make up his own interpretation and creat his own little church. This was never a principle of Luther's Reformation.

[Smalcald]

One of the main problems with your biblicist and fundamentalist view is that you seem to reject all authority concerning the Bible except your own. The church has rejected your view (Arianism and modelism) about the nature of God and the Trinity has a heresy for quite a long time. In other words you can have your one little interpretation of the Bible and creat your own religion but to reject the doctrine of the Trinity makes you a non-Christian. While the church is not the ultimate authority it is still authoritative. Any discussion about theology proper must begin with the nature of God and the Trinity. And any discussion about Jesus must begin with the proper Jesus who was the Godman, 100% God and man.

What training have you had in interpretating the Bible? More than St Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and every other credible church father who embraced the biblical Trinity? Can you read the OT and NT in the original languages? Are you in your arrogance saying that for 2000 years the church is wrong and YOU are right? The vast burden of proof is not on others to produce evidence of the Trinity, but instead on you to show why the Scriptures do not reveal the Trinity and why the entire orthodox church for 2000 years is now suddenly wrong just because you say so. Sad to say, some popular teachers such as TD Jakes hold a heretical view of the Trinity just as you apparently do and therefore worship a different God and different Jesus than the rest of us.

In terms of biblical example, although the Trinity is evident throughout the Bible, the great example that is so easy to see is the one described at the baptism of Jesus where Father, Son and Holy Spirit are clearly revealed in three distinct persons. I would urge you to read the vast amount of writing about the Trinity that exists by orthodox Christian teachers and move away from the heretics you are now embracing.

I am surprised that people still question the Trinity and expect to be called Christian. They are questioning the Divinity of Christ, this in fact is Satan

[Pax]

The Catholic Church can trace it roots back to the time of Jesus Christ. The first Pope was Peter who walked with Jesus. The first time the word "Catholic" (which means universal) to address the only Christian Church, can be traced back around 300 hundred years after Jesus died on the cross.

And please read Mathew 16:18-19 in your Bible "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be losed in heaven."

Here we have Jesus Christ telling a mortal man that there will only be one Church on earth, and Peter will be the human head of this Church (remember whatever he bound of earth would be bound in heaven and whatever he loosed on earth will be loosed in heaven.) Why would Jesus give Peter this power? Very simply to guide his Church after Jesus is in heaven. There has to be a visible head on earth to guide Jesus' Church or else there will be slpintered off shoots all teaching elements of the truth, but not the fullness of the truth. This is what we have today.

Common Roman Catholic Misconceptions of Scripture and History 101:

Instructor: Professor Pax

Required Texts (in order of importance):

Daily Missal - 1962 Latin Mass Edition

Catechism of Trent

Mother Teresa: A Life in Pictures

Purgatory and the Means to Avoid It

Holy Bible (optional, Latin Vulgate only)

Merry Christmas Horizoneast!!!

You keep showing up for a post here and there, but you won't stay around to chat? St. Worm seeems to have a good handle on things and I am always glad to see new people on this site. What St. Worm has written I totally believe, except I wouldn't consider Luther or Calvin a Church father. Both took teachings of the early Church and decided to interject their own theology. Thus we have the Protestant Reformation and 28,000 different Churches doing exactly what St. Worm stated. St. Augustine, St. Ambrose, St. John Chrysostom, St. Athanasius are the early Church fathers one would read if they wanted to know the teachings of the early Church. This will put a person back 300 years after the time that Jesus Christ walked on earth. Luther and Calvin only go back to the 1500's.