This thread was going to be about the True Church. But I simply changed the title. Okay ... so my experience thread set the stage for what seems to be a need to debate Catholicism ... maybe because in the minds of many, there is a comparison to the Watchtower ... a comparison which I believe is false. I purposely tried to avoid such a debate because I simply wanted to answer the big question of why I reconciled with the Church ... a questin that has loomed for almost a year.
So, Let's have it out ... let's post all the concerns, issues, claims, and even nasty remarks against the RC Church, Baptists, Presbyterisn, Angelican, Episcopal, Methodist, Non-Denominational, Pentecostal, Assembly of God, Mormon, Church of Christ, Free Bible Students, Dawn, and whomever else you want to criticize. (Please don't be nasty to me, as that would be the false argument of ad hominem ... and I am big on catching false arguments.) I am setting this thread up for the kind of discussion that otherwise knows no boundaries. However, I will still be posting my separate thread on prayer to the Holy Spirit.
Opening Salvo: There are three main schools of thought that I will say are very generalized. I do not want to get too technical here:
Protestant Reformation (and individualistic): The Church is the whole body of believers that are found scattered in all Christian denominations as long as they hold to basic Christian beliefs. (I will leave out the belief definition as it tends to generate a whole separate debate). More recently, this definition has come to include any person who might pray on a hill without any church body. Thus Sola Scriptura is the authority, and each congregation or denomination is free to do what they think is best with respect to Church government, if any at all. Please feel free to improve upon this definition.
Catholic: There is one continuous Church that was given authority starting with the Apostle Peter, and has maintained that authority down through the centuries through her Bishops and Popes (Bishop of Rome). Whatever St. Peter or his rightful successors bound on earth would also be bound in heaven ... etc. Thus today, we have what we call the Roman Catholic Church with a Pope sitting in the Chair of St. Peter. All other denominations are schisms or protestants that have veered from the true Church.
Orthodox: There is one continuous Church that was given authority starting with the Apostles, and has maintained that authority down through the centuries through her Bishops of Holy Sees founded by variouis Apostles. Each Bishop is equal, but the Popes (Bishop of Rome) is first among equals. Whatever these collective Bishops decide, e.g. Ecumenical Councils, is bound on earth and would also be bound in heaven ... etc. Thus today, we have what we call the Orthodox Church with patriarchs (Bishops) of each Holy See. The RCC is a Holy See, but has strayed from the historic way the Church operated. Protestants are the result of what happens when a Holy See like Rome strays from the true way. If your congregation begins to practice error, you not only have the right, you have the duty to leave and go where truth is found.
My position: I agree with the Orthodox. Catholic and Orthodox are somewhat similar ... but I am sure Protestants can find more sympathy with the Orthodox as I do. I view Protestants as my brothers and sisters in the faith. I personally wish and hope that the ecumenical efforts to unite the whole Church into one will someday be accomplished. However, I hope for compromises as I believe they all have erred, and they all have some correct points. Whether I am right or wrong is another matter ... this is all very subjective anyway.
So, now, that the premise is initiated ... let's have a go at it. Bring up anything and everything, and I will not bitch about it. I will either agree or hammer back. But let's keep it fun and not make any enemies.
Amen!
Jim Whitney